“And she paraded you around like a prize poodle. I hadn’t seen that one coming. She seemed too mature for that.”
“Yeah, well, she wasn’t. Mature, yeah, and self-centered.” Derrick sighed. “For all that we had a few good times, and some great sex, everything came back to Brittney. I’d hoped that might not be the case, but I pegged it. Didn’t I bet you she was too hot to be single when we started dating? That there had to be something wrong with her? I won twenty bucks, remember?”
“Right. Never bet against you. I should know by now you never lose. Unless we’re talking about one woman in particular, because you have no idea what you’re doing with Sydney.”
“Up yours.” Derrick shot Dylan the finger.
His brother grinned and shot it right back.
Derrick sighed. “So what do I do? I have a bad feeling I really like Sydney, but she wants nothing to do with a boyfriend, let alone a—” He stopped himself short from saying husband , shocked to realize his thoughts had graduated to that line of thinking. In a hoarse voice, he continued, “I’m no good at this shit. It’s a cycle. We date, we fuck, we try to connect. Then we always end up going our separate ways. But with Sydney, I actually like hanging out and not having sex. It’s weird.”
Dylan rolled his eyes. “Not having sex with a woman is not weird, you Neanderthal. It’s normal.”
“Yeah, if you’re gay.”
“Fuckwad.” Dylan scowled. “It’s normal if you’re straight too. I’ve been out with plenty of men and women, and we spend time together getting to know one another, not just in bed.”
“So why aren’t you married?”
“Because I’m exactly like you. I’m afraid of not finding anyone who will match me the way Dad matched Mom. When he passed, it was hard on all of us. But Mom suffered so much.” Dylan grew quiet, and they shared the memories of their mother crying day after day, suffering a deep and lasting depression.
“James helped her out of it.”
Dylan blinked. “I’m surprised you know that.”
Derrick frowned. “I may be self-absorbed at times, but I know Mom. James is her best friend. Hell, she tells him shit about us all the time.”
Dylan grimaced. “I know. I hate that. It’s one thing when Mom analyzes me, but I don’t like it when James does. He’s almost fatherly about it. It creeps me out.” He pursed his lips but didn’t speak.
“What?”
“Nothing. Something I need to talk to James about. My point about you—and me—is that we’re basically the same. Only I’m mature and smart enough to understand my issues. Instead of solving my problems with meaningless sex—”
“Orgasms aren’t meaningless, Poindexter. They’re pretty damned good. Especially with Sydney.”
“—I look at life with my eyes wide open. I’m not turning away from the possibility of a meaningful relationship. I just need the right person.”
“I still think it’s weird you like dudes.”
Dylan grinned, and Derrick cringed, anticipating what his brother would say. “You think Brittney gave good head, you should let a man do it to you. We know our own equipment better than they ever can.”
“Fuck, Dylan. TMI.”
The bastard had the nerve to laugh. “Hey, I’m equal opportunity. Women too. If I met a woman who looked at me the way Hailey looks at Gage, I’d snap her up in a heartbeat.” He sobered. “So pay attention to Sydney. You’ve never fallen for a woman before her. You want to win her or what?”
Derrick wished he needed to think about it more, but the answer came out way too easily. “Hell, yes.”
“Then listen to what I tell you. And whatever you do, don’t ask Mom for more advice. She thinks like a woman, but with Sydney, you need someone who thinks like a man. Your girl has the same instincts you do when it comes to relationships. Trust me on this.”
“Yeah, but Mom was right about not having sex with Sydney. And no, I can’t believe I just said that.” He made a face. “I can just imagine laying on her couch and telling her I did Sydney doggie style. Christ.”
“I doubt she wants those kinds of details.” Dylan shook his head. “She’s into the emotional aftereffects, dumbass. We’re not perverts, Derrick. We’re therapists. Problem is, Mom should know better than to work on family.”
“Then shouldn’t you?”
“No, because giving you advice is like giving myself advice. Now shut up and listen.”
Across town in Gage and Hailey’s house, Sydney sighed. “I don’t know what to do, Hailey. I’ve been seeing way too much of Derrick.”
Hailey nodded. “I know. Gage tells me things.”
Sydney perked up. “Like what?”
Hailey glanced around. Gage was supposedly working out in the garage, but Sydney wouldn’t put it past him to spy on her for Derrick, which should have annoyed her. Instead, she found Derrick’s need to know what she said about him understandable, and something she’d have done if she could.
“Like how weird Derrick’s been acting. He never talks about you. No details about sexual escapades or anything.” The implied question there had her sighing.
“There haven’t been any, not in two weeks.” She was convinced the man no longer liked her. Except he kept showing up to hang out. He’d unfortunately taken her to heart when she said she wanted to remain friends. Friends? She wanted him to screw her brains out, to take control and show her how it felt to be a woman possessed, the way he had before. She’d never had man satisfy her like that, had never trusted one enough to let go. Not the way she trusted Derrick.
But if she had to tell him, then he wasn’t the man for her. No matter how much she actually… liked him.
Hailey blinked. “Seriously? But that’s all you and your boyfriends ever do. Bonk each other.”
“That’s boink each other, you dumb blonde.”
“ Hey. ”
“Oh, go stuff yourself. You’re happy and engaged. I’m not getting laid and falling for a handsome guy I should have nothing to do with. We’re not even having sex and I like him. With my luck, he’ll break my heart and I’ll turn into my mother, who’s visiting next week by the way.”
“Oh man. What rotten timing.” Hailey cringed. “Want me to run interference?”
“Nah. That’s not fair to you. But thanks for asking.” Sydney had long ago resolved herself to loving but not liking her mother. She could never forgive Isabel Fields for putting her last, and oddly enough, she was okay with that. Especially since her mother had never asked for forgiveness.
Every year or so, Isabel would show up, need some Mommy-time—which equated to showing off how terrific she looked. No one ever believed Isabel had a thirty-year-old daughter. They looked more like sisters. The woman was a knockout, and she used her looks to her advantage.
Sydney tolerated her visits, mostly because she felt duty-bound to see her mother. Isabel hadn’t been abusive; she had provided Sydney with the essentials during her younger years. Besides, Isabel never stayed long, not if she had a man in her life. The woman clung to men like ivy to crumbling brick. Once the relationship died, as they always did, she reseeded herself and found a new man to leech off of.
Hailey popped her in the arm.
“Hey!”
“Stop ignoring me. Listen. I know you don’t believe me, but Derrick’s different than the other guys you’ve dated. Not just because he’s Gage’s brother. He’s a genuine person. Sure, his track record with women is spotty, but it’s a mirror image of yours with men.”
“And now she insults me.”
“Well, it’s true. You look at every guy you date like he’s one of your past uncles . Not only is that creepy, but none of the guys ever made you happy.” Hailey stared at her with those big eyes. “You’re not your mother, Sydney. And it’s time you realized that.”
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