Page 36 of Sling’s Awakening

His garage is still open, and the lights are still on. There’s a bike that doesn’t look like his parked in his driveway.

I’ve never been home this early from work before, and I’ve also never paid attention to him until he decided to make himself known in my life, so maybe he has more than one.

Or he’s into women who ride and has a date over.

I slam my car door shut harder than intended, my shitty day getting the best of me. I stare at the bike as a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time shoots through me.

Jealousy.

It’s damn near two in the morning. I doubt only one of his brothers from the club would still be over. It has to be a girl.

I mean, who else would be over this late?

And why do I care?

Because I’m an idiot who was kind of liking the attention I was getting from him, even if I did want to punch him in the face. I still do, honestly. But alas, I’ve known from the start I’m just another faceless body to him. And when the game of chase runs dry, he’ll move on to the next victim who will give him what he wants.

That still doesn’t stop me from hating the bitch who is probably taking a ride right now.

I heave my bag onto my shoulder and grip the brown paper bag the lady handed me at the gas station as I make my way into the house. I didn’t miss the way she looked me up and down like she half expected to see me outside on the curb drinking the tall boy out of it. I know I look rough, but she doesn’t need to call me out like that.

Once inside, I kick my heels off, not caring where they land.

When I say I’m done with this day, I’m fucking done.

I set my bag down on my dining room table before heading into the living room to grab one of the thin throw blankets I have on a blanket ladder and head outside to my back deck with my paper bag in hand.

I don’t even have it in me to put on comfy clothes.

I’m saving that extra feeling of comfort for after my bath.

But first, I need the head buzz my body has been craving.

I wrap the blanket around me before plopping down on the bench seat. I pull out the tall boy, cigarettes, and lighter. I pull the tab back on the can, listening to the crack echo throughout the night before I take a long sip and let out a sigh.

Damn, I needed that.

I set my drink down on the glass table before I grab the cigarettes and pack them in against my palm before opening it up and taking one out. I bring it to my lips and crush the tiny ball before lighting it up.

My head falls back against the top of the back rest on the patio sofa as I take my first inhale. I can feel the tension leaving my body as the cool smoke hits my lungs.

It isn’t until I’m almost halfway through my cigarette that a smell fills my nose that I know isn’t coming from me.

What the hell?

I sniff, trying to decide if what I’m smelling is actually there or if it’s just in my head.

Yup. It’s definitely there.

My head shoots up as my body stiffens. There, looking right at me from his deck, is Sling with one of his brothers smoking a blunt. Sling lifts his hand, waving at me before bringing the blunt to his lips. They both have a smirk on their faces.

You have got to be kidding me.

How did I not notice them when I came out? His back light is on and everything.

Jesus, I really might be losing it.

Sling and I are in a stare-down as his brother gets up and leaves. I see him give me a small head nod out of the corner of my eye, but my sights are set on Sling.