Off limits the limits se.., p.2
Off Limits (The Limits Series Book 1), page 2
Glancing over at Lochlyn, I notice he’s scowling, a look usually saved for Chelsea. “That’s not healthy, Shay.”
Self-consciousness picks at my chest, making my pulse flutter. “I just can’t. For my whole life, he had always been the one to cook breakfast. By the time I get up in the morning, my mom’s already gone. Seven days a week, she’s at the store to open. She stays till close. The last day she took off was my graduation. And I’d wondered if she was even going to follow through with it.”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to teach you how to make yourself some breakfast.”
I look over at him, brows furrowed. “You can cook?”
“I can, in fact.”
“Huh. Who’d have known.”
We sit in a comfortable silence for a little while longer, hands still linked as we stare into the low flames licking the charred wood.
When Lochlyn turns to me and smiles, my heart flutters as he says, “I’m full of surprises, Shay Sterling.”
Chapter 2
It’s a Tuesday in early August, and I’m sitting in the office going over some paperwork with Mom, while Chelsea’s out on the floor, and Lochlyn is unloading some boxes in the stockroom. He’s been helping out all summer and it’s very appreciated, especially since he refuses to accept Mom’s money.
“You know, I’ve always liked Lochlyn. He’s a nice boy,” Mom says as she signs some checks.
“Mom, you’ve never liked Lochlyn.” I lean forward in my chair, uncrossing my legs and resting my fingers on the desk.
“Well, that’s not true.”
“Okay, maybe you didn’t dislike him, but you also never thought very highly of him, either.” Something I never really understood.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“His tattoos? Do you not remember when he started getting them? You asked why somebody would modify their body so permanently and wondered what he was thinking.”
She waves a hand at me like I’m crazy. “Oh, nonsense. It may have just been because they were so new. I’ve known the boy since he was five. I think they suit him and who he’s grown up to be.”
I agree. Though, I’ve always liked Lochlyn’s tattoos. Felt they suited him. He looks tantalizing with them.
He’s your best friend’s brother. Nothing can happen. Deep breath.
“Well, whether you like him or not, it is nice of him to help out around here.” So nice it makes me like him even more. Which makes me war with myself, because I can’t. I shouldn’t.
“It certainly is. The Reynolds raised those two right.”
“Any chance you’ll be home for dinner tonight?” Though I know the chances are slim, and I try not to get my hopes up, I had to take this opportunity to ask. This has been one of the few, albeit short, conversations we’ve had that hasn’t been strained, or about Dad.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, I have too much to do.” In reality, she doesn’t. To avoid coming home, she’ll rearrange things like folding towels that have already been folded once, straightening stacks of boxes, organizing her desk, and the list goes on. She basically stays until she’s too tired to do anything but sleep. But I understand. It’s the home she built with Dad that she’s avoiding, their dream store that she’s trying to perfect. She once told me nights are lonely without him, and it all but broke my heart all over again.
“It’s alright. I’ll just go over to Chelsea’s or something.” Like every other night. I shift in my seat and chew the inside of my lip.
“Oh, that sounds nice. I’m glad you two have been able to stay such good friends all these years.” Another swipe of her pen across the paper.
“Yeah, it’s been great having her. You good in here? I’m going to head out to the floor.” Defeat weighs heavily in my chest and the room becomes more and more stifling by the second.
“Sure, sweetie, go ahead.” It’s not lost on me that my mom hasn’t looked at me once.
I wander out to the floor to find Chelsea straightening up a few stacks of towels, grumbling to herself.
“Hey, Chels, something wrong?”
I catch the perfected Chelsea eye roll. “No, just another customer who decided they wanted to see exactly how big the towels are and proceeded to unfold about seven different ones, just in case each color was sized differently. And then…bought none.” It’s an alarmingly frequent incident.
I stifle a laugh. “I’m sorry. Can I help?”
She puffs some pin straight white-blonde hair out of her face. “No, I’m done.”
“Okay. Do you mind if I join you guys for dinner tonight?” While it’s basically an every night occurrence, I still like to ask. My parents put a lot of work into my manners.
“Sure! It’s just me and Loch, anyway. My parents left today for who knows where. They’ll be gone for a few weeks. Loch said something about a party or two, I don’t know.”
When Chelsea and I were fourteen, their parents started leaving them with a sitter for several days at a time to travel. Once Lochlyn turned eighteen, their parents had started leaving them alone for overnights, which quickly turned to a week at a time, asking my parents to check in on them. It slowed once my dad got sick and Lochlyn was at school, but when he’s home for summer and breaks, they spend the majority of their time traveling.
“Oh, that sounds fine.” Though the idea of a party sounds awful, I had told Lochlyn maybe I’d try one or two.
“Just come over when we leave. We’ll all go together. Your mom would be cool if I left my car, right? At least for a few hours?”
“Yeah, I don’t think she’d mind. I wouldn’t suggest leaving it overnight, though.”
“Loch and I can come back and get it after dinner. Go tell him you’re coming, so we order enough pizza.” This is such a Chelsea thing to do. She’ll never ask Mom, leaving it to me to ask or be the bad guy. And then not asking Lochlyn, just assuming he’ll be okay with getting it later on.
“I don’t eat that much, Chels.” I cross my arms against my chest at her suggestion.
“No, but he does.”
It’s true. I’ve seen him eat an entire pizza by himself. I don’t understand how he’s still in such amazing shape when he can eat the way he does. He’s your best friend’s brother. Nothing can happen.
“Sure. He still in the back?”
She turns back to the towels, angrily refolding one and smacking it on the top of the pile. “As far as I know, I haven’t seen him on the floor.”
When I get into the stockroom, I don’t see Lochlyn. “Loch?” My voice echoes off the walls. It’s a huge room, with shelves and boxes everywhere.
He pokes his head around one of the shelving units, a smile breaking across his face when he sees me, making my heart skip a beat. “Oh, hey.” The words come out breathless, and it's just another reminder of how hard he's working back here. For free.
“Hey. Chels wanted me to let you know that I’m joining you guys for dinner tonight.”
“Oh, okay, good. What do you like on your pizza?” Resting his elbow on a shelf above him causes his shirt to ride up the slightest bit, and my mouth feels parched as I try not to stare at the hard lines and angles.
“I’m not picky.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You most certainly are.”
I sigh. He’s right. I’m pretty picky. With food and boys. “I don’t want to be a bother. Just get whatever you guys want and if I don’t like it, I’ll pick it off.”
“You’re not a bother. If you want something specific, let me know. Otherwise, we’ll get one with just cheese.”
“Just cheese is fine.” I lean my back against the wall, the cool brick a welcome shock to my system, cooling me from the outside in and dousing the fire burning inside for the man in front of me.
“Shay. Come on.”
“Alright. I like peppers and onions.” Though I’ve known Lochlyn almost my whole life, these moments of being open and honest aren’t common. He was there for me after Dad died, and I let my walls down then, but I don’t need to be a burden on him when he already has Chelsea to deal with, who’s no picnic. Something as simple as pizza is no biggie to me.
It’s just another instance where Chelsea would chastise me for being a people pleaser. I can’t help that I’d rather keep the peace than cause tension.
“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“I don’t want you to get a pizza just for what I like.”
“Well, I happen to not be picky. So, it’s fine. You driving back with Chelsea?”
“She actually said something about us all going together? You two coming to get her car later?” While I try to make it sound like a question and I'm not sure she said that, we both know that she did.
His face pulls into a scowl. “Of course she did. I love when she volunteers me for things.” He sighs. “We’ll figure it out when we leave.”
“Do you need anything? Water? A break? I mean, you don’t have to stay, you’re not even getting paid. And it’s a lot of heavy boxes to be moving, unpacking, and breaking down.” A light sheen of sweat is visible on his forehead.
“Water would be great.”
We keep a fridge in the stockroom for water and anybody who brings a lunch. The staff may be small, and mostly consist of our family, but it’s still nice to have it. It’s so far in the back, I’m not sure most people even know about it. I bring him a bottle of water, and when his fingers graze mine, it sends tingles through my body. Nothing can happen. He’s your best friend’s brother.
He uncaps it and takes a long drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing repeatedly. “Thanks. Lots of boxes.”
I can’t help myself from glancing at his strong arms. Or prevent the heat that reignites in my chest.
“Seriously, though, you don’t have to stay. You’ve been helping out for a few weeks already, and while it’s extremely appreciated, it’s really above and beyond.” Not a single part of me wants him to leave, but I feel guilty, like we’re taking advantage of his generosity by putting him to work day after day. He’s a nice guy, maybe he feels bad refusing.
“I don’t mind. It’s nice to be doing something with myself. I’d just be sitting around otherwise, or doing something stupid with Jay and Heath. Plus, it keeps me from having to go to the gym.”
I already know that he runs every morning. I’ve watched him as he runs past my window. What I didn’t know is that he also goes to the gym. It makes sense. Taking a deep breath in, I try to settle my hormones.
“We really appreciate it. My mom was just saying how much she’s always liked you.”
“Ha! She has not. She thought I was trouble and was all too happy to tell me.”
My eyes widen and my eyebrows reach my hairline. “She did?”
He nods, brow furrowed, while taking another sip of his water. “Oh, yeah. The second she saw my first tattoo, that was it. She had labeled me as trouble. She’d known me almost my whole life and my choice to get a tattoo changed her opinion of me.” He shakes his head.
“I’m sorry.” And also very shocked at my mother’s audacity.
“Don’t be. I knew what I was getting myself into.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I did, in fact, point that out, and she said that she finds they suit you.”
He quirks up an eyebrow. “Oh really? Now she thinks that? She probably takes me as someone who grew into the role she felt they gave me.”
“I think she feels like you did the right thing. Followed the path set for you and all that. I do know she’s talked highly about you going to Cornell and sticking with your parents’ wishes for you.”
“My path,” he mumbles.
My brow furrows. “Hmm?”
“Oh, nothing. Thanks for the water. I wanted to try to get to a few more things before we leave. I hope you and your mom don’t mind, but I’m sort of rearranging some things back here so they’re easier to find and reach.” Again, with the above and beyond. I really wish he’d take Mom’s money. Or even merchandise for his time. Something to truly grasp how much we value what he’s doing.
“Sure, no problem. That’s very appreciated, being short and all. I’ll uh, I’ll see ya later.”
I walk out of the stockroom, feeling like I hit a nerve. But I’m not sure Lochlyn and I are close enough for me to ask him something that personal since it’s not my place to pry. So I leave it alone.
Chelsea and Lochlyn’s company helps the summer go by much faster. And we have a lot of fun. I’m kind of surprised the summer is almost over, and a little upset since that means Lochlyn leaves again soon. We’ve gone to a few parties, both of them convincing me to tag along despite putting up a good fight to just stay home. We’ve hung out by the pool, spent many days at the store, and had a lot more nighttime fires.
One of the harder aspects with all of this is that Lochlyn flirts with me. A lot. He’s always been on the flirtatious side. It’s something I’ve seen him do with just about any girl he’s been around. But after realizing that I like him, truly like him, it’s harder to handle.
It’s little things—a touch on my arm that makes warmth spread through my body. An overheated gaze that makes my heart race. His wide smile that makes me want to melt right where I stand.
Two weeks before college classes are set to start, Chelsea meets a guy at the store. Walking out of the backroom on one of the days Lochlyn isn’t here, I find her unabashedly flirting. As we leave that night, she tells me that she invited him over to her house to swim the next day and that I absolutely have to be there.
That’s how the next day we’re all hanging out by the pool. Lochlyn is tense; his eyes trained on Brendan. It’s a little awkward, with Chelsea and Brendan on some weird pseudo date, and then me and Lochlyn, who are, of course, not. I’d love to be here on a real date with him, though. The reminder that we can’t be together seems moot at this point.
Chelsea and I are standing by the edge of the pool as Brendan tries to convince her to go in, but she keeps refusing, having spent too much time straightening her hair to ruin it.
I’m busy laughing at Chelsea when I’m suddenly falling into the water below, with strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist. As my head breaks the surface, I see Lochlyn treading water, eyes fixated on me. I can’t seem to pull my gaze from his.
Until I hear Chelsea screaming, “What the hell, Lochlyn! That wasn’t nice! And you got me soaked!”
“Sorry, Chels,” he yells, eyes still locked in on me. Before I can think or feel anything, he turns away. “Just trying to get Shay to have some fun.” Pushing himself up and out of the pool, he reaches a hand down for me. I take it, and with a hard tug, he’s able to pull me out, one-handedly.
I stumble a bit, falling against his hard chest. His hands are gentle on my hips. When my eyes find his again, I’m stunned still, in awe of how he feels against me. Where my palm rests over his heart, I feel it hammering away, just like mine is.
Chelsea’s next to us in a second, pushing us apart. “Hands off, Loch.”
He lets go and takes a step back, running his fingers through his soaked locks, a few stray strands falling back in his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just helping her out of the pool.”
“Mhm, I bet that’s what you say about all the girls before they fall into bed with you. Not my best friend. No way.”
He rolls his eyes and sighs. “I’ll go get us some towels.” After stripping his shirt off, he walks inside.
Lochlyn pulling me into the pool isn’t that abnormal. It happens at least once a summer. The part that’s different this time is that he wrapped his arms around my waist. Normally, he gives me a shove, pulls me in from below, or takes my hand as he jumps in. It doesn’t help my resolve that I can’t have him.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice he's returned until he’s wrapping a towel around my shoulders. Sitting on the pool chair opposite me, he puts his knees on either side of mine.
“Sorry, Shay, just trying to have some fun.”
“It’s fine, I’m fine. I’m used to it.” I smirk, pushing him gently against the shoulder. A smile lights up his entire face, causing mine to expand even further.
“I’m nothing if not traditional.”
“Well, you got your pool toss in this summer. Cutting it close too. Don’t you leave in a few days?” An ache settles in my chest at the thought.
“I do, yeah.” He nods slowly as his face turns to the ground, using the towel to wipe under his nose.
“It must be nice, getting an apartment.”
“I don’t know. Campus has its perks. But it will be good to have some more space. You’ll see next year.”
“Yeah, I hope so,” I say, nodding. One thing I’ve had to learn not to do is let that hope rise too far in my chest. It’s not worth it. The loss of Dad taught me that nothing is guaranteed, and tomorrow isn’t promised.
“You’ll get there, Shay. You have to trust that.” My face must not look convincing because he rests his hand on my knee, causing me to look up as warmth spreads from his fingertips through my body. “You will.”
Nothing can happen. He’s your best friend’s brother. It doesn’t matter how many times I reiterate this motto. It doesn’t help. I still want Lochlyn Reynolds.
Chapter 3
Classes start for me and Chelsea a few days after Lochlyn leaves. We’re both a little nervous, not really sure what to expect. But we have our first class together, which helps.
A few weeks in, and we’re sitting outside at a local café with two girls, Rachel and Eve, whom we met our first day. We like them enough that we decided to see them outside of school. They’re nice and easy to get along with.
