“What’s going on?” she enquired, and with that blunt question, I spilled the lot. I told her they were back in my life. I told her about Corey. I didn’t mention the Colton situation and I didn’t mention the fighting. I did tell her about Jay. She was very enthusiastic about Jay. I did have to remind her I was only talking to him but by the time we hung up Gran was just happy that I was no longer isolated and alone.
I could understand her concern. They were in another country and I was here, where they thought I had no one. Knowing that the guys were here with me must have been comforting to them. If I was honest it was comforting for me too. We were close. Some of us closer than others but I guess that was in the past too.
I didn’t have Connor and I was more than ok with that. Our time was long done. I couldn’t have Colton – he had made that clear – and Connor had inadvertently underlined that the other day. Matt really was the brother I never had and I genuinely didn’t think of Theo that way. He was just my buddy Theo. I loved to listen to his preposterous romantic endeavours and the disasters of the poor girls he got involved with. He was a hopeless lost cause and I never disappointed Theo – he never expected more from me. Our relationship was a simple friendship that was easy and uncomplicated. Therefore, when I thought about it like that, what was wrong with Jay? Apart from the obvious fact he wasn’t Colton?
No, I didn’t need this. I didn’t need an interest in Jay. I was just feeling out of sorts because I was caught up in this thing with Colton. This was not who I was. I was not this girl. Worthless tramp. Even now, I could hear her in my head, still see those hate filled eyes glaring at me as she sat there, dishevelled, drunk, filled with malice. A shudder ran through me. Memories of my mother were never good. I needed a distraction, so I did what anyone would do after the firm talking-to I had given myself. I went out for a coffee.
I cycled into the city centre, heading for Pearl Street Mall. I usually avoided it because it was a social hotspot in the city, but today I wanted to be surrounded by people I didn’t know and just people watch. I loved people watching. I loved making up stories in my head about them. I needed to clear my head of the cobwebs and have a carefree afternoon.
Sitting near the centre of the four-block mall, I was armed with my Starbucks and a large decadent slice of cheesecake. I settled back to dig in and enjoy Sunday afternoon.
I was feeling very relaxed and much more zen on the cycle home. I had spent a couple of hours sitting people watching. I watched mothers chase their wayward children down the square. I watched couples, young and old and made up fanciful stories on how they met and the adventures they had shared. It was a nice afternoon.
I chained the bike up beside my car and headed into the apartment to do some studying and head to bed for an early night. I was feeling more myself – I wasn’t as antsy as I had been and I was definitely not thinking any lingering thoughts about emerald green eyes. Nope. I was a gem free zone.
Matt called me around 9:00 that night. I hesitated before answering – I had just had a lovely afternoon, no guilt, no problems. However, I couldn’t ignore him, he was Matt after all. Anyway, if I didn’t answer, chances where he would send someone to me.
“Hi Matt,” I answered as I sat down on my couch.
“Hey Bit, you in?” Matt greeted.
“Yeah, not long back from the mall,” I answered.
“Excellent, can you let me in?” He hung up. Send someone to me I thought – no, not send; someone was already here. I flung my door open just as Matt topped the stairwell. He was wearing dark jeans, a black t-shirt and black leather jacket. I glanced at his feet, black bike boots. Hmmm, someone’s heading out.
I stood back to let him in. On his way in I was pulled into a hug. He closed the door behind him and I was half-carried through the hall. He let me down as he entered the lounge and I grinned at him, all tension leaving me.
“I can walk, you know,” I reminded him as I sat on the couch. “Where you going?”
He shrugged his jacket off as he sat beside me. “It’s family weekend – the first weekend of October,” he started, pressing on quickly on as he saw my smile fade. “Mom and Dad and my little bratty sister Amy are coming. Mom knows you’re here and you’re with us, so she told me to tell you to book what events you want to go to and we’ll sort out a timetable.”
“She doesn’t have to do that,” I said quietly.
“Are you serious? My mom adores you, plus it means you can organise everything and I just have to show up.” He grinned at me. I rolled my eyes at him but then I laughed.
“Amy is not bratty.” I poked him in the side. Amy was 15 going on 35 and she disapproved of everything Matt did. She had a huge crush on Theo though, which made Matt nervous and Theo laugh at how uncomfortable Matt got about it. Matt’s mom was wonderful. I loved her. She was a proper southern belle – however, she also had a sharp tongue on her. She needed it; Matt had two older sisters who fought constantly.
Matt slung his arm over my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “You ok? I’m sorry the other day wasn’t so great,” he admitted softly.
I snuggled into his side and smiled as I shrugged. “It was what it was. Cole is hard and doesn’t like being questioned. I don’t like you fighting, any of you, and I still don’t know why you are doing it, or why you were in a police station. But Colton is your best friend, you would do anything for him and he for you. There must be a reason and if I am not to know, then fine.” I wiggled out of his arm and stood, then I turned to look down at him. He was assessing me doubtfully.
“Really?” he asked.
“No, you asshat! But I know you won’t tell me – so I am pretending to be a better person.”
Matt threw his head back and laughed, then he jumped up and I was in a death crush of a hug.
“Can’t breathe Matt,” I protested. He let me go and then swooped down and kissed my cheek. That was unexpected, and I smiled shyly at him for the sweet gesture.
“Right. Get changed. We’re going out.”
“Where?” I frowned and looked at my watch – it was almost 9:30.
“Bar.” He was grinning at me in a way that made me cautious. “Colton’s off to his dad in Denver, Theo hasn’t fallen out of whoever’s bed he is in and Connor is painting his nails with Corey.” I burst out laughing. “Well he may as well be.” Matt grinned.
“You need a wing man?” I joked.
“No, I need my girl Bit, with no crap and no secrets.”
I looked at him, and I saw the twinkle in his eye. I grinned.
“Five minutes!” I dashed into my room as I heard him laughing behind me.
I quickly changed into skinny black jeans and a sheer white floaty blouse. As I slipped it on over a white silk camisole, I couldn’t help but think that Corey would approve. I half-tucked the front of the shirt into my jeans, leaving the rest hanging out as Corey had with the scarf and jean skirt the other week. Then I flung a black jacket over my arm and slipped into a pair of buckled ankle boots, tucking the jeans into them.
Finally, just as I was stepping back out of my room, my eyes landed on a black beaded necklace Corey had given to me, insisting she had two of them and didn’t need the second one. I wrapped it round my neck. A quick coat of mascara and a tinted lip balm application later and I was ready. I dashed out to find Matt in the kitchen drinking a bottle of water. He scanned me quickly, grinned and grabbed my hand, leading me out of the apartment. As I locked the door, he questioned my lack of purse. I tapped my inner coat pocket to indicate my wallet, as I slipped my key into the same pocket. I tucked my phone into my back pocket and grinning like naughty school children, we headed down the stairwell.
Matt’s huge SUV was outside and he held open the door for me as I hopped in. As we headed out of the city, I felt nice and relaxed. Ok he wasn’t going to tell me now but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to tell me at all. I guess I was going to have to be ok with that. Besides, we were going out just me and him, no awkwardness or anyt
hing, this was what we needed.
I knew we needed to go outside of the city to go to a bar what with us both still being underage. To be fair Colorado had quite a loose interpretation of the legal drinking age, but not in the main tourist areas. Matt drove to one of the back-lying bars. There was a bouncer outside it and a lot of motorcycles. I felt quite apprehensive as we got out the car. I could hear Shinedown’s ‘Monsters’ blaring out the bar, it couldn’t be that bad with such good music. I looked at Matt as he came around the side of the SUV. His grin was enough to settle my nerves.
The bouncer nodded to Matt as we approached, which implied he was known here. Matt reached back and took my hand. The doorman glanced at our clasped hands and smirked at him and I wasn’t carded. Slightly resenting the fact that Matt had just implied I was his date. I slipped my hand free from his.
He headed into the bar, there was a pool table at the very back and a crowd of guys hanging around back there. Matt reached back and hooked my arm, tugging me forward to the bar. I looked around as he ordered two beers, which was weird for him to do but I guess my drinking the other weekend had promoted me to beer drinking.
Once I got the beer he looked around and in a mere moment he had two bar stools acquired and that’s how I found myself on a Sunday night. The music was loud but good, whoever was in charge of the jukebox had taste. It went from Shinedown to X Ambassadors, Black Stone Cherry and Avenged Sevenfold.
After Matt ordered his second beer, he turned to me. “So, how are you?” I looked at him and put my bottle on the bar.
“I’m ok. Why?”
“You and Colton have a lot going on,” he said to me. I looked away, Matt turned the bar stool round so I was facing him again.
I shrugged. “It’s nothing.” I picked the bottle up, took a swig and put it down. I don’t care if Colorado did have the largest annual production of beer, it was still horrible stuff.
“It’s not nothing, do you think I don’t know about the late-night visit to your room, the morning after visit or the goodbye at the house last week? I’m not an idiot Bit, plus he’s my best friend. I know him, I know him better than he knows himself,” he glanced at me. “I know you better too don’t forget.”
My face was scarlet, I could feel the heat coming from my cheeks. “It’s just unresolved stuff, it’s sorted now,” I muttered.
“Is it?” I couldn’t look at him. “Bit?” I sighed and finally looked at him. Matt was frowning at me, I looked at him and my shoulders slumped. I shrugged and he nodded.
“Ok, that’s what I thought,” he sighed and turned to lean back on the bar. “Well what are you going to do?” He glanced at me and I let my head fall back as I wondered how much to tell him.
Worthless little tramp…
“It’s just a phase.” I muttered. He glanced at me sharply. “It’ll pass, he doesn’t want it and I can’t have it, so with time and common sense it will pass.”
Matt openly laughed at me. “That is a truly terrible plan. You’re both idiots.” He pushed himself off the bar and shrugged off his jacket.
“I’m the idiot? Last time I looked I wasn’t fighting for money,” I bit back. Matt rolled his eyes and ignored my comment. Of course he did.
“C’mon, we’re going to go and play pool.” He grabbed my hand and led me to the back of the bar.
Matt struck up conversation easily with the guys playing pool, he talked them into letting us play the winners. The boy could charm a snake. To be fair, I think they thought it would be an easy win for them since I was a “mere” female. Little did they know that the first year of being friends with the guys, they hadn’t let up until I could beat most of them at a game of eight ball. I couldn’t beat Colton, but then, no one could beat Colton at anything really.
The game was fun, the other guys caught on quick that I knew what I was doing and instead of being dicks about it, they welcomed the challenge. We won several games and the night was passing swiftly and more importantly I was having fun.
We were laughing with them when some of the observers started whistling and greeting a newcomer. I turned and spotted Tattoo Neck heading towards us. Just behind him was a twinkling eyed Jay. His grin broadened when he saw me. I grinned back.
There were a few girls with them who looked at me but instantly dismissed me. I didn’t mind, I didn’t know them and probably wouldn’t see them again; who cares what they thought. Jay and Matt did the whole weird bro shake that I wondered for the millionth time how they knew what it was. Did they get taken aside in Junior High and taught it?
Tattoo Neck did the same greeting and then turned to me. I felt myself stiffen as he appraised me from top to toe.
“What?” I eventually demanded.
He grinned. Feral like. I would not show him that he made me nervous. “I need to thank you,” he replied. I frowned, not understanding. “You got my lil bro the other day from the sty and I owe you.”
“I went to pick up Matt,” I blurted. Tattoo Neck laughed at me. Shit maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that.
“You still got this one too, some people wouldn’t have. For that, I owe you Arielle.” He looked straight at me, the people round about us were quieter, was this a big deal? I shrugged and he grinned at me again. I think he enjoyed seeing me flounder. I could see why Colton got on with him. Both of them enjoyed seeing people wriggle on hooks.
Jay slipped his arm round my waist and tugged me to him. I was relieved to break eye contact with Tattoo Neck. I smiled at Jay and caught him nod at his brother.
“So darling, what brings you to my bar?” He asked as he tugged me away from the pool table. A protest rang out and Jay turned back looking at the guy we were playing eight ball with.
“We’re playing a game,” I said to him as I slipped out of his hold. Matt was smiling and chatting to a girl who had come in with the brothers, but I knew he hadn’t forgotten me.
“You’re playing eight ball?” Jay questioned. “With these guys?”
“She’s kicking our butts is what she’s doing.” One of them commented. Jay laughed out loud, then he looked over at his brother.
“Well in that case. Aaron and I play the winners.” He fist bumped his brother and then leaned down to me. “You better win darling.”
I looked up at him and smiled. “You better be worth beating.” I caught Matt’s eye as I turned to the guys we were playing.
“Matt’s go?” I asked grinning. They both nodded.
Three shots later and we had won. Jay hadn’t taken his eyes off me and I admit I was enjoying his attention. Jay was just so…easy. I didn’t have to think when I was with him. I didn’t have to feel guilty, he was good company. I glanced at his brother. Ok he scared me, there was something slightly off about him, something deadly about Tattoo Neck. Aaron, I corrected myself. I grimaced inwardly when he caught me staring. I smiled quickly to hide my thoughts. He smirked at me, yeah I think I just got busted. There was no way in hell I was calling him Aaron, that made him seem normal. This guy wasn’t normal. Tattoo Neck suited him perfectly.
They flipped a coin to start. I tried to get them to follow winner breaks rule and Tattoo Neck had laughed at me and commented that I was funny.
It was my turn to laugh at him when we won the toss. Matt looked at me and I nodded for him to break. He grinned and just like that it was game on. He pocketed stripes and we were three down from the break. Tattoo Neck indicated to Jay that he follow Matt, which meant he thought Matt was the better player and he was going to wipe up before Matt got to the table again. Asshat you just bet on the wrong one, I thought smugly to myself.
Jay pocketed one spot and missed the next. I grinned at him. He had set me up perfectly and I had three in the pocket easily. I knew I couldn’t get to the last one, so I played it safe and made sure I nestled the white against the cushion. I met Tattoo Neck’s gaze as I straightened up. I was feeling cheeky – so I winked at him. Jay burst out laughing and I even got a genuine smile from Tattoo Neck. I noted once again
, that the guy was truly stunning when he smiled. He just looked so downright sinister all the time, it was difficult to get past that.
He got out of the cushion easily and also pocketed three more balls. It was his turn to wink at me as he straightened. There was no way Matt was getting that last stripe. However, Matt was tenacious and had played with Colton since he could hold a cue. He played for the snooker and Jay groaned out loud when he got it.
I high fived Matt as he walked past me and we watched Jay look at his brother. His brother grinned and settled back to drink a beer. He had a girl draped over him and he seemed to be relaxed.
Jay turned back to the table and attempted to make the shot. He missed. I was bouncing on my toes. I totally had this. I sunk the last stripe and picked my pocket for the black. I dropped it in seamlessly. Matt cheered and so did some of the guys watching. Tattoo Neck shook our hands and I gave Matt a wordless hug. I turned to the small tug on my arm and grinned at Jay. I held out my hand for him to shake and he raised an eyebrow at me. He took my hand and just like that night at the pool, he pulled me into him and bent to kiss me. Wolf whistles sounded around us. I stood back slightly embarrassed. I caught Matt’s eye and although I saw him smooth the frown, I knew he wasn’t happy. I also noticed I had more of the attention from the girls who had dismissed me earlier.
Two more guys stepped up to play us, but Jay cut them off. “I’m taking this one to the bar for a drink, why don’t Aaron and Matt play?”
“Against who?” I asked looking around.
“Each other?” Jay suggested. I saw the two of them eye each other speculatively. Then with the challenge out there, they agreed and quickly the table was getting set up again. Jay slipped his hand into mine and took me away from the table.
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