AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This doesn’t mean I’m going to call you,” I say adamantly.
“We’ll see,” he says playfully. After scribbling down a phone number, he holds the paper between two fingers and hands it me.
“And my pen.” I snatch it from his hand and giggle.
“Wow, so violent. Must be a special pen.”
I shake my head because I can think of nothing to say. His sarcasm makes him more likable than I want him to be.
“I really do have to go. It was nice meeting you, Ryan.”
“Likewise, Maria. I look forward to hearing from you.”
“Maybe,” I say, and move past him.
Once I’m in my car, I look at the piece of paper with his phone number on it. He drew a heart. Is he trying too hard or is there legitimately a sweet guy under that arrogant outer persona? I turn over the receipt, and my jaw drops.
Quickly, I convert the amount to U. S. dollars. My math is correct. I can hardly believe Ryan spent over fifteen hundred dollars on cigars. I consider Googling him. He’s obviously someone famous, but then I remember I only got his first name, which is for the best. The only thing I stand to gain from a night with him is regret.
I drop the receipt in my purse, knowing I won’t call him. A guy like Ryan would never take a girl like me home to his mother. He wants one thing from me, and my days of casual sex are long behind me. Javier is proof of that.
“Jesus, Tug, the wedding is a week away, and you’re late. I have to leave soon,” Harrison bitches at me the second I walk in the side door that leads to the kitchen in Brady’s house. Liv and Harrison live here too, and my sister’s boyfriend gets more obnoxious by the day.
“Relax. Quit acting like a chick and pull those lace panties out of your ass. How hard can planning a bachelor party be? Here, I brought favors.” I drop the paper bag containing the cigars I purchased on the table. “And we’ll take Brady to a strip club in town. There, planning done.”
He shoots me that look of his I hate. It’s the one he uses when he’s about to say something to provoke me.
“It’s really time
for you to grow up,” he says in the scolding tone of a father.
“Don’t lecture me, dude.”
“Someone needs to. Quit acting like a dick, and help me plan something. Tori will never go for a strip club.”
“Of course she will. Don’t be such a whiner. Tori is cool like that, but you ask her.”
“Ask me what?” Tori says, entering the room. Her voice grates against my skin like razor blades.
The searing pain reaches my heart, and it hurts to breathe. I put on a fake smile and reply, “We want to have the bachelor party at a strip club.”
Harrison interjects instantly, “We don’t have to. It was Tug’s idea.”
“Dude, your man-card is officially revoked,” I say, and he shrugs. God, he’s such a pussy. As long as they’ve been together, I still don’t understand what Liv sees in him. He’s the all-pleasing, happy parent making example of responsibility and he knows it. If his gloating, annoying self weren’t so good to Liv, I’d have to kick his ass.
“It’s fine.” Tori shrugs.
“Really?” Harrison asks, surprised.
“Yeah, it’s totally fine. If I were you, I’d be more worried about what Liv will think.”
Tori and I laugh at the same time. Our gazes lock, and we both frown. I hate how sad she makes me. This girl, who at one time in my life brought me so much happiness, now makes me loathe life, and love. Why did she pick Brady and not me?
I shake away my thoughts and look at Harrison. “I told you Tori would be cool with it. This is all you now, bro! My sister is your problem.”
“Liv’s cool, too,” he says with a nervous laugh.
“You’re so whipped.”
