Chapter Fourteen
Nico
Are you fucking kidding me? What are the goddamn odds that the new hire Larry wouldn’t stop yammering about is Cassi’s ex? Or maybe he’s her current. With the fucking bruise left on her neck from his sloppy mouth, who knows what they are.
I can’t stop my hand from tightening into a fist in my lap.
Awesome. Even when I leave Seattle, I’ll have a permanent reminder of her.
As if there was ever going to be a reality where that wasn’t the case but now it’ll be a physical reminder.
A living breathing string bean piece of shit who has had his mouth, fingers and probably limp dick on or inside her.
“You’re kidding!” Mary says, like it’s the most wonderful circumstance. “Is that true Nico? Is that your company?”
“Yes,” I answer tightly, forcing myself to relax as I look to her.
“Well, looks like Alec has you to thank for being so understanding of his delayed start,” Henry says as he takes a sip of his beer.
“Guess so,” Alec says before looking behind Cassi, conveniently wrapping his arm around her chair as he looks to me. “Thank you, it means a lot.”
My eyes narrow at him. I don’t like this kid. At all.
His thumb begins gently rubbing the bare skin of her neck, pushing through the curtain of hair that is strategically hiding the hideous mark he’s marred her skin with.
It’s a taunting gesture, as if he wants my eyes to move towards it, like he wants me to know his claim has been staked.
My gaze doesn’t falter for a moment, if this little shit thinks he intimidates me for even a second.
If I wanted his girl, I could have her. In a heartbeat.
Normally, I’d think a statement like that with zero hesitation.
When it comes to Cassi, though, I can admit that I’m not one hundred percent confident in that statement.
It felt like I almost had her last night.
Hindsight, I’m grateful she stepped away when she did, because I was two seconds away from picking her up and fucking her raw on top of her mother’s kitchen island.
My cock stiffens at the thought of it. Being near her is so goddamn intoxicating.
All rational thought and logic flies out the window.
Even now, the subtle smell of vanilla and cinnamon is pulled off of her, filling my senses and dulling my mind.
It takes everything in me not to lean a little closer and bask in… her.
“Of course, besides, any friend of Cassi’s is a friend of mine,” I say, pulling Cassi’s attention.
I feel her eyes on me and as much as I’m tempted to look down at her, I’m too invested to break this sort of pissing contest her little boy toy has started.
“Appreciate that. Though, Cassi and I are definitely way more than friends these days, right, babe?” Alec asks, pulling her into his side slightly.
She looks visibly uncomfortable, and it takes all of the restraint I possess not to rip her from his grip.
“Uhm,” Cassi starts before Mary sweetly cuts in.
“Oh, are you two officially back together?” she asks, a hope tinging her words that instantly rubs me the wrong way.
I can’t be the only one that sees this asshat for who he is, right?
“Like we were never apart,” Alec answers for Cassi, smiling to Mary. “I knew what I had when we were together. Life had other plans but it also brought her back to me, and now, I won’t let her go for anything,” he smiles, though his eyes are only on hers for half a second before they come to me.
Before more can be said, our meals come and the table chatter is quickly silenced with the sounds of forks against plates and eating.
Once we are finished, Harry attempts to pay the bill, but I beat him by a mile.
Thankfully he doesn’t put up much fuss, giving me a quiet but appreciative thank you instead.
“Well, I think we are going to head home. Are you two staying out for a bit?” Mary asks Cassi and Alec.
Alec is already nodding as he looks down at her.
“We could go shoot some darts again, or go back to my place and watch a movie?” he asks, his true meaning crystal clear.
I don’t even think before I’m speaking.
“Carly and I could go for a round of darts.”
Cassi turns to me with disbelief as her eyes move to her sister.
“Since when does Carly play darts?”
“I went to college, Cassi. A lot of the local bars had plenty of dart tournaments.”
“You dropped out of college,” Cassi highlights.
Carly’s face pinches at that as she leans forward across the table.
“And you’re the loser who couldn’t even get in to anything worthwhile,” she snarls.
“Hey,” Henry snaps sternly. “Enough.”
The table goes quiet for a moment before Alec and Cassi stand. I’m quick to follow as does the rest of the table. We all say our goodbyes to Mary and Henry as Carly comes to my side, whining and pulling on my arm like a toddler.
“Baby, I don’t want to stay out. I wanted to go home, take a long bath. Maybe have you join me,” she smirks.
I can’t even pretend to act interested in her. I’m not in the slightest. It was challenging enough to push myself last night but then to immediately realize that it was all a ploy. She’s despicable, and I truly don’t know why I’m wasting one more second with her.
That’s a lie.
I know one reason. One curvy, green eyed red headed reason.
If I dump Carly now, there would be no reason to stay in Seattle.
Though we are leaving in two days anyways, that’s two more days here.
With her. Nothing will happen, of course but the idea of leaving before that is…
unsettling. I don’t like it. Am I staying with my toxic selfish girlfriend so that I have an excuse to spend more time with her sister? Fuck, I guess I am.
“C’mon, we will play a game. Have some drinks, it’s almost time to go home. We’re on vacation,” I persuade, though I don’t need to do much convincing. With each word I speak, a smile grows across her face until she’s nodding, practically skipping down the road.
“Fine, come on! I know this place with the best slippery nipple shots.”
I can’t help but let out a short scoff and a shake of my head as Alec and Cassi follow behind Carly, their hands lacing together.
Irritation flickers inside me as I look away, scanning our surroundings in attempt to look literally anywhere but right in front of me when we come to this bright pink and purple bar.
The music is loud, the décor is over the top and the people inside are eating it the fuck up.
Carly bounces to the counter and orders herself two shots before I come to stand beside her and get a beer. I see Cassi and Alec moving to order separately when I shake my head and gesture for them to order.
“I’ve got money,” Alec says almost defensively.
A smile touches my mouth as I nod.
“My money, it sounds like. Mixed in with some tips? Just order,” I say as I make a spectacle out of pulling my black card out of my wallet. Honestly, for no other reason than to be an asshole.
Cassi takes note of it too and gets an evil grin on her face.
“What’s your most expensive bottle?”
The bartender frowns at her before scanning the back wall. He shows Cassi a thirty five year old scotch and she smiles and nods.
“That’s perfect. Put it on Tony Stark’s tab,” she says as she points to me and takes the bottle from the guy.
The bartender looks to me to make sure it’s okay and I roll my eyes as I nod and hand him my card.
“Tony Stark?” I ask as I grab a few glasses and follow Cassi and Carly over to an empty table.
“Yeah, if you were blond I’d call you richie rich but I figured with the dark hair and dark eyes and overall unpleasant demeanor, Tony Stark would do,” she says.
Alec cackles at that while I shake my head.
“You and your fucking nicknames,” I say as I crack open the bottle and pour myself a heavy drink.
Carly knocks back her two shots before looking to me.
“Okay, where is this fucking dart board?”
We all stare at her for a moment blankly before Alec speaks.
“We don’t know. You led the way, remember?”
Carly instantly dissolves into a fit of giggles before she nods and stands.
“I forgot. God their drinks are so good. Anyone else need anything?” she asks before moving to the bartender before we could answer.
“There is pool,” Alec says as he looks at the empty pool table in the corner.
I shrug as we stand and bring our drinks over there. Alec sets up the table and when Carly comes back, it’s time to play.
“Prepare to lose, Sanders,” Cassi says as she lines up for her first shot, absolutely crushing two balls into pockets.
My eyebrows lift in surprise as Carly giggles and grabs the stick.
“My turnnnn!”
Jesus she’s a lightweight.
She doesn’t even hit the ball, she misses it completely, shrugs and bounces over to a group of girls that are dancing in the corner.
Alec watches her go, shaking his head with a laugh before he takes his turn.
Overall, we are all pretty evenly matched, but of course I’m playing solo so the fact that we are currently neck and neck means that I’m way better than that little shit, right? Right.
With each play, the contents of that bottle of scotch dwindle, really between Cassi and I. Alec only had one glass before saying he has to drive his motorcycle home. I’m gonna be getting a ride, though, so I’m saying fuck it and getting smashed.
I fill up another glass well over halfway and begin gulping it as Cassi stumbles towards me for another. I catch her with one hand easily, and she looks up at me with a relaxed smile.
“Quick moves.”
I smile down at her, blissfully unaware of the audience we have for two seconds before he clears his throat.
“I think it’s time to get you home, babe. You have work in the morning, right?”
“Shit,” Cassi groans. “That’s right. I fucking hate working, you have to get up and be nice to people who are mean to you or you don’t get to live. What kind of bullshit is that?”
Alec laughs and nods. “Life, unfortunately.”