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“Hey Lo, long time no see, huh?” My hug lingers a little longer than it should but seeing her in my bar has my “fucks given” decreasing rapidly. I don’t care that the last time I saw her, she hurt me. My brain can't seem to come to terms with the fact that we'll never work... no matter how hard we try.
She steps back and beams up at me with that killer smile. “Wesley King… what have you been up to?” I stare at her mouth as she talks. Her full, luscious lips smiling as she places a hand on my chest. Her voice sounds like silk, even though I know she’s hiding behind that smile of hers. There are always words left unsaid between the two of us.
When you put the two of us in the same room, it can’t just be casual anymore. It’s too hard when our hearts and bodies want something else. We’re like the tale as old as time… you know, the couple who's meant to be but the timing of things always seems to fuck them up the ass with no lube.
I hold my hands up and gesture around. “You’re looking at it.”
She steps back confused at first and then says, “Wait. Is this your place?” I nod while taking in her gorgeous body. She has killer curves for someone so petite. Her soft brown hair is up in a stylish ponytail that I would kill to have wrapped around my hand. She’s wearing an almost see-through top with a tight black skirt that looks as if it’s been painted on her hips and perky ass. My gaze continues down her slender legs to the sleek black heels she has on, and now all I can think about is them digging into me while she’s laid out across my desk in the back.
She breaks my stare by clearing her throat, a flush of color now on her cheeks. “I knew you were opening up a bar, but I had no ideathiswas it. It’s stunning in here. I love the vibe.”
“Yep. At the beginning of the New Year, we got the renovation going in full force and opened up six months later. Luckily, it was a bar before so the decor and lighting were the main changes… nothing structural other than the hidden-door entry.”
She’s looking at me so intently and I have trouble taking my eyes off her. “I’m so proud of you, Wes. I hope you’re proud of yourself. This is a heck of an accomplishment. Seriously, look at this place.” Her soft-spoken words take me back to our childhood before I realized what she would become to me. She was always the kindest kid whose words held such meaning behind them. Even at a young age, she knew what people needed to hear.
“Well, look who’s talking, Ms. Hot-Shot Blogger… I see things have been booming for you and people across the world have discovered your awesomeness.” Even though she talks about sex for a living, she still blushes from the compliment.Some things never change.
“Thanks Wes, it’s been crazy, that's for sure. I feel so blessed to be where I am with everything. I’m actually in New York for a Women’s Sexual Empowerment Convention this week.” Her eyes turn back to Quinn and narrow on her best friend. “Quinn planned our girls' night out tonight as a celebration. She just never mentioned all the details.”
Silently thanking Quinn with a smirk, I say, “Well, you know Q and E couldn’t go too long without being up each other's ass.”
Quinn laughs at my comment and says, “Hey to you too, asshole!” She stands to give me a hug as Sloan turns to take her seat. Whispering in my ear as she embraces, “I knew she wanted to see your new place but would’ve never suggested it. She’s still beating herself up about the holidays.” Taking in everything Quinn is saying, she leans back and says loud enough for everyone to hear. “It’s good to see you Zeus, this is a badass speakeasy you got here.”
“Thanks Quinn, I’m happy to have some of my OG drink testers here to try things out.”
Taking my seat beside Eli, I direct my gaze to the two sets of curious eyes at Sloan’s side.
“Hi ladies, I’m Wes…”
Before I can say more, Sloan interrupts, “Oh gosh, so sorry. These are my best friends Ava and Blossom, girls this is Wes.” I noticed Ava’s eyes have been going back and forth between Sloan and me since the moment I said my name.I wonder how much she’s told her? I know they’ve been friends since college.
Eli claps his hand on my shoulder. “We all go way back. Little punk-kids running around the neighborhood getting into any trouble we could find.”
Turning his head towards me, he says, “Speaking of knowing us forever, the ‘rents said if you don’t come see them in person soon, they’re going to cut you off. Something about loving the cards and phone calls, but Mom needs to see you in person to make sure you’re eating properly. You know how she is.”
Chuckling because I can picture his sweet mom saying that exact thing.
“Damn… she’s calling me out.”
I do miss the Bartons. They’re still close with my parents, but since I gave up modeling and put all my focus into the bar, I haven’t had time to go home since the holidays. My parents come into the city to see me as often as they can, but I need to make time to go out to Long Island and visit with everyone. The Bartons as well as Quinn’s mom and dad were all like second parents to me growing up.
“I’ll call them this week to make Momma Barton feel better.”
Eli lets out a grunt that says you better follow through with that.
Sloan keeps glancing at me, not sure if it’s from the fact she feels my eyes boring into her or if she can feel the pull we have towards each other the way I can. The desire in her eyes tells me it’s the latter, but maybe that’s what I want to see. That little voice in the back of my head reminds me what reading too much into her stolen glances got me in the past.
Parker and Ava have officially become acquainted and from what I’m overhearing, they will either hate fuck or kill each other soon.
“Okay big shot, don’t take my advice on interior design. I don’t have a degree in it or anything,” Ava says, and there is no question in my mind that she fits right in with Quinn and Lo.
Parker comes back with, “Listen legs, I’ve been in this business since before you had your fancy little degree and from the looks of things, it's clear I’ve been extremely successful at it. I know my clients… like I said, I’ll take my chances.”
And like I said… hate fuck or murder, give it a few months.
Eli pipes up with the one thing I really don’t want to discuss tonight.
“So Wes, you still with that Danni chick… theIce Queen?” My eyes immediately find Lo’s and the beautiful smile she’s been sporting all night quickly fades. She picks up the cocktail list and starts fidgeting with it.
