Read Online Rush by Nyrae Dawn - Free Book Online

want to go there with him too.
    It would be me moving around his fucking apartment like it’s mine, or me who he sat with, his hair wet after a shower, because that’s what people do when they’re with someone.
    My hand squeezes the hot, unfinished bottle of beer in my hand.
    “You guys here for the whole summer?” Logan asks with his eyes on me. It’s the first time since we all sat down over an hour ago that Alec looks at me too.
    “I’m here until practice starts in August,” I reply.
    Alec shakes his head at that but I’m the only one who notices.
    “My dad runs a small lake resort not far from here with Alec’s parents. Nate and I help in the summers.” This from Charlie.
    “I know. Alec told me.” Logan’s still eyeing me and I know what he’s doing. He wants me to know that he and Alec are close.
    Fuck you, man. Message received.
    Charlie gets off the floor where she was with Nate and Logan before sitting in the chair next to me. My brother’s lucky to have her. She’s loyal as hell.
    “Brandon’s staying in one of the cabins with us,” she continues.
    I don’t know if it’s smart or not but I can’t stop myself from asking Alec, “You’re not working out there this year, are you? I know you have that moving job.”
    He shrugs, his face going a little hard but I don’t think it’s about me. “Who knows. Lost my job today so I might have to.”
    “Shit. I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to . . .” Everyone’s eyes are on me but right now, fuck them. I make myself continue, “I know it’s shitty being around your dad.”
    Alec sets his bottle on the coffee table, leaning forward to put his elbows on his knees, but he doesn’t reply. Just studies me like he can’t believe I just said that. Like it was some big deal and I wonder if maybe it was. “We need to talk.” He pushes to his feet, going right out the door without another word or glance at anyone.
    “Another game?” Nate asks Logan.
    Silence is all I hear and maybe it makes me a prick for not waiting for Logan to reply since I don’t know if something’s going on with them or not. Still, I stand to follow Alec, wishing there’s a whole lot of other places I would have gone with him.
    “Let’s do it.” Logan tells my brother as I close the door behind me. I walk until I find Alec standing by his truck.
    “What the fuck are you doing here, Brand?” His eyes narrow at me in a way I’ve only seen one other time—when I called everything off between us.
    “I needed to see you.” It’s the only answer I can give. Honesty, because it’s all bullshit if I can’t even be real with him.
    “Fuck you, Brandon. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to not talk to me for over a year, and then treat me like shit when I go to you when you need me. It’s been too long. It’s not that easy anymore.” He’s pacing in front of me, the muscles in his arms and legs tight. “We can’t keep doing this.
I
can’t keep doing it. What? You want me now because you think Logan does?”
    Anger ripples through me, making my body feel as tense as his looks. Reaching out, I grab his arm, try to look him in the eye but he avoids mine. “I’ve always wanted you. You know that.”
    Despite how low my voice is, I know he heard when his eyes dart to mine.
    I can’t help but concentrate on the feel of his skin under mine—rougher than the girls’ I’ve touched. His muscles constrict under my hand. Damn, he feels so fucking good that I want to squeeze tighter as though that will engrave the feel of him into me forever. It’s a rush to every one of my senses, making me feel alive.
    Alec doesn’t give me a chance, jerking his arm from me.
    “I didn’t come to screw things up with us even more.” I can’t help but look around to see we’re still alone in the parking lot. “I just . . . I want us to be friends.”
    Look at me, look at me, look at me.
    He doesn’t.
    “I want to find a way to be the person who deserved