“How was work?” she asks, and with what I’m sure is barely a smile, I manage only a grunt in response. “That bad, huh?” Her smile spreads, like my misfortune brings her joy.
“You revel in other people’s pain?” I joke, but her dark eyes cut to me, and though her expression is playful, those eyes are haunting.
“Pain is lonely, it’s reassuring other people feel it.” I gulp as her quiet words cut through the air. She dumps the four pints in front of me, her smile barely reaching her eyes. I nod, chuck a few bills on the bar, and hightail it out of there.
“Hey, how’s Stell doing?” I direct to Lucas as I put the beers on the table in front of Ethan, Lucas, and Jessie. With Matt stuck at home with two kids, and Noah in Chicago, the group is scarce for our Monday catch-up. The addition of JJ is nice, though; glad the grumpy asshole finally gave us the time of day.
“Fine, I guess. Why?” Lucas frowns and lifts his beer for a drink.
“She just seems…off.”
“She’s always like that. Woman likes her secrets and privacy, who am I to judge?” he says nonchalantly, and the rest of us agree, save for Ethan. He stares into his beer with a white-knuckle grip.
“She get any visitors?” Ethan asks Lucas, who narrows his eyes in return.
“Visitors?”
“Yeah, people coming to the bar asking for her?”
“Ahh, no…why? You jealous?” Lucas snickers and the rest of us chuckle, but the darkness radiating from Ethan has us shutting up real quick.
“No, I am not jealous.” Simple, straightforward, just like the Ethan we know. With that lethal undertone that makes you want to tread lightly.
“How’s the self-defense classes going, Case said they’re a hit?” Jessie breaks the awkward silence.
Ethan jerks his head, a smile slowly forming. “Yeah, those girls are great. Grace is a force, but Casey is sweet, really runs a tight ship over there.” The pride that seeps from Jessie could light up a sky, and I flick my eyes upward. Ugh, caveman.
“She said the ladies all flock to your classes, wonder what that’s about.” Well, I’ll be; the caveman made a joke and is chuckling…I repeat,chuckling.
“Aw, Ethan, you’re the teacher’s pet, a class favorite. Isn’t that cute?” Lucas pats his brother on the back, and the menacing growl is back as he levels everyone with a death stare.
“I am not cute,” he says under his breath, and we laugh at his expense.
Lucas bumps my elbow. “Blonde, four o’clock.” I subtly turn my head in the direction he pointed, and sure enough, a cute, perky blonde sits in the corner of the bar, eyeing our table. I think her attention is actually on Lucas, but she is cute, and I have nowhere else to be tonight. I’ve been playing a game of cat and mouse with the real reason for my permanent boner lately, and I am determined not to be the one who caves first. Perhaps the pretty blonde will be the one to help delay the craving.
Who was I kidding, there was no satiating the craving for Rosie Garcia.
“Cute.”
“Cute? She’s a bombshell.” He scoffs.
“Well, if you think so, why don’t you shoot your shot,” I challenge him, knowing full well the man’s been hung up on his roommate forever, even if he is determined to deny it.
The only thing stopping me from goading him is that his roommate’s brother is sitting on my other side. And I am more scared of him than Lucas.
“I’m good,” he mumbles, going back to his drink.
“Mm-hmm.” I smirk through my drink. Jesus, what happened to us. Hung up on women who would chew us up and spit us out like last night’s leftovers. And here we are, just salivating over them? Fuck that.
Nonexclusive, no feelings, exactly what I asked for, exactly what I wanted.
“Fuck it.” I down the rest of my beer. “Blondie bombshell for dessert,” I mutter to the table, turning to make my way over to where she sits. I muster up the desire to take her home, turn on the charm, and shove down every ounce of feeling that tries to claw its way to the top.
First thought that gets burned: she isn’t Rosie.
“So, can I call you?” Emily, the blonde bombshell from the bar, asks as I open my front door for her, her heels in hand, about to do the walk of shame.
“Do you believe in fate?” I question, tucking a blonde strand behind her ear, letting my finger trail down the side of her neck.
