Chapter 34
I lean back in my worn wooden chair at Shifty’s and watch Violette work the crowd.
The table around me is full of talk, laughs, and the general mischief typical of my squad, but, fuck, the only thing I can see, the only thing I can focus on, is this woman I’ve been talking to non-stop since I confessed my truth. We’ve texted all through her long ass work shifts, talked during our daily park meetups, that I definitely orchestrated on purpose, and late into the night while I ached to go to her and hold her in my arms. I’m quickly becoming obsessed with everything about Violette again and it doesn’t help me fight my borderline obsession when she’s a package deal with the cutest and coolest kid I’ve ever met.
I know her life is full, I know she’s always on the go, but I watch her now, knowing that tonight I could possibly, if I play my cards right, have her all to myself. And that thought is making me almost electric with anticipation. It’s like everything she does was made purposely for me, just to turn me on. The way she moves, the way she smiles, how her long wavy hair shines in the neon. And right now, how perfect her tits look in the low-cut tank top as she bends down to reach for something under the bar. Everything about her has me over a goddamn barrel. I’ve been fighting with this feeling for years, but telling her the truth only made me dive even deeper into this crazy.
Head first. Without a life vest.
All I can hope is that somehow, someway I’m lucky enough to convince her to jump in with me. Scratch that, she will— she just isn’t ready to admit it yet.
“Look at her wrinkly little nose,” Cal gushes to Sam and Caleb at my table. This is the first time in God knows how long we’ve all been both showered and out together. These champs just came back from a heavy sister blaze at the Wyoming border that sparked after their first roll. They’re hoping for a couple days off, but they probably won’t get it.
Most of the crew is here, only ones missing are Roycie—who already met a girl and left with her—and Sup, who’s on his way.
“I think he might ditch me for Bea.” Cal’s girlfriend, Scottie, grins taking a swig of her beer. She’s a trooper coming out with a bunch of scrags like us and putting up with the shit talk. Cal better not fuck it up, he’s pretty much hit the jackpot with her. She’s cool as hell and she calls him on his shit. Not to mention, she put up with his ass when they were lost together in a storm last fall and they weren’t even on speaking terms. If they can get through that and come out the other side, I’d say they can get through anything.
Cal leans over and puts his hand on Scottie’s jean clad knee. “Not a fuckin’ chance.” He gives her a squeeze and it almost makes me jealous. I’ve never wanted that with a woman before, but as I turn to see Violette working behind the bar, I wish she was sitting beside me with my hand on her thigh.
“You know the new girl?” Scottie asks me, catching me staring at Vi.
I turn to face her. “She’s my girlfriend,” I say with a wide grin, and Cal chuckles.
“That’s Jack’s daughter, the one I was telling you about,” he says to Scottie.
“If you hit the bar at all and let her know her boyfriend sent you, she’ll probably give you the special drink they don’t serve to the regulars,” I add.
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” Scottie checks Violette out over her shoulder. “She’s really pretty. Impressive for you.” She winks, and I scoff in offense.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
She just shrugs with a smirk.
“Scottie’s real good at insulting you and complimenting you all at the same time.” He leans forward and sets his beer down. “Does it better than anyone.”
“Someone needs to keep you in check.” She nudges him with her shoulder.
The song changes to “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks as the front door dings amidst the noisy Saturday night crowd.
Sup comes strolling in, wearing his standard jeans and black T-shirt, and immediately my whole table stands and lets him have it, clapping like they’re at a goddamn concert. Naturally, I stand and join them.
“Well, if it isn’t Sky Ridge’s favorite new doula,” Opp cheers, and Sup just shakes his head. This is the first time we’ve seen him as a crew since he helped deliver Teddy’s baby, but our group chat is a plethora of superhero memes and sarcastic jokes.
Cal approaches him and shakes his hand, patting him on the shoulder and saying something none of us can hear.
“Fuck you all,” Sup says when he reaches our table. “Right place right time,” he adds as he takes his seat.
“Yeah,” Opp snorts. “Has nothing to do with how pretty your neighbour is.” He chuckles.
Cal backhands him in the chest. “My sister. Guy. Fuck.”
“Never fear, ma’am, help is here. Super Xander is on the scene,” I say in my best Sup impression, lowering my voice a few octaves.
“Don’t worry, ma’am, I have very gentle hands,” Opp adds in his best Sup voice, the rest of us, aside from Sup and Cal, follow suit.
Cal shakes his head at me. “Not cool,” he mutters.
Scottie nudges Sup. “Need a beer?” she asks him, standing up. “I’m gonna go and officially meet King’s girlfriend.”
“I don’t even want to know,” Sup answers, his eyes on mine. “And please, I’m not making it through this night without one.”
I lean back in my chair and glance over at Violette mixing up a martini. Her eyes meet mine as Scottie approaches the bar. I swear to Christ, everything moves in slow motion while we look at each other across the room. It’s warm in here so the slight glow of her skin under those neon lights makes me want to hop the bar, press her up against the counter, and make her scream my name. She pulls her eyes from mine as Scottie leans in and whispers something to her. Violette looks at her first in surprise then directly at me with a you’re-a-shit-head kind of grin.
I tip my beer to her and grin. Fuck, I can’t wait to get her alone.
“He said I’d give you special beer?” I say to the pretty woman who’s been tight knit with Cal all night. I’m guessing this is his girlfriend I keep hearing about. “And I would do this because I’m his girlfriend ?” I ask in a higher octave.
She leans in, her light, coppery waves tumble over her shoulders.
“Yep, he said it with quite a bit of confidence too.” She laughs.
“Thing is, I know you’re not his girlfriend, I just thought maybe we could fuck with him a little?” she asks, eyebrow raised. “I’m Scottie, by the way. What’s the girliest drink you’ve got in this place?”
I smile. She has an air of mischief about her. I like this girl already.
“Violette,” I say, extending my hand. “You’re dating Cal, right?”
“Still contemplating.” She winks, and I laugh as I pull out a beer for the regular to her left, crack it, and hand it to him.
“He’s a good guy—Cal.” I nod. “A little hot headed sometimes, but good.” I grin.
She turns and looks back at him. He’s deep in conversation with Rowan. They’re laughing and looks like they’re busting Opp’s balls over something.
“Yeah, he kinda keeps proving that over and over again.” She grins. She has a pretty smile and she seems cool as hell. I can see why Cal is, as Rowan says, “borderline obsessed with her.”
“So, what’s the deal with you two?” Scottie asks, like we’re already old friends, and for some reason I feel like we could be very easily.
I look at Rowan over her shoulder, trying my best not to notice how strong and relaxed he looks. His one arm is slung over the back of the chair next to him and the smile on his face is one that would bring any woman to her knees. He’s easy, cool, confident, and so fucking hot it hurts. His strong upper arms strain against his gray Carhartt T-shirt and his dark blond waves poke out slightly from that damn backward baseball hat.
“Hmm, if I had to guess, Violette, I’d say you’re contemplating too,” Scottie jokes, her bottom lip between her teeth as she assesses my stare at Rowan.
It breaks my gaze, and I smirk at her and huff out a breath.
“Fucking hotshots.” I giggle.
“Agreed.” She laughs. “Now, you ready to fuck with him?”
I lean in so we can plan their demise accordingly.
“Always.”
“What the fuck is this?” I ask Scottie when she comes back to the table with beer for every guy here except me. In front of me she places Shifty’s in house “No Shoes,” their twenty-four-ounce strawberry cream daiquiri with layers of whipped cream and topped with a twirly pink umbrella and some fresh berries.
“Your special drink. So much booze in it you’ll be losing your shoes and on the dance floor before it’s gone, or so they say,” Scottie yells over the music.
“So I’ve heard.” I chuckle. Everyone in town has had this drink at some point or another. Except me. Until now.
“She said to tell you she knows her man, and her man likes his fruity little drinks,” she adds, taking her seat beside Cal as every guy at my table busts a gut.
Scottie tosses Violette a grin over her shoulder, and I know these two vixens were in on it together.
Fuck it, I bring the sugary liquid to my lips intentionally and take a great big swig. “ Delicious,” I mouth to Violette.
She laughs, and I feel like the joke’s on her. I have her attention, her laughter, and even if it was fake, she called me her man.
Seems like a win-win to me.