by Lily Kay
Sierra volleyed back. “Uh, right, like I’m ever gonna lift. Besides, I don’t want to get all bulky. Humongous muscles are not sexy on women.” She returned to her menu.
“Actually, you’re wrong. Women won’t get bulky if they eat right when they lift. If you get into a lifting regimen, you’ll gain more muscle and look leaner. True story. As long as you don’t go crazy on the calories. You should give it a shot. I’d love to help, you know.”
Sierra flipped her menu down on the table. “Thanks, Mateo. But I think I’ll pass.”
“Okay, suit yourself and remain skinny fat.”
“I’m not skinny fat. I’m healthy.” Sierra’s voice rose an octave followed by the single finger salute.
Matt groaned and shook his head. I swear he had a death wish. These two hadn’t stopped squabbling since the moment they met our first semester at college.
“You are. You’re skinny fat. Hey, I’m not knocking it. Merely telling you like it is. You still look decent, but you’d be smoking hot if you lifted.” He gave her a once over and I feared for Matt’s clothing and the probability he’d remain dry.
Emmy and I both grinned. No way were we getting caught in the middle of one of their sparring matches.
“You’re an asshole, Mateo.” If lasers could shoot out of Sierra’s eye sockets, Matt would be fried.
“Hey, guys, what’s going on?” Nick slid in the booth next to me and placed a pitcher of beer on the table with a stack of glasses. “Thanks for coming.”
“No, thank you,” Emmy said. “World War Three was about to commence.” Her eyes angled toward Matt and Sierra.
“At it again?” Nick asked.
“I swear, they must get off on it.” I rolled my eyes.
“Whatever. It’s not my fault Matt’s a rat bastard most of the time he’s awake,” Sierra argued.
“You know you love me, even with all of my rat bastardness.” He blew Sierra a kiss despite the fact her eyes were so narrow they bordered on being closed, followed by a reappearance of her middle finger.
“Anyway. When do you go on, Nick?” I turned in my seat to face him.
“We go on in”―Nick checked his watch―“in about ten minutes. Thanks again for coming, mates.”
“Dude, there’s no way we’d miss it.” Matt poured himself more beer.
“Well, I still appreciate it.” Nick nodded at us before singling out Matt. “When are you joining us onstage again?”
“Say the word, man. You know if you’re ever down a sax, I’m your guy.” Matt still gigged on the side, despite the fact he changed majors from music to archaeology. He claimed he didn’t miss the college of music, and I thought him nutso for giving up his scholarship for one of the top sax studios in the country.
He refused to die an impoverished musician.
Personally, I would have switched to business over archaeology. At least he got to keep some of the scholarship from the college and transfer it over.
“We actually might next week, but I’ll give ya the deets later at the house,” Nick said.
Nick then turned to me. “You know, I think Gavin should be here tonight.”
“Oh yeah?” Emmy asked, nudging my leg with hers.
“Yeah, I put him on the VIP list and told him to look for you guys.” He perused the table. “Should be enough room for him and his date.”
And my heart sank. Of course, he’d bring a date.
“Oh? He’s bringing his girlfriend?” Sierra sipped her water after piping in.
“Not sure. But some chick. Maybe?” Nick slapped the table and stood up. “Roger, I’ve got to get ready. Keep a look out for him?”
“Sure, no problem,” Emmy said.
“Right then, until later?” Nick waved as he retreated toward the stage.
“Break a leg,” I yelled.
Nick ran into Gavin and pointed him our way. It was impossible not to notice Victoria plastering her body against Gavin’s.
Sensing my insecurity, Emmy leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You don’t know if they’re dating or not.”
“Uh, by the way she’s clinging to him, I’d say they’re more than friends. Leaving me very much in the not going to attempt to even try to flirt with him at the moment, category.” I reached for my water and held it in front of my lips.
“Maybe they’re only fucking.”
“So not helpful, Matt.” Sierra pelted him on the shoulder and sighed. “Legitimately, how are you being helpful?”
“Well, letting Louie know she might still have a chance.” Matt and his take on sex and relationships. I could never date someone like Matt, though I loved him to death. With my past, I’d demand commitment. Short-term shags? Out of the question.
Ultimately, I wanted to find a forever love rather than a long-term booty call like he had with his advisor. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t knock people who rock the booty-call. Booty-calls just weren’t for me.
“By telling her they’re fucking?” Sierra screeched.
I rubbed my forehead, giving myself a little massage with my pointer and thumb as Sierra and Matt went at it again.
Whatever Matt thought, seeing Gavin with Victoria didn’t give me high hopes. Even if they were “just” fuck buddies. I couldn’t compete.
“Why not?” Matt shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of beer, making sure to enunciate his exhale.
Sierra stayed in full interrogation mode. “And you still haven’t told me how you’re helpful.”
His head cocked to the side. “Look. If they’re only having sex, then it doesn’t mean shit. If he likes someone and wants attachment, he’s not going to fuck them the first night. Well, maybe he might if he’s gotten to know her well.”
He stopped, took another sip of beer, and resumed. “If he does like this chick he’s brought tonight, then he’s off the market. But if it’s only sex, anything’s fair game, which means Lou here still might have a shot. Because she’s not the type of girl you sleep with for shits and grins, and Gavin probably knows it.”
I glued my eyes on Gavin and Victoria as they bought their drinks at the bar and headed our way. Working through the crowd would take time.
“But if he’s still sleeping with her, he’s not going to make a move on Louie,” Sierra countered.
“You never know. If he digs Lou, he’ll stop fucking the other chick. Trust me. Besides, I’d beat the shit out of him and cut off his fingers if he didn’t.” Matt poured himself another glass of beer.
I shook my head and placed my forehead against the table. “Can we stop talking about it? He’s about to sit down with said fucking-partner slash potential girlfriend.”
Matt had to get the last word in and tried to assure me. “I’m telling ya, it’s not a done deal. I’ll let you know by the end of the night if they’re serious or not.”
I lifted my head and glared at him. “You are not going to say anything, so help me, Matty.”
He raised his hands up in surrender and promised. “Relax. I won’t say a thing. I’ll still be able to tell.”
“Fine, don’t say anything, please? I don’t want to be embarrassed again.”
“Well, at least you would know if you asked.” Emmy’s brain seemed to be on repeat.
“No one is asking, okay?” I crashed my head against the back of the booth in frustration.
The idea of anyone asking about Gavin’s love life in front of me brought an excess of heat to my ears and cheeks.
And knowing my friends, they’d revel in my embarrassment and say it would be a good experience for me.
“Okay, fine,” everyone murmured.
“Hey, guys. Nick said to join you?” Gavin’s voice still made my stomach churn, his tone smoky and rich.
“Sure thing, man. Ha
ve a seat.” Matt slid in closer next to Sierra while Emmy and I edged toward the other end of the booth. Gavin grabbed a chair and let Victoria slide in next to Matt.
Gavin gestured toward Victoria and introduced her to everyone.
“This place is great,” Victoria said.
“Yeah, we come here on the weekends. Usually Nick is playing or we’re hanging out.” I forced a smile toward Victoria. “Sometimes Dave Spence from our studio plays here too.”
“No kidding,” Gavin said.
“Well, if he’s able to play, for certain they’d let you play.” Victoria settled her hand on Gavin’s knee and I tried not to watch. I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t hold her hand but reached for a menu.
Gavin didn’t jump on Victoria’s suggestion to try and line up a gig at Groove. Instead, he nodded in my direction. “Dave’s actually a talented guy. Besides, I’m not looking to play here. I prefer staying behind the scenes. You know, seeing as I’m composition, not performance.”
“Well, I wasn’t saying Dave was bad. He’s good, but you’re better.” It pained me to witness Victoria sucking up. I almost felt bad for Victoria, the way Gavin responded to her.
If he was an ass, I could squash this silly crush consuming my every thought.
Gavin turned to Matt, ignoring Victoria’s last response. “So, Nick tells me you play here sometimes?”
“When they’re down a sax.”
“No kidding. I didn’t realize you played.”
“Yep, Matty used to be a music major,” Emmy noted.
“And then I saw the light and left.” Matt raised his beer to Gavin.
“Huh.” Gavin lifted his drink. “Cheers, man. You must be pretty decent to get into Smith’s studio.”
Matt didn’t say anything, but he did curve his lips. Smith’s studio seemed to revel in competition. The music college accepted only three to four new sax players a year.
“I still love to play but the education major gave me hives. I couldn’t see myself teaching a bunch of fifth graders for the rest of my life and I heard too many stories of starving performance majors. Not hard to make the decision to switch over,” Matt explained.
“Nah, man. Makes total sense. What are you studying now?” Gavin’s back now faced Victoria.
“Archaeology.”
“No shit.”
“Yeah. Had my first dig over the summer.” Matt described his time down in South America.
Sierra snorted. “Like archaeology’s gonna make you millions,” she mumbled.
Matt either didn’t hear Sierra or ignored her. I’d bank on the latter.
“Is music how you all met?” Victoria asked, maneuvering her way back into the conversation.
“Definitely not me, but they all met in the music building. Me and Lou were roommate freshman year,” Sierra clarified.
“Explains why we haven’t seen you there,” Victoria responded.
Matt shot Gavin a quizzing look before offering his commentary. “She’s quick, this one.”
Emmy and I stifled our amusement as Matt’s shoulder became Sierra’s punching bag again.
Victoria sat up straight in the booth and resumed questioning Sierra. “And what do you study?”
“Photography.” I loved Sierra to death but being curt with Victoria made conversation beyond awkward.
“Oh, interesting. And what do you want to do with it?” Victoria asked.
“Take pictures?”
Aaand, I had to leave because watching Victoria drown among my friends? It physically pained me. I grabbed the pitcher and stood up, taking people’s orders. “Another pitcher and anything else?”
Matt requested the beer on tap, followed by two strawberry daiquiris for Sierra and Emmy, and white wine for Victoria.
I turned to Gavin. “Anything for you?”
“Beer works for me but let me help. There’s a lot of drinks to juggle.” Gavin stood up and grabbed the empty pitcher from me.
I peeked up at him and gulped. Because he still towered over me, his body encroaching into my personal space.
I internally warred with myself about whether I should try and inconspicuously lean into him or drop all attempts at flirting and make my way to the bar. The bar won out, because let’s face it, I was way too chicken-shit to make any type of move on Gavin.
Nick’s band took the stage and warmed up. The band’s timing couldn’t have been better, saving me from immediate conversation.
My heart already threatened escape from my chest cavity. Ludicrous, I know, though it still didn’t stop my body from entering muted freak out mode.
We moved in silence, single file. With his presence inches from my back, all the little hairs on my arms stood at full attention.
Once we got to the bar, I caught Jackson’s eye and he came right over. Again, bonus perks of coming here year after year to watch Nick, Matt, and Dave play.
“Yo, Louie. What can I get for ya?” Jackson feigned ignorance with our fake ID’s. We had an understanding and drank responsibly. I never drank at Groove, and happily offered myself as the designated driver.
Matt would turn twenty-one in November, though he made us promise not to throw a party. Something about an aversion to birthdays.
Gavin leaned into me from behind and placed the empty pitcher on the counter. As I recited the drink order to Jackson, my knees threatened to buckle when the tone of his voice massaged my ear and neck.
“Can I get anything for you?” And I understood what people implied when they said a voice alone could drive a woman insane, the way his breath danced across my skin, igniting little zingers through my body.
I slowly turned, hoping to avoid bonking our skulls together. Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “I’m not a big drinker. But thanks though.”
He stretched his arms, grabbing hold of the edge of the counter and enclosing me against the bar. He morphed into my private space. “Can I buy you a virgin?”
I tried swallowing, but my nerves parched my throat. That and dehydration. “Um, thanks. But I’m okay.”
I’m okay? Words one speaks when they do not want sexy time. Erm, did I want sexy time with him? I think my hormones did. Not sure about my brain, yet.
“Maybe some water?” I eventually squeaked.
“Okay, water it is.” Gavin reached for the pitcher Jackson replaced, flashed his ID, and requested my drink of choice.
I smiled at him for a moment longer than I should have before he shifted his eyes to the counter. My cue the other drinks had arrived.
I shook my head at myself this time and grabbed the drink orders. Back at the table, I took an inventory of my friends.
Emmy raised her eyebrows, Sierra excessively tapped the table, and Victoria flirted with Matt. He obviously enjoyed the attention, though he managed to dart a glance my way before turning his attention back toward Victoria.
The band started on their first set and I reclined next to Emmy, exhaling aloud. Too hours remained in the evening, and I had no idea what Gavin’s intentions were.
Maybe Emmy was right, and it would be easier if someone asked if Gavin and Victoria were together. Based on the attention she directed toward Matt, I quickly changed the status of their relationship. Maybe they were fuck-buddies, which made Gavin pretty much off-limits because I didn’t do casual sex. And if he wanted casual sex, it would never work between us.
I snorted, thinking about how Dr. Liz might scold me for ruining any potential relationship before it started.
For now, I’d listen to the band. Conversation with Gavin proved futile at this point, with him at the other end of the table, and the volume bordered on damaging eardrums.
At one point, Emmy leaned in and divulged the gossip. “Matt says they’re not even fucking, but she�
�s hoping. He’s definitely not interested.”
“How does he know?”
Emmy lifted a shoulder and tilted her head. “You know Matt. He’s all-knowing.”
I didn’t know what to think. Matt did seem to have a sixth sense. Maybe because he had the same rules as Gavin when it came to women?
I’m sure I’d hear all about it tomorrow, but for tonight, I amused myself with glimpses of Gavin in the dimmed lighting of the club. And maybe Matt’s theory about Gavin’s relationship status lifted my spirits a little bit more.
Chapter 7
I sighed and leaned the side of my head into the doorjamb outside the tutoring room. Gavin played the most haunting melody I had heard in forever, though I wasn’t sure if it was F major or B flat major, which reinforced the whole reason why I needed tutoring.
The time on my cell phone read 11:56 am, but I didn’t want to disturb his playing. Instead, my mind replayed the events from Friday night at Groove, and my bizarre conversation with Matt. Matt had confirmed Victoria and Gavin were not fuck-buddies nor would they ever be.
“I still don’t know how you figured out they weren’t doing the nasty without asking him. She practically took up residence in his lap.”
I spent the rest of the evening avoiding Victoria’s general area while she basically eye-fucked both Gavin and Matt. Now from pure female objectivity, I couldn’t blame her. They were both quite attractive men.
“Observation, Holmes. He never reciprocated,” Matt announced.
“He didn’t discourage it either.” I may have sounded a little bit jealous.
“Because he’s a dude. It’s nice to get attention from a beautiful woman, and Victoria is pleasing to the eye. A bit of a bitch, but still nice to look at. Wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole, but there you have it. Seems like Gavin’s got his head screwed on straight and won’t be frequenting her used car lot.”
