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“What the hell are you smiling at?”
Noah’s voice draws my attention away from my phone, and I look up, returning to the present.
We decided to head to the local bar where we ordered food and planned on moving to the plethora of arcade games. The bar is one of my favorites because games are included with the purchase of any beer or mixed drink.
Noah has a brow raised with his mouth pulled into a knowing smirk.
“What do you mean?” I ask, sliding my phone back into my pocket and pulling the beer to my lips.
Lips that Ellis kissed hours ago.
Fuck.
“You’re staring at your phone wearing a grin that screamsI’m simping for a girl I just met.I know that look.” Noah taps a finger on the rustic wooden table before grabbing his own beer. “I thought you said no sex.”
Ryan sits next to him, scrolling through his phone with an expression that tells me he is definitely listening to the conversation. He grabs a garlic knot from the center of the table and pops it in his mouth.
“We didn’t have sex,” I say because it’s the truth, though I’m positive they don’t believe me.
“Finnlet the girl give him a tattoo.” Ryan finally looks up from his phone, adjusts the beanie on his head, and leans back in his chair. “Like in my shop with my tattoo gun.”
“Is that even legal?” Noah asks.
I can still feel the bandage on my shoulder, the reminder of my time with Ellis. It’s a memory I’m happy to have engraved into my skin. In fact, I want to go on making more memories with the girl. I need to see her again.
Fighting the temptation to pull my phone out and send her another text, I distract myself by grabbing a garlic knot for myself. If I’m eating, maybe they won’t expect an answer.
“It’s only illegal if we talk about it,” Ryan says, while grabbing his beer and taking a swig. “And look at him,” he continues.“Suddenly the guy has purple hair. How did that happen, Griffin?”
“Yeah, Griffin. Why is your hair dark purple?”
The shit-eating grins they both wear remind me of Skylar’s face when we were younger. The expression she wore when she knew I was about to take the fall for whatever she’d done.
“Ellis dyed it,” I answer honestly, around a mouthful of food.
The sounds of the bar become louder as I wait for their response. I can hear glasses clinking from behind the counter, murmurs of people talking, and the music blasting over the speakers and mixing with the sounds of arcade games.
Noah turns to Ryan, and I swear for grown ass men, they have certainly become the worst gossips in the world. They’re not even good at it–considering I’m sitting right in front of them.
“He just met this chick yesterday,” Noah tells him. “Hired him to plan her birthday, and now he’s acting like she hung the moon and stars specifically for him.”
“No shit,” Ryan says, his eyes bright. “I mean, he’s never done anything halfway. Especially not his women.”
“Fuck you guys, I’m literally right here.” I toss a garlic knot across the table at Noah, and he raises his hands in defense.
“No need to get aggressive,Finn. If you kill me, my mother’s grudge will be so large she’ll stop making pho for your family.”
Ryan whistles, his face scrunching. “Ouch, Finn. Better get it together.”
I knew that they’d both give me shit for Ellis. Ryan and Noah know my history–my past–and they know about my former relationships. Unlike Noah, I don’t usually date. When my brother died, it didn’t feel worth it to fuck around anymore. And even though they’re right to mention that I just met this girl, it doesn’t mean I’m not interested.
I am sure as shit interested.
I give up and pull my phone out, rolling my eyes before taking another drag from my beer bottle.
Me:I found something online earlier. Dress country.
Her response is almost instant, and I can’t pretend it doesn’t light up my chest.
