by M. A. Stone
“What’s going on guys?” he asked, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. Shit!!
“Just remember sis, virgin or not, the apple does not fall far from the tree,” Axel whispered and walked past Jack with a smirk. Asshole! Jack was still standing there.
“Keep it up asshole and I will not bring you coffee ever again!” I shouted over at my brother. He shook his head and I could tell he was laughing the snarky bastard.
“Oh it was nothing. Usual sibling shit. My brother can be an ass sometimes!” I said to Jack.
“Don’t I know it!” he laughed and walked back into the tattoo area. It seemed like whenever I turned around, he was there. I would let him stalk me any day. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I walked behind the counter and booted up the computer.
The shop was not that busy, so I decided to clean up the waiting room a bit. Walking back into the shop, I walked over to the supply closet door, opened it, looking for cleaning supplies. Grabbing a bottle of Windex and some paper towels, I shut the door behind me. Matt came out of his station and escorted a heavy guy out to the front desk. The guy’s arm was wrapped in what looked like Saran Wrap. Maneuvering around them, I walked out into the lobby. A man was sitting in one of the chairs, wearing a business suit. Matt was still talking to his client and I figured it would be awhile before he needed to be cashed out. I looked over at the man in the business suit and smiled.
“Can I help you sir?” I asked. He looked at me and smiled.
“I am just waiting for those guys over in the garage to finish up my inspection, but thanks,” he replied. Turning around, I grabbed the Windex and started spraying the top of the counter. Jack walked out of the back and he shot me a smile.
“What’s up?” I asked as he walked over to where I was standing. He wiped his hands with a rag.
“Skeeter over in the garage was waiting for someone to come in for an appointment. In fact you know her, Barbie. Have you seen her come in? Oh and thank you again for the coffee, it was a big help.” He said, the last part making him laugh.
“To answer you about Barbie, I have not seen her yet. I was in the back for like a minute, but the only one who came in was the gentleman over there,” I replied. He nodded.
“If she comes in, just come get me please? She can be a handful, especially when it comes to her car, and Skeeter is afraid of her.,” he said.
“And so is my brother apparently,” I replied. He nodded his head and went in the back.
Axel walked in the front door. He looked around a bit and then his eyes settled on me.
“I thought you were in back?”I asked. He looked at the gentleman sitting in the chair and nodded. The man smiled back.
“I was, but I had to deal with something,” he replied, distracted. He looked like he was going to jump out of his skin again, fiddling with his lip ring and hopping from one foot to the other. Looking over his shoulder, I saw Barbie leaning against her car. No wonder he was acting like a punk.
“Someone needs to,” I said with a snort.
“Hey now,” he said softly. Raising an eyebrow, I gave him dirty look.
“What is her vagina made of gold or something?” I asked. He glared at me. I squared up to him and his eyes lost a little of their steel. He stared at me for a moment and then he looked away guiltily.
“It’s not something I can explain right now. Not here anyways”, he said and walked into the back of the shop before I could argue any further. Since when was he the Man of Mystery? Was my brother in trouble? I was so frustrated that he would not even talk to me about it. I could help him, I always did. He better not have Blowjob Barbie bailing him out. I would hate to be beholden to the likes of someone like her. If she had some hold on him, ooh boy, I would snap her little neck like a twig.
Sitting on the red velvet couch in the back, I was reading something on my Kindle, when my brother walked out of his station. Looking up, I groaned inwardly as Barbie walked out. Her back was to me, so she did not see me at first. Suddenly, I could feel her icy gaze. Fantastic.
“Well, well, well. I see you are still working here. What’s the matter? Was Kmart not hiring?” she asked with a nasty smile on her face. Hitting the button to turn my Kindle off, I looked at her for a moment before answering. My brother just stood there and did not say anything and I was going to kick his ass for it later. He did this back and forth thing, waiting to see who was going to explode first. Reigning in my temper, I took a deep breath.
“Do you get some kind of sick pleasure out of being a bitch? Because let me tell you, you have that skill honed,” I retorted. She snorted elegantly.
“Aww, the little girl is offended. I guess it does not take a lot to get a rise out of white trash?” I stood up and moved close to her.
“I don’t have to defend myself to a rich bitch like you. Out of respect for my brother, you are lucky I don’t kick your privileged ass right now. Stay out of my way, or I will beat the shit out of you!” I said quietly, but in a way that made her step back, her hand to her chest. Turning around, I saw that I had an audience. Matt, Jack and Chloe the piercing chick, they were all standing around looking at me. Jack’s jaw had dropped. Barbie stormed past us and we heard the bell jingle on the door. Axel followed after her, not saying a single thing.
“That was awesome!!!” said Chloe. She came over and patted me on the shoulder. She had an elated smile on her face and she was doing this little hopping from foot to foot dance.
“Thanks I guess. I don’t know what the hell my brother sees in her, but damn, I am no mood to deal with her bullshit today,” I muttered. Jack and Matt had gone back to what they were doing. Chloe sat down on the couch with a satisfied smile on her face. She was all of five feet with pale white skin and long white blonde hair, with a few red streaks here and there. She had a glittery mini skirt on with black tights under and pink flats. She was wearing a black halter top that showcased some funky tats with flowers and goldfish. Her eyebrow was pierced as was the corner of her lip. She looked like a Tinkerbell who was very very naughty.
“That’s your brother’s story chica. But I have to say, I have wanted to tell her off for SOOO long. But I didn’t want to lose my job. I really don't know why she can't just be nice,” she muttered. Her hands fluttered the whole time she talked. I wondered if I made her sit on her hands, would she still be able to talk.
“Yeah well, just because Axel is my brother, it does not mean I have to put up with her crap, even if she is a lunatic. I have no idea what possessed me to square up to her like that. I am not usually like this. I usually just let people walk all over me. I cannot believe though, that he just stood there and let her call me white trash, the little asshole!!!”
“Maybe you are finally coming out of your shell?” she asked. Shrugging, I stand up.
“Maybe. Who knows?” I said with a smile, walking back to finish my work. She gave me another smile and walked to the front of the shop.
After the lunch rush, I walk out to my truck to get my cell and I nearly threw up. The whole driver’s side was keyed to high hell. Deep dug in gouges that could not be seen from the shop because my driver’s side was facing the street. I looked in the cab and my cell phone was smashed too. My messenger bag was sliced up too. Looking down, I also saw that my tires were slashed and flat.
“What the hell???!!” I shouted. Sitting down on the curb, I put my head in my hands, feeling hot tears forming in my eyes and coursing down my face. This is what I get for opening my mouth, for mouthing off to her. Wait. As heinous as she was, I could not be totally sure that she did it. The neighborhood was not so stellar and she really did not look like the type to get her hands dirty, no matter how offended she was. I looked at my feet. This was going to be expensive and I needed to save any money that I made. I could not live with Axel forever, especially with the way he had been acting lately. This sucked, right now my life sucked. First Carl and now this bullshit. What the hell was going to happen next? Getting jumped by a gang of militant Neo Na
zis who hadn’t had sex in a year??
“Fuck!” I yelled. A shadow fell over me. Not really in the mood to deal with anymore bullshit, my head snapped up and I was ready to square off.
“Not usually the response I get,” said Jack, his hands up in defense. Matt was standing behind him, smoking a cigarette. They glanced over my shoulder and whistled when they saw the damage to my truck. Jack looked back at me and saw my face. He sat down next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders. Matt walked around my truck and assessed all the damage. I heard him swear softly.
“Now don’t cry,” Jack said softly. I was not ready to cry until he said those words. Tears flowed freely and I got angry because I hated to cry. I rubbed at my eyes with a clenched fist.
“Sorry, I can’t help it. So much has happened, all at once. I should not have mouthed off like that. But I was so pissed. And for Axel to just stand there! What the hell?” I replied, sniffling.
“You do not deserve to be treated the way she was treating you. You would not have lost your job; I am partners with your brother. BUT, you don’t really have proof that it was her. I have had the windows of my truck smashed before out here.And a lot of businesses have gotten broken into as well. Just calm down. I am glad you stood up to her. And I really don’t understand why your brother just stood there,” he said softly. He had the most amazing brown eyes. My heart skipped a beat.
He stood up and held out his hand. Looking at him for a moment, I told myself to trust him. Taking it, he hoisted me up.
“Come on. Trust me, I don’t bite. Just come with me for a minute.” He looked at Matt.
“You got this? “He asked him. Matt nodded.
“Yeah man, I’ll call the cops. If I need you I will give you a call,” he replied, taking his cell out of his pocket. He punched in some numbers and walked off, talking to someone on the other end.
Jack led me over to his Mustang and opened the door for me. He started the engine. I buckled my seat belt and we sped down the street.
“Where are we going?” He smiled that amazingly sexy smile.
“It’s a surprise,” he replied. God I wanted to crawl onto his lap and just rub all over him. What in the hell was wrong with me!?? He tapped out some unknown melody on his steering wheel as I sat there, letting the warm breeze blow my hair around. We just rode together in silence, my thoughts going all over the place. After a few minutes, he turned off the road and soon, we were driving on a dirt road. Driving a few miles more, he turned sharply and pulled over underneath a huge willow tree, turning off the engine. Opening the door, I walked around to the front of the car and followed him down a small grassy hill. In front of me, was a small lake surrounded by more willow trees. It was so beautiful! There were ducks swimming lazily in the water and I could hear the croaking of frogs. Dragonflies lazily flew around. The air smelled sweet and a tiny breeze ruffled my hair.
“Wow,” I said with a sigh. He smiled and sat down on a huge flat rock near the shore. I sat down beside him, leaning back a bit. It was so peaceful here, the sky was impossibly blue and it was just calming peace. No pain in the brothers, adulterous exes or slutty socialites.
“When things get crappy, I come here for a few hours, and I calm my shit down enough where I don't want to strangle someone,” he said softly. I turned to look at him and I could see that he was studying my face. My heart started to beat wildly.
“You are really beautiful, you know?” he said softly. To say that I was surprised was an understatement.
“I don’t know what to say. I have not heard that from someone in a long time,” I said softly, biting my bottom lip.
“Seriously?” he whispered, as he leaned in to me. Really? He was going to kiss someone who he had known for only a little while? My heart raced and I was not sure that I wanted this. But at the same time I did. A deeper part of me wanted this so bad. I licked my lips and looked into his eyes. That was a big mistake. Encouraged by my lip licking, he leaned in further to kiss me and just before his lips met mine, his phone went off. Groaning, he pulled it out of his pocket and answered. Saved by the ringtone or something like that. He looked at me after he hung up.
“It was Chloe. Matt called the cops about your truck; they need to talk to you. After you file the police report, you are going to have to call your insurance company too,” he said, disconnecting the call. Standing up, I brushed my jeans off and followed him to the car. Things now felt awkward. That moment we almost had was now lost. My heart hurt a little bit, but I was relieved too at the same time. I was really fucking confused.
Lying down on the swing on my brother’s porch, I let it sway lazily in the breeze, my leg hanging off of one side. Axel still had not made an appearance in a few days. He was lucky, because when I saw him, he was going to hear it from me. Lying here in a white a shirt and some cut off short shorts, I played over the moment that I had with Jack at the lake the day my truck got vandalized. It confused me, and made butterflies flutter in my stomach. Tonight I needed to get a new phone; I had put it off until I got some money. But I just wanted to lie here and let my thoughts drift tonight. I had filed the police report as soon as I had gotten back that day, and contacted my insurance company. The guys at the shop had parked my truck in one of the bays in the garage and Chloe had picked me up for work every day since. I was still waiting to hear from my insurance company as far as a check was concerned. Skeeter had told me not to worry about the cost, but I was still going to try and pay him for the work he was going to do whether he liked it or not.
“Hey girl!” said Abby, snapping me out of my thoughts. With everything that had happened in the past couple of days, I had completely forgotten about our shopping plans. I sat up and smoothed my hair. She chuckled as she walked over to me.
“Hey.”
“Well you look like hell,” she replied, sitting on the swing next to me.
“Don’t sugarcoat it now,” I replied. After giving her a hug, I told her all that taken place the past couple of days. Her jaw dropped when I got to the part about the damage to my truck. And then again when I told her about my almost kiss with Jack.
“Seriously???Holy hell!” she said, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger.
“Yeah. What the hell is wrong with me?” Rubbing my forehead with my hand, I could feel a headache coming on.
“Yeah, why the hell didn’t you kiss that fine looking man??!!” she asked. Laughing, I shook my head.
“Seriously? How healthy is it to jump into something after ending something else?” She shook her head.
“Your relationship was a shell of misery. There was nothing there. I hated the way you were when you were with him. You always overthink the right things and pick jack ass things to throw caution to the wind about. Jack is a nice guy, he has done a ton of work on Lamar and they have even gone out for beers a few times. Besides, in my opinion, your relationship was over the minute it started. Carl was an asshat,” she said, patting my leg.
“Maybe I am just making more out of this than what is really there?”
“And maybe you’re not,” she retorted.
“Why are you here?” I asked playfully. She laughed.
“I figured you forgot about our date .We are supposed to go shopping,” she said.
“Give me a minute to get dressed,” I said, standing up and walking into the house.
“Why? What difference is it going to make? Wait, we could go to Walmart…I am sure you would fit RIGHT in there!” she called. I flipped her off and walked into the house, her laughter following me.
After two hours of shopping, I was beat. Getting a new phone was easier than I thought which put my mind at ease. We decided to get dinner at this Italian restaurant outside of town. We had grabbed some trouser pant style jeans, some v neck tees of various colors, and some black legging type pants in black. She had me grab some funky v neck tees and a few men’s style dress shirts with camisoles to wear underneath. There were three pairs of shoes too, flats, boots that went to
just under my knee and some chunky heels. At the last place we were, I grabbed some cool jewelry and wide leather belts.
“No more holy jeans got it Bleu?” she scolded, digging in to her ravioli. Nodding, I took a bite of my chicken parm.
“Yes Mom,” I muttered. She giggled.
“So, do you like working for Axel?”
“I do, but I need to reach out to my contacts and make some money that I can put away. And after today, with what went down, I might not be working there much longer,” I reply. She nods.
“I talked to Lamar. No guarantees, but he said the school district was tossing around the idea of a website and possibly an IT position. I told them to have the superintendent call you. Maybe you could work something out with them?”
“Really?! That’s great, thank you! I mean, I DO have some money saved up, but it’s not going to last forever. Anything he can toss my way would be great!”
“Anytime. I figured you cannot work in that shop forever. Especially with Candi tormenting you,” she said making a face like she had swallowed something nasty.
“That’s her name? Candi? I just call her Blowjob Barbie,” I replied. She spit her water out and grabbed a napkin to wipe off her chest.
“Yes, her name is Candi, although I like your name better.”
“She is nasty. What do you know about her?”
“Not a whole lot. She has not lived here very long truly. But what I do know is that apparently she comes from money. I heard that her father ran some big investment firm in New York City and her mom inherited some heavy duty money when her parents died. Candi lives here though, across town.”
“What in the hell does she do?”
“She owns and runs a gallery. This kind of gallery sells very expensive artwork and caters to very exclusive clients. And she is also an event planner, mostly for events in the city though.”