Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Cora
The week flies by in a blur. Wake up, drop Noah at school, head to work at the library, pop into the shop to see Mara, then head to Exiled Ink for my other shift.
Noah has been gearing up for his soccer game on Saturday.
Even on days when he doesn’t have practice, he still kicks the ball around or runs drills.
I’m excited to see him play since he missed his game last week.
It’s cold as shit, but that’s the perfect excuse to bring hot chocolate to his game.
Matt says he’s come a long way and has natural skills.
I’m hopeful that we’ve found something that fits him.
It’s Friday night, which means it’ll be a late one, but that’s okay.
Noah is spending the night at the Morgans’, and in the morning, I’ll meet them at the field with Mara and Mila.
He’ll have his own cheering section. A smile spreads across my face when I think about the support system we have in place.
Sometimes I forget that our parents are dead.
It’s been Noah and me for so long that I can’t imagine what it’d be like any other way.
Bea’s sudden reappearance has been at the back of my mind.
Not knowing what her game plan is bothers me.
She never took an interest in Noah until about a year ago.
I thought maybe she had died, but no such luck.
She’s technically the only family we have left, but it’s not like we’re about to celebrate the holidays together. I’d rather lie in a tub of spiders.
“Settle a debate for us, Care Bear.” Kash leans against the counter.
Blinking away my confusion, I level him with a look. “Care Bear?”
“Yeah. You remind me of one. All little and sunshiny and shit. Cora, Care Bear.”
That’s just like Kash. I don’t get how his brain works, but sometimes I’m glad I don’t.
I picture an amusement park carousel full of happy, smiling chipmunks just enjoying the ride.
Don’t get me wrong. Kash is not stupid, quite the opposite.
He’s incredibly intelligent and knows thousands of random facts that the average person doesn’t even consider.
The thing about Kash is that he’s happy.
Like, all the time, happy. I thought I was a self-appointed chipper person, but he’s got me beat. I love being around him.
I know better than to get involved, but damn if I’m not curious. “What’s the debate, Kash?”
“Seth and I are debating whether or not you have tattoos. I say yes, but he is firmly in the ‘Cora has virgin skin’ zone. So, settle it for us, woman. Please.”
I roll my eyes at him. I should have known this was about me.
There’s a playfulness about Kash that means I can’t actually be mad at him.
I wasn’t lying when I told that other guy I don’t have any tattoos.
I’ve always thought about getting one, but they’re permanent.
If I got something, it would have to have a special meaning to me and be full of color. I refuse to live my life without it.
“Sorry to disappoint, Kash, but Seth is right. No ink here.” Pushing my sleeves back, I show them my bare arms.
“Ha. Told ya, fucker.” Seth smacks his arm. “Cora here is a good girl. She wouldn’t be wasting her time on tattoos.”
“It could be hidden, ya know? She only showed us her arms.” Kash continues to bicker with Seth, but something Seth said makes me bristle.
It’s true I’ve tried to make up for where I came from.
Being the product of a teenage pregnancy and growing up with parents who had substance abuse issues had me wanting to fight the stereotypes.
I didn’t lose my virginity until I was twenty-one, and even that was a lackluster experience.
The guy was attractive enough, but he didn’t believe in foreplay and only lasted about four minutes.
I get better orgasms from myself. But am I just a good girl?
I’m in bed by eleven most nights, but that’s only because I’m too tired to do anything else. Maybe I need to live a bit.
Leaving the guys to continue their argument, I pull out my phone and text Mara.
Me:
Hey. I’m off at ten. What are we doing?
Mara:
... I’m sorry, who is this?
Me:
It’s me. Don’t be dumb.
Mara:
Rude. I was going to say I have the perfect place, but now I don’t know if I want to.
Me:
…Mara…
Mara:
Cora…
Me:
Fine. I’m sorry.
Mara:
That’s better. I’ll see you soon. *Smiley face emoji*
Me:
What are we doing?
Mara:
You’ll see...
“What are you smiling about?” a voice whispers next to my ear.
“Shit. Fuck. Damn it, Kash,” I yell at him, smacking him in the arm. “You can’t do that.”
“I was trying to talk to you, but you weren’t answering. What’s got you smiling, Care Bear?”
“Leave her be, you lunatic.”
“It’s fine, Seth, although you’re right. I think he is a lunatic.” Kash sticks his tongue out at me. “I was messaging my friend. We’re having a girls’ night after I get off.”
Kash glances at the clock as a large grin splits his face. Uh-oh. That can’t be good.
“Say less, Care Bear. We’ll go with you on girls’ night. We’d be honored.”
“Um, I don’t recall inviting you, Kash. I was texting Mara, but—”
“Is she one-half of the twin friend?”
Scowling at him, I shake my head. “You know they’re two different people, right?”
“Please, Cora, please, I’ll do whatever you want. Let me go, please.” Just for extra emphasis, the idiot drops to his knees.
“What the fuck are you doing, dumbass?” Rhett’s voice cuts through the lobby of the shop. His client is next to him and looks just as confused.
“Here, let me help you, Logan.” I take his card and go over post-care with him, just to solidify what Rhett has no doubt already talked about.
I try to ignore the guys while wishing him a good night. I turn around and find the three of them staring at me.
“No.” Folding my arms over my chest, I give them what I hope is a serious expression. “Not happening. Girls’ night means girls only. None of you are girls.”
“I dunno,” Rhett chimes in. “Kash could maybe go for one. After all, he’s got the pecs and the bun.”
Seth bites back a laugh as Rhett tries unsuccessfully to ruffle Kash’s hair.
“Do not touch my hair. Or my pecs for that matter.” He crosses both arms over his chest. “I feel so objectified.”
“You are absolutely ridiculous, and you’re not going.”
“I wonder what Atlas would say,” Rhett muses.
“Why would Atlas have an opinion?”
“Oh, that’s cute, Care Bear,” Kash jokes. Pulling me under his arm, he says, “Let me tell you a secret.” He leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Atlas—”
“Do you want to explain what the fuck you’re doing, Kash?”
Quickly dropping his arm and stepping back, Kash moves away, allowing me to turn around and face Atlas. He looks pissed. His dark hair is free of its usual beanie, leaving a few stray pieces to fall across his forehead. His dark eyes are laser-focused on Kash, who is now standing beside Seth.
“Hey, I thought you left.” Cringing when his eyes focus on me, I continue, “Kash is just being Kash.”
The front of the shop is quiet. So quiet I can hear the hands on the clock moving around the circle. Each click of a second passing is louder than a car crash.
No one pays attention when the door opens or the bell chimes until a new voice asks, “So… what’s going on in here?”
Everyone’s heads whip toward the door, and I almost sigh in relief to find Mila and Mara standing there. Mila’s light hair is slightly curled, falling around her shoulders, while Mara has her signature snake nose ring, high ponytail, and permanent scowl.
“I’m in love,” Kash whispers, staring between my friends.
Mila looks confused, and Mara seems irritated.
Mila’s light eyes find mine. “Are we still going out, or did you change your mind? I know we’re a bit early, sorry.”
Mara says nothing. She simply stares at Rhett, who is looking at her just as intently. Weird.
“Wait. What’s going on?” Atlas grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. “Are you leaving?”
His stare is heavy, and he stands so close that I can smell his cologne. It’s a combination of woodsy and citrus scents, almost like being at the beach. I lean in and can’t help but inhale his scent.
The smile that breaks out across his face stops my heart.
I almost don’t care that he caught me smelling him.
He’s so handsome when he smiles. His dark eyes look lighter when he stares at me like he is.
It contrasts with the dark tattoos that cover chunks of his body. There’s a warmth to him; I can feel it.
“It’s girls’ night!” Kash shouts. “We’re all going out, bitches!”
“I don’t think you were invited,” Mila reminds him. “Pretty sure you have a penis, pretty boy. That automatically gets you uninvited.”
“But it’s such a nice penis,” Kash drawls.
Tuning the rest of them out as they squabble, Atlas searches my eyes.
“Girls’ night?” He quirks a brow.
“Um, yeah.” I clear my voice. “It’s been a while since it was just me and the girls, so we’re going out. Nothing too crazy. I have somewhere to be in the morning. Kash just wants a shot at one of the twins, really.”
“I can tell.” His dark eyes flick behind me.
“So, yeah, if you’re okay with it, we’re going to head out. It’s almost closing, and I have everything together.”
“No.”
My back goes ramrod straight. “No, what?”
“I’m not ready for you to leave yet. Give us ten to close up the shop and we’ll go with you.” Arching a brow, he stares at me silently, daring me to object. I can’t believe Atlas actually wants to go with us.
When I don’t say anything, Kash hollers, “Whoop! Hear that, Rhett? You and Seth better have brought your dancing shoes because we’re heading out!”
Mila and Mara groan, while I laugh. There really is no stopping him.
Rhett, Kash, and Atlas look satisfied, while Seth is still standing quietly to the side. “I may sit this one out, guys. You go ahead.”
“Bullshit,” Rhett argues. “You’re going, or I’ll tell Emma you abandoned us.”
“That’s bullshit,” Seth spits. “She wouldn’t blame me, though.”
“Who’s Emma?” I ask.
“Long story,” Kash says. “Let’s get this old girl closed up, boys. It’s Friday night and we’ve got places to be, and ladies to take out.” He wiggles his eyebrows, gaining eyerolls from all of us.
Atlas is smiling, so it looks like we’re all going out. Even with the black eye that’s healing, he seems genuinely happy.
Nothing could go wrong, right?