Chapter Four
ALEX
What the hell am I thinking?
Matt is hot.
There’s no doubting that.
He’s quirky, a little strange, and I like that too.
But being attracted to my boss’s brother equals a firm no!
Plus, the whole I-hate-men thing is real and a huge factor in my life.
So, any attraction to Matt is just that.
He’s hot, he’s funny, he’s different, and that’s great, but the fuzz from the alcohol and the buzz from the great day at work has me on a high that’s making my brain act fricking mushy.
Stop it, Alex!
Get. A. Grip.
Seeing Annabelle and Trish flounce all over the guys wasn’t something I was prepared for.
Being around these rockers means I’m going to have to be ready for fangirls, and I guess I wasn’t quite prepared for that happening right in front of me.
Sure, I’ve seen people going bananas over Ria, but she’s a woman, and it’s different.
When girls fangirl over a woman, they act completely different.
When it’s men, let’s be honest, fangirls can be utter sluts, and I’m not down with that.
So watching Trish throw herself at Nate instantly had my back up.
Also, because his ex is one of my best friends, I know Ria is suffering without him.
She and Nate are perfect for each other.
They really are. And I can tell he loves her so very much.
She loves him, too. I really wish she would see sense.
I hope I can have that kind of love one day. A love that I’d do anything for, even if it meant giving up my happiness for the other person, if it was the right thing to do.
“Alex, you’ve gone all quiet,” Nate mutters, disturbing my thoughts.
I glance at him and grin. “Yeah, sorry, was just thinking.”
His grin falters slightly. “Anything important?”
“Nah, just girl crap… tampons and shit,” I reply.
Matt and Nate both jolt back, screwing up their faces. The reaction is priceless as I chuckle to myself, knowing I’ve thrown him off the scent. The last thing I want Nate to know is that I was thinking about Ria.
I need to call her when I get home.
“Wow! You really are an over-sharer, aren’t you?” Matt chuckles, and I grin with a nod.
“Sharing is caring. Plus, I have a feeling we’re going to be in each other’s lives a lot, so you may as well know my cycle so you can tell when I’ll be in a good mood and when I am not.”
Nate grunts and moves awkwardly.
“Um… nooo, nope, no,” Nate says, raising his hands in the air as Matt laughs.
“You should have a calendar on the wall in the gallery with it all marked in fire engine red. Alex’s do not disturb dates or something,” Matt teases.
I giggle and nod. “Yes, I like this. I can tell you’re an ideas man, Matt. A week during the month on the calendar at work, where it’s just smeared out—”
“Okay! Stop! You two are way too into this. And there will be no such weird artwork on the calendar at work. I do not need to know your… stuff, Alex. I’m all good with that part of womanliness—”
“Womanliness?” Alex chuckles.
“But I don’t need to know about it… any of it. Just have the week off. I don’t care. Do what you gotta do. Just fucking don’t do shit to my calendar,” Nate demands, appearing downright uncomfortable and awkward, whereas Matt appears like he’s finding this as ridiculously hilarious as I am.
With a loud chuckle, I reach over and pat Nate’s arm. “It’s all good, Natesicles. Don’t worry, I’m on the depo. I don’t get a period.”
He opens his eyes wide and grunts. “Oh my God, then why the hell are we even having this conversation?”
Matt laughs softly, a slight shake of his head following.
“Because I like to make you squirm. And it’s worked like a charm.”
“For fuck’s sake, is this what the next year of my life with you is going to be like?”
I smile widely and nod. “Yep. All awkward conversations and me teasing you until you break. Can you handle it?” I ask, picking up my glass and having a sip.
Nate sits back in his chair. “Fuck, this is gonna be a long ass year.”
“I like this chick,” Matt announces. “You’re all right by me, Alex.
” He raises his glass, and I clink mine to his.
Our eyes connect, and for a moment, a brief moment, energy surges through me.
It’s like something unspoken is said between us.
I’m just not sure what, and if I’m honest, I don’t know if I want to find out.
My stomach flips as I look into his green eyes, the flecks of gold shining through the more I look at him, and my body bursts into a cascade of goose bumps.
A shiver runs down my spine, and my body shudders.
With a subtle shift in my seat, I try to cover my reaction in hopes he doesn’t notice.
His movement mirrors mine, and we both look away at the same time.
My breath catches as I quickly take a long gulp of my stout, trying to calm the raging sea in my stomach.
“So, tomorrow, Alex?” Nate asks, making me look up at him.
“Yes, tomorrow, we’re back at the gallery. You paint. I’ll put up any of the other pieces from the back on display. I sell, sell, sell. And we work our little tushies off again. We got this shit, boss.”
“Thanks for today, I appreciate you.”
I scoff, waving my hand in the air. “Nah, just was well taught, and I’m kinda charming. I could sell ice to Eskimos, fire to Satan, all that kinda crap. Gift of the gab and whatnot.”
“Well, I’m very happy Ria sent you to me.”
“Me too. Aww, group hug!” I call out and lunge forward, grabbing both Nate and Matt around their necks and pulling them into a hug across the table.
They both laugh and wrap their strong arms around my tiny waist after we stand.
The hug is awkward, seeing as there’s a small table between us, but I don’t care.
We’re bonding, and seeing as I’m going to be spending a hell of a lot of time with these guys over the next year, I need to be able to get along with them well.
I pull back as they laugh at me and sit back down, picking up my glass and drinking the last of it.
“You’re so happy,” Nate says, his eyes firm on mine. “With everything you’ve been through, Alex, to be still upbeat in life, I don’t know how you do it. I’m going through a breakup, and I’m struggling, but you’ve been through so much more.”
I can’t help but notice Matt’s eyes droop with sadness.
Sighing, I shrug. “Life is shit, Nate. It fucks with you, it messes with your head, it royally screws you over—”
“Well, this got deep,” Matt murmurs.
I glance at him but continue, “But, in saying that, if you let the fucked-up-ed-ness of life mess with you, then you’re gonna drown.
Don’t let the water invade your lungs. Spit that motherfucking water out, pull the plug, let it drain down the plug hole, and buy some fucking vodka to drink instead, and show that water who the goddamn boss is.
Because if you let that water drown you, it will swallow you whole. You see what I’m saying?”
He tilts his head. “Don’t let it get on top of you?”
I smile weakly. “Even though everything feels like it’s too much, don’t let the pressure weigh you down.
Keep smiling, and eventually, one day, the smile will be real.
It won’t be forced, it won’t be hard to put on because it will be genuine and from a place of truth.
It won’t happen quickly, but if you keep pushing, it will happen, Nate.
Nothing’s effortless, and I know breakups are hard, but keep smiling. It actually might help.”
He nods as Matt glances at me, raising his eyebrow like he’s studying me. I try to ignore him as I keep my focus on my boss and friend. “Plus, we’re here to help you through. So when you feel like you can’t smile, tell me, and I’ll make Matt dress up in a tutu or something.”
They both burst out laughing as they shake their heads in the exact same way.
Twins, huh?
“Thanks, Alex, you’re quite insightful for a pixie,” Nate says.
“I’m quite a many things, Natesicles.”
“Can you stop calling me that?” He chuckles, and I grin widely.
“Hmm… maybe! But only if you’re nice. Right, let’s go. I need tacos, burritos, and cheesy fiesta potatoes to soak up the alcohol. Stat!”
Matt laughs and nods. “Taco Bell drive-thru it is!”
Nate downs the last of his stout, and we all stand and head for the door.
I notice the security detail that followed us in also follows us out.
That’s something I’m not used to, but I guess it’s kind of cool to have The Rock and the Hulk lookalikes standing near you all the time.
It’s added safety, and that’s always a good thing when you include celebrities in the mix.
We walk out to the car, and I smile as the twilight air hits my face. It’s a chilly night, and a shudder runs over me as Matt steps up next to me.
“You all good?” he asks.
“Yep.” My voice comes out all squeaky and mousey.
What the fuck?
He chuckles and opens the rear door for me.
“Such a gentleman.” I slide across the back seat, and he glides in next to me, followed by Nate in the other side. The two security guards get in front and start the car.
“To Taco Bell, please, Dwayne,” Matt directs, and I turn to him, leaning into him closely. Our shoulders touch completely.
“Are you telling me that the guy who looks like The Rock is named Dwayne?” I ask in a whisper, and he nods with a giant smirk.
I throw my head back against the headrest and giggle while he smirks.
It’s not long, and I have my hands full of takeout bags from Taco Bell. The car pulls out of the drive-thru and back out onto the highway.
“Okay, where to?” Dwayne asks.
“Wanna drop me off first?” I ask, and the guys nod. “Great. Can you drop me off at Alameda Street?” I tell him.
Nate’s eyes light up. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope.”
Matt furrows his brows. “What’s so strange about Alameda Street?”
“It’s in the Art District.”
I nod. Of course, Nate would know.
“There’s an Art District?” Matt asks.