Lost in the Moment (A Savioe Family Novel) (9 page)

He exhaled slowly and rested his forehead against mine. “
Are you sure? This might actually work to keep you out of their game.” He pushed a lock of my hair away from my face grazing my cheek with his fingertips and leaned back to look down at me. “Why don’t we talk about it when I drop you off?” He brushed his lips against my brow and settled his arm over my shoulders.

“Drop me off?” I asked as he steered me toward the commons and out the front doors to the parking lot.
We walked by Bus and a few of the other members of the team on our way down the concrete steps. They followed us with their eyes and started whispering.

Drez pulled me close and placed a kiss on the top of my head.
“Yeah. I think it best if all of us talk about this potential charade and any implications that may arise from it.”

He removed his arm as we reached his car and opened the door for me. I grabbed the top of the door and looked up at him. “Like if I want to be a part of it or not.”

He frowned slightly and waited for me to get in the car before closing the door. He got in the driver side and started her up. “Why wouldn’t you want to keep them away from you?”

“It’s not that.” I exhaled a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I just don’t think I can pretend to be anyone’s girl.”

                                                        *****

When we arrived at the gate to my house, I gave him the code for the security system. After entering it, we slowly made the trek up the driveway. He parked the car behind my mom’s van and shut it off. I opened the door and walked in the house.

Remi greeted me at the door
with a huge smile on his face. “Marie! Momma said that she’s gonna make some beignets for dessert tonight.” He looked around sneakily and whispered to me. “With real sugar too.”

“Really?” I visibly swallowed my nervousness. This kid hyped up on sugar on my night to help him with his bath
. What did I do to upset my parents? I turned to look at Drez who was shuffling his feet on his way to the door and decided not to issue him a warning about the potential twin furies. “Hurry up. Momma doesn’t like for us to keep the door open for too long.”

He gave me a crooked smile as he picked up his step and I felt like my heart stopped beating
and then started again at four times its normal rhythm. If this is what Roxy and Jess feels when they say they want to jump someone’s bones then I am in way over my head.

Remi rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Why is he back?”

“Because we need to discuss some things for school. Now go away.” I pushed him up the stairs and out of my hair.

Drez closed the door behind me as my mother walked out of the kitchen. “Oh honey, you’re back. Good. I hope you will be staying for dinner. Marie, take him into the living room with everyone else so y’all can get your homework completed.”

I gave her a quick hug hello. “Yes, Momma but I’m going to change first. Drez the living room is down the hall first door on your left just before you get to Daddy’s study.” I pointed down the hall before I jogged up the steps to my room.

I quickly started shedding my clothes and placed them in the hamper. I kicked off my shoes in
the direction of my closet and grabbed a pair of cotton lounge pants and simple tank top from my dresser. I pulled them on, brushed out my hair and wrapped it up in a bun. I grabbed my bag and headed back down the steps.

Drez and my brothers were encircling the coffee table in the middle of the living room. I stepped over one of Dev’s action figures and hopped over the back of the couch. I sat with my legs drawn up under me and pulled out my French homework.

Beau cleared his throat to get my attention. I looked up at him through my lashes still keeping my head down toward my book. “What?”

He took a deep breath and got th
e look on his face that always indicated he was about to say something that would piss me off. “So you want the attention of the football team? Are you insane or just stupid?”

“Excuse me? What the hell makes you say that?” I hissed out trying to keep my voice down so momma didn’t hear me swear.
I looked over to Drez. “What in the world did you tell them?”

“Just that you didn’t want to be protected.” He shrugged at me. I narrowed my eyes at him taking in his body language. He sat on the floor to my left leaning back against the couch with his leg propped up and his arm resting on it, completely at ease.
The jackass.

“I said dat I didn’ wan’ ta pretend ta be anyone’s girl, cooyon. Don’t be puttin’ words in my mouth.”
I snapped resisting the urge to smack him.

“Why?” Luke asked with a slight smirk on his face and I just knew at that moment that he knew I liked Drez.
My fist clenched around my pencil.

“
Ya know why.” I grumbled as I looked back down at my homework.

Charles snickered at me as he got up to go in the kitchen. “Oh, I think I know why.”
He bent down and whispered in my ear. “You like him and you don’t want him to know it.”

I dropped my pencil as my head popped up in shock. “No!”

“Yup.” He slowly said as he exited the room.

I picked my book off my lap, slammed it down on the couch beside me and jumped over the
arm of it to chase after him. He laughed as he ran toward the kitchen. I narrowed my eyes down the hall, walked back in the living room and took a seat back on the couch. “It shouldn’ matter why. I jus’ don’ wan’ any part of dis.”

Drez looked over his shoulder at me. “If it will help ease your mind, we could set up some limitations. Do’s and don’ts if you will.”

“Like what?” I hesitantly asked as I picked my books up again.

“
Well, what are your reservations and we’ll work around them.” He twisted toward me awaiting my answer.

“You. That’s her biggest hang up.” Charles blurted out leaning against the arched doorjamb.

My cheeks flushed with my embarrassment and building anger at my younger brother. “Oh Chucky, ya are so goin’ ta get it.”

“Don’t call me that.” He narrowed his hazel eyes at me.

“Wha’s da matter? Don’ like it when someone says someting ya don’ like. Wha’ ya goin’ ta do ‘bout it, boy?” I leaned around the couch and sneered at him.

Luke
sighed and shook his head. “Just take it outside you two. You know the house rules.”

I heard Drez ask Luke. “What are the house rules?”

“If we fight with each other we have to take it outside to the ring. Otherwise, we end up breaking things in the house and mom gets mad. That is a sight no one wants to see.” Luke explained.

“A ring? Like a boxing ring?”

“Yeah. We have gloves, rules, just about everything.” I heard Luke stand up and walk over to Charles. “Is that where you two are taking this?”

“He’s too scared ta face me dere. Ain’t ya?” I taunted.

“Both of you sit down. Marie, turn around and quit egging things on. You are just trying to change the subject so you don’t have to feel embarrassed.” Beau chided as he glared at the three of us.

“Fine.” I turned around and went back to work on my assignment.

“Marie, Drez asked you a question.” Beau reminded me.

I slammed my pencil down and rolled my eyes. “Fine. I personally don’t see why we have to have a little charade like this. I’m not going to get involved with anyone on that team. I’m not stupid Beau. I know what they do. I’
ve seen the damn book. I know that a virgin is worth a hundred points. That if they give it up in a public place it’s an extra fifty. Blondes are worth an extra twenty-five if the carpet matches the drapes.” I squeezed my eyes shut after that admission. Why did I just say that?

“You’ve read it?” Luke raised his eyebrows at me in amazement.

I looked over to Beau, noticed that all the color drained from his face and lied to them. “No. I just saw the first page that had the point system. I was too disgusted to read any more of it.”

His color started returning and nodded his head. “Then you know that some of them don’t take no for an answer and get extra points for that as well.”

“I didn’t see that.” I chewed on my lip and brushed a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“That is the reason I want you to go along with this. For some reason everyone shies away from Drez. If just being around him keeps those assholes from trying to go after you then you will do it.” Beau put his books back in his backpack. “I like his idea of creating limitations and he knows of my only request
regarding this. So I’ll leave the rest of it up to the two of you to discuss. Luke, Charles do either of you have any concerns about this ruse?”

Luke shook his head. “No. If he does something she’s not in to then I have no doubts she’ll let him know
it.”

Charles sat on the arm of the couch
and said quietly. “Don’t knock her up. I’d hate to have to bury your body or destroy your car.”

I covered my face with the book and leaned my head on the back of the couch. “I hate you guys.”

                                                        *****

Drez

Don’t knock her up.
Was he serious? There was no way I would have sex with her. Well I would, I just can’t. She’s Beau’s sister, which means she’s off limits. Period. No matter how attracted I am to her. I mentally shook my head before looking around the room. “Grace is off limits, mate. No bird is worth my baby getting hurt. In all seriousness though, we need to discuss if this is going to be a pseudo relationship just during school hours or if we have to fake it all the time.”

Marie let out a huff and put her book down beside her. “I still don’t really want to do this, but I don’t want to be a target for them either. So I
guess my only option if I want to still be me is to reluctantly go along with whatever is decided.”

I turned around and placed my arm on the seat of the
sofa behind me to get a good look at her. She looked better to me like this than she did earlier all tarted up. Her hair was pulled back in a bun with a few tendrils falling around her face. She had on a tight little black tank top that barely covered the tops of her perky breasts. My mouth suddenly went dry when I spotted a small freckle just a scant millimeter above the lacy edge of her bra, which peeked out of the barely there top. I’m thankful that my hair hung over my eyes or they all would have seen the sudden hunger that gripped me. This might be a lot more difficult than I had originally thought.

I ran my hand through my hair and scratched the back of my neck. “Marie, your participation would be appreciated.”

She caught my gaze and bit her lip before nodding. “All right.”

“
What are some of your limitations, rules or what have you?” My pinky picked at the fabric on the sofa beside her foot as I awaited her answer.

She pulled her bottom lip in her mouth and bit down as she t
hought about it. “Um… nothing more than kissing or anything like that unless the scene calls for it.”

“Scene?” Charles asked nudging her in her shoulder to make her look at him.

“Yeah. We’re acting… right? So it’ll be like improv scenes for everyone.” She turned back toward me. “I’ve been wondering. I mean I know what I’ll be getting out of this but what’s in it for you?”

I shrugged my shoulder at her
and admitted half of it. “I do not like to see or hear of any man treating a woman like rubbish. This situation and Roxy’s just brings out what my father taught me about being a gentleman.”

Charles nodded and scratched the fuzz on his chin. “That’s understandable. But we don’t want you to do this for nothing. If you two have to go out on a date or something. I think Beau or Luke should foot the bill same with the gas on you taking her to and from school.”

My pride raised its ugly head. I found myself shaking my head at him. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Pssht! Charles has a point. We live outside the city limits and I know my truck sucks ‘bout an eighth of a tank going to and from school.
So I can only imagine how that Charger does.” Beau pointed out.

“Great. I can hear it now if someone finds out.
‘Did you hear that they have to pay someone to date their sister?’
” Marie pulled her legs up further underneath her brushing the edge of my hand with hers. Just that simple innocuous touch of skin made my heart race and my blood start to flow in my jeans.

“Only the five of us wi
ll know about this arrangement, sis.” Luke stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned on his elbows.

Marie bit her lip again and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “So we’re not even going to tell Roxy? Jess, yes, I can understand leaving her out of the mix but Roxy should know.”

“I’ll tell her tomorrow.” Luke assured her.

Beau took out a notepad from his knapsack and started writing on it. “So far we have my stipulation, Charles’s and the no
thing more than kissing unless it’s called for. I think we should also add that during this neither of you can date anyone else.”

“How long is this going to last?” Marie asked cautiously.