Chicks, Man Read online

  Chicks, Man

  Copyright © 2020 J.D. Hollyfield

  Cover Design: All By Design

  Photo: Adobe Stock

  Editor: Word Nerd Editing

  Formatting: Champagne Book Design

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information and retrieval system without express written permission from the Author/Publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  About This Book

  Epigraph

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Epilogue

  More from J.D. Hollyfield

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  For anyone who needs to hear this. You’re worth it.

  This one’s for you.

  Falling in love was the easy part.

  Being secretly in love with my brother’s best friend is where it got tricky.

  Levi Dent was off-limits. Which was probably for the best, since he barely knew I existed.

  Until one night I saw an opportunity I couldn’t resist.

  The problem was, I got caught.

  She tricked me.

  I knew there was something so familiar about her, but I just couldn’t resist.

  Hannah Matthews was nothing more than my best friend’s little sister. Except she wasn’t so little anymore.

  I need to forget all about her.

  If only it were that easy...

  The tongue has no bones but is strong enough to break a heart.

  —Proverbs 15:1

  Levi

  Kipley and Stacey’s Wedding Day

  “Hell, look at all those chicks, man. It’s like a flock of fucking flamingos begging for some action.” Chase, one of my best friends and fellow groomsman, points out, refusing to take his eyes off the group of giggling bridesmaids huddled in the corner of the church. I pull on the bowtie strangling me and bring my eyes to the ridiculous amount of bridesmaids Stacey, Kip’s bride, chose.

  “Who the fuck didn’t Stacey ask to stand up? Jesus.” Ben groans, trying to count the small colony of girls, all puffed out in Pepto Bismol pink.

  I give up on my tie and scrape my hands down my face. “Dude, I have no idea. I was less worried about the headcount and more like what the hell was Kip thinking when he allowed his bride to pick pink?”

  Dammit! I tug at my bowtie again. Either my neck grew a solid inch in circumference, or Stacey ordered all our shit a size too small.

  Seven months ago, our best friend since grade school, Kipley Matthews, took the plunge and asked his girl to marry him, despite Chase arguing that tying himself down would ruin our bro-power.

  The four of us all grew up in the same neighborhood in small town, USA. All the same age. Kipley was always the smartest. Stuck to the books while Chase stuck to chasing girls and getting the younger classmen to help him cheat. Ben and I focused mainly on football and the occasional double dates Chase would force us to go on—he always had a new girl, and she always had a friend. Now, years of friendship later, we’re all standing in Saint James Catholic Church, waiting for our boy to walk down the aisle.

  “With that lineup, there’s no way we can’t pull an old-school Seven Minutes in Heaven. Just look at all those tits. It’s like a buffet of nipples. I mean, ten girls, really?” Chase grabs for his dick, and I punch him, shaking my head. Stacey is two years younger. Was top of her class and very popular. I’m actually shocked she only has ten. There are a few familiar faces from high school. Kendall Brice, a former cheerleader, now married with kids. Kristen Mills, girl voted most likely to end up at a strip club. Rebecca Fritz, the world’s biggest bitch.

  As soon as the thought flashes in my mind, Rebecca hip-bumps the girl next to her. Always has been and always will be a bitch. I glower at Rebecca, realizing it’s little Hannah Matthews, Kip’s younger sister, as she catches herself before tripping over her too-long, pink puff-of-a-disaster. Hannah brushes her over-curled chestnut hair away from her face and tucks it behind her ear, her doe eyes frustrated and plump lips pouty. My curiosity piques, taking note of her missing braces and little girl features before my eyes wander shamelessly to her chest. Her tits sure have made their appearance since the last time I saw her. Wow, when did little Hannah Banana grow up? My dick twitches, and I close my eyes, raking my hands back down my face. What the hell has gotten into me?

  “Kristen still looks like a fuckin’ stripper. I bet she would meet me in the closet for seven minutes. Ride me like she used to in high school.” I smack Chase. We’re in a damn church, and god forbid Kip or Stacey’s family overhears our conversation.

  “What? You know you’re thinking the same thing. Weddings are meant for people to get laid. And it’s happening. Just like old times. Who are you targeting? Didn’t you use to have a thing for Kendall? I bet she would suck you off—”

  This time, I punch him in the side. “She’s fucking married with two kids. Seriously, grow up,” I huff in frustration. The last thing on my mind is getting laid. Not since Teresa broke up with me—after finding someone to take my place.

  Ben steps forward, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Man, don’t even think about that cheating ex of yours. She didn’t deserve you.” She most definitely didn’t. All that bull crap about women wanting a nice guy is just that. When they get one, they never fail to take advantage. I offer Ben an appreciative nod. Unlike Chase, who comprehends nothing about having a relationship longer than twenty-four hours, Ben’s like me. I was able to confide in him when shit hit the fan and I caught Teresa with another guy in our bed. I almost let her convince me what she did was a mistake and she loved me. Fortunately, I wised up—then I kicked her cheating ass out.

  “Okay, fine. Geez, you don’t need to be a pussy about it. Might as well go for little Hannah Banana Matthews. Just as plain as she used to be, but damn, did she grow some tits.” Chase laughs, and my brows draw together, my frustration building. I’m not sure why I care. I never had before when he’d poke fun at Kip’s little sister. “Oh, what? Have I upset you? Do you want to hit little Matthews, Dent?” Both Ben and Chase gape at me, and I have no idea why it ta
kes me so long to respond. God no, I don’t want to do anything with Hannah Matthews—the little runt with braces who used to bug the shit out of us when we were kids. I pull my eyes away, making the mistake of landing them back on Hannah.

  She’s standing behind the group of girls, trying to squeeze into a photo. Rebecca is making it impossible, and Stacey is too far away to assist. I glower once again at Rebecca.

  “You are looking at little Hannah Matthews. That’s bad. We need to get you laid tonight, bro.” Before I can retaliate, Agnes, Kip’s grandmother, walks up.

  “It’s time, boys.”

  Hannah

  “Oh em gee, because we’re chicks, man. How else are we going to get their attention? It’s obvious they’re into at least one of us. Look at Chase Steinberg. Remember that guy? Huge slut in high school, but holy hell could he fuck,” Kristen, one of Stacey’s close girlfriends, blurts out at another girl I don’t remember.

  I gasp at her vulgar choice of words, tossing my hair out of my face to get a good view of Chase, one of my brother’s best friends. I haven’t seen any of these guys in years. Probably since they all left for college. By the time they all graduated, it was my turn to test out the big leagues University, and our paths never crossed again. Chase looks the same. Typical playboy. Sandy hair whisked back. He appears more toned than he had in high school, and his eyes still scream he’ll do anything with a heartbeat.

  I recognize Ben, one of Kipley’s nicer friends. Still buff in an athletic sort of way. Chestnut hair, short crewcut, and eyes you can get lost in. There are a few I don’t recognize. College friends, I assume. When my eyes land on Levi Dent, my breath stalls. Levi Dent. Former football legend. And it’s not because he was the number one pick for every college across the state…or that he won the title for First League Division three years in a row. It’s because, on top of being the best athletic star to ever attend Breckinridge High School, he was also the nicest. The town sweetheart.

  Levi Dent always had a girlfriend. He never slept around, unlike the rest of Kipley’s friends, and he never spoke an ill word to me. He may have never really spoken a word to me period, but it was better than the teasing the rest of his friends did. Hannah Banana Matthews. The stupid nickname Chase Steinberg bestowed on me when I was young. The stupid name that stuck with me all through high school. Thankfully, by the time I left for college, I lost the braces, grew some curves—kind of—and lost my baby face. Mostly.

  I stop trying to eavesdrop on the girls’ conversation and sit down at the head of the table where Stacey reserved me a spot next to her. I lay my purse down and squat just in time for the chair to be stolen out from underneath me.

  “What in the…?” I cock my head to see Rebecca, the devil witch, behind me.

  “I don’t think so, honey. Your seat is all the way at the end. I get to sit next to my girl.” I want to tell her she’s wrong. I mean, even the nametag on the table says this is my seat. My tiny palm itches to smack her fat fake lips right off her ugly over-Botoxed face, but I chicken out.

  Because I am what they call me: timid little Hannah.

  “Sure, you can sit here,” I reply, grabbing my purse. I shift my body toward Stacey to tell her I’m moving, but she’s talking to a relative, and I don’t want to disturb her. I barely take two steps before Rebecca is pushing my chair back in its place. It doesn’t fail, with my luck, the chair catches the bottom of my dress as I walk away. A loud tear ripples through the air, severing the back of my gown.

  Dread fills my stomach. I gaze behind me, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. A cool breeze instantly assaults my backside. I stare at the back of my dress. The rip is all the way up to my butt, exposing my white lace underwear.

  Kristen gasps as Rebecca investigates her handywork, laughing and pointing. “Oh my god! I thought only old people wore full underwear!” Her comment riles the rest of the wedding party. Peels of laughter sound out at my wardrobe malfunction.

  I’m frozen in place, the humiliation paralyzing my legs. I should be used to being treated so poorly by this group. Stacey’s friends were always so horrible to me. Kip’s friends weren’t any better. A stupid part of me thought time and distance would allow them to finally see me as a human being, not Kip’s annoying little sister. My lower lip starts to quiver, and I fight with everything I have not to cry.

  “Oh, Hannah, let me help you.” Stacey jumps into action, snapping me out of my horror trance. Grabbing my dress, she holds the material together. “There’s an emergency sewing kit in the ladies’ room. Let’s get you all fixed up.”

  Stacey guides me past the head of the table where each one of her stupid friends laughs and hollers. She throws a few glares their way, but it doesn’t hinder the sounds of jokes and clapping echoing down the hall. Once inside, she drops my dress and reaches for the basket sitting on the sink. “Here it is.” She adjusts herself, bending down to observe the tear.

  Guilt washes over me at seeing her kneeling in her wedding gown. “Oh, Stacey, you don’t have to do this. I can fix it. Please, this is your wedding. Go back to the table.”

  She smiles up at me, her eyes filled with love. “Not a chance. You’re my sister now. We stick together.” Her comment makes me lose my battle. My eyes fill with tears as I barely choke out a thank you, allowing her to pin up the back. Once she’s done, she stands, nodding in approval. “There. Good as new…kind of.” Her silly smile makes me break out of my sullen mood, offering a small laugh in return.

  “Thanks, Stacey.”

  “No need to thank me. We’re family.” I can’t hold back the tears that start to fall. “Hey, none of that.” She grabs a Kleenex and hands it to me. “Han, please. Don’t let them get to you. You’re amazing and beautiful. Sometimes people who have their own insecurities pick on people they feel threatened by.”

  That gets a cynical laugh out of me. “And what exactly do I have that they don’t?” This should be a good one.

  Stacey places her hands on my shoulders. “You have a natural beauty so many girls would sell their soul for. You have a heart of gold. And one day, you’re going to use that smart mind of yours to do so many great things.”

  Stacey squeals when I wrap my arms around her and squeeze, catching her off guard. “Thank you,” I whisper, needing her words more than she’ll ever realize. Her arms lift, and she accepts my embrace. We stay like that for a few seconds, until I feel more composed, then pull away.

  “You should get back out there.”

  “I’ll wait with you—”

  “No. It’s your wedding. Enjoy. I just want to freshen up. Plus, I’m sure they’re ready to start the speeches. I’m totally fine now. I’ll be right out. Promise.” She eyes me warily, but accepts my words and heads back to the hall. I totally had my fingers crossed. I don’t plan on going back out there anytime soon.

  I’ve been hiding in the bathroom for over an hour. My stomach growls because I missed dinner. I was also a no-show for the speeches, but there was no way I was standing up to face everyone now. I couldn’t stop the anger and embarrassment. I should have told Stacey how I truly felt. How her friends are bullies. How they’ve picked on me since I was little. But I said I was fine. I’m far from it.

  How can someone be so cruel?

  Easy.

  High school is something I’ve tried to block out. I wasn’t pretty. I didn’t have boobs. I was lightyears away from being on anyone’s popularity radar. I was the butt of everyone’s joke. I got teased, made fun of, bullied. I was a complete nobody. If there had ever been a life or death situation and someone asked what my name was, we’d all be in big trouble. Even my teachers referred to me as Kipley Matthews’ little sister. Awesome, right?

  Not.

  Eventually, I went to college, which turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. Everyone finds themselves in college, and I was no exception. I found a new style, boobs, Sephora, and friends. I actually found a few boyfriends, and believe it or not, at one point, lost my virginity.
Can’t say it was anything great. My boyfriend at the time was drunk. Thirty seconds in, he finished and passed out. But I got the experience and finally got to say I wasn’t a virgin anymore.

  After so many years, I hoped when I came home things would be different. I wouldn’t feel the sharpness of their nastiness. Maybe they would all grow out of their bitch phase. Clearly, I was wrong.

  I bang my heeled foot against the bathroom stall, still angry at the way Rebecca treated me. I wasn’t that measly little girl who let people pick on her like in high school. I grew a backbone—somewhat…—and I wasn’t going to take shit from these mean girls who thought it was okay to push me to the side. I huff, swiping a tear off my cheek, even more upset I’m allowing them to get to me. I wipe another tear as the bathroom door opens and a flock of giggling girls walk in.

  “Oh my god, did you see the way they were practically licking their lips! They want us. I am so in.” Rebecca.

  “I say you take Chase up on his offer. Why the hell not? To get laid by Levi Dent…man, can you even imagine? It’s like getting your high school wish finally granted!” Kristen. My ears perk at the mention of Levi’s name. As quietly as possible, I climb on top of the toilet seat so they don’t see me.

  “I’m totally doing it. I’ll meet Levi in any closet for an old school game of Seven Minutes in Heaven,” Rebecca says, her over-glossed lips smacking together. I peek through the tiny slit in the stall door, my curiosity in full affect. Seven Minutes in Heaven? With Levi?

  “Okay, so tell me exactly what he said. I was too busy giving Ben let’s fuck eyes,” Kristen says, smearing tacky red lipstick over her lips.

  Rebecca primps her hair, puckering her lips some more, and says, “Chase said Levi is feeling down and needs to get laid. Apparently, his girl cheated on him. Simply asked me if I was up for the challenge. If so, meet him in the supply closet three doors down from the left in twenty minutes. He would be waiting for me—and bam! I take Levi Dent for the ride of his life.” She giggles, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. I’m disgusted at how his friend can set him up like that. Levi is not like them. He’s kind and friendly, polite and actually has manners—unlike everyone else Kipley associates himself with.