Page 39 of The Pursuit of Happiness
“Because I knew you liked her too.”
I feel my blood boiling, “I’ve been telling you foryearshow I feel about her and you still made a move on her at some function or event?”
Silence. Again. “Look-”
I cut him off, “Noyou, look. I don’t want to hear some half assed apology about how you’re sorry for treating my girl like shit. I’m not gonna sit here and listen to you twist the narrative about how I’m the one in the wrong and it was totally okay that you asked her out knowing I have been in love with her foryears.”
“Slater, I’m sorry. I fucked up and I’m sorry. You’re my best friend and I haven’t been treating you like it. It won’t happen again.”
I think over his words, letting them sink in. On one hand, I want to rip him apart physically and verbally. On the other, he did just apologize and an apology from Rogan is the equivalent to finding a pig that can fly.
I have a sinking feeling in my gut that tells me I could possibly be making a huge mistake, but I sigh and mutter, “Fine. You’re forgiven. For now.”
“Thanks, Sly, I really-”
“If it happens again, you and I are done. I don’t give a shit about the band, you and I will never play another note together.” I make my stance very clear. I hang up a moment later, the highs of the anger not yet gone and I turn my phone off in case he decides to call me again.
Chapter 9
Aria
I carefully swipe themascara wand over my bottom lashes and try my best not to make that stupid ass face I can’t help but make while applying mascara. It’s like a weird fusion between the face you make when you really have to go to the bathroom and a face you’d make if you saw a ghost. Horrible combination.
I fluff up my hair with my hands, my freshly redyed blue strands poking out through my auburn mane. I take a second look at my outfit and want to recoil in on myself. Selene had an electric blue lace teddy sent over to my house with a pair of loose fitted jeans and bright blue sneakers to match. She called me as soon as Matthew, her assistant that she bitches around 24/7, left my house after dropping off the garment bags. She informed me that I had no choice but to wear the outfit tonight to the club where I’m supposed to make yetanotherclub appearance with Sly.
I’ve seen him a few times since we started texting, but only to work on the new album. We haven’t had much time to interact alone and part of me is appreciative of that considering I haven’t had the chance to act on impulse and give in to his flirtation, but the other part is disappointed. It’s a thirty to seventy ratio, seventy for the part that’s disappointed. Fuck it, fifteen to eighty-five.
We’ve texted here and there too. Nothing of major significance, just small questions and answers at random times a day. Sometimes I’ll ask them and sometime’s Sly asks them. It’s kind of become our thing. At a random time of day, I’ll texthim something likeQuestion, what was your favorite snack food as a kid?
He’ll then answer the question and maybe an hour or two or however long later, he’ll text me something like,Question, what is your strangest irrational fear?The answer to that question folks, is the sound a tattoo gun makes while it’s tattooing your skin. Foolish, I know, coming from someone who has tattoos all over. I can’t help it, okay? The sound just freaks me out!
I like this game we play. I also like learning things about Sly. For example, I’ve learned that he actively donates to animal shelters and hospitals, he loves chicken alfredo, he’s a libra, his favorite color is black, and his favorite ice cream flavor is rocky road. I’ve learned more too and I enjoy learning more and more about the man that can’t seem to find his way out of my thoughts. In a way my relationship with Sly has gone from awkward business associates who were forced on each other to friends.
I hear my phone vibrate from where it rests on the counter in front of me. I check to see Sly texted that he’s outside my house waiting for me. I text him that I’m on my way downstairs and hurry out of the bathroom, swiping my purse off my dresser before I go. I rush down the stairs and open the door to find Sly on my doorstep waiting for me. He wears ripped jeans and a white t-shirt, effortless yet so hot. I want to rip his clothes off the minute I catch sight of him and that perfect smile of his but I force myself under control.
“Hey,” he greets. “You look amazing.” His eyes light up to display the generosity of his words, something I’ve noticed he does.
I smile and blush, “Hi.”
He nods towards the limo, “You ready?”
I nod, about to take a step outside when I remember that I forgot to fill Kiko and Taz’s bowls. I gasp, “Wait! I almost forgotto feed the cats!” I turn on my heel and duck back into the house, hurrying towards the kitchen.
“Cats?” He asks. I guess he didn’t know I had pets.
I shout over my shoulder, already half way through the foyer, “Yeah, come in. I won’t take long.”
I hear the sound of the door closing by the time I’m already in the kitchen. I open the cabinet that I’ve designated to the freeloaders that live under my roof (Kiko and Taz) and make quick work of filling their food bowls. I make sure to add a little extra to Taz’s bowl because this morning I accidentally destroyed his favorite toy. It wasn’t my fault! I was vacuuming and it got stuck in the vacuum. I had no choice but to throw it out after it was ruined. Taz watched the whole thing, clearly not impressed. So yes, I will be filling his bowl up a little extra. Sue me for wanting to buy my cat’s forgiveness with food.
I hear footsteps getting closer to the kitchen and Sly peeks inside, “Your house is insane.”
I give him a curious look over my shoulder, “What do you mean?”
“I mean I feel like I’m in a gothic murder mystery house or something. It’s sick,” he says with awe in his voice. People get a little freaked out by the exterior of my house, so you can only imagine how they feel about the inside. I don’t know why it pleases me so much to know that he likes my house, but it does.
I grin, “Thank you. That’s the exact vibe I wanted.”
He returns the smile as he watches me finish filling up the bowls. “You have cats?”