Page 69 of Kaden & Keegan
He fucking hated himself for letting Bristol slip away, but now that a month had gone by and they hadn’t said so much as three words to her in that time, Keegan accepted there was no salvaging it.
So Keegan had taken to shutting down Kaden’s attempt to psychoanalyze the situation, and he fully intended to continue doing so. Eventually one day he would forget all about Bristol Newton and his life would get back to normal again. In the meantime, he would continue focusing on what was important: moving on with his life.
“It’s high time we got back in the game,” he said now. “Friday night … bound to be some feisty cowgirls lookin’ for a good time.”
His brother sighed. “Not interested.”
“Well, why the hell not?” There was no heat in his tone. It would’ve required effort.
“You don’t think about what might’ve been?” Kaden asked.
Hell yes.“No. Why would I? Not like it’s a possibility.” He turned his attention out the window, watched as they neared their house.
“I’m gettin’ tired of the games,” Kaden said softly, pulling the truck to a stop in front of the house.
“No one’s playin’ a fuckin’ game,” Keegan snapped, although he had to look away because he knew Kaden was hurting. Had been since that night. Bristol was the one woman Kaden hadn’t moved on from. He’d known for some time that his brother was thinking she could be the one. For both of them.
And then Keegan had gone and fucked that all up.
“You’re never gonna be ready, are you?” Kaden asked.
Keegan sighed, pushing open the truck door. “I didn’t say that.”
“Then whatareyou sayin’?” Kaden asked, storming up behind him as Keegan headed into the house.
He honestly didn’t know. He’d long ago shifted away from thoughts of happily ever after. It made a hell of a lot more sense to live in the moment. It was easier that way.
“Keegan, talk to me.”
Spinning around, he faced off with his brother. “She’s not gonna give us the time of day, Kaden. You saw her that night. Completely uninhibited. But the fuckin’ minute it was over, she was havin’ regrets.”
And so was I.
“You were a dick to her,” Kaden snapped.
“Yeah? Why’s that? Because I spoke the truth? You know it as well as I do. No way would she be caught dead with the two of us. Not in public. Is that what you want? To be some woman’s dirty little secret?” Keegan felt his anger rising. “Because I don’t. I’ve played that role too many times. I won’t do it again.”
“You didn’t even give it a fucking chance,” Kaden bit out.
No. No, he hadn’t. “It wouldn’t’ve mattered if I did.”
“You’re wrong.”
No, he most certainly was not. Bristol was a firecracker in the bedroom; she’d proven that in just one short encounter. Quite possibly the best lay he’d ever had. But keepin’ it in the bedroom … not his style.
And even if Bristol did come around, it wouldn’t have been long before Keegan disappointed her. Or worse, offended her. She was the sort of woman who needed tender loving. And that wasn’t Keegan. He wanted a woman who liked to walk on the wild side, one who’d get down and dirty in the backseat of his truck, let him tease her in the dark corner of a bar, use his fingers to make her come while everyone else was doing their thing. Hell, he’d be surprised if Bristol Newton would let a man kiss her in public, much less finger-fuck her in a dark booth.
He knew for a fact she damn sure wouldn’t let two of them do it, so none of it fucking mattered.
“I’m done worryin’ about Bristol, Kaden. We haven’t heard from her for a fucking month. I’m sure she’s forgotten all about us.”
And if he tried really fucking hard, hopefully Keegan would eventually forget about her, too.
Several hours later, they were sitting at a table at Moonshiners, drinking beer and listening to Travis Tritt croon from the jukebox.
He’d managed to wrangle a couple of their buddies into joining them, and it would’ve been a damn good night if it hadn’t been for the factshehad come here tonight.
Yep. They’d been there for all of an hour when Bristol strolled in with two of her friends. Bianca and Jamie. The three women had secured a booth on the far side of the room, minding their own business, laughing and talking. And while they did that, Keegan had been in the perfect position to see Bristol clearly. The other two women were blocked out by CJ’s big head, but it didn’t matter. Keegan didn’t care to see them anyway.
