Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
NOVA
I was getting cabin fever staying inside all the time. I had baked the club enough sweet treats to survive an apocalypse, and Star had come to visit when she could with a few of the other ol’ ladies, but aside from that, I was on my own. I decided to message Star and see if she wanted to come over for a movie and takeout. I was fed up of being alone. Scrolling through the phone, I click on Star’s contact.
N: Hey, it’s me. I wondered if you wanted to come over and watch a movie? Maybe get some food in?
S: I’m surprised you messaged.
I frown, confused by her response. Maybe it’s because she was only around the other day, and I haven’t text her before now.
N: First time using the phone. If you’re busy, don’t worry. We can catch up another time.
S: No, it’s fine. Where?
N: At the apartment, unless you wanted to do it at yours?
S: The apartment is fine. What’s the address?
I frown, confused. She knows where the apartment is. Unless she is planning on getting a taxi over?
N: 120 Western Ave. I will order in the food.
S: No need. I will grab it on my way over. Be there in a bit.
I sigh, feeling relieved that I won’t be spending the entire evening on my own again. As I wait, I scroll through the movies, trying to narrow it down to a few options. I had gotten distracted and realised I had been sat there for over 30 minutes. Jumping up, I grab a few tubs of the cakes I’d made and place them down on the coffee table, along with a wine glass for Star. I check my reflection and see my blonde hair piled on top of my head, and my face is make-up free. I sigh. No point in putting fresh make-up on or getting changed if we are just going to sit and eat takeout. I look down at my top and notice I have a tomato ketchup stain on it. Sighing, I decide I’d better change it.
The buzzer goes and I quickly run, pressing the lock release for her to enter. The door opens, but I’m faced away from the door. “Give me a second. I realised I had ketchup down my top, so I’m just changing it,” I yell, running off to the bedroom. I chuck my dirty top in the wash basket and grab one of my tank tops. I walk back into the living room, pulling the tank top over my head as I go. “Oh, that smells nice. What did you get?” I ask, freezing when my eyes collide with Spider’s. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
He stands there, his jaw gritted tight. “Acid told me to come here for a takeout,” he answers.
I shake my head. “No, I text Star asking her if she wanted to come and watch a movie with a takeout,” I argue back.
He sighs. “Well, you didn’t. You text me,” he counters back.
“No. I text Star. She gave me this phone with her number pre-stored,” I snap back. Grabbing the phone, I show him so he can see for himself.
“That’s my number,” he states.
“But it can’t be.” I huff.
“Well, let’s look at the fucking facts, shall we? Star gave you that phone with a pre-stored number in it that is my number. She then got hold of my phone and saved that phone’s number as Acid’s. She set us up,” he yells.
My mouth drops open. “Oh, the crafty bitch,” I mutter.
Spider nods. “Right. Anyway, I had better go. The food’s on the counter, keep it.” He points to where it is and turns to leave.
“Wait,” I call out.
He stops and turns around to face me. “I can’t eat all that by myself, and I’m getting really bored on my own here. You could stay and eat some food and watch a movie with me. We could even watch that movie you and Nash watched. Missing Boys?” I ask.
Spider’s mouth twitches with a smile. “Lost boys,” he corrects.
“Right, that one,” I say, rolling my eyes at my own stupidity.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he sighs.
“Right. Well, I mean, there are 2 couches. You could sit on one, and I could sit on the other. No physical touching involved. Just two friends having a takeout and watching a movie.” I shrug.
“I am hungry,” he states.
“See? Come on, we are adults. We don’t need to keep away from each other. We have control over our, um, er, urges,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat. I grab the takeout bag and place it on the coffee table. “I already got plates out and a wine glass for Star, but I guess you won’t be using that now,” I say as he grabs one of his beers. He sits down as I stand over the food, removing all the lids. “Hhm, smells good.” I smile as I dish us up some food, but I look up when he doesn’t say anything. It’s then that I notice his gaze is aimed at my chest. I clear my throat and his gaze snaps up to mine.
I smile and quickly take my plate and sit down on the other couch. After I pick up the remote and put Lost Boys on, we sit in awkward silence for a while, up until the scene where the vampires surrounds the house and the dog starts barking.
“Oh no! They aren’t going to hurt the husky, are they?” I ask worried, while taking a bite of my egg roll.
Spider laughs. “No.”
I look at him. “What? What’s so funny?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “There are vampires wanting to kill people. They hunt people, and you are worried about the dog.”
I shrug. “Yeah, and?”
“You’re not bothered about the people, the boys?” he presses.
“Well, no. They can fend for themselves. But the poor puppy.” I sigh, shaking my head.
He laughs. “You’re fucking adorable, you know that?”
I swallow my food, my heart swelling at his words. He looks away and continues to watch the film.
We eat and watch the movie, but every now and then I cast a side glance at him. “Why the spider?” I blurt out.
He looks in my direction. “What?” he asks.
“Why the spider?” I repeat, tapping the side of my neck.
He shrugs. “I like them. People always fear them, but they often do good rather than bad. But if you piss off the wrong type, they can be fucking deadly.”
“You relate to them,” I state.
“I guess,” he says with a nod.
“Isn’t it normally the females that are the deadly ones?” I ask, smiling.
Hiss eyes sweep up and down my body. “Always,” he rasps.
I look down at my hands. “Can I ask you something?” I ask.
“Sure,” he answers.
“How many women have you slept with?” I ask.
He chokes on his beer. “I ain’t answering that,” he defends.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I will tell you mine,” I offer.
He shakes his head. “I don’t want to know,” he states adamantly.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Because I don’t want to,” he says, getting annoyed.
I roll my eyes. “It’s just a number. It’s not like it changes who we are.” I sigh.
“Do you know what? I better go,” he says as he stands.
I jump up. “What? You’re going because you didn’t like the question asked?” I snap. “Do you realise how ridiculous that is?”
He stops at the door. “I don’t want to fucking know because it will piss me off,” he snaps.
“Well, I’m going to tell you. I have slept with—” I don’t get to finish what I was saying, because he spins around and covers my mouth with his hand. His green eyes are ablaze with fury. I reach up and gently pull his hand away from my face. “One,” I say softly.
He frowns. “What do you mean one?” he questions.
“I’ve only ever slept with one person. You. Every other time was, well it was them using my body. I’ve never actually had sex with someone, other than you. But two people have given me orgasms in my life. You and myself.” I smile goofily.
His gaze is intense. “Why would you tell me this now?” he asks.
“Because if it wasn’t for me, you and Acid wouldn’t hate each other, and I have come here and messed up your life. I guess I didn’t want you to think I was just some slut, that the sex we had meant nothing to me, because it did. It meant a lot,” I confess. “And who knows? Maybe in time we will laugh about it, like Lizzie does about her fumble with Acid.” I shrug.
He shakes his head before sighing. “I’ve got to go, sweetheart.”
“Why?” I ask.
He cups my face and leans in close, placing a soft lingering kiss on my cheek. “Because if I don’t go now, I never fucking will,” he rasps before turning away and walking out.