A groan escapes me and she breaks the kiss first, our eyes opening at the same time, and we stare at each other without saying a word, her gaze dropping to my mouth again. I know what she wants.
I want it too.
We can’t resist each other. This one moment is proof. I need to do something, say something to continue this connection.
I need her. And she needs me. I know it.
“Fable. Everything okay?”
We both turn our heads to see some guy standing a few feet away, big and intimidating, dressed all in black, his gaze sharp as it lingers on me. He looks like he wants to kick my ass.
Great. After his interruption, the feeling’s mutual.
“I’m fine. Just getting back to work.” She shoves at me and I step back, letting her escape. Just like that.
Fable doesn’t look at me as she heads into the restaurant. Doesn’t say a word to me or the guy and we’re left outside alone, glaring at each other, sizing each other up. He’s older, at least in his late twenties, and big.
But I’m taller. And broader. I could take him if I had to.
That I’m thinking like this is totally ridiculous.
“Who the hell are you?” he asks, his voice quiet but edged with steel.
“I could ask you the same question,” I toss back.
He crosses his arms in front of him. “I’m her boss.”
Shit. I don’t want to screw up anything at her job. This place is nice, way nicer than La Salles, and I bet she likes working here a lot more. Bet she makes more money too. “I’m her boyfriend.”
He lifts his brows, a little chuckle escaping him. “Really? Funny, she didn’t mention you when we were together last night.”
I’m so fucking shocked by what the asshole says that by the time I find my voice, he’s gone.
Fable
I hurry back to the private party room, thankful Drew doesn’t follow me. Even more thankful Colin doesn’t follow me either. I wish I could sneak off to the bathroom to gather my thoughts, take a deep breath, something, anything, but I need to get back and help Jen. It’s not fair, leaving T in there helping out when she should be supervising the restaurant.
But I can’t stop shaking. Breathing deep, I can smell him. Drew’s familiar clean scent clings to my skin and my clothes. I press my lips together, run my tongue over them.
God, I can still taste him. He’s all over me and I don’t know if I can stand it. The words he said, how my body reacted when he touched me, when he kissed me…
I want him. But I don’t. He’s put me through hell and back and with one glimpse of him and a few whispered words, I’m lost.
Drew Callahan is my absolute weakness. Like a drug I can’t get enough of. He’s my addiction and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m not looking to kick that particular habit anytime soon.
Slipping inside the room, I see Jen standing in the corner closest to the door by herself. T must’ve left and I feel like immediate crap.
“Are you okay?” she asks me as I approach.
Jen’s low-spoken question pulls me out of my Drew-addled head and I offer her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Just…tired.”
“The guys are leaving.” She studies me, her dark gaze careful. “I heard about what they said. They’re assholes, Fable. Don’t let them bother you.”
Great. So they were still talking about how much of a slut I am. In front of my new coworker and potential friend. “Maybe what they said is true.” I square my shoulders and stiffen my spine. Trying for defiant and probably failing miserably.
“I don’t care.” Jen shrugs. “Who am I to judge?”
I think I could like this girl. Could possibly consider her a friend, and I don’t remember the last time I had a close female friend.
We watch as the guys stroll out of the room, the majority of them offering us leering stares as they pass. The birthday boy is the only one who shoots us a semi-apologetic look when he approaches, then slaps a one-hundred-dollar bill into my palm and another one in Jen’s simultaneously.
Well. That made the insufferable evening a little more worth it. Just barely.
“We’re continuing the party elsewhere. This place has turned into a drag.” Ty stops directly in front of me, blowing his beer breath in my face. I wrinkle my nose in disgust. “Wanna come with us? Bring your friend? We’ll show you both a good time, I promise.”
“Screw off, jackass,” Jen mutters, startling Ty.
And me.
Grinning, I tilted my head toward her. “You heard the lady. See ya later.”
He glares at us for a long, quiet moment, his nostrils flaring before he flees the room, leaving us completely alone.
“What a jerk,” Jen says, shaking her head. “I can’t believe he’s so….”
“Blatant? Rude?”
“All that, wrapped up in disgusting slimeball. What a waste.”
“What do you mean?” I start cleaning up the room, as does Jen.
“He’s not bad looking. A complete waste of a handsome face.” She shrugs. “The bigger assholes are usually the really good-looking ones, I’ve noticed.”
She has a valid point.
Colin strides into the room, his gaze alighting on me as if he’s been searching for me for days. “Who’s the guy you were talking to?”
I’m taken aback by his question, the tone of his voice. “What does it matter?” I ask warily.
Jen’s watching us, I can see her out of the corner of my eye. I really don’t want to be having this conversation with her as a witness.
“Jen, could you give us a few minutes of privacy? Why don’t you help out in the bar for a bit?” Colin suggests, his gaze never leaving mine.
She leaves without a word, and we’re alone. The noise from the restaurant dims and I shift on my feet, waiting for the axe to fall. He’s going to fire me, I can sense it. And on the very day I finally felt comfortable enough and gave notice at La Salle’s.
I bet I could beg for my old job back if I had to.
“I don’t like having old boyfriends sniffing around my restaurant staff in a proprietary manner,” Colin says.
His words startle the crap out of me. “Old boyfriends? Who are you talking about?”
“The guy I caught you with outside. He told me he’s your boyfriend.”
My lips part but nothing comes out. I’m still so disgusted by what Ty said to me and Jen, I thought at first Colin was talking about him. But he was referring to finding Drew and me together outside. Drew’s arms around me, holding me close, kissing me. “Not anymore,” I finally say because as far as I’m concerned, we’re not together. We never really were.
But Drew said he was my boyfriend? This…baffles me.
“Well, maybe you should explain that to him. Last I saw, he was still hanging around outside. Almost like he’s waiting for you.” The disgust on Colin’s face is clear. He doesn’t want to deal with my personal problems lingering around his business. Not that I can blame him.
I feel like an absolute screwup.
“I’m sorry. Do you mind if I go see if he’s still around? I can tell him to leave.” Such a weak excuse. I just want to catch a glimpse of him again.
“By all means, get rid of him.” Colin waves a hand toward the door.
I start to go but he stops me, grabbing hold of my arm before I exit the room. “If this becomes a problem, you become a problem. You do realize this, right?”
I nod, embarrassment making me want to run. But I face him head-on, my gaze meeting his. I want him to know I’m not about to risk my job over a guy. They’re so not worth it. “I understand. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Better not.” His voice gentles, as does his touch, and he slowly releases his hold on my arm. “I like you, Fable. I don’t want to have to lose you because of your personal problems.”
Ouch. His honesty hurts but I need to face up to the fact that I caused some trouble tonight. The fight happened because of me. Yeah, the gu
ys had been drunk but the arguing all stemmed from me. My slutty—and not so slutty—past is catching up to me and messing with my future.
I hurry down the narrow hall that leads to the back door and push it open, coming out into the alley to find myself alone.
Drew’s gone.
Glancing toward the parking lot, I see him with the rest of the jerks. For whatever stupid reason I feel betrayed. He doesn’t really like those guys. Never felt as if he fit in, he admitted that to me during our one week together.
So what’s he doing? Why’s he with them? I watch in disbelief as he climbs into the car of one of the other guys, leaving his truck in the parking lot. He’s actually…going with them. I’m stunned.
Irritated.
Without thought I stalk back into the restaurant, seeking out Colin. I find him in the front, at the hostess station, and I go to him, tapping him on the shoulder so he turns around to face me.
“The problem’s been taken care of,” I say with more finality than I actually feel. I’m lying to Colin since I didn’t talk to Drew but I’m not too far off base. No way is Drew coming back here to bug me.
I won’t let him.
“You talked to him.” He raises a skeptical brow.
I nod. “Sure did. Told him not to bother coming back. That we don’t want any trouble.”
Colin is contemplating me. Looking at me like I’m completely full of shit. Which I am. “He comes back here, I’m going to be mad. At you and him.”
“I know.” I swallow hard.
“I don’t like trouble at my restaurant. I don’t like my employees dating each other, I don’t like jealous boyfriends and girlfriends lingering around, waiting to catch their significant others in a bad position. I’m sick of that crap. You need to walk the straight and narrow, Fable, if you’re going to work here. I know I can’t tell you what to do on your personal time but your business time? My time? I expect you to adhere to my rules.”
What a drill sergeant. His words, his attitude surprises me. He usually seems so much more laid back. “I get it. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Colin nods and without another word leaves me where I’m standing. I can almost guarantee it’s never going to happen again because I’m so pissed at Drew, I don’t want to see him ever again.
He left with those guys. He’s off fucking around and doing whatever crazy, stupid thing a bunch of oversexed, drunken jocks do on a Saturday night. And he’s right there with them. Probably going to drink and flirt and mess around just like all the rest.
Tears sting my eyes and I blink them away. I don’t own him. I rejected him outright only moments before. Gave him a free pass to do whatever the hell he wants.
So why am I so upset? Why do I feel like he somehow still belongs to me?
Chapter Six
Don’t give up just because things are hard. – Fable Maguire
Drew
They brought me to a strip club that’s on the outskirts of town, the building nondescript and small, the sign flashy and bright in the otherwise dark, cold night. Gold Diggers is what the place is called. I’ve heard of it before but have never been there.
Usually I’d protest, bail on them, whatever. But when Jace asked if I wanted to ride with him here, I readily agreed. Didn’t help I was still blown away by what Fable’s fucking boss said to me.
Her boss. She’s messing around with her boss. I can’t believe it. The devastation that still lingers within me is strong. Like bring-me-to-my-knees powerful. I don’t know what to think. I can’t think. It hurts too damn much.
So I left. Running away from my problems as per my usual mode. Funny thing is, I’ve surrounded myself with other people. Guys I know and would like to consider my friends. I wonder if my shrink would be proud of me for at least this part of my denial.
I’m definitely a little drunker than I was when we first arrived, and I’m still angry—at Ty for insulting Fable. At Fable for pushing me away. I can’t win. Avoiding her led me straight to her. It’s inevitable that we see each other again. How could I prepare for the shock, seeing her there? Beautiful. Angry. Believing she’s still mine when she’s already moved on.
Pain lances through me and I let it, soaking the near physical emotion just like my body is soaking up the alcohol. I hate letting my emotions control me so completely. I’m usually numb to this sort of thing. Enduring what I’ve gone through in my past made it easy for me to throw up barriers and pretend everything was fine—or more like nothing mattered.
She matters, though. Or at least, she did.
So I’m sulking like a baby and watch half-naked women gyrate on a stage, their decent bodies on blatant display, their expressions bored, like they’ve done this sort of thing a million times and they hate it, which they probably do. The club is packed, we’re probably the youngest guys there and the beer is flowing.
Straight down my throat, as fast as I can drink it.
“Having fun?” Logan nudges me, the leer on his face wobbly. He’s drunker than me, fitting since he’s the one we’re celebrating. May as well get shit faced like him, right? I’ve got nothing to lose and nothing but sorrows to drown.
Woe is me. I’ve turned into the worst sort of broken record.
I shrug. “The beer’s good.”
Logan laughs. “The beer is shit. The women are fine. They all have great racks.” He tips his head toward a dark-skinned girl dancing not twenty feet away from where we sit. “Ty’s arranging a lap dance for me with her.”
I scowl. Hearing Ty’s name irritates me. We’ve sat on opposite ends of the group the entire time, no interaction between us whatsoever. Probably best, considering if he comes near me again, I might hit him.
And keep on hitting him until he’s bloody and broken. Only then would I feel an ounce of satisfaction. Though why I keep wanting to defend her when she’s out fucking around with another guy while I mourn the loss of her, I don’t know.
Fuck.
“I’m sure he could arrange a lap dance for you too,” Logan continues.
“Hell, no. I don’t want one.” I shake my head and down the rest of my beer in one swallow. I feel hot. My head is spinning. I’m definitely losing control and for once, I don’t really care.
“That you say you don’t want one only makes me want to get you one even more.”
I turn to see Ty standing there, beer in hand, smirk in place. I want to slap that shitty look off his face but I remain calm. Nonchalant. “Why would you want to waste your money on a lap dance for me? Get one for yourself.”
Ty laughs. “I want to see you squirm, Callahan. I know this isn’t your scene. Hell, I’m surprised you’re here with us. I’m even more surprised at how you tried to kick my ass over a stupid girl.”
I say nothing. I’m surprised too but I’m not going to let on that I am.
“You know Fable? Been with her or something?” Ty shakes his head. “I took her out once, a long time ago. It was mostly forgettable.”
If he so much as goes into detail about their supposedly forgettable date, I’ll bash his face in.
“I don’t know her that well,” I bite out, every word sharp because I’m a complete liar. “But you don’t disrespect women, Ty. It’s an asshole thing to do.”
“I’ve never said I was anything but an asshole.” The smirk on Ty’s face disappears. “That’s why I already got you that lap dance, buddy. With a pretty little blonde who reminded me of our mutual friend.” He flicks his head and I turn around.
“Hi.” She smiles at me, all bright and fake, and I’m momentarily taken aback. She does eerily resemble Fable at first glance, much like my fake classmate Fable, but then I realize she’s nothing like the girl I’m in love with.
This fake Fable is taller, skinnier, with shorter hair and bad skin. Her nails are long and painted neon pink. She tosses her hair behind her shoulder and thrusts her chest out, her hard nipples poking against the thin fabric of her neon pink bikini top.
Ty plants his
hand in the middle of my back and shoves me toward her. “Aren’t you going to greet your present? You need to respect women and all that other shit you talk about, right?”
Asshole. “You don’t have to do this,” I tell her, ignoring Ty’s snicker. I glance around, looking for Logan, but he’s long gone. Probably off getting his own dance.
The girl frowns. “He paid me to do it. It’s my job.”
“Just keep the money,” I tell her, reaching out to grab her arm so I can take her somewhere else. Somewhere we can pretend this is happening instead of putting on a show for everyone.
She shakes her head, touches my chest with her free hand. “Don’t you like me?”
I study her, my vision blurry. If I squint, she could almost pass for Fable. She strokes my forearm, her light touch sending a shiver through me. “Come on,” she murmurs, her voice low.
Seductive.
No way should I do this, but I let her lead me over to a chair and she pushes my chest so I have no choice but to sit. I fall into the chair heavily, my head spinning, and the music starts, the woman on the stage begins to move.
Just like the woman in front of me.
For a moment, I let my imagination run away from me. Instead of a stranger, it’s Fable in front of me. Dancing for me, so beautiful as she moves, her lips curved in a seductive smile, her eyes glowing as she watches me. I stare back, my mouth going dry, my skin tight and hot…
I hear Ty’s unmistakable laugh, snapping me back to reality.
The girl smiles at me, her hands on my shoulders, her barely covered breasts in my face as she twists and turns to the beat of the music. Her hips roll and thrust toward me as she reaches behind her back, deftly undoing both straps on her bikini top so it falls from her chest and lands on the floor.
She has small breasts and big nipples, nothing like Fable. Of course she’s nothing like her. I need to stop comparing all women to her. It’s a mistake. Hell, it’s a sickness. One I need to cure myself of and quickly, since she already has someone else.
The realization makes me almost sick to my stomach.
“Put your tits in his face!” Ty yells and she tosses her hair and laughs, thrusting her chest directly in my face as Ty commanded, her skin brushing against mine. I smell sweat, cheap perfume and alcohol emanating from her pores and I wrinkle my nose.
Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable) Page 6
