MJ’s POV

It seemed like I had been sleeping forever when that little ball of love jumped up in my face and started barking at me. I groaned and pushed at her with one hand, the other arm encircling my face to block out the sunlight entering the room. Was I still really tired? Not really, but it didn’t mean that I wanted to get up. I knew I had to work tonight and I would need to call Dice or ask Brian to take me home. I just wanted five more minutes in the dark bliss but Pinkly had other plans. “Just five more minutes,” I groaned into the pillow.

Pinkly opened her mouth to bark again but the only thing I heard was a loud giggle from somewhere in the house. I slowly sat up, arching my back to peek over the back of the couch. Did Brian have company and I was rudely sleeping the day away on the couch? I gnawed my bottom lip as I pulled Pinkly back into my arms, only to be smothered with dog kisses. “Okay, okay, I’ll take you outside and then I need to go home,” I told the Maltese. She cocked her head to one side, as if asking me ‘why do you have to go?’.

“Because it sounds like your Daddy is entertaining guests…somewhere else.” I looked up just as a loud bang sounded and a frown pulled at my lips. I wasn’t sure what I was hearing but I was starting to get that sinking feeling in my gut. Maybe I had overstayed my welcome.

I just couldn’t get over how kind Brian was last night and how he took care of me when I was such a hot mess. Well, it wasn’t much different than any other day, but still, it was nice to be looked after.I just hoped that he didn’t expect some kind of sexual favor in return. Sure it would probably be amazing but I knew it would leave me crushed. I was going to stick by my guns and make sure a guy cared for me before giving him everything.

“Come on, girl.” I lead the white puffball through the living room and decided to keep walking forward instead to turned into the alcove. Okay, are those Dice’s boots on the mat next to mine? I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t about to stop and find out. I just kept walking and to my surprise, I found myself in a beautiful kitchen that lead out onto a patio. “Wow…this isn’t a house….it’s like a hotel…” It was true. The place looked so nice that I could have been a five star hotel. Not saying that I had ever stayed in a five star hotel because I was broker than broke, but it’s what I assumed one to look like.

I pulled open the patio door and Pinkly took off, barking at the birds perched on the fence.Normally when I was in someone else’s house, I felt constricted and very cautious about everything that I did. Let’s just say that I was afraid that I would break something or say the wrong thing. But here? I oddly felt at home and comfortable. Maybe it was because Brian had been so open and forthright with me the night before? I didn’t know and I didn’t want to get my hopes up for anything. If he was what he said he was then I was sure in for a hurting. Come on, MJ, pull up that friends wall.

As Pinkly ran around the yard, I moved over and took a seat on the edge of the pool but not before pulling off the knee high socks. Today was going to be a hot August day, that’s for sure. Just the way my hair was starting to frizz, I knew that the humidity was high. Maybe that would lead to rain and I loved the rain. It was comfort food to me. Hell, I even hand one of those thunderstorm CD’s in my room to help me sleep when my mind was running wild with delusions of grandeurs. I carefully put my feet in the nice cool water, feeling some relief from whatever tension I was still holding from last night. It was peaceful here and I’m sure that’s the way Brian wanted it, being a famous musician and all. I guess I would have to break down and look them up online and see what those platinum records are all about.

I looked down to see Pinkly sitting next to me, her head cocked to the side again. “No, sweetheart, I can’t stay here,” I said softly, scratching behind her ear. “But maybe I’ll see you again sometime?” Pinkly barked at me and I couldn’t help but laugh. She looked like she was asking me if I would at least stay for breakfast.

Breakfast? What time was it anyway? I had no idea where my purse or my phone where, let alone where in Huntington Beach I was. I was just a hot mess from the get go. “Okay, maybe we can go see what your daddy has hiding in the cupboards and we’ll make something but then I’ve got to go.” As soon as I agreed, the Maltese launched herself towards the door and back into the kitchen. Well, if one thing, she was persistent.

After a few minutes of searching the dark cheery wood cupboards, I found all the fixings for pancakes and some bacon in the fridge. I hoped Brian wouldnt be upset with me for making some breakfast for him and his company as a thank you for last night. He could have been like everyone else and left me sitting on the curb crying.

“What are you doing?” I gasped in surprise, looking up from the bowl I was mixing. It had been at least ten minutes since I had started cooking, and the smell of bacon and pancakes was undoubtedly filling the house.

Brian leaned against the doorframe wearing nothing put a pair of black sweats and a smirk on his lips. I nervously chewed my bottom lip as I looked over his flawless features. Oh, and those tattoos on his arms and chest…I couldn’t help but feel a small blush creep on my cheeks as I thought about them holding me and doing naughty things to me. Whoa, wake up MJ! You’re not one to usually have those kinds of thoughts. Miss I’ve-Only-Ever-Had-Sex-Eight-Times-Before. Simmer that aching feeling down below now and get your head back on!

“I-I thought I would make you some breakfast,” I stammered out, picking my jaw up off the floor. I swallowed thickly and placed my gaze back in the bowl of batter. “I hope you like pancakes…” I bit my lip and chanced a glance up at him to see him staring me down with a growing smirk.

“You are something else, Mia Johnson,” he chuckled and put a bottle of liquor down on the counter. “You are just full of surprises.”

“I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did last night.” I simply shrugged, turning my back to him to pour some batter on the griddle and check the bacon. I slowly bent forward, totally forgetting that I was still wearing this ridiculous leather skirt, and opened the oven. When I went stand up, I felt an arm snake around my waist and pull me back into a muscular chest. It felt good to feel that close but my panic started to set in a little bit.

“You really don’t have to do that.” Brian’s lips were so close to my ear that I could feel his hot breath, which sent a round of shivers down my spine. His bold hands circled over my hips and slightly exposed mid-drift as he pulled my ass into him. He was hard already and I could only rasp in a breath. Did I want him? Hell yeah, I did, but would I let him have me? I didn’t want to put myself through that torment.

I slowly pulled away from him and moved back over to the griddle to flip those fluffy beauties. Chancing a nervous glance over my shoulder, I saw Brain eyeing me from behind, almost like he was studying my movements. “So, do you have any plans today?” I asked causally, facing back forward. In all honesty, it didn’t really matter what his plans were. I was just trying to make small take to keep the awkward tension from rising in the room because I was sure he was trying to figure out why I wasn’t caving into him. I just put up my safety wall.

“Nadda. Well, maybe I’ll take a nap. Didn’t sleep much last night.” A sigh escaped his perfect lips and he moved over to the stool and took a seat. “You?” I turned around just in time to see him bring the tall bottle to his lips, watching me all the while. In that moment, our eyes locked and I knew he was trying to figure me out.

“I’ve got to work,” I sighed. “Just hope that Saturday night wont be too rough, specially since it’s Dicey’s night off.” I flipped the pancakes and bacon onto a plate and slid it across the island to Brian, a small smile on my face. “Hope you’re hungry.”

He scoffed and shook his head just as I heard a loud giggle from the hallway. “Do you have company?”

“Yeah, Dice and Shadz are here,” he replied, his mouth full of pancakes. “Hope you made enough to feed and army. Matt packs it away like no one I’ve ever seen before.”

I snorted back. “You’ve never seen Dice eat then,” I chuckled, putting the rest of the pancakes on a plate. “I swear I have no idea where she puts it all. She could be a professional eater.”

Brian arched his brow at me before setting his hand on mine, a smirk pulling on his lips. “I could be a professional pus—“

“What are you fucktards talking about?" My eyes focused over top of Brian’s head to see Dice and Matt standing in the doorway. Matt’s eyes grew wide when he saw the pancakes on the counter and he dived into a seat next to Brian. Without even so much as a ‘hello’ he started to shovel his way through the stack. Okay, so I guess I’m making more…

“Did you have a good night?” I asked Dice with a smirk, eyeing her over my shoulder as she took a seat on Matt’s lap. She smirked widely before shrugging.

“I guess if you like alcohol and horse cock,” She shrugged. “Why the hell are you even here?” Well, good morning to you too, Luc. “Didn’t you leave last night with Zacky?” How does she even remember that? I thought she was plastered drunk. Lucy Reed just kept surprising me.

I felt all eyes in the room on me and I chewed my bottom lip nervously. I didn’t want to relive last night, well, at least that part of the night. I knew it would come across as me being some kind cock tease that was playing games, but that wasn’t the case. I didn’t even try to lead Zacky on, he was the one make all the moves on me.

“Oh, relax, we know you’re not some slut, love.” I glanced back up at Dice to see her gnawing on a piece of bacon and watching me closely. “I’m just surprised you’re here off all places and Gates didn’t jump your bones.”

Was that a bad thing? Did Brian have to fuck me for me to be here? Well, I guess from what he told me last night that it made sense. It just was starting to seem like he wasn’t what everyone told me he was. I had heard he was an arrogant playboy bastard but I have only seen his kind and nurturing side. Was I missing something here?

“So what did happen with Vengeance?” Matt asked with his mouth open only to get punched in the side by Dice. “What? It’s a simple question that we’re all thinking, I just voiced it!” I turned my back to them and looked out the patio window. I didn’t have to answer to them and I certainly wasn’t going to break down into tears.It really wasn’t any of their business—that was between Zacky and I.

“It-It just didn’t work out, okay?” I asked before storming out of the room. I quickly grabbed my boots, jacket, and purse before heading out the door. My anxiety was rising and my heart was racing. I could feel the panic attack coming on and I knew I couldn’t have one in front of the guys. I walked down the sidewalk and climbed into the passenger seat of Dice’s car, my eyes landing on a new pack of cigarettes in the center counsel. I quickly opened the pack, lit up, and took a long drag, the nicotine curbing my rising panic. Now I remembered why I smoked so much through college—it aided my anxiety disorder.

“It’s none of their business that I freaked out and walked out,” I hissed to myself, pulling my phone out of my purse. It was then that I saw that I had about twenty missed messages and five missed calls. Shit, Malcolm was at it again. I swallowed thickly as I scrolled through the messages, each one getting more and more angry.

You’re going to b fucking sorry ur ignoring me. I’ll make u pay, sweet cheeks

I gaped down at my phone, my face turning pale and my blood running cold. I couldn’t even imagine what would have happened at Johnny’s the other day if Brian hadn’t stepped in. Maybe if I text him back it will curb his anger.

I’m sorry I missed ur texts. I lost my phone.

I typed back just as I saw Dice coming out of the house. She looked slightly irritated but also amused at the same time.She came and leaned against the window next to me, looking me over with her vivid green orbs. “MJ look—“

“Just take me home, Dice,” I cut her off, not wanting a lecture right now. I wasn’t like her. I couldn’t just drop all my boundaries and ‘have fun’ as she called it. I didn’t know the first thing about letting down my walls.

“Just let me—“

“Take. Me. Home. Now.” I snapped, not giving her the chance to speak. I was freaked out over Malcolm, Felt guilty over leaving Zacky, and was oh so confused about what was going on between Brain and I. “I have to work in a few hours and I really just need to have some time to myself.”

Dice groaned but nevertheless moved over and climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled out the driveway. She kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye as I puffed on the cigarette. At least it was some help to curb my rising anxiety. “I thought you didn’t smoke,” she finally asked as we pulled into the driveway.

“Well, I do now.” I huffed, chucking the butt into the yard and then heading into the house.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon flew by and the next thing I knew I was standing behind the bar at Johnny’s. I was going through the motions of the job but today there was a certain disconnect. I just couldn’t get everything that had happened out of my head.I didn’t even notice when a familiar face pulled up in front of me at the bar with a light smile on their face.

Notes

Who is at the bar with MJ? Have the guys read her wrong? I she really out to tease and cockblock the guys? Is MJ playing games?