Girl Crush (Redwoods Book 1) Read online

  Once outside, hoping for Kaci to keep her mouth shut, my hopes went up in flames just like my body did a few minutes ago.

  “HOLY HELLS BELLS. He was hot Gabs, like hotter than hot. And the way he kissed your hand. Damn, I could feel the heat from both of you.” Laughing at her own comment, I can’t help but laugh with her.

  “Yeah he was hot, but come on there was nothing there but him being friendly to his dad’s best friend’s niece. Now let’s forget about him and go dancing.”

  Agreeing with me, we hurry up and go change into some club clothes. Most girls would wear this but not us. I would rather be in jeans and boots that a dress to dance in the clubs. We call some of our friends and make our way out the door. Only to be stopped by my uncle’s driver Sid.

  “Hey Sid, what’s up?” I ask him.

  “Nothing kid, your uncle just wanted me to drive you guys tonight.” He says with a wink. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s been driving my family around forever.

  “Sounds like a plan Sid. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes ma’am, where to tonight ladies?”

  After telling Sid to not call me ma’am and where we are going, we sit back in the car and enjoy the ride. My only problem is Mr. Kaleb Morgan doesn’t want to leave my mind.

  Pulling up to Club X, it’s our normal club that we tend to go to only because the age restriction is eighteen so we were able to get in. It’s not that we didn’t have fake ID’s it’s just that I feel relaxed in here. My uncle knows the owner and we’re friendly with all the bouncers so it makes me feel safe knowing they are here.

  Kaci and I get out of the car and head to the front of the line after telling Sid that we’ll call when we’re ready to go. I see Bubba out front letting people in the club and checking ID’s. I have no idea if that’s his real name or not but that’s all I’ve known him to be called. He really does fit the name. He looks to be about six feet four inches tall and probably weighing about two hundred and thirty pounds. And from the look of it he’s all muscle. He has short dark spiked hair and from what I’ve seen his eyes are a crystal blue. If I didn’t look to him as someone like an older brother I would think he was totally hot. The first time I met him our connection was instant but only as brotherly. Kaci on the other hand, I know has hooked up with him. I wouldn’t doubt that they actually still hook up on occasion.

  “Hey Bubs, how’s it going tonight?” I ask him. He’s just standing there looking all gorgeous.

  “Really Gabs, did you think I wouldn’t remember what today is? Com’ here and give me a hug.” I go up to him and his arms wrap tight around me. “Happy birthday, doll.”

  I step back and look up into his eyes, “Thanks, Bubba.”

  He greets Kaci the same way with a big hug and lets us into the club. Of course we hear all the groans from the people who’ve been standing in line forever but we ignore them and make our way inside.

  “Have fun tonight ladies. You know where I am if you need anything.” Bubba yells out to us as we walk in.

  The club is packed tonight and the minute we make it inside my body starts to sway to the music. I love to dance, at one point I thought that was what I wanted to do. My mom had started teaching me when I was just barely walking. I think that dream died along with my mom.

  I yell over the music to Kaci telling her let’s get a drink first so we head towards the bar and wait to give our order.

  “Happy birthday doll, what can I get for you tonight?” Bailey the bartender asks me.

  “Hmmm… Kaci, wanna do some shots?”

  “Hell yes! Line ‘em up Bailey. Any type is fine with us.” Kaci says to her.

  We slam the first shot back and it burns my throat going down. Just as we put the glasses back on the bar the rest of our friends show up. All dressed to the nines in their outfits. After saying hi to Karen, Kelly and Logan we yell for Bailey to get us more shots so they can join in on the fun.

  Counting to three we all do the shot and slam them back down. Yelling at me happy birthday to me as our glasses hit the bar. I’m the youngest of the gang everyone else has been twenty-one for a while now.

  When Fancy by Izzy Azalea comes on we all grab each other and head to the dance floor. Shaking our hips and grinding into each other to the song is fun. Having Logan with us always makes me feel safe. He’s just a tad smaller than Bubba and has blond hair with brown eyes. Very good looking, only thing is he plays for the other team. We’ve been friends with him since seventh grade and he’s the most down to earth person you will ever meet. But if you cross him or someone he loves, he will kick your ass.

  By the time I’m done being spun around the dance floor by Logan I start to get that same tingling feeling from earlier. Only one man has ever made my body feel like this. I instantly look around for him but I’m not seeing anyone. Maybe it’s just my body’s way of telling me it’s time to call it a night. I’m feeling a little buzzed and I know I don’t want to have a hangover tomorrow. I pull my friends from the dance floor and pull out my phone to call Sid when I realize that we’ve been dancing for over three hours. Shit, I feel bad that Sid had to wait this long. Making my call he says he will be out front waiting for us.

  We tell Logan, Karen and Kelly that we’ll talk with them later and knowing that Logan is the DD I feel comfortable leaving them in the club. Kaci heads out the door first, but something caught my attention and I look over and see him. He’s at a bar table and has some chick grinding all over him. Of course he’s like that. Only thing is it’s not her he’s watching, it’s me while his hand runs up her leg. With a smirk on his face, I glare back at him, he winks and I go out the door.

  Why do all men have to be pigs? He has some chick all up on him but staring a hole right through me. Don’t get me wrong, he can do what he wants but shit, he has my mind all mixed up. I just need to get home and get some sleep.

  “What took you so long?” Kaci whines and I know she’s drunk, she only whines when she’s drunk.

  “Nothing thought I saw someone but I didn’t.”

  Sid drops us off at our townhouse and helps Kaci inside. After telling me goodnight he walks out and I turn on the alarm. My uncle insisted that we have the safest alarm on the planet. Sometimes it takes way too long to set it, but I always do.

  ###

  End of Excerpt

  Coming Soon from Riley Rhea

  Worthy of Love (The Forever Love Series #3)

  Prologue

  Vance

  January, 2011

  Babysitting my brother’s girl isn’t really how I wanted to spend my Saturday night, but I would do anything for him. He’s been with Tessa forever and plans to marry her after she graduates next year. Tonight is her twenty first birthday, and he asked me to go over to her house since he was going to be late.

  I’m already pretty buzzed when I get there, and no, I didn’t drive. I had a friend drop me off. I went out with some friends to watch the game and we drank way too much beer. I’m not feeling the best, but I made a promise to Spencer. I plan on keeping it.

  The party appears to be in full swing when I walk through the door. Grabbing a solo cup, I fill it with Jack and Coke from the kitchen, and then start looking for Tessa. When I find her, I know right away she’s trashed.

  “It’s about time you got here. Where you been?” she slurs.

  Surely she recognizes me and doesn’t think I’m Spencer. She has always been able to tell us apart somehow, but apparently not when she’s drunk.

  “Vance, not Spencer,” I tell her while pointing to myself. “Spencer has been trying to call you. He has to work late, but he’ll be here in a little while.”

  “All he does is work,” Tessa huffs.

  Yeah, well, I can’t tell her that’s he’s working his ass off for her.

  Turning up my glass, I drain it and go back to fill it up again, leaving Tessa standing there. The music is blaring and my head begins to pound. A few minutes later, I ask Tessa for something for a headache. She brings
me something to take, which I think is generic aspirin.

  About an hour later, I’m feeling extremely high and can barely hold my head up. I spot Tessa standing a few feet away from me, and when she looks up, I motion her over the best I can since my body doesn’t seem to doing what my brain is telling it too.

  “What?” she asks after she drops down beside me on the couch.

  “Not feeling too swift. What did you give me?”

  She giggles. Lord knows how Spence puts up with that. Has her laugh always been so annoying?

  “I gave you Valium.”

  My mouth drops. Although at this point, I’m not sure if it was because I was shocked or because my body isn’t functioning. “What the fuck? Seriously?”

  Tessa shrugs. I try to stand up, but don’t make it far on my first attempt, so I try again. The world tilts a little bit, but I have my feet under me on the second try.

  “I’ve got to sleep this off. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “You can lie down in my room,” Tessa suggests.

  She stands to follow me. I shake my head no at her, and she stops and looks like she may pout. I think I’m more wasted than I thought. Why would she be pouting?

  “I know the way. Been here with Spence many times. Behave yourself till he gets here.”

  I wait for her to nod her head before I make my way to her room. When I get there, I don’t bother to turn on the lights. I close the door, kick off my shoes, and lie down. That’s the last thing I remember, until I hear my brother’s voice and the slamming of a door.

  Opening my eyes, all I see is darkness. Reaching out to feel around, it doesn’t take me long to figure out I’m not alone when my hand lands on bare skin. I’m pretty sure I didn’t bring anyone in here with me. Also pretty sure I didn’t go to sleep with my pants pulled down to my knees. What the hell did I miss?

  “What the hell just happened?” I mumble.

  “Spencer.”

  I know that voice. Tessa. Reaching over to the night stand, I find the lamp and turn on the light. Fuck! That hurts. When I can open my eyes, I turn my head to face her. My stomach flops. My brother just saw this. Tessa is naked with a sheet clutched in her hands, covering her chest.

  “What did you do, Tessa? What about Spencer?” I shout at her.

  She only whispers, “He saw us.”

  I look at her, waiting for her to explain what in the hell is going on. Because I have no idea what’s she talking about. I have an idea that it’s not going to be good.

  “I was…” she trails off looking anywhere but at me.

  “You were what?”

  “I was trying to wake you up.”

  “Naked?!” I ask. “Why are my pants down, Tessa? What were you doing when my fucking brother walked in this room?!”

  She still won’t look at me. Lifting the sheet, I’m almost afraid to look down at myself, but when I do, it feels like I was hit in the stomach with a sledge hammer. I have a condom on. Jerking my head up, I glare at her. I could kill her right now.

  “Please tell me you didn’t? Please tell me I didn’t just fuck my brother’s girlfriend while I was passed out?”

  I watch as tears streak down her face, and she nods her head and then shakes it no. She starts rambling, and I have to strain to hear her. She came in here to check on me, but when she saw me, all she saw was Spencer and she was horny. I cannot believe this shit.

  Tessa isn’t done, though, and she continues rambling. She tells me that she sucked me until I was hard, and then put the condom on. Apparently she was just about to ride me when Spencer opened the door. Okay, so I didn’t screw her. Thank God I’m innocent in this. She, however, isn’t innocent in this at all. Especially since she just told me my dick was in her mouth.

  I hiss, “Why would you practically rape me, Tessa? Because make no mistake that’s what you were doing. I’d never do anything to hurt Spencer like this. You better make this shit right and tell him. Now.”

  Tessa jumps up off the bed and runs out the door. While she’s gone, I dispose of the condom and pull my jeans back up. She comes back through the door while I’m putting on my shoes. When I look up at her, she shakes her head no. FUCK! I have to find my brother and tell him.

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I call my dad to come get me. However, the phone rings and rings until finally voicemail picks up. I leave him a message. “Dad can you come get me from Tessa’s? I have to find Spencer.”

  My dad calls me back about ten minutes later, and his words let me know that life as I’ve always known it has just changed. My brother, and my best friend, is gone and all he told them was to ask me. He thinks I did this to him. My dad then tells me he’s on his way.

  Ending the call, I don’t even look at Tessa as I tell her what my dad told me. I get up, leaving Tessa standing in the middle of the room. I don’t care that she is crying. This whole situation was her doing, and I hope it eats her up inside. Most of all, though, I hope Spencer will come back.

  ###

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