AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pull a snug red long-sleeve V-neck from the hanger and hold it up in front of the mirror.This. Perfect.
Now, if I could just stop picturing Derek on his knees. Or Derek blowing between pouted lips. Or Derek touching my hair. I might just survive.
TROUBLEMAKER
DEREK
Will left ten minutes ago wearing leather pants and some sort of tight red top. I could see her navel piercing peeking out from beneath her shirt, along with the edge of the tattoo that I know runs all the way up her side.
I don’t know if her aim was to impress or cause mild myocardial infarctions, but she succeeded at both. After mentioning she would be at the bar around the corner, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about why she’s there, who she’s with, or if she casually dropped that information as a hint to join her. Surely she didn’t dress like that to sit alone at the bar. That ensemble was definitely to impress.
I really want to believe she’s not there with Joe, either. But who else would it be? She hardly strikes me as the type to see multiple guys at once. I bet it’s Joe.Fucking Joe.
Of course, this is a free country. I could walk down to the bar myself and have a casual drink. What’s stopping me?Well, the fact that you’ll look like a complete and total stalker comes to mind.
Browsing my closet just in case I get up the nerve, I realize there isn’t much by way of impressing in here. I left most of my nicer clothes in storage. With the limited space here, I prioritized pretty much every set of scrubs I own, some jeans, a few T-shirts, and maybe three sweaters. Not exactly up to par with her manner of dress.
I find a button-up all the way in the back that isn’t too wrinkled and decide it will have to do. I throw a sweater over it along with some dark pants, and I don’t hate what I see when I look in the mirror.Jesus, why are you even worried?
Checking the clock, I see she’s been gone about an hour, which means showing up now would at least show a tad bit of restraint, right? I wish I knew what I was restraining myself from, though.Am I really about to make a move on my little brother’s friend?That doesn’t feel right. Grabbing my keys, I lock up and walk down the stairs, continuing to question myself.
Hypothetically speaking, let’s think about Hawk in this situation.Would he be mad?I don’t think so. Then again, he’s never been quite thrilled about the way I tend to hop from one woman to the next. It’s not like I do it on purpose. It just sort of happens. At least, I think it does. Given Willette’s accusations, I’m not so sure anymore.
Of course, I don’t want to hurt Will. I would never want to do that. She’s Hawk’s best friend. But for as long as we’ve known each other, I’d like to think we’ve formed a friendship as well. And even more so since I’ve been staying here.
The early evening air is warm on my face as I make it to the sidewalk and head around the corner. Luckily the place doesn’t look terribly packed so it should be easy to find Will.
Upon entering, I immediately regret it. Will is here, all right. And so is Joe. I knew it was always a possibility, even a likelihood, but I was keeping hope alive. From the looks of it, she’s pretty sauced. She sways back and forth, the drink in her hand sloshing and nearly spilling.
Joe, however, looks a tad too sober for my liking. By that, I mean he’s clearly paced himself while letting her overdrink. She shouldn’t be this intoxicated after an hour unless there was some intention behind it.
“Well, hey there,” I say loudly, making sure it echoes over the music.
Will snaps her head up to the sound of my words, her jaw dropping open then snapping shut just as quickly. “What are you doing here?” she asks, her face full of surprise.
“Just thought I’d come have a drink,” I say, shrugging.
“Well, hey man, sit down with us,” Joe offers.
I give him a tight smile, making myself comfortable on a chair in their circle as I wave a waitress over. After giving her my order, I turn back to the two of them.
Willette isn’t exactly sitting close to Joe on their little couch, but she isn’t far away either. I can’t help but study them, their body language toward each other. It’s clear to me that Joe is interested in her, as he attempts to find every reason to touch her. On the hip, the thigh, as he brushes her hair back. Whatever he can do to make contact, he’s doing it.Lucky bastard.
Wait.
Willette, however…appears less interested. Her replies, demeanor, and even facial expressions imply vague surface-level interest, like she’s settling. Like Joe is the best she can do so she’s just going along with it. And that makes me sad. Incredibly sad. Because she could do way the fuck better than Joe.
“So, Joe,” I say, “what do you do?”
He clears his throat, looking away from Willette to meet my eyes.
“Oh, uh,” he says, partially mumbling, “I’m between gigs right now.”
Jesus. How? How does she do this? And why? That’s a better question.
“Well, what did you do before?” I ask, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he didn’t really mean he was jobless but rather legitimatelybetweenprojects.
“I worked at the auto parts shop,” he says. “But it wasn’t really for me.”
