“Cool,” I say. Now, there’s another thing to worry about. “How’s my buddy Jerry? Has he come around?”
“Not lately, but I’ve seen Campbell around town with that douche Caleb.”
“Damn, they’re still together after all that? Must be true love.” I chuckle. If it is, I’m actually happy that Campbell found someone, even if it is with that fuck. He may not like me, but if he’s good to her that’s all that matters.
“Yeah, well, he said a couple of things that made me wonder what’s going on. I wouldn’t sleep on them. You know how Jerry can’t sit still for too long, not after what happened last time.”
“Don’t I know it,” I reply. “Ya know, I think I should just check in with him.”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Tommy replies.
I know I should give Jerry a call, but I’m not in the mood for his bullshit. I don’t want to think about the fact that I’m his little puppet, and he’s holding the fucking strings. I’ll call him this week. Right now my first priority is Elle and my family.
“How’s Momma?”
There’s a moment of silence before he answers that makes me fucking nervous as hell.
“She’s great,” he replies, letting out a long breath.
“All right. What’s up?” I stammer, not liking the sound of his voice. I feel like someone punched me in the stomach.
“Your dad has been coming around.”
“What?” I sit up, momentarily stunned, but I recover. “How the fuck did that happen?”
“Well, after you painted that room before you left, your mom has been on this Martha Stewart kick and made Juju and me go pick out paint with her at the Home Depot.” He laughs, pausing for a second. “You knew he worked there, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” I fidget on the couch, twirling the beer bottle on the table.
“He said he spoke to you.”
“I couldn’t tell Momma,” I breathe. “I didn’t want her to get upset. She’s so fragile with the cancer and everything.”
“I know why you did it, man, and so does Momma. She was upset for about a minute. She knows you were only trying to protect her.”
“You know how I feel about her and him,” I say as the panic takes over, knowing that I’m not home to protect her. “It hurts not being there for her.”
“She’s good, Reed. You have to let your parents mend the past and move forward. She’s happy now, and if Juju and I plan to visit you, she won’t be alone. She has your dad and her brothers.”
“He said he’s not drinking anymore,” I choke.
“Yep, Momma won’t allow that shit in the house. Don’t worry. Everything is under control here. Be happy for her.”
“I am, man. I truly am,” I say, wishing I were closer, or that I was there. It sucks that I can’t be in two places at once.
After hanging up with Tommy, I send Elle a text and wait for her reply. When it doesn’t come through, I toss the phone onto the sofa. I’m going to keep trying until she answers. Fuck. What else can I do at this point? The slamming of the door and Luke throwing his gym bag onto the floor break up my thoughts and cause me to spill some of my beer on my jeans.
“Fuck, what the hell, dude? Can’t you do anything without giving someone a fucking heart attack?” I grimace, grabbing a napkin to dry my jeans.
“What the fuck are you doing home on a Monday night, asshole? I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Relaxing,” I reply. “By the way, my license says ‘Reed’, not ‘asshole’.”
“Sorry, asshole. It won’t happen again.” He pulls off his sweaty T-shirt and throws it over his shoulder. “We’re going out. The Red Sox are in the playoffs, and there are some Tiger fans I need to abuse.” He heads to the kitchen and grabs a beer from the fridge, twisting off the cap and taking a long pull. He smiles, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “So, whaddaya say?” He looks over at me and pushes his fingers through his damp blonde hair.
I know I’ve been looking for a distraction, and what could be better than getting my mind off my shit than watching some drunk ass Boston fans make fools of themselves? “All right,” I reply, thinking it beats going to the Glass Slipper or whatever he mentioned the other night.
“Cool. Let me hop in the shower and get dressed. Give me thirty minutes. We’re gonna have a good time tonight.”
“When does a dude need fucking thirty minutes to get ready?” I reply sarcastically.
“Shit, wait until you see the chicks out tonight, and you’ll see why, asshole,” he calls out as he disappears into the bathroom.
I laugh at my roommate and finish my burger and beer before I change into a clean pair of jeans and my Dallas Cowboys jersey. I know I’m asking for trouble wearing it, but I don’t give a damn.
How much shit can you get into at a bar while watching baseball and drinking beers with your crazy ass roommate? I hope he picks some place out of the way and not so popular, so I don’t run into anyone I know, but Luke likes to hit all the hottest spots. I can’t wait to see where we end up. I’m just hoping we don’t have another run-in with someone who wants to beat the living shit out me, because right now, the only place I’d rather be is sitting at home watching football with Elle in my arms.
This morning was perfect. I had no one to run with me, which was exactly what I needed because I haven’t had any alone time since I moved out. With Reed’s return, my apartment has been a revolving door with Tyler and Jace visiting more often. In a way, I’m okay with it. I guess I must be suffering through withdrawals, too, I laugh to myself as I make my way home. When I arrive, my phone rings just as I pull out my spare key from my plant nestled in the corner. Tyler would chuckle if he knew I was hiding my extra key here.. It’s too early for phone calls, especially when I read the name on the screen, because she doesn’t strike me as a morning person. Then again, I don’t know much about my new friend.
Piper:Hey. Let’s do something fun. Spontaneous. U in?
Elle:Sure. What do u have in mind?
Piper:You’ll c. I’ll B over in 1 hour.
Elle: I’ll be ready.
I can never anticipate what Piper may have up her sleeve, but that’s what I like about her. I take a quick shower and throw on my favorite jeans, sweatshirt and my running sneakers. Exactly one hour later, the cab pulls up. I like that she’s on time, too. I throw my bag over my shoulder, lock up my apartment and trot down to the sidewalk where the cab is idling. The change in the weather is evident. The temperature is in the fifties, a sure sign that fall is inching its way forward, leaving the summer behind.
“Hey there!” I exclaim, opening the door to the cab.
“What’s up?” she replies, patting the cracked leather seat next to her. “Welcome to the latest in luxury.” She laughs.
I smile, sliding in next to her and closing the door. I can safely assume my friend’s favorite color is black. She’s wearing a black leather coat with black jeans and black combat boots with a white tank top to break up her color palette.
“So, where are we going?” My eyebrows knit together.
“You trust me, right?” An innocent smile spreads across her face.
“I think so.” I smirk, gazing out the window at the sunless gray afternoon sky as I wonder where my friend is taking me.
“Relax. I’m not going to do anything crazy,” she says as she gives me a playful nudge.
Piper gives the cabbie an address in Brighton on Cambridge Street. Fifteen minutes later, we pull up in front of a tattoo parlor called Stingray Creations located in a slightly run-down side of town. It’s across the street from a car wash, liquor store and Spanish restaurant.
“Where the hell are we?” I ask as we hop out of the cab. I know where we are, but I wanted to confirm with her because this is the last place I thought she would take me.
“You’re a smart girl. What does it look like?” She snickers. “I’ve been wanting another tattoo, and I figured I’d take you along. You mad?” She turns to me before opening the doo
r.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. I soak in my surroundings as I wrap my arms around my chest.
Metallica is blasting at an insanely high level over the sound system when we walk inside. The place smells like stale cigarettes, and the orange rug on the floor is tattered and filthy. Sitting in the waiting area is a teenage boy listening to his iPod while watching an episode of Breaking Bad on Netflix. The wall behind the counter is covered with colorful drawings and lists of the services the artists provide. I notice tattoos and piercings in places I didn’t think were possible.
“Have you ever thought of getting one?” Piper asks as she heads to the counter and rings the bell.
I clear my throat and pause. “No.” I see the memory flash before my eyes of the time I went along with Tyler when he got his tattoo in honor of his mother. Reed did the same in honor of his mother, and I realize at this moment the similarity in both my best friend and the man who I am so drawn to. It is beautiful. “For me to get a tattoo, it has to mean something,” I finish apprehensively.
“Tattoos are great. I’m thinking of getting a set of musical notes,” she says excitedly with a twinkle in her eye. “Just think about it. You’re already here, and Todd can help you. Right, Todd?”
A guy with unkempt brown hair and several days’ scruff on his chin and upper lip appears behind the counter and smiles. He’s lean and tall and sporting nose, lip, and eyebrow piercings as well as numerous ear piercings, and his hands and arms are covered in intricate tattoos.
“Sure, I’ve got a ton of ideas.” He throws a large binder of images onto the counter. “Take your pick, pretty lady.”
“Thanks.” I flinch and awkwardly take the book to an old, uncomfortable leather chair. Piper takes a seat next to me as I start flipping through the pages, uncertain of some of the images I’m looking at through the worn page protectors.
“I’ve got a couple of minutes to help you if you want to get one. I mean, do you?” Piper asks.
“I’m not sure,” I say as I absently look through the pictures of skulls, dragons and other macabre images. Not my cup of tea. If I get a tattoo, it has to be something simple and drawn on my hip. “This is impulsive, you know.” I look around the parlor, wondering what I should do.
“Sometimes that’s the only way you’ll do the things you’ve thought about but have been afraid to do,” she breathes, pulling up her shirt to show me hers. “I got this dream catcher tattoo when I was fifteen. The first time I dreamt of myself being on stage. I’m gonna make it come true.”
That’s when I realize what I want as a tattoo.
“That’s hot,” Piper murmurs as she peeks at the tattoo under the gauze.
“I should have asked you about the pain involved.” I wince, replacing the gauze.
“Oh, you impressed me today. The pain passes, but the beauty remains,” she sings with a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face.
“For how long?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“A few hours. No biggie.”
“So, where’s yours? I hope you didn’t talk me into getting a tattoo and then didn’t follow through with yours!” I narrow my eyes jokingly.
“Are you kidding me? When I say I’m gonna do something, I do it!” she proudly affirms, pulling down her shirt and revealing the tattoo on her shoulder. “See. Right. Here.”
“It’s beautiful. I love the quote.”
“I know, right? ‘Life without music is not an option’.” She sighs, gently fixing her sleeve. “We’re gonna need something for the pain,” she says as we walk out the door.
“You think?”
“You don’t appreciate anything I’ve done for you, huh?” she says, rolling her eyes as she laughs.
“I’ll let you know after I recover.” I give her a fake pout.
Conveniently, there is a drugstore right around the corner where I pick up some ointment and bandages per Piper’s recommendation as well as some other needed toiletries. As I’m in the checkout lane, I receive a text from Chad.
“Who’s that?” Piper asks, lifting her perfectly plucked eyebrow.
“No one,” I laugh nervously, reading Chad’s text that the pictures are ready. I slip my phone into my back pocket and dig out my wallet.
“Let me see,” she bubbles as she cunningly snatches it from my pocket.
“Geez, I’m telling you it’s no one,” I whine, reaching for my phone.
“Chad?” She peeks up from the phone. “Isn’t he the guy from the Middle East? The one that likes blow jobs?” She snickers, handing the phone back to me.
“Funny,” I say, throwing the phone into my backpack after paying for my stuff. “He’s just coming over to drop off some pictures. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“Whatever. We all need some action,” she exclaims, her lips quirking in a smile.
She is so lucky I adore her.
“Who is it?” I ask, expecting to see Chad when I look into the peephole. Instead, I find Tyler standing outside my door, which I find strange because he typically just waltzes in like he lives here.
“One and only.” He gives me a sexy wink into the peephole.
“Well, what do I owe this pleasant surprise?” I pipe, swinging open the door.
“I just wanted to hang out on a Monday night with you,” he answers, brandishing a bouquet of lilies from behind his back.
“They’re beautiful.” I blush, taking the flowers from him. “What are these for?”
“Does there have to be a reason?” he asks, kissing my cheek.
“Thank you. I can’t remember the last time someone bought me flowers.”
“That’s a shame.” He inhales and follows me into the kitchen to find a vase for them. “You should get flowers every day.”
“So…what do you want from me?” I ask coyly, looking over my shoulder.
“That’s what I came over to talk about.” His voice is husky, and his eyes are hooded. I place the flowers inside the vase and turn to face him. He’s smiling warmly with one side of his mouth curled up higher than the other. His eyes drift down to my lips, and he begins running the top row of his teeth over his bottom lip as if he’s thinking about kissing me. His breathing is heavy like mine in anticipation of what he wants to say and do.
“What do you want to do first?”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, Tyler kisses me full on the lips. His lips are sweet and dominating. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tighter, pressing his hard chiseled body against mine as we deepen the kiss. He moves one hand to my neck and pulls back my hair as he trails small butterfly kisses down to my collarbone. My knees nearly give out.
“That’s my answer,” he murmurs as he continues kissing my neck and ends with a soft kiss on my cheek.
I can’t even speak. My eyes remain slightly closed as I try to regain focus as a shiver runs through me. “Wow.” I sigh.
Tyler one shoulder shrugs and smiles crookedly. He is so adorable that I have to fight the urge to grab him and kiss him again. He takes my hand, leading me to the couch where he sits and pulls me onto his lap. I’ve never seen Tyler like this before, or maybe I have, and I’m just in denial. I don’t know. I love Tyler and we’ve gone further in our relationship/friendship over the past few weeks, but I’m not sure where we’re headed and I’m scared. Reed’s return changes things somehow. I don’t want to admit it, but after seeing him, I can honestly say that some feelings are still there. I’m at a point where I have to make a decision. I have to acknowledge it, but I can’t waste my time on someone who doesn’t want to change. Seeing him with Sierra pissed me off, and history shows he hasn’t always been honest with me.
“Ouch,” I grimace, removing his hand from my hip.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks, crinkling his forehead.
I carefully pull up my shirt and gently peel away the gauze that covers my new body art. “This.”
Tyler’s eyes travel to my hip where the tattoo is healing.
/> He traces it gingerly with his finger. “I like it. It’s sexy as hell,” he whispers, lifting his smoldering eyes. “Why didn’t you ask me to come along?”
“Why? So you can pick a fight with the guy for having his hands on my body?” I tease.
“Possibly.” His smile fades. “What made you decide to get it, and did you go alone?”
“No, I went with my friend Piper.”
“How come I haven’t heard of this new friend of yours?” he huffs in jest.
“You’ll meet her soon. I promise.” I sigh, running my hand through his thick brown locks.
“Good, because it looks like she enjoys the wild side.”
“You’ll like her.”
“Well, you’ve always had good taste in friends.”
“Ha-ha.” I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So, you wanna talk?”
“Not really, but...” He smirks, scraping his teeth over his bottom lip again. “It’s about us.”
I knew it.
“You don’t like the kissing stuff and would rather talk?” I look up at his handsome face and into his chestnut brown eyes.
“I want more,” he states matter-of-factly without breaking my gaze. He pauses and takes a deep breath. “I know you’re afraid after everything that happened, but we can go slow.” I twist my lips in thought, even though the answer is banging at the front of my brain. I feel his finger brush against my forehead, pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. He gradually traces his finger down my neck, causing an intense pounding in my chest. “What do you think?” he finishes.
“How slow?” I feel my body warm just from thinking of Tyler in a different way.
“I’m happy with kissing...for now.” He smiles, pulling me closer.
“Ugh, men,” I snicker, pressing my palm to his chest as he leans in to kiss me. At that moment, there’s a knock at the door. Tyler groans when my lips graze over his.
“Great timing,” he says, smacking my butt when I rise to answer the door. “Who are you expecting?”
Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 Page 19
