Enemies With Benefits Read online

  Enemies With Benefits

  By

  S.L. DeLaurent

  Disclaimer

  Copyright © 2022 S.L. DeLaurent

  All rights reserved, worldwide, and on any multiverse that is known or unknown. No part of this publication may be reproduced in, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, including electronically or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Published by S.L. DeLaurent

  Edited by Dawn Doyle

  Book cover design by Star Designs Graphics

  The ebook version is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold, given away to other people, or uploaded to the internet for others to download. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book, and did not purchase it from Amazon (sole distributor) or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Chapter 1

  Alex.

  “Fuck, man, could you shave your dick and balls sometime this week?”

  I turned to see Craig with a look of disgust on his face, his mouth in a grimace and his nose scrunched up. I laughed to myself as he shielded his eyes from whatever Dylan’s junk looked like.

  “I am, man, I’ve just got back from break, so chill the fuck out,” Dylan replied. I didn’t bother looking. Instead, I continued scrolling through my phone at the playlists I’d put together. “The jewels will be sparkling like the gems they are when I’m done.”

  Craig threw a towel in Dylan’s direction, narrowly missing my phone. That’s when I looked up.

  “Nobody wants to see bush like that,” Craig grumbled.

  I heard Deshaun’s laugh booming near us, and then make gagging noises at whatever Dylan was doing. “You’re gonna be sorry,” he warned. “I already am, by the looks of that thing.”

  I frowned when I got a good look at Dylan’s cock as he twisted his torso to make it slap his thighs. “Could you not?” I groaned. “I see too much of that already—I don’t need it in my free time, too.” I looked at my phone, then glanced back to Dylan’s unkempt area. “Craig’s right, though, Dyl. You need to sort out that bush before the show.”

  Dylan stopped waving his dick about and put on his pants with a huff, yanking the black tie at the waist and tying it. “I was just showing you my new piercing, fuck,” he complained. “You didn’t have to diss the palm tree and coconuts.”

  I shook my head at the image I’d just had of the ring through the end of his cock, circling through and underneath the tip.

  “Save it for the ladies,” I said, pocketing my phone after I was happy with the music selection. “Just make sure you keep up with the cleaning of that thing, though, you don’t want an infected dick come Friday night.”

  Dylan rolled his eyes when Craig snorted a laugh. “It’s fine. I bathe it all the time—it’s already healed enough for the weekend, and I’ll make more bills than all you fuckers together because of this.” He grabbed his crotch. “Not to mention the extra sensations I’ll get from fucking.” He moaned and closed his eyes, making me chuckle. The guy was an idiot if he thought he was gonna get laid so soon after having a piece of metal shoved through his prized possession, not to mention the touchy ladies that didn’t give a fuck if they were supposed to keep their hands to themselves. “And the woman on the receiving end will be begging for more,” he finished.

  “Okay, hotshot, just get your weeds whacked, your jewels polished, and be ready for practice,” I said as I got up from the bar stool, the chrome legs creaking as I pushed it back with my foot. “I’ve got stuff to work on for the weekend, and I have to be in the shop for five to set up.”

  “Sure thing,” Dylan replied.

  We said our goodbye’s and I headed out of the empty bar area, out the back of the building, and got into my truck.

  Once inside, I checked my phone again and saw a message from my mom on the screen.

  Mom: Make an appearance while you’re in town, Alex, I mean it. Kirsten’s coming over on Sunday to help set up. You can’t avoid her every time you’re here.

  “Fuck.” Kirsten, my mom’s longtime best friend was a constant reminder of the stupid bullshit I’d been through growing up. Every time I saw her, memories came rushing back—memories I didn’t want or need; the kind that put me in a bad mood for fucking days, sometimes weeks if she mentioned a certain someone I wanted to forget existed.

  It wasn’t Kirsten’s fault, although she was the one who I could blame because she wasn’t around. If she were, there was no doubt the fucking war would still be raging on, and worse than ever.

  I didn’t go home often—mainly to check the runnings of my shop and pick up a few domestic appointments of my own—but this time, it was a big deal. One month in one place, One month in another, then home for two weeks. Well, none if I could help it. But, this time, work was way too close to home, so I had no excuses to not visit more often. Keeping busy was best for me. Less time to dwell on the past and the shitty things I’d done in my life, but also because there were too many reminders of those times.

  The house across the street was still occupied by the family I’d sworn to never talk to when I was a kid. I’d grown up a shit ton since then and got over my fucking self, but there was one person whom I’d never gotten past the immature fighting and bickering which turned into more than just kiddy pranks and face-pulling.

  What I did, I couldn’t forgive myself.

  Meeting up with the object of my misery, seeing the pain in her eyes because of a split-second decision, was something I vowed I couldn’t let happen. Not just because of the guilt that ate at me since that day, but because at that moment, the instant I’d made that choice, I was so glad I’d done it until it all blew up in my fucking face.

  The worst part was that I hadn’t stopped there. What I’d let go on wasn’t even intentional, but in doing so, I fucked over myself, too.

  And she left.

  I picked up my phone and responded to my mom.

  Me: Maybe. I’ve got appointments to keep, and I can’t cancel on the clients after they’ve waited months to get a booking with me.

  I got a response right away.

  Mom: I don’t care. You better show your face this time. It’s important to me and Frankie that you attend. I’d like to see my son in person instead of through a phone screen.

  Frankie owned the house that my mom rented when we’d moved away from my piece of shit father. It’d been a few years after we moved there that he started coming round more often, checking on the place. Yeah, it wasn’t the ‘place’ he was checking on, but my mom he was checking out. I couldn’t complain, though, he was good to her; better than my dad had ever been, and she was smiling again.

  I let my head drop back and I blew out a long breath. “Fuck this shit.”

  Me: Fine. I’ll try to move some clients around and get there on Sunday.

  I didn’t have to try. I was busy all Saturday, and my plans for Sunday were to sleep it all off.

  Mom: You’ll do more than try.

  I could see my mom’s face with her brows raised, her lips pursed while pressing her hands to her hips. Her silence while she stared at me like that got me every single time.

  Me: Fine. I’ll be there.

  Mom: Good
. See you Sunday.

  Sunday. Fuck, I had only a few days to get my shit together, come up with new material for Friday, and figure out how to avoid Kirsten like the fucking plague.

  There was always something there in her eyes whenever she saw me. I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t fucking like that shit—never did, ever since mini-Satan and I had met.

  Twelve years ago.

  I placed the box I was carrying on the floor, right next to the others labeled ‘Kitchen,’ the contents clinking together, even though they were wrapped with paper.

  Moving house was the last thing I wanted, but my mom said we needed a fresh start, whatever that meant. Couldn’t we have done that without going anywhere?

  “You’re starting your new school tomorrow, Alex,” my mom said, smiling wide. It didn’t hit her eyes, though.

  “But we just got here,” I complained, almost dropping the next box from the back of the moving truck as my shoulders slumped. I thought I’d get the weekend at least.

  “Yes, but think of all the new friends you’ll make right away.”

  I grimaced as I muttered, “I had lots of friends before.”

  “Well, now you can meet new people,” my mom replied with a bite to her tone, although her smile remained, the kind that let you know that she was losing patience. I didn’t care. I hated moving, and I hated it more that I was so far away from everybody I knew, that I couldn’t just cycle to see them. My mom continued. “Anyway, I’ve arranged with Mrs. Carter for you to get the bus with Ash.”

  I paused, perking up a little at that information. I knew my mom had made a friend already, but I didn’t know she had a son.

  “Does Ash have a bike?” I asked, wondering if I’d be neighbors with someone who I could at least ride with until I knew my way around.

  Her face fell and her mouth popped open. “I don’t know, um…”

  I huffed out a breath. “What about Legos?” Yeah, I loved Lego. We didn’t have the space in our old house for permanent sets, but I helped my friends with theirs. What I had, had to be taken apart and put away, and not just because of the small space.

  “I haven’t asked,” she replied.

  I rolled my eyes and let my arms swing while I held the box for the living room, trudging next to my mom as we took them inside. “Oh my God, does he have anything cool?” I knew I was acting like a big baby, but I never wanted to move. Not here, anyway. We didn’t need to go this far to get away from my dad. “I don’t want to get paired with some loser kid,” I grumbled.

  My mom’s eyes closed and she sighed at the same time she rested the box on the coffee table as though it weighed a ton. “Alex.”

  “No, Mom,” I cut in before she could explain again, treating me like I was stupid and didn’t understand why we had to go. I saw it in person—had lived it.

  “I’m not getting the bus with him—I’m fine on my own.” Which I was, anyway. I was already eleven and had been riding the bus alone for years. Well, getting on it alone. My previous friends were always there, saving me my seat. I didn’t need some other kid showing me; I knew what I was doing.

  We walked back outside, and I looked down the street, both ways, understanding dawning on me like a slap across the back of the head, and I’d had plenty of those.

  “Yeah, I thought so,” my mom said as she picked up another box and jiggled it into her grip while smirking. “You don’t know your surroundings yet, Alex, but you will. One time, and you’ll be fine.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, stabbing my hands underneath my armpits. “Just once,” I said, pouting.

  “Oh, and honey?” my mom asked softly. “Ash is—”

  “A dork,” I cut in, then snorted at my own joke. “I’ll let him show me, but that’s it.”

  She smiled and her eyes sparkled like something was funny. “All right then,” she drew out while side-eying me. “Let’s finish taking our stuff in.”

  My mom handed me my lunch bag, I stuffed it into my backpack, then zipped the black sides together. I didn’t know why it was important that I go to school right away, especially on a Friday. They’d have to know we’d moved a long way and needed rest. Well, I kinda didn’t but I wasn’t in any rush to be the new kid—the one that was so fascinating that they’d question you all day, asking why you’d moved, your name, your birthday, and other things that were way weirder, like what your favorite color was. That I didn’t get at all. Like it was important or something.

  I needed more time to psych myself up to face the kids at Charleston Middle School. Hell, the kids in my old school were bad enough and I’d been there from pre-K, so a little prep wasn’t exactly a bad thing, right?

  “Look,” my mom said as I slung my backpack over my shoulder and gripped the navy strap. “I know it’s going to be tough, but you’re my strong guy, right? You’re a brave boy, Alex. This is our new life, free from walking on eggshells, free from having to remain quiet and staying out of sight.” Her eyes looked glassy, the kind that made my stomach whirl. My mom only did that when she thought I couldn’t see—didn’t know… So, to show me now… “The sooner you put that behind you and be a normal kid, the better.”

  I watched a tear slowly slide along her lid to the inner corner of her eye.

  I groaned. “Okay, Mom,” I said quietly. I took a deep breath. “Where am I meeting Ash?”

  She wiped her hands on the dish towel hanging in the band of the yellow apron she wore over her light pink sweater and blue jeans, which made her look younger now than she used to.

  She cupped my cheeks like she’d done since I was a baby, then pressed her lips to my forehead. “Right outside in about five minutes, honey. Good luck and have fun—you deserve to.” She deserved to have fun, too, and me being a crabby butt wasn’t helping.

  “Okay, bye.”

  As I left, I heard my mom say something about being nice to Ash, but I ignored it, choosing to wave my hand at the instructions I’d already heard over and over.

  Once outside our house, I closed the white front door and walked down the narrow path to the curb. There were no other kids in our street, which was weird, the wide road empty of people. Back home, it’d be busy with cars leaving for work and kids all racing to get to the bus stop, calling dibs on the seats at the back before the bus had even gotten there.

  I didn’t know how many other kids lived here, but when I saw nobody else was around, my stomach dropped.

  “Great,” I mumbled when nobody else came. I looked like an idiot standing on the sidewalk outside my house, looking up and down the street.

  “Hi,” a soft voice said from beside me, making me jump.

  I turned and looked down at a girl. Her big smile made her green eyes sparkle. Her eyebrows were lifted, making her look excited.

  For what, I didn’t know.

  Her small hands gripped onto purple straps over her shoulders, a backpack she could probably fit into.

  I stared at her when her lips moved again.

  “My mom said I should show you to the bus stop.”

  I frowned, then looked her over. Lilac T-shirt with three heart buttons on the front, the short sleeves decorated with patterns that my mom said was some embroidery style. Even her blue jeans had the same lilac embroidery around the ankles and pockets.

  I looked away from her. “Nah, some other kid has that task,” I said, scowling and rolling my eyes.

  “Oh, well, it’s just that your mom asked my mom if I could.”

  My head whipped back to her, and I saw her smile had faded some, now just a tilt of her lips, showing the two points in the center a lot more now that she wasn’t grinning.

  She shifted next to me, moving from foot to foot, her black shoes creaking a little.

  The more I looked at her, the more a weird gurgling built up in my stomach. Either I was going to hurl, or I was gonna get the hell out of there and away from the stranger that wasn’t leaving me alone, just like some of the girls in my old school.

  A gust
of warm air blew over us, catching her golden hair and blowing it over her shoulders to the front, showing how long and shiny it was.

  My black hair picked up, then dropped back down, and the girl glanced at it.

  Only a few seconds had passed, but it’d felt like hours since I’d said anything.

  “Look,” I bit out, wanting Miss. Nosy to go away. “Somebody called Ash is showing me, okay? He’ll be here soon.”

  The girl frowned, then her smooth face split into a massive grin so wide, I could see where her side molars had come out.

  “He?” she asked, then giggled. “Oh.” Her laugh sounded like something from a Disney movie, like a delicate tune.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I’m Ash.” She laughed again and my mouth fell open. “It’s short for Ashley. My friends call me Ash.”

  Heat rose up my neck and flamed in my face. “I’m not your friend,” I snapped.

  “You could be. We could hang out and build Lego?”

  Lego?

  No, this wasn’t happening! My mom never told me Ash was a girl!

  “What, the girly pink crap? No thanks,” I bit out with a snort.

  Ash deadpanned as though I’d said something stupid. “No, I got a new one for my birthday. It’s the—”

  “Not interested, okay?” I snapped and crossed my arms over my chest in a huff. My temper was rising the longer she stood there and stared at me, my insides rolling around and around every time she blinked her long-lashed lids.

  “I was just asking,” she whispered, and looked down at the ground, and I saw that she noticed my new white sneakers.

  I stepped away as if that’d stop her from looking at them. “Well, just don’t.”

  She gestured down the street with her thumb. “The bus—”

  I threw my arms wide, and she flinched, making me feel like a douche. I wasn’t going to hit her—I’d never hit a girl, not like my piece of crap dad. “Leave me alone!” I yelled, hoping that she would.

  Her face reddened, and a knot twisted tight in my chest, but I didn’t care. Ash wouldn’t just go when I clearly wanted her to.