Blow (TKO #3) Read online

  Blow

  TKO Series, Book 3

  By Ana Layne

  Blow

  Copyright © 2015 by Ana Layne. All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: September 2015

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-272-7

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-272-0

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  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 locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To my readers old and new, this is dedicated to you. You make me want to reach higher for the moon and stars.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Tamilyn

  I can’t breathe. My body is going through all the motions for breathing to take place, but it’s like nothing is happening. Things weren’t supposed to go this way, but here I am staring straight ahead, afraid to make eye contact with him. If I move my head in any sudden direction, eye contact is inevitable. The tears pooled in my eyes are so thick I doubt I could even make his features out. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to see the hurtful look on his face. No doubt it’s the mirror image of my own. All I know is everything was fine earlier. I had everything figured out and then, like a blow to the gut, it vanished. My head drops even with my knees and the tears I’ve been holding back finally fall.

  Chapter 1

  Ruston

  Standing against a tree in one of the local parks, I stare at the luscious locks of brown hair cascading down her back in a ponytail, and her long, lean legs in those running shorts. Tamilyn tosses her head back, laughing at something Jess said. Jess has tried to interest me several times, but all we’ve shared are a few kisses. Kisses that mean nothing because all I want is the girl sitting across from her. She and Tamilyn have never been great friends, and they rarely talk. They just happened to hang out with part of the same crowd in high school. All I want is Tamilyn. She doesn’t even know what she does to me. I stood beside her ever since we were making mud pies in her backyard but all she’s ever seen me as is her best friend. I’d rather have that than nothing at all, but I wish she would open her eyes and see me. I would do anything in this world for her. Instead, I’m just the hopeless guy in love with his childhood friend.

  “Oh, hey, Ruston,” Jess purrs. She’s never taken the hint. I’ve tried to be subtle because I don’t want Tamilyn knowing the mistake I made.

  “Hey, Jess,” I mutter before drawing in a deep breath. “Hey, Tam, what’s up?”

  Tamilyn turns to face me, her smile covering her whole face. I love it. “Hey, Rus.”

  She wraps her arms around my neck and I manage to breathe in just enough of her without sending her any kind of bad vibe. Having her in my arms is the best part of my day.

  “I’ll catch you guys later. I need to do some laundry,” Jess announces, as if we really needed to know that.

  “Bye, Jess,” Tamilyn calls out. I just nod in her direction. The sooner Jess is gone, the quicker I get attention from Tam.

  Jess purposefully shakes her ass, probably hoping my jaw will drop and I’ll want her, but I turn away from her.

  “You’re off work today, right?” I pull away from the embrace. Mom has been on my case for almost a week now, wondering why Tamilyn hasn’t been over for dinner. In my mom’s eyes, Tamilyn and I are as together as they come. She probably thinks we’re sleeping together but the last time we slept in the same vicinity, we were fully clothed.

  “I am. Why, what’s up?” She raises her eyebrow as I pull her hand into mine.

  “Just asking. Mom wants to know if we want to come by for dinner tonight.”

  “Yeah, I have no plans. Jess wanted to go out, but I’m not feeling it tonight. I’d much rather spend the evening with your family.”

  Tamilyn cracks me up sometimes. She loves the nightlife as much as the typical twenty-two-year-old, but she also loves just staying indoors and not doing a damn thing. That’s what I love so much about her.

  “I’ll text her and let her know. She’s going to be so excited.”

  “My parents are still out in the Bahamas somewhere having a blast, so it’s not like I have much of anything to do and your mom is one of the best cooks I know. Thanks to her, I don’t have to eat fast food tonight. She’s my savior.”

  I roll my eyes. Tamilyn is such a damn character sometimes. She slaps my arm and I pretend to wince in pain. She truly hits like a girl but I never admit that to her because then she may actually try to hit me harder.

  “We can ride together if you want.” I offer with my fingers and toes both crossed. Time with her is the highlight of my life.

  “Sure. I’m actually about to head back to my apartment. I’m all sweaty and I don’t want to stink at dinner.”

  I’m sleazy for showing up at the park where she does her afternoon run. I know I could have texted her but I don’t take the easy way out of anything.

  I lead her back to my gray Chevy truck that sits parked at the curb, then open the door for her like usual. I do all these kind, gentlemanly gestures hoping that she’ll realize just how perfect I am for her. She grins and says thank you. I sigh as I walk over to my side of the truck. The radio is blaring my favorite rock station and I hurry to turn it down. She stops me from turning it down too low.

  “I like this song.” She grins as I slowly pull away from the curb. Her apartment is only about a block and a half from the park, so in a matter of a few seconds we are sitting outside her home. The song is still on and she insists we stay put until it’s over.

  When she sings along, I focus on her alone. She’s a karaoke singing, music loving girl. I know, I’m a total fucking creeper. I’ve got to be the creepiest best friend in the world. Relief washes over me as the song ends. With Tamilyn’s approval, I finally turn the truck off and she grabs her house key. I follow behind her and make myself at home on her couch. She hasn’t told me to make myself at home in ages. It’s just an understood thing between us.

  The sound of the shower turning on makes my dick hard. Pathetic, I know, but the thought of her being naked just a few feet from me drives me insane. This is becoming torture, but misery loves company and I’d rather be tortured than not have her in my life at all. The pain in my dick increases the longer I hear the shower. I need
to think of anything but her. My gaze roams her quaint apartment, looking for anything to kill the hard-on that’s taken over. Her book shelf sticks out but it doesn’t help that she has those damn Fifty Shades of Grey books up there.

  Focus, Ruston, focus. Finally, I see a picture of her grandma, and that kills every fantasy my dick was harboring. Thank God. I hear the shower turn off.

  Tamilyn’s hum fills the small apartment and I glance toward her bedroom door. It’s open and I begin sweating when I see her walk by in nothing but a soft pink towel. I glance back at the picture of her grandma. Sometimes I wonder if she realizes what she’s doing when she doesn’t shut the door. She knows I’m a guy and she’s got to know how guys think and what they think with. We don’t always use our damn brains.

  Minutes pass as if they were hours as I wait for her to get ready. She finally emerges from her bedroom wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. She runs her fingers through her hair before stepping back into the bathroom. When she emerges, I raise my eyebrow. “Ready?”

  “Yeah, sorry. I had to put my eyeliner on.”

  “You know you don’t need all that shit,” I remind her.

  “Yeah, I know, but I like it so shut it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” It’s her turn to roll her eyes and she does. Boy, does she ever.

  My parents live maybe ten minutes from Tamilyn’s apartment so I usher us out the door. The smell of her shampoo fills the cab of my truck and my mouth begins salivating. To get my mind off her, I turn the radio up a little and I’m disappointed when I realize it’s not a song I like. Instead, it’s one she likes, and her voice takes over. I chuckle as I turn down my parents’ street. I turn the truck off and watch as Tamilyn begins to pout because her song wasn’t over yet. She glares in my direction as she turns to let herself out. She’ll get over it. She always does.

  Without knocking, we both walk inside. The scent of Mom’s pot roast fills the house and my stomach gurgles immediately. I’ve missed her meals. I can cook for myself but it doesn’t compare to one of her meals. Tamilyn walks straight into the kitchen and gives my mom a hug. Mom has always thought of Tamilyn as the daughter she never had. Tamilyn and I are both only children. Our parents just so happened to be best friends so in return, the two of us became close friends.

  “How have you been, Tamilyn?” Mom asks as she pulls two wine glasses from the cabinet. I laugh as I walk to the refrigerator and grab a can of Coke.

  “Oh, Rus, will you hand me that bottle of wine, please?”

  “Sure thing.” I grab the bottle and hand it to Tamilyn. She opens the drawer and pops the cork off the bottle. I’ll never understand women and their wine. Most importantly, I’ll never understand how I got chosen to be a designated driver in all this.

  Mom and Tamilyn make small talk while sipping. I look around for my dad. At least I wouldn’t have to listen to anything my ears don’t want to hear. “Hey, where’s Dad?”

  “Still at work. They’re closing out a big case so he may be late,” Mom answers as she downs almost half her glass.

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Come, let’s sit and we can talk.” Mom leads us to the living room. She sits in Dad’s oversized maroon recliner, leaving Tamilyn and me to sit on one of the couches. The leather couch is cool to the touch but so comfortable. My thigh brushes against Tamilyn’s but I don’t move it.

  “What do you want to talk about, Mom?” I can’t take a ton of girly shit so I hope it’s nothing like that.

  “Well, I got a call from your Aunt Moira and Uncle James today. Austin has been getting into a lot of trouble back home and your father and I have talked and we think it may be good for him to come and stay here for a while. We know you have an extra room in your apartment and if you’re open to the idea, maybe you could give it a shot. Your dad wanted to discuss this with you but with him running late, I’m taking the reins.”

  Austin? Shit, I haven’t seen him since we were twelve. He was an obnoxious kid who liked to run his mouth more than anything. I’m surprised he never got his ass kicked. No, he was too busy kicking everyone else’s asses. Maybe he’s changed. He’s family so I can’t say no. It’s not like we’ve never gotten along. We have never had any major disagreements so I think this could work. I hope he would take me in if the roles were reversed.

  “I don’t see why it can’t work. He’ll just need a job to help pay bills,” I tell my mom.

  “We definitely understand that. Well, if you’re sure, I’ll call Moira after dinner and tell her Austin will be staying with you.”

  I nod and watch as Mom stands from the recliner and walks back to the kitchen to check on dinner. “Tamilyn, if you need a refill, the bottle is out.”

  Tamilyn looks at me with wide eyes. “Please?” she asks, her lip sticking out.

  I chuckle under my breath as I reach for the empty glass. Her fingers brush against mine and the glass almost slips from my grasp. I catch my breath and rise to my feet. Once I’m in the kitchen, I let my breath out. Mom is just staring at me, probably wondering what the hell is going on with me.

  “I hope Austin coming to stay doesn’t put a strain on anything you and Tamilyn have,” she whispers to me.

  “Mom, nothing is going on with us. We’re friends.”

  “If you say so.” She refills the glass and I turn to bring it back to Tamilyn before this conversation can develop any further.

  Dad still isn’t home within the hour so the three of us sit down to eat. Tamilyn and Mom are on their fourth glass of wine and I’ve switched from Coke to water. The roast melts in my mouth and I go for seconds. After dinner, Tamilyn and I help Mom clean up. It’s getting late and I know Tamilyn is probably tired from her run this afternoon so we hug my mom goodbye.

  Tamilyn giggles the whole way to the truck. She’s had more than enough wine for the night. I help her in and listen as she bursts into a fit of laughter as she attempts to buckle her seatbelt. After several attempts, I reach over her and grab the seatbelt. I fasten it without getting any sort of dirty thoughts when she rests her hand on my cheek. I turn to face her as she leans forward and plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

  “Thank you, Ruston. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  I swallow hard as I debate my next move. I can’t screw anything up. “You’re welcome, Tam.” My lips have a mind of their own and move toward hers. I avert them to her right cheek.

  Her soft skin against my lips is heavenly and this may be the most time we get to spend together for a long time especially with Austin moving here for a little while. I know he’s not going to be the same kid he was ten years ago.

  “You’re so sweet for taking in your cousin like that,” she tells me.

  “That’s what family does. I haven’t seen him in ten years but I’m guessing it’ll be cool.”

  “Oh wow, it has been that long, hasn’t it?” Tamilyn asks with wide eyes. I blame her reactions on the alcohol.

  “Yep. Do you remember him?”

  “I think so.” She reaches for my hand. “You’re still my number one guy. I love you, Rus.”

  Saying I love you back to her just seems wrong. I guess it’s because the love I have for her is completely different from the friendship love she feels for me. Instead, I gently squeeze her hand and drive back to her apartment.

  “Want to come in and watch a movie?” she asks innocently.

  “Sure thing.” I turn the truck off. I don’t even ask what she plans on watching. Truth is, I don’t care.

  The rest of the night can go to shit but right now, this moment can stay cemented forever. The movie is on but Tamilyn rests her head on my shoulder and from there she begins lightly snoring as her head reaches my lap. I sigh as I run my fingers softly through her hair. The movie isn’t even halfway over and she’s passed out. I reach for the remote control and turn the television off, letting the dark consume us. I slide out from under her and carry her to her bed. She opens her eyes slightly and smiles. “Thank you, Rus.”


  “You’re welcome. Get some rest.”

  “Want to sleep here?” She yawns. I know I should probably say no, but I say yes knowing that with Austin coming to stay, nights like this may cease to exist. I climb into her bed fully clothed.

  My arm snakes around her waist and it doesn’t take long before my breathing matches hers. Exhaustion hit me and I didn’t even realize I was this tired. When I wake, my arm is still in the same position which must mean I slept better than I have in a long time.

  Chapter 2

  Tamilyn

  The sound of the faucet running in the bathroom reminds me Ruston is still here. I remember asking him to stay the night. It’s not uncommon for us. I mean, we are best friends. We’ve been that way since the days of drool and soggy diapers. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him in my life. I climb out of bed and stare down at the same clothes I had on yesterday. I was so tired, I passed out before the movie was over and I never bothered to get up and change. Before he can exit the bathroom, I hurry and change into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I know we’ve seen each other in all kinds of scenarios having grown up together, but I’m always respectful of myself and Ruston when it comes to changing. I know we’re adults, but we’re human and the human mind has its own way of thinking when it comes to the opposite sex. I can’t lie and say I’ve never snuck a peek at his bare stomach when his shirt has crept up just a little. He’s extremely attractive. His green eyes are always sparkling and when he smiles, his dimple forms just right. Any girl would be lucky to have him but he doesn’t date. I don’t know that I’d be able to share him if I had to.

  My thoughts evaporate into the air as the door opens. Ruston walks out and smiles. “You finally decided to wake up?”

  “Yeah, I guess I did. Sorry I fell asleep so quick last night. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”