by E. L. Todd
“True.”
“What’s new with you?”
“I have a business conference in a few weeks. I’m presenting my research on economic inflation and how it affects the trickle down theory.”
“Cool.” He nodded his head slowly. “That sounds like fun.”
“I’m excited for it. Plus, there will be food there.”
“And your father, I’m sure.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, he’ll be there too.”
He caught the annoyance in my eyes. “Uncle Sean loves you, Skye. When you put it in perspective, you have to realize just how lucky you are.”
“Your parents love you too.”
“I know they do. And I’m exceptionally fortunate. My mom is wonderful, and my dad is the greatest guy I’ve ever known. You’ll hear no complaints from me.”
He always knew how to make me feel guilty. Any time I wanted to act like a brat, he stopped me. “He just smothers me sometimes. He does it to my mom too.”
“Because that man loves you more than anything.”
“He didn’t smother Roland nearly the same way.”
“Girls are different,” he said. “Men feel the need to protect them.”
“But I don’t need to be protected. I can take care of myself.”
“Your dad knows that, but that doesn’t make it easier for him to accept.” He gave me a firm look. “Just remember he loves you. Everything he does comes from a good place.”
I sighed. “How do you always do that?”
“What?”
“Make me feel like crap every time I want to say something slightly bad about my family.”
He shrugged. “I guess because they are my family too.” He picked up the other half of his hot dog and stuffed a bite into his mouth.
I turned my gaze back to the register. The shop barely made a profit after all the bills were taken care of. It was hard to justify keeping it open sometimes. But my dad didn’t care.
The bell rang overhead, and I looked up to see the new customer.
Zack came inside, wearing a tight t-shirt and jeans.
As soon as Cayson spotted him, he grabbed his food and moved to a table in the corner where he could watch TV.
Sometimes I wondered if Cayson disliked Zack. It didn’t seem like anyone particularly liked him but I couldn’t think of a reason why Cayson would dislike him. He never spoke to him and he never mentioned him. Cayson and I talked about everything, but my relationship.
Zack eyed him in the corner, practically glaring at him.
Okay…
“Hey, baby.” He came to the counter then looked down at my chest. He always did, not at all discreet about it.
“Just because I’m your girlfriend doesn’t mean you can stare at my chest all day.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what it means.” He gave them another firm look before his eyes met mine.
“Pig…”
“Like you don’t stare at my junk,” he argued.
I cringed. “Actually, no, I don’t.”
“Sure…”
I shook my head then made a few notes.
Zack looked over his shoulder and eyed Cayson before he turned back to me. “Every time I see you, he’s trailing not far behind…”
“Because we’re friends.” Duh.
“But he’s always with you. Seriously, every time I see you, he’s there.”
I gave him a hard gaze. “Because he’s family. Obviously.”
“You guys aren’t even related by blood.”
“We’re as good as.” I warned him with my look.
He leaned over the counter and lowered his voice. “That guy is so hung up on you. You really don’t see it?”
“No, he isn’t.” I clenched my jaw so I wouldn’t explode. “He’s practically my brother. We used to bathe together. We used to race our Hot Wheels across the carpet.”
“And then you grew boobs and his dick got hard,” he snapped. “I don’t like this. It makes me uncomfortable and I don’t want you seeing him anymore.”
I dropped my pen on the counter. Anger coursed through every vein, firing off nerves. I almost sucker-punched him right then and there. “I don’t care if it makes you uncomfortable. Whether Cayson has feelings for me or not, which he doesn’t, does not make a difference. He’s my best friend, he’s my family, and he’s staying. If you’re going to make me choose between you and him, it will always be him.”
Anger brewed in his eyes. He clenched his jaw in annoyance. “So I don’t mean anything to you?”
“I didn’t say that. But if you’re going to act like a baby, then I don’t want to be with you anyway. So, if this is going to be a problem, let’s just end it now and cut to the chase.”
Zack wasn’t pleased by that response. Sometimes he tried to exert his power over me, tried to call the shots about what I wore and whom I hung out with, but I didn’t put up with that shit. I was a strong woman who needed my independence. If he pushed too far, I pushed back.
“Do we have a problem, Zack?” I stared him down, waiting for a response.
He swallowed his pride, but it didn’t go down easy. “No.”
“Good.” I picked up the pen again and returned to my work. “Is there a reason you stopped by?”
“What time do you get off work?”
“I don’t know. Nine?”
“Why do you work here anyway?” he asked. “If you’re going to inherit a multi-billion dollar company, it’s pointless for you to be here.”
“Pointless?” I asked. “It’ll be pretty hard to run a massive company with absolutely no experience, don’t you think?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Get experience at the company.”
“No. I want to prove to my father I can handle everything on my own. Besides, I don’t mind working here. I like having extra money.”
“Don’t you have one of your father’s credit cards?” he asked incredulously. “I’m sure it has, like, a million dollar limit.”
“I don’t need my father’s money,” I snapped. “I can take care of myself.”
“He pays your tuition, doesn’t he?”
“I’ll pay him back.” Now I was getting pissed. “Why are you being an asshole right now? Don’t tell me how to live my life.”
“Geez, calm down.”
“Geez, don’t question my finances. You’re the one gambling money you barely have on sports games.”
Now he was angry. “Why don’t you mind your own business?”
“Why don’t you mind yours?” I hissed.
Zack clenched the counter while he stared me down.
“I’m getting sick of your bullshit, Zack. Get the hell out of my store. Now.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
“No, I’m throwing you out.”
“I’m not moving.” He stayed glued to the spot.
I stared him down then came around the counter. I grabbed him by the arm and yanked him. He was twice my size and height. He wasn’t going anywhere.
“This is pathetic.”
Rage burned inside me. I twisted his arm, hitting a pressure point. Then I pressed another one on his neck.
“Shit!” He stepped back. “What the hell did you do?”
I put my hand on my hip. “You want more?”
“Geez, I’m sorry.” He held up his hands.
“Now shut up and get out.” I walked back behind the counter.
He turned back to me. “Baby, I don’t want to fight. I’m sorry, okay?”
“I’m so annoyed with you that I don’t even want to look at you right now.”
He gave me a sad look. “I’m sorry. I just don’t like having you work here by yourself—at night.”
“There are other workers here.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Guys twice your size while lover boy hovers in the lobby?”
“Don’t talk about Cayson like that.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You defend hi
m like you love him.”
“Because I do.” I slammed my fist on the counter. “He’s like my brother, Zack. Until you’re my husband, you’ll never compete with him.”
“Wow. That makes me feel special.” His sarcasm was heavy.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “We’re done, Zack.”
His face turned pale. “What…?”
“You’re driving me crazy and I’m sick of your bullshit. All you do is stress me out for no reason at all. I’m perfectly happy being alone. I don’t need a man to make me happy, and I certainly don’t need one who acts like a five-year-old.”
He grabbed my arm across the counter. “Baby, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay? It won’t happen again.” His eyes were pleading. “Come on. I’m sorry.”
Cayson approached us. “Skye, is everything okay?” He stared Zack down, ready to punch him in the face and break his jaw.
“Fuck off, asshole.” Zack squared his shoulders then turned his look back to me.
Cayson stepped in front of me, blocking me with his immense size. “It’s time for you to go.”
“Get the hell out of the way, jackass.” Zack’s eyes burned in hatred.
This is the last thing I needed. “Knock it off. Both of you. Cayson, please sit down. Zack, just go.”
Cayson didn’t move. He remained idle.
“Cayson, I’m fine.” I gave him a hard stare.
After a moment of silence, he returned to the table.
Zack turned his gaze on me. Then he grabbed my arm.
“Just go.” I twisted my arm so he had to drop his hand.
“Please don’t do this. I’ll be better. I just care about you so much.”
I sighed and averted my gaze.
“Baby, come on. Talk to me.”
“I’m working right now.”
“Then I’ll be at your apartment when you get off work.”
“I don’t care. Just go.”
“Okay.” He backed away. “I’ll see you then.”
I didn’t say another word.
With a final sad look, he left.
I got back to work and tried not to think about the way Zack pissed me off. He could really drive me up the wall. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss him or rip his head off.
“Are you okay?” Cayson approached me so quickly I didn’t even notice.
“Oh yeah. I’m fine.”
He stared at my face intently, reading the stress in my eyes. “I know it’s none of my business, but if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
My heart warmed. “I know, Cayson.”
He cleared his throat. “For what it’s worth, you deserve the best. And if he isn’t it, then you should keep looking.”
Sometimes I felt like no one liked Zack. No one ever said anything bad about him, but they never tried to hang out with him either. “Do you not like him, Cayson?”
He seemed surprised by the question. He shifted his weight for a moment. “It doesn’t matter what I think—or anyone for that matter. Your opinion is the only one that counts.”
“Yeah…”
“I guess I’m going to head out. But I can stay and walk you to your car if you’d like.”
“No, I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
“Okay. Well, goodnight.”
“Night.”
Cayson walked out and I got back to work. When I looked at the clock, I realized the shift was almost over. I spent the entire time arguing with Zack over nothing.
3
Cayson
Slade met me in the student lounge then sat across from me. “Yo.”
“Yo.” I leaned back in my chair and sighed.
“What’s your deal?” he asked.
“Nothing. So, what are we up to?”
“Conrad has a table at the bar. Let’s go.”
“Sounds good.” We left the student lounge then cut across the grounds, taking the shortest way possible to the bar. We had cars, but we hardly used them. When everything was so close, it was pointless to drive.
“I hear you and Trinity are going at it like enemies across a battlefield.”
“Well, she’s annoying.” He put his hands in his pockets while he walked beside me. “I was just trying to eat a damn sandwich and she was throwing a hissy fit about it. It’s like, leave me the hell alone.”
Was I missing something? “She was mad that you were eating a sandwich…?”
“We were in the library,” he explained.
Oh. Now it made sense.
“Sometimes she just won’t shut up.”
“Skye made it sound like something was off.”
“No.” He ducked under a tree. We eventually reached the sidewalk then moved up a few blocks.
I eyed him suspiciously. “If there was something going on, you would tell me, right?”
“Something going on?” he asked. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. That you like Trinity or something.”
“No,” he blurted. “She’s got a nice body and a pretty face, but no.”
I decided to drop the subject.
“Besides, me being mean to her means I like her?” He shook his head. “That makes no fucking sense.”
“I guess.”
We walked inside then met Conrad at the bar.
Conrad fist pounded us. “The Steelers are up by a touchdown.”
We sat down and waved down the bartender
“What will it be, boys?” She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her shirt was low cut and she wore a black tie. I glanced at her, noticing her curves, and then looked away.
“Blue Moon,” Slade blurted.
“Heineken, please,” I said.
She smiled. “A pretty boy with manners…I like it.” She winked at me then walked away.
Conrad smirked. “Why do all the girls immediately go for you first?”
“No, they don’t,” Slade argued. “They only go for him when they realize I’m not interested.”
“Dude, she didn’t even look at you,” Conrad argued.
“She probably assumed a sexy beast like me already has a girlfriend,” Slade argued.
Conrad rolled his eyes. “Because the tattoos really say you’re a one-woman kind of guy.”
He shrugged. “I could be.”
I watched the TV, ignoring both of them.
Conrad’s phone lit up. “Theo’s coming.”
“Cool,” I said.
The waitress returned with our beers, but she only had eyes for me. “So, who are you cheering for?”
“The Steelers,” I answered.
“Good team. Personally, I’m a Chargers type of girl.”
“Everyone has their preferences.” I didn’t know what else to say. She was looking at me with blue eyes that were as clear as a shallow cove. Her make up made them stand out, and her lips were red. Her chest was impressive but I tried not to stare.
She leaned closer to me, ignoring the guys. “So, are you a college boy?”
“I am. How about you?”
“Am I a college boy?” she asked with a laugh.
I smirked. “I misspoke. Do you go to college?”
“No. I’m hoping to attend cosmetology school.”
Was that for hair? Or nails? Something like that? “Very cool.”
“And what are you studying…what was your name?”
“Cayson.”
“Cayson.” She said it slowly. “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
“And yours?”
“Jasmine.”
“Oooh…Jasmine.” Slade winked at me as he said it.
I shot him a glare before I looked back at her. “I’m majoring in biochemistry.”
“Wow.” Her eyes were wide. “I don’t even know what the hell that is.”
“Neither do we,” Conrad said with a laugh.
“What do you plan on doing with that?” she asked.
Didn’t she plan on waiting on the other tables? “I intend to go to medical school—if they accept me.”<
br />
Slade laughed while he drank his beer. “If they accept you? Seriously?”
Conrad shook his head. “I doubt they would reject a Harvard graduate with a perfect GPA.”
I felt my cheeks start to redden. “Anyway…enough about me.”
“Please tell me you don’t have a girlfriend,” she blurted. “Because you’re really hot and I’d like to get your number.”
Did she just ask me out? I wasn’t sure why this always happened to me. I hardly hit on women because they always beat me to the punch. “I…uh…”
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Slade said. “And he would love to give you his number.”
I never said that. “Whoa, hold on.”
Slade took the napkin and wrote down my number. “This is his cell phone. He’s out of class by five.” He pushed the napkin toward her. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks.” She shoved it down her shirt. “I’ll give you a call.” She gave me a flirtatious smile then walked away.
I immediately glared at Slade. “What the hell was that?”
“You were going to turn her down,” Slade argued.
“So?” I snapped.
“You always turn them down.” Slade took a drink then rested his elbows on the table. “I wasn’t going to let you this time. Seriously, people are going to start thinking you’re gay if you reject every woman you see.”
“I don’t care what people think,” I argued.
“Give us one good reason why you don’t want to go out with her,” Conrad challenged.
“I just…she isn’t my type.”
“Not your type?” Slade asked incredulously. “Beautiful, boobalicious, friendly—what don’t you like?”
“I—I prefer brunettes.”
Conrad rolled his eyes. “No, you prefer one stacked brunette.”
Here it comes…
“Dude, it’s never going to happen with her,” Slade said. “You need to move on and start having fun.”
“But how can I have a relationship with someone when I’m this hooked on someone else?” I asked.
Slade shared a look with Conrad. “Who said anything about a relationship? Just go out and have fun. Fuck her then be done with it.”
That wasn’t really my style.
“How are you ever going to get over Skye if you reject every woman who’s interested in you?” Slade asked. “For all you know, this girl will change your life. Maybe sleeping with other women will make you realize how shitty Skye is. I don’t see what you’re so intrigued by. She’s annoying and talks too much.”