AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tap Out
By Hilar
Chapter One
Kinsley
I should’ve known traveling to New Orleans with Mollie was a terrible idea the second she mentioned it. She’s just coming out of a three-year relationship and to say she’s ready to make up for lost time is a drastic understatement. Her ridiculous pouty lip when she asked me to ‘disappear’ just made me realize how low she’s willing to go to forget the giant asshole who once again fucked her over.
This empty stairwell should terrify me, but after all the crazy from tonight… I welcome the quiet. I even slip off my heels to avoid having to listen to the echo as I make my way to the roof top. Maybe I’ll be able to enjoy the city even more if I simply people watch and imagine the insanity of their night being more memorable than mine.
I prop open the door with a rock, remembering that the owner told us the door locks and would require a key to get back in. Since Mollie has the only set of keys, I’m extra careful to make sure I’m not locked up here for the night.
The rooftop is beautiful and obviously well taken care of by someone. Plants and string lighting give off the sense of privacy, yet with a potential party feel. I’m instantly wishing I had a place this serene to go at home.
Yelling and laughter interrupt my thoughts and send me searching for an opening on the railing to find the source of the noise coming from below. A group of people are slowly making their way down to Bourbon Street, all of them already sloppy drunk and acting hysterical. I’m not sure why I’m jealous of them, but I am. I don’t see a single worry on any of their faces and it’s apparent that any stress they may’ve had before they came here, isn’t on their mind tonight.
Glancing down at my phone, I see that it’s just barely after midnight. “Jesus, Kinsley… you sure know how to party.”
“She talks to herself.” A deep voice to my right startles me and almost makes me scream… not that anyone would know how to locate a screamer up here. Holding my phone against my chest, I search for the source behind the reason my adrenaline is out of control, only to find zero relief.
The soft lit silhouette of a shirtless man sprawled out on a lounge chair quickly becomes my focus. “Oh… sorry. I didn’t notice you there.” He relaxes even more, putting his hands behind his head while he stares at me, making me feel extremely awkward.
“I’ll let you make it up to me.” A bolt of nervous energy rushes through my body as I think about what he means. I’m not normally this weird when it comes to men. I’m going to blame the unusual night for my overly cautious reaction to him.
“I… I have to get back.” I begin to recoil and tiptoe backwards and attempt to dial 911 as I respond.
“You do realize that if I wanted to hurt you, it would already be done.” His words take me by surprise and I find myself staring at him when he resumes his resting position with his hands behind his head. The lights add a glow to his bare chest, allowing me to see some ink, but not enough for me to make out what kind of art he has on full display.
“What?” My tone is harsh as I try to figure out what he meant by that.
“Relax. I was just going to invite you to sit with me.” I should be worried, but for some reason I’m not. He has a very calm aura surrounding him and that’s something I take notice of right away.
“Uh… sit with you?” Kinsley… snap the hell out of it.
“That is… if you have time. I do remember you mentioning something about being a party animal.” He sits up and slides another lounge chair a little closer to his, opening it up as the metal scrapes across the concrete flooring.
“Very funny.” I don’t move any closer to him, still not sure if I want to entertain the idea of sitting with this guy.
“You know I could make a phone call and bring the party to you, if that’s what you really want.” He holds up his phone like he’s about to dial someone just before I stop him.
“No… I’m actually enjoying the silence.”
“You can sit with me… I promise not to touch you. In fact, I can’t.”
“Oh… you have a girlfriend?” I ask the obvious question, expecting him to tell me he does.
“Nope.”
“A wife?”
“Nope…”
“You gay?” Because in my experience, any man this hot is either taken or gay.
“Fuck no.” That got a rise out of him and made me smile.
“Did you swear off women or something?”
