Effortless (Less Is More Book 3) Read online

  “I don’t know whether to suggest you tell him you know or not,” Elliot says. “I mean I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the support, but I’m sure he also doesn’t want a lot of people knowing if he hasn’t told his employees.”

  “I wonder how long he’s known?” I think out loud.

  “I find it odd that he’s selling it later and not sooner,” Will says. “I wonder how severe it is, I mean.”

  “Maybe he isn’t even going to travel,” Sam says. He puts his hand on top of mine and focuses in on my face.

  I shrug, take another drink of my beer, and I say, “Do you want to go dance?”

  Sam gets out of his chair and veers me out to the dance floor. The music gets louder the closer we get, and I can feel the vibration of the music pulsing throughout my skin. I look around, but I don’t see Ethan or Cody anywhere.

  “I thought they were coming out here to dance?” I ask Sam.

  He laughs, and he says, “They’re probably in the bathroom. Ethan and Cody are definitely… the most sexual couple that I have the pleasure of knowing.”

  Sam brings his body closer to mine, and motions into me, as the music speeds up. I rest my forehead against his and close my eyes, trying not to think about Bruce or the fact that sooner or later, Sam and I are going to no longer be enjoying each other like this.

  “Are you seeing anyone else?” I ask him, doing the opposite that I should be doing. I look into his eyes, and he doesn’t say anything.

  He shakes his head. “No… are you?”

  “No.”

  He pulls back from me, and he says, “Where did that come from?”

  “I was talking to Ethan. He asked me what we were, and no one is ever satisfied with the truth that we aren’t dating.”

  He comes closer again and starts dancing. “Are you OK?”

  I nod. “I’m just starting to realize that this thing we have going on won’t last forever.”

  He chews on his bottom lip and looks from me to the floor, not saying anything.

  Finally, he says, “If you want to talk about it, we can.”

  I shake my head, and I say, “I’m sorry I brought it up here. I swear, it wasn’t on my mind until I started talking to Ethan.”

  He smiles. “That fucking Ethan.”

  ***

  “What time are the fireworks?” Cody asks Ethan at dinner the next night.

  “Dusk,” he says.

  “When’s that?”

  Ethan shrugs. “When the fireworks start.”

  “My weather app says around nine,” Sam says.

  Ethan nods to Sam and looks back over to Cody. “There you go, sweetheart.”

  Cody smiles and plants a kiss on Ethan’s head.

  “It’s right down the street,” Ethan says. “We have enough time to get down there.”

  We pay our checks and make our way down the boardwalk. I can see the pier out of the corner of my eye, and the boat with all the fireworks is just past it. The boat is lit up, but it’s too far away for me to make anything out.

  “Where are we going to watch them from?” I ask.

  “The waitress said to watch them from the pier,” Ethan says. “If there is even room. There are a lot of fucking people here.”

  As we get closer, all I can see are lit up phones and flashing lights. There is a giant stage where a band is playing and everyone is surrounding it, singing along. We get to the pier and find an open spot in the sand next to it. Sam and I sit down close to the wall of the pier, while the rest of the guys walk up onto it and make their way down the pier.

  “It’s nice out tonight,” Sam says. He sets his hand down on my knee, and I intertwine his fingers with mine. “I know this isn’t going to last forever.”

  I look up at him. “Huh?”

  “I know we’re having fun with each other, and I also know that it’s not going to last forever. I’m still not ready for a relationship right now. If that’s not OK, I understand.”

  My grip tightens on his fingers, and I say, “I didn’t bring it up because I want one. I just didn’t know how exclusive this arrangement was. I don’t know. I’m having the time of my life with you, but I’m not ready for more right now, either. Not that I don’t think I could commit to you, but I just don’t feel ready yet.”

  I think about Eddie and being cheated on in general. I truly don’t think Sam would ever hurt me like that, but I’m still not comfortable with labeling myself again already. I’m also not comfortable, I realize, with Sam being with someone else besides me, though, either.

  The music stops in the distance, and they announce the countdown for the fireworks. The first one shoots up into the sky. The sky lights up once the explosions hit with different reds and blues. I lie back and rest my head on my arm. Sam does the same, putting his hands behind his head and resting directly on his back.

  The sky is beautiful, but not as beautiful as Sam’s face every time another firework explodes in the sky. I bend down and lock my lips with his. He wraps his hand around my head, and we share the most passionate kiss we have had since I’ve known him. I look back up at the sky, and my mind starts to wander into thoughts about everything besides the fireworks.

  Would I be ready for a relationship again if Sam asked me? Am I actually ready, but I’m choosing not to be because Sam isn’t? Is this going to end with Sam and I together, or will we never speak again?

  I look back down at Sam and see that he is already looking at me. The only thing I can think about is whether or not all of the questions I’m asking myself are running through his mind, too.

  ***

  “You ready?” Sam asks me, making sure our seat is locked in tight.

  I nod and look up and down the rest of the Ferris wheel. It’s not as huge as the one in Chicago, nor as nice, but it’s still a Ferris wheel and there is still a nice view to be seen.

  We start making our way up, and when I look towards the ocean, all I see is darkness. When I look the opposite way, all I see are lights and little specks on the beach. I lay my head on Sam’s shoulder and close my eyes. The trip is only halfway over, and I’ve already had an amazing time.

  “I wonder how many sharks are out there in the water?” Sam says.

  I laugh and lean off his shoulder.

  I put my hands on the rail, and I say, “Thousands; all of them waiting for their next meal.”

  He puts his hands behind his head. “I love it here. It’s so peaceful.”

  We reach the top of the Ferris wheel and it freezes.

  “You have to be fucking kidding me,” Sam says.

  I laugh. “Guess this is where we say goodbye.”

  “Shut up, Olli.” He laughs and looks down at the ground.

  “Minor malfunction, folks,” the announcer-guy says on the ground.

  “I wonder how much time we have?” I ask Sam.

  “Hopefully not very much.”

  I move my hands down to his pants, and it makes him jolt.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Just looking for something to play with,” I say.

  “Here?” he asks me. “Really?”

  “Why not?”

  He nods. “True.” He unzips his pants, and I feel his dick smack against my hand. “Have it at, lover boy.”

  “You can’t make any noises.”

  “Why not?”

  I shrug, and I say, “Because.”

  “Oh,” he says, laughing, “right. Good reason.”

  I laugh and bend down closer to his crotch. His dick gets harder as I stick the tip in my mouth and suck on it. I gently bite down, and he lets out a soft moan.

  “Samuel,” I say.

  “Sorry.”

  I take as much of him as I can in my mouth, bobbing my head up and down. His lifts himself up and down and puts his hand in my hair. I can taste the pre-cum as I lick the tip, and his breathing gets heavier and heavier the longer I go down on him.

  His grip tightens on my head, and he says, “Close.”

&
nbsp; Just as he starts to unload in my mouth, the Ferris wheel starts moving again. The music starts playing, and he lets out a monstrous moan.

  I laugh and pull off of him. “You deserve that one, I guess.”

  “I can’t get something that nice and not express with sounds just how amazing it feels.”

  I shake my head and look up at the moon, taking in the view and thinking again about how great this weekend has already been.

  ***

  I walk into Gregor’s on Wednesday night and walk into Bruce’s office. He’s sitting at his desk and doesn’t hear me as I walk in.

  “Hey, man,” he says once I sit down. “How was your trip?”

  I nod and cross my arms. “Good.”

  “Good.” He nods back and leans back in his chair. “Something wrong?”

  “I heard something this weekend about you, and I know it’s none of my business, but I just want you to know that if you need to talk about anything, I’m here for ya.”

  His face reddens, and he says, “How’d you find out?”

  “Ethan.”

  He closes his eyes and nods.

  “Are you really traveling?”

  He shakes his head. “I am, but I don’t know how long I’ll actually be traveling for.”

  “How long did they give you?”

  “It’s past the point of saving, but they don’t know how long. They have me taking a pill that makes me sick a lot, but it prolongs my life which is nice.” He wipes the underside of his eyelid and smiles at me. “You better get in there and get Jess off the clock. I’m glad you had a good weekend. Sam is a good guy.”

  I shrug. “He is. We’re just friends, though.”

  “All the best relationships start with amazing friendships.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Sam

  I T’S FRIDAY NIGHT, AND I’M DREADING the moment when it’s time for me to leave work. It’s the end of July, and it’s also my birthday. Kelsey already let it slip that’s she’s throwing me a surprise party with Oliver, and I hate surprises.

  I make my way out to my car and lay my head on the steering wheel once I shut the car door. My phone dings in my pocket, and I pull it out.

  Kelsey: Where are you?

  Me: Just got off work.

  Kelsey: K. Hurry back, thanks.

  I pull up outside of the apartment, and I debate whether or not to go inside. I’ve always hated my birthday. Celebrating the fact that I’m getting closer and closer to death has never been something that I get excited about. I like to go to other people’s parties, but celebrating my own has never been my favorite part of the year.

  I take a deep breath and get out of the car. Work was already exhausting enough, so I hope that whatever she has planned is toned down and bearable.

  I walk in the apartment door and turn on the light.

  “Surprise!”

  Everyone jumps out from different spots of the room, and I force a smile. Kelsey walks over and gives me a hug, followed by Oliver, who makes me a little more OK with it all.

  “Hey, old man,” he says.

  I look from Oliver to the living room and see Elliot and Ethan. I look back over at Oliver, and I say, “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He smiles. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  I say hi to everyone that is standing in my apartment and make my way outside onto the balcony. The fresh air feels like heaven compared to the claustrophobic feeling I have being around everyone.

  I sit down on one of the patio chairs and sit my feet up on the railing. I hear the door open and look up and see Elliot.

  I smile as he sits down and look back up at the sky.

  “Can you believe that we’re all going to thirty after this year?” he asks me.

  I nod and put my hands behind my head. “I wonder where we’ll all be when we’re forty.”

  “Ethan and Cody will probably be down south,” he says. “Will and I aren’t going anywhere.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll still be here or not.”

  He turns in his chair to look at me and rests his arm against the back of the chair.

  “My friend from work, Braxton, he’s moving to New York in like a week, and it has just got me thinking about some stuff lately. Like, if I’ll want to stay in Chicago forever. I’ve always wanted to see what California was like.”

  “You don’t have to live here forever, bud.” I don’t say anything, and he continues. “Have you talked to Oliver about any of this?”

  “I told him how I’d like to possibly move out there, but that’s about it. I mean I haven’t been feeling this way for a while or anything. This week was just exhausting and got me thinking about a lot of random shit.”

  “Hey,” he says, “I know it was weeks ago, but I never really said I was sorry for giving you so much grief about the friends-with-benefits thing.”

  I shake my head. “It’s fine.”

  “He’s a really nice guy. I never thought he wouldn’t be, but I’ve just never known those situations to be super successful in the end.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, too.” Ethan sits up, and I continue. “I know it’s going to end one of two ways, but I really don’t want a relationship right now.”

  “Why?” he says. “I’ve never seen you so happy.”

  “I’m happy because I’m having a good time. There’s no drama, no obligations.”

  “And no possible way for someone to cheat on you?”

  I look at him and look away. He’s right, but I don’t tell him that.

  The balcony door opens again and this time, it’s Oliver.

  “I’m missing all the fun it looks like.” Oliver says, smiling. “Your parents just got here, Sam.”

  I freeze. “What?”

  Elliot makes his way back inside as I get up out of my chair and look in through the balcony door, into the apartment.

  Kelsey invited my parents, and I have no idea why. She knows that seeing them would be the absolute last thing that I would want to do on my birthday. I instantly start to get pissed and look up at Oliver.

  His eyes grow wide, and he says, “I take it things aren’t all peanut butter and jelly with you guys.”

  “Not quite.”

  I make my way inside the apartment and instantly lock eyes with Kelsey. She forces a smile and heads toward her bedroom. I follow her and close the door.

  “What the fuck!”

  “I know,” she says. “They insisted that they come see you for your birthday. I let it slip out that I was throwing you a party, and they just felt the need to invite themselves to it.”

  I roll my eyes. “You just let it slip, huh?”

  “Sam,” she sighs, “I swear to God that I did not invite them on purpose. I know how you are with them. They weren’t even sure if they were going to come, anyway.”

  “You knew that I knew that you were throwing a party for me, so why didn’t you let me know about this?”

  She shrugs, and she says, “You wouldn’t have came back home. Plus, I wasn’t sure if they were even going to show up.”

  I sit on the bed and let out a deep breath.

  I shake my head. “I’m sorry. It’s been a shitty week and today was already exhausting, so this just doesn’t help things any.”

  She leans against the window and crosses her arms. “Are you ever going to tell me why you despise our parents so much?”

  I get up from the bed and go to open the door. Kelsey sighs, and I stop. She has no idea what happened years ago, and I intend to keep it that way. Kelsey has a relationship with our parents that I don’t care to ever have. At least one of their children should like them.

  “Let’s just get back to the party.”

  My parents are sitting on the sofa beside Ethan. They’ve never met my friends, so meeting Ethan is going to be a surprise for them. I don’t look in their direction and instead, I walk over to the kitchen table and get a piece of pizza.

  “Everything OK?” Oliver ask
s me. He sits down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table and looks up at me.

  “I’m fine,” I assure him. “Just surprise after surprise.”

  “How rude would it be if I up and left my own party?”

  He laughs as I sit down in the seat opposite him. Yet again, Oliver’s laugh, smile, and overall presence calm me more than I could hope for. I think back to my conversation with Elliot, and I wonder what really is going to happen with Oliver and I.

  Is the idea of being cheated on again the main reason that I’m not wanting more with Oliver? Oliver said he didn’t really want more, so I guess it wouldn’t really matter anyway. Plus, he did just get out of a relationship. Even if I was to ask him right now, I’m sure he wouldn’t be ready.

  “I have a surprise for you later,” he says.

  I smirk, and I say, “Is it in your pants?”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “I mean, that can be part of it, but no. Once the party is over.”

  I see my mom get up from the couch, and she starts making her way towards me.

  “Happy birthday, Sam,” she says.

  “Thanks, mom.” I look from her to Oliver. “You’ve already met my friend, Oliver.”

  She smiles. “I have. He’s a very nice young man.”

  “I try,” Oliver says.

  My dad gets up from the couch and makes his way behind her. He puts her hand on the small of her back, and he says, “We’re gonna get going, Sam. We have dinner reservations with the Milners.”

  I nod. “Yes. Wouldn’t want to miss that.”

  “Happy birthday,” he says.

  He lays a card down on the table, and they both make their way out the door.

  I look at Oliver.

  He forces a smile, and he says, “That was a quick stay.”

  I shrug. “Can’t keep the Milners waiting.”

  About an hour later, everyone leaves except for Kelsey and Oliver.

  I tie the strings on the garbage back, lug it over my shoulder, and make my way out behind the apartment to where the dumpster is. It smells like cat-piss and spoiled milk, and I instantly want to vomit. I throw the bag in the dumpster and turn around. Standing in front of me is Oliver.