Missing Pieces - Chapter 8
Tyler
Saturday
Things had just taken an unexpected turn.
Yes, Hailey had flirted with me last night.
But that was her job. It was a tip game.
She was so hot and cold that half the time it seemed like she hated me and the other half of the time it seemed like she wanted to jump me.
Right now she was acting like the latter, and I wasn't going to deny that I was flattered.
Although my lack of game had made her think I was gay, which didn't really help my current mood.
The fact was that Hailey was gorgeous. Did I dream about what her tits looked like beneath her tight tank top?
Yeah. But anyone who met her would probably dream of that.
It didn't mean anything. The more jealous she seemed to get, the more appealing I found her pout, though.
But I wasn't going to try to sleep with her.
The last thing I needed was a random lay to get over my own problems. I had tried that before.
It didn't work. And anything with Hailey would be meaningless, because in a few days I'd be dropping her off in California and I'd be heading to basic training. I'd never see her again.
But it didn't mean we couldn't both tiptoe around the idea of something more.
It didn't mean I had to avoid staring at her long legs as she climbed in the car.
Or her breasts when she leaned close to me.
I was just going to enjoy this. Because even though I had set out to be alone on this trip and think, I was enjoying myself much more now that I had company.
"You didn't answer my question," she said and took a bite of her omelet. "When was your last relationship?"
"How long does it have to last in order to be considered a relationship?"
"The length doesn't matter. But it only counts if you had the girlfriend, boyfriend talk. The labels and everything."
"Yeah. Gotcha. My last relationship ended one week ago."
She nodded like she suddenly understood me completely. "Sorry," she said.
"Yeah. I feel bad about the way I left things, but I'm not really that upset about it. She was a great girl, but we weren't really that compatible."
"So why the sudden need to drive to California, then?"
"It's not your turn. How many guys have you slept with?"
She stopped chewing mid-bite. "That's a really personal question."
"It can be your pass."
She shook her head and set down her fork. "Um." She scrunched her lips to the side as she thought. "Does hand stuff count?"
I laughed. "No."
"Right. Well, three then."
I nodded. "Okay, your turn."
She leaned forward slightly. She did that a lot. It seemed like a habit from working at a bar. But I wasn't complaining. It allowed me to see down her shirt without being too obvious.
"How many girlfriends have you had total?" Hailey asked.
"With the same rules about labels and the talk?"
"Yeah."
"Four. Why did you break up with your only boyfriend?" I asked.
She didn't look excited by the question. "He cheated on me."
"Sounds like a quality guy."
"Absolutely. He cheated on me with my best friend at the time. And now they're married and expecting their first child."
Damn. "Ouch."
"It doesn't bother me anymore," she said with a shrug. "Honestly it's like you said...we weren't really compatible. How many girls have you slept with?"
I thought about it for a second. "Nine."
"You have triple my experience then." Her eyes stayed locked on mine. She was basically a professional flirter. But her gaze still affected me.
"I guess so," I said.
She looked back down at her half-eaten omelet.
"Why didn't you just ask to share a room with me last night?" I asked.
"Because I don't know you."
"That didn't stop you from climbing in my car."
"That's different. I was awake. Who knows what you'd do to me if I was sleeping with you. I mean, in the same room. Not having sex with you. Obviously." She laughed and her cheeks got slightly rosy.
I wanted to do all sorts of things to her.
But not when she was sleeping. Maybe I was wrong.
Maybe she was exactly what I needed to move on.
It was pretty obvious that she wanted me.
The way she was making fun of the waitress who was clearly flirting with me.
But she also didn't seem to realize that I didn't give a shit about the waitress because I only wanted to look at the girl across from me. Didn't she know how pretty she was?
"My turn, right?" Hailey asked.
I nodded and pushed aside my empty coffee glass.
"How many men have you slept with?" she said with a smile.
I laughed. "I'm not gay."
"If you say so." She pulled out a 20 dollar bill and set it on the table. "Come on, we need to put a few states behind us today."
"I got this," I said and pulled out my wallet.
"Despite what you think, I don't actually need your help, Tyler."
And just like a switch, it seemed like she hated me again. "I wasn't trying to..."
"You can pay next time." She slid out of the booth. "We'll take turns."
I stood up and stretched. "Okay. If that's what you want."
"Like I said, I'm not going to inconvenience you at all. I'm just going to encourage you to get to California as fast as humanly possible so that I can get back home." She walked out of the restaurant without waiting for me.
I had been wallowing for a whole week. I was sick of my own thoughts.
The toxicity that seemed to pour off of Hailey was somehow just what I needed.
And I wanted to know more about her. I slid out of the booth and quickly followed her outside.
That had always been part of my problem.
I liked the chase. I liked when girls made me work for it.
Apparently I was a glutton for punishment.
"So, how many girls have you slept with?" I asked as I unlocked the car.
She laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
I'm sure I had a shocked look on my face.
She laughed again. "I'm just kidding. You wish." She got in the car.
When I sat down she was holding my phone in her hand. I tried to reach for it, but she held it out at arm's length.
"Can we please use the GPS now?" she said. "We need to figure out the best way to get there."
"Just use your phone then."
"It doesn't connect to your car charger and I didn't bring an adapter." She swiped her finger across my screen. "Do you know you have 23 missed calls?"
God this girl was infuriating. "Yes. Can I please have my phone back?"
"Who's trying to get a hold of you?"
"No one important." I snatched it out of her hand.
"Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"Are you?"
She bit her lower lip. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right?"
I slid my phone into my pocket. "Yeah. I guess.
" That didn't really answer my question, but in a way it did.
Something bad had happened to her and she was trying to fix it.
I could relate to that. I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
If she googled that number, she'd find out who was calling me.
She'd jump to conclusions about why I had left New York.
It wasn't something I wanted to talk to her about.
I wanted to go back to the light, flirtatious banter.