Finding A Way (16 page)

I need to just keep things between Callie and me casual. I need to stop this shit, thinking we could eventually be more. It will never work, and she doesn’t want me like that. She wants a friend, and that’s what I will have to be. A friend. I’ll be the best damn friend she’s ever had.

Trent startles me as he walks into the shop carrying a bag from the auto parts store.

“Would ya believe it took a fucking half hour down at Al’s to get an oil filter for that shitty beatah?” he seethes.

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. Al’s is the only place we deal with when it comes to parts. He gives us a good deal, and we give him lots of business in return. It’s a profitable solution for both of us.

“You know he’s old, man. He gets busy there and can’t remember where any of his shit is,” I point out, taking a drag from my smoke.

Trent places the bag on the desk, lighting a smoke of his own.

“Yeah I know, but fuck, dude. The guy drives me crazy sometimes. I swear he looked through all his fucking filters twice before he found the right one. If he would just upgrade to a digital inventory system instead of a fucking book, life would be easier for everyone.”

I shake my head, continuing to laugh at him. He’s a moody fucker, but he’s a damn good mechanic. He can make anything run, despite how old or how fucked up it is, and I’m grateful to have him helping me out when he isn’t at the tattoo shop.

“You look like you need a drink and a biddy to calm your nerves,” I joke, amused at the way his demeanor changes when those two things are said together in one sentence. I can't help but throw Trent's Boston slang back at him. I've never picked much up from living here, but Trent always has some kind of word I have no clue what it means. Lucky for me, he calls the chicks at the bar "biddys" all the time. Basically, a biddy is a cheap looking woman who will put out on the first date.

“Hell yeah, I do! I always need that shit.” He throws his hands up in the air. “Those damn twins were crazy last night, by the way! They wanted to tie me up and shit, and that’s a little too fucked up even for me, and ya know I love kinky shit. Ya should've heard them man.
Let us both fuck each other, and you can watch, but you can’t touch us.
There was no way in hell I was not participating in that shit, so I booted both of their asses out to the curb.”

A cocky grin falls on my lips as I reply.

“They let me fuck them both with no problem. Maybe you’re losing your touch.” I chuckle, crossing my arms over my chest.

Trent's face falls for a second before it’s replaced with a glare. He tosses him arms up in the air, his voice getting higher.

“You gotta be fucking kidding me man! I told ya I don’t want your scraps! Why the fuck do you have to fuck every biddy in this fucking city? It’s ridiculous already. I’m so sick of having your sloppy seconds!”

I can’t help but laugh at his rant. He and I both know he doesn’t give a shit about my
scraps
. He’s just crying like a bitch because I fucked the twins and he didn’t. It’s fucking hysterical. I mean, we’ve shared women before, and here he is crying because he almost fucked the same girls I did over a month ago. I shrug my shoulders at him, washing the grease off my hands in the sink.

“Yeah, you need to get laid. You’re acting like a chick right now. Do you want me to go over to the pharmacy and get you some feminine products?” I taunt, laughing to myself.

Trent stubs out his smoke, scoffing at me while checking his phone.

“Speaking of which, Evan has been blowing up my phone all damn day to see if we're going out with them tonight. He said Sierra’s friend is going, and he wants us to all be there to make her feel welcome or some shit. I tried asking if he thought she would be down for a little ride on the Trent train, but he told me to stop being an asshole, and just come out tonight.”

I snap my head toward him. I was hoping to keep Trent away from Callie for a little while, but I guess my plan has been spoiled by Evan’s big fucking mouth. Now I will have to watch Trent hit on her all night while I try not to break his fucking jaw. I don’t want have to knock his ass out, but if need be, I won’t hesitate.

“We going?” I ask, trying to play it off.

The last thing I need is for Trent to know I have the least bit of interest in her, because if he finds out he’ll make it his personal mission to one up me, especially after the ordeal with twins last night.

“You did just say I needed a drink and a biddy, right? So do ya think we’re not?” he inquires.

I nod my head, agreeing with him to go. This is gonna be a long ass night. I’m getting plastered. It’s the only way I’m gonna be able to handle this shit.

I convinced Trent to head to bar earlier than the rest of the gang because I needed a shot and a beer before Callie even walked in the damn door.
Friends,
I tell myself repeatedly.

"What's got ya looking so skittish, playboy?"

I pick my head up, seeing a very amused Ryleigh holding my shot and beer. Shrugging her off, I give her a forced grin.

"Not nervous Ry. In the zone."

"Uh huh." She shakes her head as she laughs at me.

I shoot her an annoyed glare as she watches me, arms crossed over her chest with an amused grin on her face.

"So, it's got nothing to do with Trent running around, telling the entire bar about how he plans on baggin' the new chick?" she questions.

"No, why the fuck would I care about Sierra’s friend?" I snap at her.

She gives me another amused look as she answers.

"Because, until the day ya drove the girl here, all ya kept talking about was how ya planned on baggin' her yourself. Now you're sitting here, looking wicked pissed and demanding shots from me, which you never drink shots when you're driving. So, if my assumptions are correct, it seems to me that ya want this girl to yourself…and more than a casual fuck."

Her words piss me the fuck off. Partly because she's right, and the other half because I hate she can see right through me. They insist your best shrink is your bartender, and that's probably true in this case. This girl has seen it all. When I was pissed, when I was happy, when I was sad, and drunk. She’s seen every emotion I’m capable of. I guess it goes to show you where I solve my problems: the bottom of an empty bottle, and a shitty hole in the wall bar.

"Whatever," I sneer at her.

I flick my gaze toward the door just as Evan, Sierra, and Callie walk in. I hop off my stool and make my way over to them. Evan gives me a nod of acknowledgment and Sierra wraps her arms around me for a hug. I hug her back, but keep my eyes on Callie the entire time.

She looks beautiful again. She’s wearing another pair of blue jean shorts, a black v-neck tee, and those damn pink converse. As soon as she smiles at me, my anger fades away. She’s just so damn cute I can’t help but grin back at her. Sierra lets me go and I move to Callie, bringing her into a hug. I whisper near her ear, getting so close I can smell her again.

“Hey, Red.”

She pulls back looking up at me through her dark lashes.

“Hi,” she says in a small voice which squeezes my heart.

I release my hold on Callie's waist, telling everyone to follow me to the table I had Ry reserve. For a small bar, there aren’t many tables to get, but I guess being I’m here all the damn time, I get some special perks. Max's looks like an older place from the outside, but once you step in, it's pretty fucking amazing. Ryleigh has been a manager here for a few years now, and ever since she took over the place from the owner Max, she's redecorated almost everything. The walls used to be a shitty looking yellow, but now they are adorned with a light blue which brightens even the worst of moods. Ryleigh also had the entire glass bar tables re-glazed, making them look brand new again. To top off the transformation, the floors are now a marbled ceramic tile instead of the black and white checkered tile that sat in its place once before.

Sierra and Evan sit and I plop down in a seat opposite of them. Callie looks around at the chairs, deciding where she's gonna sit. Not like she has many options, because either way she’s gonna be next to me. I didn’t do it on purpose, but it benefits me either way. She grabs the seat to my right so she’s sitting across of Sierra, but still next to me. Ryleigh comes over to table to take our orders, getting her first look at Callie.

“Hi! Ya must be Callie! I’m Ryleigh. I’ve heard a lot about ya,” she beams.

Callie nods happily as she replies.

“Nice to meet you Ryleigh. Sierra told me you’re their favorite bartender.”

Ryleigh lets out a loud laugh.

“Yeah. Well, they don't have a choice. I’m the only bartender who will give them free drinks and
advice
. Wait until Trent sees you, you’re in for a real treat. That guy is relentless.”

Callie’s eyes search for mine until they lock on them. She looks nervous about meeting Trent, and she should be. Trent has been on a mission since he first heard Callie was coming here. He will never stop when he sees how fucking gorgeous she is. I can already see a sit down between him and me in the future.

Callie laughs as Ryleigh asks us what we want to drink. I opt for a beer, deciding I better quit taking shots for the night. I’m not mad anymore, so there’s no need. Plus, I gotta drive home later.

Trent appears, pulling out the chair in front of me, watching Callie with a devilish grin on his face.
Fucking great.

“Who do we have here?” he asks, playing dumb.

He fucking knows who she is, but this is all part of the game. I shoot a glare his way as I nod my head toward Callie.

“Trent, Red. Red, Trent.” I cackle, surprising myself at how calm I sound because on the inside, I’m not fucking calm. I’m livid. This girl is mine, whether she knows it or not. She was mine from the first time I laid eyes on her, and I took until this moment, where my best friend is openly hitting on her, to figure it the fuck out. Nobody is getting this one except me.

Trent reaches across the table, extending his hand to her as trash spews from his mouth.

“Hello beautiful.”

I watch as Callie’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink, Trent keeping his hold on her hand. I elbow him in the ribs under the table and he lets her go, all the while glaring at me.
Is she seriously blushing over him?
Ryleigh drops our drinks off at the table and I reach for mine as Sierra talks. As soon as she opens her mouth, I immediately wish she had kept it shut. She’s fucking everything up.

“Trent, Callie here wants a tattoo, and you tattoo. So, maybe you can do it for her? I would feel better if you did it. I don’t want her going to some weirdo who will get all touchy, feely.” She beams excitedly at him.

I flick my gaze to Callie as she smiles wide at him, the excitement showing in her eyes.

“I haven’t decided what I want yet, but I have a couple ideas. I know Mac said his friend did his, and I assume you’re the friend.”

Trent looks like a kid in a candy store at the mention of getting to touch her. He leans in a little further with a look that tells me he’s up to no good.

“I can do whatever you want,
darling
. I did this asshole’s tattoos, and I think they came out damn good. Where do you want to get yours? Your ribs, your shoulder, your stomach?” he asks, raising his brows suggestively.

Like fucking hell he’s getting to touch any of those parts on her body. Her body is reserved for my hands, my mouth, and my cock only. I decide where she gets touched, and I decide who fucking does it.

“I’m not sure where I want it. I don’t even know what I want yet, but I’m sure when I decide, Mac will be there with me,” she declares, smiling toward me.

My chest fills with pride. She dodged Trent’s flirting, using me as a roadblock. I fucking eat that shit up like cake.

Trent doesn’t seem to hear her. He's too busy drooling over the blonde bombshell who just walked past him. He dismisses himself from the table to follow her through the crowd.

A small snicker falls from Callie’s mouth as she watches him chase relentlessly after the woman.
That’s what he does Callie. Don’t fall for his act.

“Is he always so easily distracted?” she asks me.