The Heartbreakers

I know Darrius dislikes the three of them just as much as they hate him, so much so that he warned me against them countless times.

Even if he didn’t come begging, seeing me with them will piss him off. And right now, I’ll take anything I can get. I’m done taking Darrius’ shit lying down.

“Ok.” I smile. “So how does this work? What are the rules?”

Jameson’s smile is full of dark promises. “Rules? What rules do you need? You’re one of us now and we’ll have fun.”

I’m still confused. “I have a few questions though, before we ... start.”

Peyton looks amused, leaning back against the couch. “Sure. I guess it makes sense.”

I nod, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “You guys are The Heartbreakers, you have a reputation for sleeping around a lot. I don’t think I’m comfortable with you doing that, if you’re sleeping with me.”

The guys do that silent communication thing I’ve already seen them doing last night on the beach.

“That’s fair,” Channing decides. “If you agree to sleep just with the three of us, we’ll just be with you.”

This seems a little too easy. “Do you all agree? It’s quite the lifestyle change,” I consider.

Peyton explains. “Look, it works for us. You know Wild Horse?”

That name rings a bell. “Isn’t that an energy drink? The Cove Angels’ new sponsor?”

Jameson confirms that I’m right. “Yeah. We were in talks with them for a sponsorship first. They decided to go with the Angels because they didn’t like our image.”

Peyton sounds disgusted when he adds, “They said we’re too provocative, too wild and our image is immoral. That if we want to ever be considered, we need to clean up our act because we aren’t fucking rockstars and we’re too dirty for families and teens. Too intimidating for single, middle-aged men who apparently are their biggest consumers. So, all the ‘sleeping around’ you’re talking about has to end for a while.”

I never thought about that side of things. “So it’s fine for you to do one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but they want you to be “safe” and average in your private lives?”

Jameson chuckles. “Pretty much. Hypocritical as fuck, right? They need their customer base to be able to identify with us. And that wasn’t just Wild Horse, a lot of potential sponsors had a problem with our lifestyle. The only company that actually considered us produces condoms.”

I’m about to say that it makes sense, but Peyton sighs. “I wouldn’t have had a problem with that, but our publicist said it would be the kiss of death. We would forever have that dirty image and wouldn’t be able to get any other sponsors.”

Channing twists his lips with distaste. “Yeah. I fucking hate condoms anyway.”

That was going to be another question. “Talking about condoms, if we aren’t using them, I hope you guys don’t mind getting tested. I can get tested too if you want.”

Peyton immediately agrees. “Sure, that makes sense. And you don’t need to get tested. You said you’ve been ‘saving yourself’ for that loser. So I assume that means you haven’t had sex before?”

I’m grateful that he didn’t call me a virgin in the disparaging tone everyone at school had always used when referring to someone like me; even Kiara had low key made fun of me a couple of times about the fact that I was waiting for “the one.” I guess in retrospect that should’ve told me that she was a bitch and not really my friend.

“But STDs aren’t the only reason why we’d use condoms,” Jameson says, distracting me from the image in my mind of me shanking my former bestie. Her new place of employment has plenty of objects I could use.

“I don’t know you guys,” Jameson continues. “But if this has to be fun for everyone, we don’t want any surprises. I’m way too young to be a father.”

I almost sputter the sip of water I’d just taken. “Yeah, no. That would be taking things too far.”

Peyton barks out a laugh. “Agreed. Even though seeing Penn’s face if you had our baby, would be priceless.”

The guys are all amused at the thought. “No, thank you very much,” I say firmly. “I’ve been on the pill for years. So we’re covered. I’d like to have a baby when I find my Mr. Right. No offense.”

Channing shrugs. “None taken. That’s kinda cute. I’ve never thought about it that way.”

Jameson smirks at his best friend. “Aww, Chan! You’ve never thought about having a baby with Mr. Right? And there Peyton and I thought you loved us!”

Channing flips them off, while Peyton and Jameson laugh hysterically. “Fuck off, both of you! I have nothing against same sex relationships but I don’t swing that way. Sorry, I like pussy way too much.”

I like the way the guys are with each other. Darrius hangs out with his teammates a lot but he acts like he’s their captain, they don’t have this close camaraderie.

“Ok, so we’ll go get tested first thing tomorrow morning to reassure our lady that not only she won’t have the Devils’ spawn, but she’s going to be one hundred percent safe. And we’ve established that this deal is exclusive to the four of us. No sex with anyone outside this room while the deal is ongoing.”

I can’t help but ask. “For how long are we going to do this?”

Channing is the first to reply. “We talked about it earlier. Aside from sticking it to Penn and staying off the front pages of the gossip magazines and social media, not having to go out looking to get laid will help us concentrate on training and competing. So it would be great if you agreed to at least the end of the summer but potentially until Nationals at the end of the fall, if we qualify?”

I agree. “It sounds fair. After all, you’re helping me and I don’t think Darrius will be begging me to take him back that quickly.”

Peyton runs a hand through his blond hair. “That’s right. Training you before we dangle you in front of Penn will take some time. We have to play this smartly or he’ll see right through it.”

I smile. “I agree.”

Jameson nods. “So that’s it, right? We agree to be exclusive with each other until Nationals. We’ll get tested, so we won’t be needing any condoms. The guys and I will teach you everything we know about sex, but it’s important to us that anything that happens between us is consensual; so if you ever feel like you don’t want something, you need to communicate with us. We’re a team.”

It’s the second time they say that. Before they said that I’m one of them. “A team? Is this how I’m going to explain our relationship to my best friend?” Sarah will flip when I tell her. I’m not sure she’ll approve of my choice, but I’m sure she’ll be on board with the idea of getting revenge on Darrius.

Peyton shrugs. “Sure. A team, friends with benefits, however you want to call it. We don’t do girlfriends, Len. And by the way the word wouldn’t be appropriate since you’ll be with each of us. By the end of this, that asshole Penn won’t be able to call you Snow White anymore. We’ll turn his little angel into our hot, little devil.”

The heat in the dark blue depths of his eyes makes me want to turn into the irresistible creature he’s talking about just this second.

“Does it sound good to you, Lenley?”

There’s just one last thing I need to know before we start. “I just have one question and I’m afraid that your answer will be a deal breaker.”

They’re all suddenly serious.

“What is it?” Jameson asks.

“Has any of you ever slept with Anna? Because if you have, I can’t possibly be with you. I just—I hate her way too much.”

Channing’s reaction would almost be funny, if it wasn’t so vehement. “Fuck, no! They call us The Heartbreakers, but I wouldn’t stick my dick in Anna not even if she were the last woman left on fucking Earth.”

Jameson agrees, his soft looking lips twisted with distaste. “Channing’s right, princess. I don’t judge Anna for fucking around as much as we do, God fucking knows that would be hypocritical. But that woman is such a fucking bitch. No way.”

Peyton is on the same page as his two best friends. “That’s right. My dad taught me three things; always wrap it up if you aren’t sure she’s clean and that she isn’t looking for a meal ticket; always make sure that anything you stick your dick into looks and smells clean, regardless of wrapping it up; last but not fucking least, don’t stick your dick in crazy. And Anna? She’s beyond crazy, she’s a raging bitch. So she can keep throwing herself at us day and night but regardless of our deal, Channing’s right. If she were the last woman on Earth, I’d sooner fuck these two assholes here than take my chances with Anna Penn.”

The other two laugh at his outlandish statement.

I like how comfortable they are with each other. “Like I said before.” Channing chuckles. “No problem if you’re into dicks. But if Anna were the last woman on Earth, I’d get even more up close and personal with my left hand.”

I laugh at his open smile and he winks at me before saying, “Moral of the story, baby? Like Peyton and J keep saying, ‘Channing’s always right.’”