7. Storm
Isnort when I wake up from a knock at the door, drool drenched into my pillow. I stretch, letting out a soft moan, the scent of rain and her vanilla perfume consume me. For the first time in months, I wake up with a smile. But when I reach over and feel nothing, I shoot my eyes open. She’s gone?
It was a dream.
My angel never came.
Then why am I still here?
I get into a pair of sweatpants I picked up from the pile of clothes on the floor when another set of knocks hit the door. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I check the kitchen, and she’s not there, not in the living room, either. Her boots are gone. Last night was a dream, wasn’t it?
I check the washroom and eye the pills and tequila. She left just like everyone else does. My angel broke a promise to be here in the morning, and now it’s leaving me glum. It only makes sense that she left. She already lied about her name. There was no reason for her to care about me.
Swallow the pills, drink the tequila, and get in the bath. No one will care that you’re gone.
A knock strikes again and I frown, wiping the dark thoughts from my head for a second to answer. I pull the door open and Ross is glaring at me as if I did something wrong. All brown eyes and brown hair, five foot four inches of him.
“What?”
He arches an eyebrow, taking me in. “Why was the backdoor left unlocked?”
It wasn’t a dream. But she left, just like the others. She promised she’d be here in the morning and left.
Maybe it’s me? Maybe no one wants to be with me because I’m not a good guy. I should’ve called in sick last night and taken care of myself. Things would’ve been so much easier than waking up alone.
“How should I know? I wasn’t the last in the bar last night,” I say with a yawn and notice a message on my mirror by the front door.
From the prettiest girl this town has ever seen, thanks to the nicest guy to let me crash in his bed.
Auden ;)
I stare at her perfect penmanship. She was an angel brought to me in disguise. But she’s just like the others. Hey, at least I got laid. Having sex fills a void inside me. It numbs the pain. It doesn’t always last that long, but enough to release some of my demons.
“What’s that smile on your face?” Ross asks, making himself at home and plopping down on the couch.
I stick my tongue between my teeth, doing what I do best, and hide my pain with my perfect smile. “I got laid last night.”
“That smoking hot redhead everyone turned their heads at?” He snickers as I join him and sit in the same spot I did last night. “Everyone saw you leave with her.”
I sigh happily. “God, she’s amazing.”
He looks down the hallway to the washroom. “Where is she?”
I’m still smiling. “I don’t know, I woke up and she wasn’t in bed with me. I think she left early this morning.”
“Never seen you this giddy after a lay.” He fixes his pants and fans his arms on the back of the couch.
“She’s perfect,” I groan. “But she lied to me about her name and wouldn’t tell me why she was passing through town.”
“What’s her name?”
“Says her name is Auden.” I don’t want to tell him her real name in case she’s on the run or something. That would be interesting if she was. A story to tell our grandbabies.
No, she used you. That’s all she did. An angel sent to dig my grave.
He leans forward, taking my pack of smokes. “Must’ve done something right, you’re smiling.”
“I knew I wanted her the second she walked into the bar. Perfect little waist, a firm little ass, great fucking tits, and her witty charm. She must be a brain. She scanned my bookshelf at least three times last night. Just as many times as I fucked her,” I say, biting my lower lip.
Why can’t I stop smiling? My heart is aching on the inside, but this smile won’t get off my damn face.
Just thinking about her gorgeous face with those sexy dimples makes me regret not asking her out. But we both kind of knew what last night was. Just her and I swapping sloppies on a rainy night without a regret in the morning. But the connection, I was drawn to her. She felt it, too.
Ross grimaces and jumps up. “Ew, and here I am sitting on your couch.”
“In the bathroom twice and my bed a third time,” I say, tapping the couch for him to sit back down.
His eyebrows rise. “In your bed?”
I may have been with a lot of women, but only the ones I deem worthy make it to my bed. Auden was worthy.
“She’s perfect,” I repeat.
“This has gotta be more than sex if you brought her to your bed.” He lifts his jeans, taking a cigarette out. “Get her number?”
“No. I could’ve if I wanted to, but the little lady didn’t have a password,” I say, feeling slightly guilty for almost going into her phone without permission.
If I did go through her phone and text myself, then I’d have a piece of her with me. Something to tell me that what we shared was real and she wasn’t some siren using me for my wicked ways.
“Maybe you can see her again?” Ross stands, then completely drops the subject of her. “Your brother called, he needs help fixing the mower.”
I yawn. “That why you woke me up at the crack of dawn?”
“It’s ten, relax,” he says, pointing at the mirror. “Go get ready, you’re leaving in five.”
I groan again, slouching on the couch. I’m in no mood to see my brother. The last time I saw him we got into an argument because he thinks I’m throwing my life away by working at a bar that isn’t even mine for shit pay and tips. He thinks I should start getting serious and settle down, pop out some babies, or some such bullshit. I had the chance to have babies and that was ripped away from me. All I want to do is leave this godforsaken life and never look back.
Heath is the only person I’d regret leaving behind. I’d do anything for that little man.
But settling down is a no-go. I like playing the field. I have no ties to anyone. No one is hooked on me. I can do what I want, who I want, when I want. I’m not stuck and I have to thank Leah, my ex, for that. Fucking cunt.
I take one of my cigarettes and light it, letting the smoke rise above me. Auden’s handwriting is staring at me and I release the smoke from my nostrils. She’s the first girl that has me intrigued. She caught my attention the moment she walked into Creed’s all soaked and frightened. But something about her had me hooked. If she told me she wanted to do something stupid last night, I wouldn’t have questioned it.
I take another pull of the cigarette and stare at her name, wondering how much of my time left on this earth will have Auden in it. That smile of hers is swarming every thought in my head and as I close my eyes, I see her face. I inhale a breath, I smell her perfume. She left last night like everyone else. But why does it feel different?
What the fuck is she doing to me?