by Tucker, RH
I laugh. “You should just move in with us. You know Felicia loves you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waves off my comment, as she usually does. “You smell like carnitas.”
Rita slides Tara a drink of her own, and I offer her a smile of thanks.
Smelling my white shirt, I giggle. “It’s a good thing I love carnitas. Sorry again for asking you to take an Uber last night.”
Taking a sip of her drink, she shakes her head. “I got my girl’s back. Speaking of …” She looks around, even though there are only a couple of people left in the restaurant. “How was it? I want the details. No, I need them.”
“Yes, please!” Rita calls out, leaning over the bar. “After what Manny said, I need to know more about this guy myself.”
Tara laughs while I grumble, staring at the back of house, knowing I won’t see him, but wishing I had laser vision to scorch Manny and his big mouth.
“It’s nothing, Rita. A one-night stand.” I give a slight shudder, sticking my tongue out in disgust. “Ew, does that make me sound slutty.”
“Girl,” Tara bumps her shoulder against mine, “I’ll take slutty every night of the week if it’s with that guy. So were the rumors true?”
“I don’t know about any of the rumors. It was …” I feel a blush creeping up my neck. I’m not shy about sharing details with Tara, or Rita for that matter. We’ve had enough girl talk since I’ve worked here that I’m comfortable with it. However, I don’t know exactly how to feel. It was great, don’t get me wrong, but I still can’t believe I actually did have a one-night stand. Although we both kind of agreed on it upfront, so I guess that makes it a little better.
“It was … good.”
“Lame!” Rita yells, swatting me with a bar towel. “Details, girl! Details!”
“There’s not much to say,” I reply, trying not to get too embarrassed by how loud she’s being. “We went back to his place and had some fun. That’s it. I will say this, though.” I point to Tara. “Taylor definitely knows what he’s doing because I haven’t thought about Alex all day.”
“Ohmygod!” Tara almost jumps off of her stool. “I saw Alex on campus today. He proposed to his girlfriend.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I mutter.
“And she said no!”
Because of hanging out after work, I’ve talked to Rita a little about the mistake that was Alex. So we both stare at one another, slack-jawed, and then back at Tara. Simultaneously, we all let out a huge laugh.
“Oh, wow, that’s too good.”
“Aw, I feel a little bad for him,” Tara says.
“That little turd,” Rita calls out, and we continue laughing.
Chapter 6
Taylor
Walking into work, I see that Micah’s already behind the counter.
“What’s up, man?” He offers a fist bump. “Short shift today?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Well, you’ll probably get some more hours if you want. Bobby’s going to be looking for people for coverage.”
“How come?”
Micah points off to the side, over near the manager’s office. “Ethan and Calvin are in there right now talking to him. Turning in their two weeks.”
“What?”
I knew Calvin was trying to open his own gym, but I didn’t think it was happening already. Just as I’m throwing my bag under the counter, they both walk out of the office and head over to us.
“It’s going down!” Calvin slaps his hands together in excitement.
“I didn’t know you were already getting things set.”
“Yup,” he answers with a smile. “Bobby was cool about it, at least for me.” He shoots Ethan a look.
“I hate to do it to him,” Ethan answers, “but I’ve already got three clients, and we’ve just been going to the park. Working out of Calvin’s will be so much better. If Bobby had a better system in place I’d stay, but Precision is going to work out better.”
Calvin raises his hands like he’s reading a headline in the air. “Precision Fitness. It’s gonna be great.” Turning to me, he raises an eyebrow. “Offer still stands, Taylor. I know you just got certified, but there’s no better time to start than the present.”
“Yeah,” I answer, but I do have some hesitation.
It’s what I’ve been working for. Even though I still want to finish school and get my associates degree, I know I want to get my foot in the door with personal training.
“We were thinking about celebrating tonight. You interested?”
“I can’t tonight.”
“Tomorrow night then?” Calvin counters.
“Yeah. For sure.”
“Awesome.” Calvin high fives me and goes about his business, while Ethan grabs his stuff and heads to the locker room.
“Turning down a night out?” Micah gives me a skeptical look. “You haven’t had a girl over since Sasha. Don’t tell me you finally met your match.”
“Never. Also, you make me sound like a manwhore.”
He shrugs. “If the shoe fits, bro.”
“Dick.” I shove his shoulder, laughing. “Anyway, AJ sent me a text today. He got student of the month, so I told him I’d go to a dinner they’re having tonight.”
“Oh, okay. How is he? I haven’t heard you talk about him for a while.”
I lift my shoulders, leaning back against the counter. “He’s good. I can’t believe he’s in middle school now.”
I look away, hoping Micah doesn’t sense my discomfort. Ever since moving to Irvine, he’s the only one of my friends out here who knows what happened to me, and even that was an accident. At least, that’s what I tell myself. If I really thought about it, I’m sure on some subconscious level I got drunk on purpose during grad night and splurged to him the details of my previous life and subsequent self-imposed exiling.
“So, yeah, anyway …” I aimlessly shuffle papers on the counter. “Gonna meet up with them for a couple hours tonight out in Long Beach. His parents are taking him to the aquarium there, and we’ll meet up for dinner.”
“Cool. You should go back home for a weekend or something.”
“Eh, it feels too weird. If it’d just be my parents, maybe, but it’s always everyone else. Anthony and Cynthia, and all of my friends over there. Everyone’s so nice. I don’t deserve it.”
“Taylor, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
I nod again, wanting to end the conversation. Thankfully, Becky walks through the door, wearing nothing but skintight yoga pants, a white sports bra, and grinning widely at me. I don’t date, but if there’s a girl that I’d call a constant in my world, it’s Becky. No fuss, no muss. We keep it clean, with no strings attached.
“Hey, Taylor,” she says with a smile.
“What’s up, Becks?”
Leaning against the counter, her breasts are on full display; she doesn’t have to try very hard to flaunt them. They’re fake, but hell if I care. “How about that raincheck tonight?”
I groan. “Can’t do it tonight, heading out of town.”
Her exaggerated pout makes my eyes find her lips. “You’re no fun.”
“How about tomorrow night? Cal and Ethan are celebrating.”
“Oh.” She perks up with excitement. “Celebrating what?”
“They’re branching out. Cal’s finally opening up his own place.”
Eyeing me carefully, she looks around, dropping her voice. “Oh, are you gonna be joining them?”
“Not sure yet. Cal says it’s an open invitation, so we’ll see I guess.”
Leaning closer, she licks her lips. “You should. I’d love some more one-on-one time with you.”
“Oh, I don’t see that being a problem, no matter where I’m at,” I answer, lifting a brow. “You still have my number?”
“Of course.”
“Hit me up tomorrow, and I’ll tell you where we’ll be at tomorrow night.”
Her eyes linger on me as she walks into the gym, behind frosted glass
doors. Micah chuckles behind me.
“Seriously, if there is anyone that you might as well just date, it should be Becky. I actually think she’s starting to like you.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Seriously.”
“Come on, Micah. She knows the score.”
He shakes his head, shrugging. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Would you ever think about trying something with her?”
I quirk an eyebrow at him. I know exactly what he’s talking about, but I don’t feel like having an honest conversation right now. “As a matter of fact, Micah,” I pause, making him give me a suspicious look, “there’s a whole lot of things I’d still like to try with her.”
He starts laughing. “And on that note, I’m gonna clean the locker rooms. Freak.”
* * *
Locking my helmet under the seat of my motorcycle, I wait for a few minutes, looking at the restaurant. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen them. It’s fine seeing and even talking to Anthony and Cynthia. But AJ is different. I thought it might get easier to be around him as time passed, but it’s the opposite. It’s harder.
I glance back at my crotch-rocket. It’s a constant reminder of everything. But it’s better than the alternative, which would be a car. I don’t think I’ve been in a car more than a few times in the last few years.
My phone dings.
AJ: I see you! LOL
Letting loose a chuckle, I turn around and look at the windows of the restaurant, finding him with his face pressed against one, sticking his tongue out. My chuckle turns into a full-blown laugh, easing my worries.
“Taylor, great to see you,” Anthony greets me as I get to their table.
“You too,” I reply with a smile.
“Look at you,” AJ says, getting to his feet, wrapping his hands around my bicep. “Dude, you’re like, the Hulk, or something.”
I laugh, ruffling his brown hair that matches Reese’s.
Cynthia gives me a hug as Anthony and AJ sit down, before holding me at a distance. “How are you, Taylor?”
“I’m good, I’m good. Thanks.”
Studying me carefully, her eyes run over the arm AJ just grabbed. “You’re taking care of yourself?”
I know what she’s talking about, and I catch Anthony looking up at me, paying particular attention.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just at the gym a lot more with the promotion. If I’m not studying, I’m working out. It’s not like it was before.”
“Are you sure?”
I want to be mad or annoyed or even indignant. But I can’t. She’s like a second mother to me, and I know she’s just watching out for me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“Okay,” she responds with another hug before sitting down.
Pulling up a seat next to AJ, I grab a menu. “How was the aquarium?”
“It was awesome!” He throws up his hands. “I got to touch an octopus!”
We all start laughing, and for a few moments, everything is fine. I’ve known them my entire life. AJ’s known me his entire life. So, we eat and talk and laugh, and there are split-seconds when everything feels normal. Brief flickers of time, when everything feels like it was and like I thought it was going to be. Even though I don’t see them often, it’s these moments that I try to remember the most.
Because I know once I leave, I won’t remember laughing with AJ about him enjoying the aquarium. I won’t remember Cynthia talking about the latest misadventure she had with my mom, and I won’t remember Anthony telling me the most recent friendly argument he got into with my father, about how the number one draft pick was a bust and how our team is going to play another horrible season.
I won’t remember any of that. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’ll only be consumed with memories of Reese. Anthony and Cynthia’s daughter. AJ’s sister, who he’ll forget more and more of as he gets older. And it’s all my fault.
Chapter 7
Sasha
“Isn’t this great?” Tara asks, bumping her elbow with mine.
“Yeah, great.” I should add ‘womp, womp’ with that, but I don’t.
It’s not that I didn’t want to come out tonight, but I would’ve liked to shower first. Tara waited for Rita and me as we closed down Banditos, so we could come to Chevy’s for some late night karaoke.
“Sash, if we would’ve gone back to your place you would’ve taken forever to shower, then probably would’ve bailed at the last minute talking about how tired you were.”
“Excuse you.” I poke her arm. “You try cooking over a hot grill for six hours straight and don’t want to clean up a little.”
“Hey, I work.”
“In the college bookstore. The grossest thing you’d get in your hair is dust bunnies.” I hold a strand of my hair and put it under her nose. “Smell this. It smells like grease and jalapeños.”
She laughs, pushing me away.
“Stop the complaining, lightweight,” Rita proclaims, dropping drinks in front of us. “I used to work at a bar where the last call was two in the morning, and the girls still wanted to go out partying somewhere until morning. Midnight is nothing.”
“Excuse me, old hag,” I laugh, pushing her arm, and she swats me back.
“So, who’re we looking at tonight?” Rita asks, taking a sip of her drink.
“No, I’m good.” I shake my head, taking a drink of my own.
“Oh, did a certain bad boy wear you out?” Tara asks, almost spitting out her drink.
“Ew!” I slap her arm, throwing a napkin at her. “And he’s not a bad boy.”
“Those weren’t the rumors I heard back in school.”
Rita leans closer. “You’ve been really hush-hush about whoever this guy is at work. I didn’t know he’s a bad boy. Does he have any tattoos? Piercings?” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Oh, gross. No, no piercings. Or tattoos. He’s got some scars though.”
“See?” Tara points at me like she’s right.
I shrug a shoulder. “See what? Scars don’t mean anything.”
“You’re still not saying much,” Rita teases.
“I’m not talking about it because there’s nothing to talk about. It’s a one and done thing. He’s not interested in a relationship or anything like that, which, believe it or not, is kind of a relief.”
Giggling, Tara bumps my elbow. “Well, at least someone got lucky that night.”
Rita leans over. “Don’t look now, but you might get your chance, Tara.”
“What?” Tara looks around, and I follow her gaze. Across the room, leaning against the pool table are two guys. One gives Tara a head nod, and one looks at me, wiggling his eyebrows. Yes, he actually wiggles his eyebrows.
“Oh, God.” I quickly turn around and take another drink.
“They’re cute,” Rita says.
Both Tara and my head snap at Rita, who’s holding in a laugh.
“Stop staring.” I kick her under the table. “You never make eye contact. That just encourages them.”
“Hey, maybe we’ll get a free drink out of it.” She laughs again, then nods her head at them.
And that’s how we spend the next thirty minutes.
Look, it’s flattering. It really is. When a total stranger comes up and offers a compliment. And I’m not even really opposed to being hit on. However, there is a limit. You come up, introduce yourself, and offer a drink. If she says no, then you go on your way. You don’t sit down next to her and for the next twenty minutes try to explain how you’re the next great entrepreneur, selling the latest brand of shirts and shoes, and how your Mercedes is in the shop tonight, so you and your boy are using Uber.
Yes, that’s what he did.
“Hey, Ricky?”
“What’s up, babe?”
Babe? Seriously? Ever since him and his “boy,” Junior, came over, it’s been nothing but babe, honey, pretty thing, and spicy mama. I don’t even think he remembers my nam
e.
“Seriously, we were just looking for a nice evening alone. Thanks for the drinks, but if you don’t mind …”
He waits for a moment, then looks over at Junior, who rolls his eyes.
“Told you,” Junior hisses and then gets out of his chair, walking over to the bar.
“Rude,” Tara spits out, and I see Rita still holding in her laugh. She’s been doing it ever since they came over.
Before I look back at Ricky, my attention is caught by someone sitting at the bar, eyeing me. For a moment I’m about to roll my own eyes—thinking this place is nothing but a den for male egos, and they’re all out on the hunt tonight—when I see the crooked smile I got to know up close and personal almost a week ago.
Taylor.
He gives me a slight nod.
“Come on, pretty thing. Look, sorry about my boy, he’s still pissed off over something.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” I counter. “Can I just point out the obvious … that I smell like grease and my hair is in a bun with a fork through it. Does that seem like something a girl would wear out if she wanted to be hit on?”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, honey.” He rubs my hand on the table.
I yank it away, and now that he’s crossed the touching threshold, I’m about to yell at him, when Taylor catches my sight again, walking behind him, standing next to the DJ who plays karaoke. He eyes me slowly, still smirking, then his gaze floats over to Ricky. He lets out a louder chuckle. Cocky bastard.
“It’s Sasha. Or did you forget that?” I finally pin Ricky down with a stare.
“Of course not. But I’m trying to be nice. Look, I’m not asking to hook up with you tonight, why’re you being so rude?”
“Rude? We told you three time we were just hanging out tonight. We were trying to be nice.”
“I was only in it for the drink,” Rita butts in, letting loose her laugh.
“See?” Ricky points to her, almost flattered by her remark. “She’s having a good time. Look, let’s just talk. You have stunning eyes by the way.”
