Chapter 7 Vanna
SEVEN
VANNA
Don’t come home tonight. Having a guest.
Lover Boy
Off late anyway.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I enter the steakhouse down the street from my office. It feels a little upscale for a Friday night Tinder date, but if lobster is on the menu, then I’m in.
Between dodging Hunter’s desperate pleas to get back together and Stone now invading every inch of my space, I guess dating really shouldn’t be at the forefront of my mind.
But how else can I get them both out of my head?
Approaching the host stand, a pretty red-head looks up from her seating chart and smiles.
“How many tonight?”
“Actually, I’m meeting someone. Luke?”
Her eyes scan her reservations and when she finds his name, she gestures for me to follow her. Near an entire wall made of glass, overlooking the ocean, she halts. There a man in a suit sits.
At first glance, he’s handsome. Almost cliche handsome. With perfectly slicked back, black hair and warm, honey eyes. Decent sized nose and kissable lips, but when he smiles, it’s the dimples that scream gorgeous.
He’ll do for the night.
Quickly, Luke pushes to his feet and kisses my cheek in greeting before pulling my chair out. I lower into it before he takes his own seat and gestures for the waitress to come by.
“Hey, thanks so much for coming out with me tonight.”
I offer him a small smile. “Of course. I can’t believe we went to NYU at the same time and never crossed paths.”
Luke seems to be the perfect gentleman. Clean cut, polite, mature. The complete opposite of the men that seem to overtake my life.
As I study him, I begin to realize that I’m the Hunter and Stone in this duo. It’s me that’s probably toxic and ill equipped to handle a relationship with someone that has their shit together.
Suddenly self-conscious, I begin to fidget and rub at the tattoo on my wrist. The one Stone gave me the night we met. Reaching out, Luke takes my hand and stretches it across the table.
“I like this one.”
My stomach sinks as he thumbs the small symbol.
“Thanks.” I mutter.
The waitress arrives and Luke orders us a bottle of red. I notice, he doesn’t even bother to ask if it’s something I like or give me the option to choose anything else. Instead, he turns back to me and continues our conversation like it was never interrupted.
“What’s it mean?”
My smile falters, but I right it within seconds, hoping he doesn’t notice.
“Just something dumb a friend gave me.”
He shrugs out of his suit jacket and loosens his tie just a bit.
“A friend, huh? Did you guys get matching ones?”
“No. I, uh, was drunk and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Ah. You don’t seem very fond of it.”
I shrug, “I don’t really care for it, no.”
And that’s the truth. I try my best not to think of that night, but with Stone around every corner in my apartment, he makes it damn hard.
“You ever think of getting it removed?”
He must take my silence as an answer, so he decides to ask about the one next to it.
“And this?”
Now a smile stretches across my face. “Coordinates to my favorite place.”
“Where would that be?”
“A small town in northern Michigan.”
He smirks, “So, you’re one of those girls.”
Narrowing my eyes, I press, “What do you mean one of those girls?”
“I just mean, a city girl who longs for the country.”
Sitting back in my chair, I study him. Wondering if he finds such a thing admirable or rather irritating. After a moment, I decide it doesn’t matter.
“Who doesn’t love fresh air, peaceful silence, and stars that you can actually see?”
He shrugs. “True. Those are all things that New York can’t offer you, but it can offer you endless opportunities around every corner.”
“That it can.” I sigh.
We spend the rest of the evening talking about safer topics, like NYU and its professors. How we most likely were in at least six classes together over the course of our schooling and that we graduated with similar degrees.
By the time Luke pays the check and we’re leaving the restaurant, he offers to call me a cab.
“Oh, no. I’m just a couple blocks up from here.”
“Then, let me walk you home.”
He crooks his elbow for me, and I take it.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding. You really are just two blocks.” He chuckles when we come upon my apartment building.
“Yep. Coming in?”
“Sure.”
The elevator ride was quiet, even the walk to the fourth floor. It’s when I unlock my door and shut us in, does he finally speak again.
“Vanna, I really like you.”
Setting my purse on the counter, I turn to face him.
“I like you too, Luke.”
At least enough to get through one night with him and hopefully, never have to see him again.
Stepping forward, he gently cups my face and pulls me to him. The kiss is warm and safe and... boring.
“Is this okay?” He asks.
“Yeah.”
Once he has my reassurance, he backs me into the edge of the kitchen island with his hands gripping my waist. Luke deepens the kiss just a bit, still leaving that small window of opportunity for me to pull away.
Except, I won’t. I don’t care if I have to pull the weight of this entire encounter, I’m going to get fucked.
And then the door swings wide open.
Both Luke and I startle, jumping in each other’s hold. Stone waltzes through the door with knitted brows.
“Baby?”
“What?” Luke chokes, looking back and forth between me and Stone.
“No, I-”
“Vanna, babe, what the fuck?” Stone interrupts my attempt at an explanation.
I turn to Luke, “He’s insane.”
“You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend.”
“I don’t.”
“You don’t?” Stone interjects again, inching closer to us.
“No, I don’t!” I bark, spinning to face my dead-to-me roommate. “Now leave!”
“That’s rude.” He frowns, then sizes Luke up. Well, there really is no comparison. Stone towers over him by half a foot. “Look, babe, if you wanted another three-way, all you had to do was ask.”
“UGH!”
“Oh damn. I’m not really - that’s not my-” Luke stammers.
“No? I mean we don’t have to fuck each other; we can just take turns with my girl if that’s what you prefer?”
“Oh my God. I’m done. Stone, get the fuck out! Luke, I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, I’m just going to go.” He stumbles backwards, eyes wide and shoulders tense before rushing out the door.
Stone whistles. “He couldn’t get out of here fast enough.”
“What the fuck!”
I punch him square in the left pec, almost hoping to stall his heart.
“Ow,” he rubs his chest. “Come on, that was funny!”
“It wasn’t funny at all! I actually really liked him.”
“What? That guy? Suits? Nah. You just wanted a quick fuck with someone too afraid to screw you over.”
I growl again. “Even if that were true, you ruined it for me.”
Spinning, I begin to stalk off toward my room.
“Wait.” My feet halt despite my desperate desire to tell him to fuck himself. “I got off early tonight, last appointment cancelled. It’s Friday, have a drink with me.”
“Are you serious right now?”
When I whirl around to verbally beat the shit out of him, he’s already pouring two shots of good tequila from a bottle I haven’t seen before. My head tilts as I wonder if he bought it just for us.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you just-”
“Come on. I won’t bite. Unless you want me to. That seems to be your thing.” He hands me the shot glass.
Reluctantly, I move toward the kitchen island, careful to keep it between us and take the shot from his hand.
“It is, but that’s the problem, isn’t it?”
He chuckles, his brow quirking in amusement.
“I’m not quite sure how it’s a problem. I’ve got a perfectly good set of teeth.”
He does. Straight and white with sharpened canines. I can still feel the bite mark on my inner thigh, now scarred, but throbbing with the memory.
“You’re spilling.”
“Fuck!” Back to reality, I look down and see the tequila dribbling down my chest.
“Here,” Stone comes around the island and stalks toward me.
Suddenly, the air thickens, and it becomes harder to breathe. Without an ounce of hesitation, he grips my jaw and tilts my head back. Then, he lowers until his lips graze my cleavage. I shudder as his tongue meets my flesh. He drags it up and over my clavicle, cleaning the tequila off my skin.
With a smug grin, he brings my face level with his.
“You can let go of my face now.”
“Really? Nothing?” He eyes me.
I steel my glare.
“Nothing. Are we taking these shots or what?”
He drops his hold and puts some distance between us, “To being roommates.”
I scoff but clink my shot glass with his anyway and toss the liquor back. To my surprise the burn is mild, and it almost tastes like sweet water. I watch the way his Adam’s Apple bobs in his throat as he takes his, then lowers into one of the high-top chairs.
He drags the bottle from across the island and pours us both another shot.
“Okay, game time again. 20 questions. You pass on a question; you take a shot.”
“I don’t know, Lover Boy. This can’t end well.”
“It will end very sober if you answer all the questions.”
That smirk. It riles me in ways I hate to admit.
“Fine, but I go first. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” His brilliantly blue eyes glitter back at me hidden behind a blank wall. Without a word, he tosses his shot back. “Wow. Not even going to answer the first question?”
“Or maybe I can’t answer because I haven’t done it yet.” He goads. “My turn. Why a financial analyst?”
My brows rise in surprise at how tame his question is.
“Um, I don’t know. Money, I guess, and I didn’t hate math growing up. It was never my first choice, but I’m good at it.” I shrug. “Got any siblings?”
“A younger sister, Ella. Just graduated in May.”
I nod, “Where-”
“My turn, Vanna.” There’s something in the way he says my name. It’s almost sinister. Like a hex spoken aloud. “What exactly were you and suits going to do tonight?”
Narrowing my eyes, I answer, “Fuck.”
“Not the answer I’m looking for. Elaborate or take the shot.”
“Obviously, shot.” I grumble, tossing it back.
With the wine from earlier and the couple shots of tequila, I start to grow warm. I shimmy out of my cardigan, leaving me in my black tank top and leather pants. Stone watches patiently while he waits for my next question.
“Are you close with your parents?”
“Yeah. They’re divorced, living on opposite sides of the country, but I see them often enough. How many tattoos do you have?”
“Oh, uh. I’ve lost count over the years.”
“I can help you count.”
“That would require me to remove more clothing than I’m willing to. Nice try.”
He shrugs. “If you can’t answer the question...”
“God dammit.”
Another shot.
By question fifteen I’m feeling loose. Limbs are both heavy and weightless at the same time and somehow... I’m having fun.
I can feel the filter in my brain slowly disintegrate, the liquor like acid eating away the metal chambers of my inhibitions.
“Don’t you ever just wish someone would-” I really should stop myself now. “No, never mind.”
“Don’t do that.” Stone pushes to his feet and stands in front of me.
I have to crane my head to find his face as he towers over me. Pieces of his blond hair fall onto his forehead, covering his eyes. He pushes them back, and my gaze follows his hand all the way up his tattooed arm.
“Finish.” He orders.
I swallow, working up the courage to just let it out.
“Don’t you ever wish someone would just fucking ravish you? Like fuck all the niceties, fuck fear and nerves, just lay you clean out on the table and devour you?”
A gleam of excitement passes over his eyes as he watches my face. Probably wondering exactly when it was that I lost my sanity.