Finding A Way

by T. E. Black

  "I thought you said he couldn't hear?” she yells at her.

  Callie gives her a look which screams pure innocence.

  “He couldn’t! I swear! It’s a miracle! You’re an angel sent from the heavens! You fixed him!” she giggles.

  Everyone at the table is caught up in laughter. The blonde spins on her heel, storming away from the table, bumping into people left and right. She’s obviously pissed.

  “THAT WAS WICKED!” Evan beams while laughing so hard tears spring to his eyes.

  I shoot Callie a humorous look as I continue to chuckle.

  My girl's got jokes.

  Fuck.

  I've got to stop thinking that shit. She's not my fucking girl, and if I slip up and call her mine, my cover will be blown to smithereens.

  “You just failed at being a wing woman,” I tell her.

  She shrugs, taking a sip from her bottle. “What can I say? I had to go with Plan B. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. She was dumb enough to believe me, so I had to go with it.”

  I shake my head at her, a huge grin on my face. This girl is unbelievable. Not only is she beautiful and smart, she’s funny. That is very attractive. She’s the total package.

  I hear the band take the stage, starting their set for the night. They’re a cover band who plays here more nights than not. They play a cover of Gavin Degraw’s “Best I Ever Had”, and I watch Callie’s eyes light up at their choice of music.

  “Wanna dance, Red?” I ask her. “It’s the least you can do now that my chances of getting laid for tonight are officially squashed.”

  She nods her head at me, getting up from her seat. I grab her small hand, dragging her into the crowd which has formed around the stage.

  I pull her into me before spinning her back out, keeping a tight hold on her tiny hand so she doesn’t fall. Her eyes light up as she smiles and laughs at my dancing skills. I’m really a pretty good dancer, but with her I just want to keep it light and friendly.

  Callie spins around against me, so her back is against my front. I feel her ass grinding against me as she bends down, touching her toes with her fingertips. I groan as her ass moves quicker against me, making my cock want to burst through my fucking jeans.

  Needing to move away from her, I place my hands on her hips, pulling her back up. I wrap my hands around her waist, taking a hold of one of her hands, spinning her away from me again. This time when I spin her back, I make sure her front is facing me, but she gets closer, tangling her hands in my hair.

  It’s not like this position is any better since her tits are still rubbing against me, but at least it’s better than her ass. Together, we move to the music, my hands wandering in the friendly areas of her body. She giggles and buries her head in the nook of my arm as we dance together, enjoying the music being played. I nudge her to look at me, lip singing the lyrics to her in a mocking motion. She laughs at me, throwing her head back, exposing her beautiful bare throat, and it takes every ounce of courage for me to not reach down and drag my tongue across it. She steps back, jumping up and down to the upbeat part of the song, singing the lyrics.

  The song comes to an end. Callie takes a breath, trying to calm down. I stand there and watch her, not saying anything at all. I want to grab her and kiss the hell out of her, but instead I grab her hand and pull her back as the band starts their next cover song. I’m not letting her go that quickly.

  We dance a little more flirtatiously to the beats of Def Leppard's “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” I let Callie lean down and touch her toes again. She rubs her ass against me, and I let her do it as much as she wants to. I can't help but enjoy the fuck out of it. I grab her hips, pulling her into me a little more which makes her dance more aggressively. I tilt my head back, enjoying the feeling of her body against me. She’s so damn hot dancing on me like this. I feel like I'm going to fucking bust a nut right here. She stands back up, wrapping her arms around my neck as she moves her body against me seductively. There is no way she doesn’t feel how fucking hard I am against her, but if she does, she doesn’t seem to mind. Because she slides her back down my body, shimmying herself back up again. My hands wander a little more up her front as I move them further up her stomach. I stop myself when I get right under her tits, moving them back down to her hips again. She leans her head back against my shoulder as she watches me with lust filled eyes.

  Mother fucker.

  I know she feels this too, this connection we have as our bodies move together to the music. I can see it in her eyes and I can feel it the way her breathing speeds up. She fucking wants me as bad as I want her.

  The band finishes up the song way too quick, and Callie pulls away from me.

  “You’re a pretty good dance partner, Mac!” she quirks with an amused look on her face.

  “You’re not bad yourself.”

  Figuring we both need a drink, I grab her hand, leading her back to the table where Evan and Sierra are practically dry humping each other. I clear my throat as they both look up at Callie and me smiling.

  Evan gives a nod before he speaks.

  “Callie, would ya mind getting a ride home with Mac? Sierra and I are gonna head back early. We got some shit that needs to be taken care of.”

  I can hear the sarcasm in his voice. I know what he’s doing. He’s giving me an opportunity to be alone with Callie, and I appreciate it, but I wish he wouldn’t make it so damn obvious. I don’t want her to be weirded out by this shit.

  Maybe he's still my wingman after all.

  “Sure, that’s fine.” Callie obliges, taking her seat back at the table. She looks at me, silently asking if it's okay and I nod to answer her unspoken question.

  Evan and Sierra get up from the table, still wrapped around one another.

  “Thanks.” Sierra grins at Callie evilly. “Take your time; we’ll be a while anyways. Evan here owes me a lot of attention.” She squeals as Evan scoops her up in his arms like he’s carrying his bride over the threshold.

  “See you guys later,” she yells over his shoulder.

  I give Callie an amused look as she finishes her beer.

  “Want another one?” I ask her, gesturing toward her now empty bottle.

  She tilts her head to the side making me laugh once again at how damn cute she is. This girl is the devil in disguise.

  “I want something a little stronger,” she answers.

  “Like what?”

  She licks her lips again, the sight of her little pink tongue causing me to get hard again. What I wouldn’t do to get a taste of her mouth. I think I’d fucking kill for it right now.

  “Whiskey,” she draws out, never taking her eyes off of mine.

  I give her a skeptical look. There’s no way a girl her size could handle the shit I drink. She’d be on the floor after two shots. I wouldn’t mind carrying her when she couldn't walk. I almost tell her I won't let her get smashed, but stop myself. She’s a big girl, and if she wants to get hammered, who am I to tell her no? I’m her friend. Nothing more. Plus, it’s not like I won't be here to make sure no one touches her. She can get drunk as long as I’m around to keep an eye on her.

  “You think you can hang with the big dogs, Red?” I ask her playfully.

  She huffs out a breath, putting her hands on her hips. The motion makes her chest push forward, giving my eyes a pretty magnificent view.

  “I can drink Mac. I’m not a child you know!” She tries to look mad, but instead she looks adorable. Her angry is just as fucking cute as her everything else. I’ll keep teasing her just to get a rise out of her. I come back at her, guns blazing.

  “You're the size of one, but other than that, believe me, I can clearly see you are not a child by any means. You’ve got the rack of a grown woman Callie.”

  Her eyes widen as she realizes I’m talking about the luscious features her body has that indeed imply she is all woman. I flick my gaze down to her breasts, then back up to her eyes.

  She regains her composure, crossing her a
rms over her chest, blocking my view.

  "Just get me a shot,” she snaps at me.

  I hold my hands up, showing defeat as I make my way over to Ryleigh at the bar. I lean over the bar, waiting for Ry to get done serving some customers. She notices me, walking over and leaning over the bar to mimic.

  “Whatta ya need?”

  “A bottle of Jack and two shot glasses.”

  She shoots me a skeptical look as she fishes around and sets them on the bar.

  “Did ya decide you wanted to sleep here tonight?”

  I shake my head at her.

  “Nah, Red wants to get drunk.”

  Confusion plays on Ryleigh's face as she looks at the bottle of Jack then toward Callie.

  “Uh, I’m not anyone to judge or anything, but she has to weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. I don’t think feeding her an entire bottle of Jack Daniels is a good idea.”

  I laugh at Ry for thinking I’d let Callie drink this entire bottle. If I did, she’d be lying in a hospital bed by the end of the night. I would never let that happen.

  “Believe me, when I bring the bottle back to you, there will still be plenty of Jack still in it. I’m just playing with her a little. She wants to drink.”

  She laughs lightly.

  “All right, just don’t let her puke in here or anything. I don’t feel like cleaning that shit up Mac.”

  “Got it,” I reply as I turn around, walking back to the table.

  I see Trent found his way back. He’s chatting Callie up, making her laugh. I knew he wouldn't stay away for too long. I slam the bottle and glasses down on the table a little harder than necessary, but at least it makes them snap out of whatever they were talking about.

  “Ya got the good stuff!” Trent boasts, reaching for the bottle and a shot glass. “You wanna get wasted with me, Callie?” he asks.

  She grins, looking up at me.

  “Absolutely.”

  Trent pours two shots as I take my seat next to Callie. I place my arm around the back of her chair, hoping Trent will get the hint to back the fuck off of her. He doesn't. He slides her glass toward her, waggling his eyebrows, and continues to talk.

  “Ya know, Mac should’ve gotten some tequila. Then we could’ve done body shots. We used to do that shit back in the day at the rippahs I used to throw.”

  Just the thought of him sucking tequila off her stomach makes me grip the back of the chair a little harder. I suppress my anger which boils in my veins. Callie lets out a nervous laugh as she moves in a little closer before bringing her shot to her lips. She throws it back just as Trent does the same. She coughs hard and I give her shoulder a little squeeze, laughing quietly at her.

  “You good, Red?” I ask.

  She turns to look at me, smiling from happiness or the buzz that shot probably just gave her. I’m not too sure, but I take what I can get. Seeing her smile makes my heart ache. I really don’t think she knows how gorgeous she is. I don’t think she understands how bad I want every one of her smiles to be mine.

  Trent draws her attention, asking if she wants another. She answers him saying she does, and they both throw back another. They go shot for shot. Callie seeming a bit more buzzed each time.

  This is gonna be interesting.

  Once the both of them are three-quarters of the way done with the bottle, I notice how drunk Callie really is. She seemed okay when they were shooting them back, but I guess it’s all catching up with her now. She’s more giggly than usual, and she’s definitely cuddlier. She’s almost sitting in my lap now, even though I’m gonna stop her. It’s where she belongs anyways. Her speech is slurred as she asks Trent to pour her another, but I stop him before he can.

  “She's done man,” I tell him seriously.

  Trent looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped him from getting a chick plastered in my life, but not this time. Callie’s head falls into my chest with a hard thud. My shirt is muffling her voice, making her incoherent. I’m sure she said she feels sick, but I can’t quite hear her.

  I lift her chin and ask her what she said. She’s definitely drunk. Her beautiful blue eyes are glossed over and red from the liquor.

  “Sick,” she slurs again.

  “All right Red. I got you covered. Come on, I’ll take you home.” I stand us up, keeping a tight grip on her, but she stumbles on her feet.

  Trent protests to us leaving, but I shoot him a look which makes him shut up quickly. As we make our way out of the bar to my truck, Callie covers her mouth with her face turning green.

  “You all right?” I ask her, praying she makes it to her apartment without throwing up in my truck.

  “Why are you so nice to me?” she slurs, stopping us both in the middle of the parking lot.

  I let out a sigh, contemplating on telling her the truth since she won’t remember anything tomorrow morning anyways. I lie, because my luck she'd remember this all. I’d tell her I want her and she’d remember every single word.

  “We’re friends Red, that’s what friends do.” I sigh, leading her to the truck again.

  “You don’t act like a friend,” she slurs again.

  I blow out a long breath, moving so I’m facing her. I look into her eyes, seeing her expression totally serious.

  “Why, don’t I act like a friend?” I ask her.

  She rolls her eyes at me dramatically, answering me.

  “You want me, then you don’t. You’re confusing. It makes my head hurt.”

  Her speech is shot to hell, and I know this is the whiskey talking, so I ignore her and continue moving her toward the truck again. I hear her talking again, but I can’t understand her.

  We get to the truck and I open the door, lifting her up by the hips and placing her in the passenger seat of my pick up. She’s so damn tiny; I could pick her up like she’s nothing. She makes me feel like a giant.

  The ride back to her apartment was quiet considering she was in and out of it from the booze. I shouldn’t have even let her drink that much. She’s gonna be hung-over as fuck in the morning, and that's gonna make me feel like shit, too. She seemed fine until she slurred her words and shit. I knew it was time to go.

  I get her out of the truck and into the house pretty easily. She wasn’t up for much walking so she didn’t seem to care.

  I walk upstairs, kicking her door open with my boot, and lay her down in her bed. My sense of smell goes into overdrive standing in her room. Her smell surrounds me and I fucking love it. It’s wild and intoxicating. My pulse quickens while my nose takes it all in. Lilies. She smells like fucking lilies. Everything about her smells like mother fucking lilies.

  She stirs a little, turning to look at me. I’m guessing she’s still seeing three of me.

  “Are you leaving now?”

  I place a soft kiss in her hair like I did the night before.

  “Yeah, Red. You need some sleep or you're gonna feel like shit in the morning. I’ll text you when I wake up.”

  I start to walk away, but she reaches out, grabbing my hand in hers and pulling me back to her. I look at her again, confused to why she would pull me back. She’s drunk. I tell myself. Maybe she doesn’t realize what she’s doing.

  “Stay,” she pleads with me, her voice a little clearer than it’s been.

  I search her face for any sign she doesn’t mean it, but all I can see are her eyes pleading with me not to leave her. The redness has faded a little bit, returning them to their original blue.

  I run my hand through my hair, sighing loudly. Do I stay or do I go? The question bounces back and forth through my head like a pinball machine. I choose to stay.

  I take a seat on the end of her bed, my back turned to her. This girl is gonna be the goddamn death of me. She has me wrapped around her little finger and it’s only been a couple days. I can only imagine what would happen over a month’s time.

  I feel her sit up and rest her head on my back, her arms wrapping around my waist.

  “Just li
e with me. I don’t wanna be alone,” she says softly, rubbing my stomach through my shirt.

  There is still a slur to her voice, but I can hear her clearer now than before. What am I even doing? I shouldn’t be contemplating lying down with her, let alone sitting on her bed. Her voice echoes in her room.

  “Please,” she pleads again.

  Fuck.

  I reach down to take off my boots and climb in bed next to her, lying on top of her covers. The only light in the room is a small end table lamp next to her which illuminates every aspect of her face. She shuffles close, lays her head in the crook of my arm, and wraps her arm around my stomach. I feel her breathing slow, and before I know it, she closes her eyes, going silent.

  “Tell me about her,” she whispers, her eyes still closed.

  I take a minute to realize she's referring to the girl I talked about last night. I run my hand through my hair, closing my eyes. Leah.

  I don’t wanna get into this shit right now. I just want to concentrate on Callie and me. That’s it. I don’t want to think about Leah and I sure as hell don’t want to think about Caroline, but it looks like that’s what the topic of tonight is going to be.

  “Her name was Leah,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice steady and emotionless.

  She doesn’t speak as I continue my story.

  “Look Red, before I get into this. I want you to know I was into some bad shit when this all happened, but I’m not that way anymore. I haven't touched any shit in a very long time. I’ve been clean ever since. I’ll never turn into that person again and I need you to promise not to judge me for the things I’ve done."

  She opens her eyes briefly, speaking softly.

  “I promise.”

  I let out a sigh again, this time a little longer, but still I start to tell my story to her about the girl who made me who I am today. A cocky, arrogant bastard who uses women for a living. A man who refuses to get attached. A man who only gets and wants one thing from women—a quick lay.

  “I used to sell drugs, Red. Not only did I sell them, but I used them too, heavily. Leah also used them. We met one day when one of the bigger dealers around town was roughing her up in the middle of the street. I don’t fucking condone that kind of shit. So, I was happy to give the fucker a beating, a taste of his own medicine. She was so thin from using that he would have easily broken her in two if he kept hitting her. I ended up beating the fuck out of him and taking Leah back to the apartment I was living in. She was so fucked up, and she had nowhere to go…”