No Mercy by Shannon Dermott Page B

would be heartbroken by a breakup.
     
    When I drove away, I felt like what happened between us was not much different than the kinds of business mergers my dad did for work.  No, merger wasn’t it either.  It was more like a friendly yet hostile takeover with me the one being bought out.  Amanda had been far too confident and certain of me.  Maybe I should be scared.  Nah, that would be the day.
     
    Nearly home, I noticed a pickup truck tailing me.  Its bumper getting awfully close.  Pulling into my driveway, I expected the car to drive on by.  When it didn’t, I silently cursed.  Recognition of the car came a little too late.  I’d simply dismissed it earlier.   But once it pulled in after me, there was no mistaking who it was.
     
    Wordlessly, I said a thank you when I pulled in behind Luke’s car.  The guy I’ve known my whole life and could count on was leaning on the car wide eyed as the truck behind me stopped and the driver jumped out.  Luke took steps towards my car and I was grateful the guy had my back.  But I could handle myself in a fight.  And I knew the guy would be able to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.
     
    Calmly, I opened my car door.  Before I did, I already had a plan.  That had been decided once I realized who followed me home.
     
    “Brody,” I said, eyeing the guy face to face, toe to toe.  Built like a tanker truck, the dude was tall as he was broad.  I didn’t doubt for a second he packed a powerful punch. He was as tough as he was on the field.  The local newspapers had referred to him as the next great thing to come from our town as evidenced by heavy college recruitment. But more than that, Brody was a likeable guy.  I didn’t relish the idea of what was coming next.
     
    Seething, Brody said, “You asshole.”  I didn’t even flinch at the guy's words.  In fact I expected more.  Much more.  “You slept with my baby sister, then dumped her.”
     
    Okay, that’s more like what I anticipated with this conversation.  At least he’d gotten to the point. But his views on things were quite skewed.  Shelli had made the first move.  Hell, I actually had almost no choice in the matter. 
     
    About two months ago at lunch with the days warming again, I was sitting out on the quad with all the guys.  Shelli walked up leaving her friend tens paces behind her and called me out in front of everyone.  And what was I supposed to do when she laid down a challenge in front of the guys.
     
    “I heard you and Lindsey broke up,” she’d said.  Her hands were firmly on her hips. Her shoulder length glossy black hair swung a little in her stance framing her pretty face.  She wore a sexy school girl outfit down to the red and black plaid short shirt.  The guys snickered after she spoke the first line.  She’d known exactly was she was doing.
     
    “Yeah, and,” I answered.  I’d eyed her black top with cleavage showing certain she’d conveniently left several buttons undone to tantalize me. It worked. I barely noticed the red sweater hanging over her shoulder.  Moving my gaze down her slim figure, black stocking reached just above her knees leaving a little of her creamy skin showing.  I never saw her shoes.  Her voice brought my gaze back to her face.
     
    What she said next shocked the shit out of me.  I knew then I was out of options.  “Today’s my birthday,” she’d begun. “And I want you for my present.”   I’d gotten some wild propositions in the past from many shameless mothers.  But this was a first.  With my mouth slightly parted in shock, a challenge was made that I couldn’t back down on.  The guys were already cheering me on and clapping me on the back.
     
    Speechless, I just nodded. “After school then,” she’d said ending the one sided conversation.  I watched her walk away knowing this wouldn’t be good.  The guys were speaking amongst themselves and I’d felt boxed in.  That day she may have looked all