“I sucked you off, for God’s sake!” she almost screams at him. The clattering of knives and forks rings through the air. The muffled conversations turn into hushed whispers as all eyes turn to face our table.
Finlay’s eyes nearly pop from his head; Mary has pulled the menu up in front of her face to hide.
I shake my head with annoyance and stand in front of the girl, trying to keep my tone low enough to keep some self-respect, but loud enough for her to know she’s overstepped. “It’s bad enough that he didn’t remember you, but to go on and further humiliate yourself is pretty sad and desperate. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m starving, so can you do your job and take our order? We will be happy to tell Gaby you said hi.” I smile and sit back down. Finlay is grinding his teeth, and this girl is still glaring down at him.
“Think carefully before you say anything else,” I warn her, beginning to lose my cool.
She opens her mouth to speak but is interrupted by a heavyset man who has come up behind her and is taking her by the elbow
“Clear your locker. You’re fired,” he growls in her ear, pulling her away from our table after apologising profusely.
“Oh my God,” Mary whispers. I prepare myself for the outrage and embarrassment. I turn to face her; she’s beaming at me. “It’s like a soap opera around here. I love it, and Finlay, you dirty dog.”
“I’m so sorry for that, baby. Seriously, that was awful,” Finlay mutters.
“So was she, apparently.” Mary sniggers, then realising she said it out loud, her cheeks flush. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She looks at Finlay, embarrassed.
He stares at her for a few seconds before his gorgeous face lights up into a grin. “Wow, she is your relation, Antonia.”
We all find a comfortable flow and a new waitress quickly appears to take our order.
Dropping Finlay at the airport makes the hollow feeling that ebbed this morning return. My heart misses the possibility of us finally moving past our sadness. I haven’t thought about James or Jackson the entire day, and Finlay and I finally appear to be finding each other again. The darkness is turning grey, and I can reach through it and hold on to something solid for the first time in a long time.
Finlay pulls me from the car and holds me against his body in a bone-crunching hug. “I miss you already. This is torture. Today has been…”
“Eventful?” I finish for him, and he laughs, which is infectious.
“I was going to say perfect.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine.
“Keep your phone charged and by the pillow. Call me anytime, okay?” Cupping my face, he drops his full, soft lips back on mine, pouring all his love into the kiss before leaving me breathless. “I love you.”
I wave him off and slip back into the car where Mary turns to me.
“Now, what is really happening with you?” she asks.
Tears brim my lids and fall to my cheeks. I’m grateful to have her here. She takes me in her arms and lets me cry the pain out.
URGH! I HATE THE ringtone on my cell. I need to download something new.
“Hello?” I answer the annoying fucking ringing.
“What’s up, bro? Did I wake you?”
I check my watch and push myself up from the bed. “Nah, I’m up.”
“You fucking liar.”
“Aidan, I’m up now, so technically, I’m not lying.” I shake my head and I’m sure he can hear the grin in my tone.
“You do know it’s past noon, right?”
I snap back the cap on a bottle of water discarded on a sideboard, guzzle down the liquid, and swipe my forearm across my lips to catch any spill.
“Yeah, and I run a nightclub, so I work late and sleep late. What’s your point?”
“Did you get everything sorted?”
Fucking right I did, and I can’t wait to move in.
“Yeah. I’m going over there to surprise Antonia today.”
His sighs. “Man, you talk about this chick a lot. Are you sure nothing is going on with you two?”
Huh? Antonia and I… wouldn’t that be one to make everyone freak out? And for Finlay to kill me for good, not just threats.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Aid, she’s hot as hell. Back when I first met her, I would have made a play for her if Finlay hadn’t, but once I got to know her, I realised she’s the real deal. She’s too good for me, and Fin, for that matter. She really is the only girl that is a real friend, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
“You sound like a pussy. What happened to my little brother?”
He’s right. I’ve become… I don’t know… softer, open to friendships with women. She opened my eyes and showed me that I’m worthy of more than I think I should be. My thoughts wander to Gaby. She used me up and spat me out like I was the waste after she consumed the good bits. Gaby had me bent out of shape and desperate for her acceptance and approval; hers and Fin’s, when the reality is, I am good enough and would have treated her like a princess.
I breathe out, relieved things didn’t go that way, because after seeing this ugly side of her, it opened my eyes to who she really is.
Infatuation is completely different to love, and I don’t love her.
“Bro?”
“Fucking women happened to me. I left myself open and got a taste of my own medicine, then turned to drink and loose women and got my ass kicked by Antonia. You sure you want to come back here? These women have a way of changing you, man.”
Aidan’s laughter vibrates down the phone, making me pull it away from my ear briefly. “I’m off women for life. They’re fucking trouble, all of them. Listen, I won’t get there ‘til after midnight.”
“I’ll be at the club, so you can come there or pick up a key from Antonia.”
“I’ll be too knackered for the club. I’ll take the Antonia option. I’m intrigued to see the only woman you know that you haven’t slept with.”
“That’s harsh, man. Okay, well I look forward to seeing you, bro.”
“You too.”
I end the call and crank my back. It’s stiff from the hard mattress.
I notice a note left propped up against a vanity mirror with my name scrawled on the front.
I pick it up to read, despite my better judgment
Gavin,
I know you will get this because you have no shame, and even after dumping me, last night you still came to use my apartment as your hotel. I want you to know you were just a stop gap for me anyway, and I’m going to get back the man that is rightfully mine, so find someone else to go limp in and get the fuck out of my apartment by the time I get back from my business trip.
From Julie (aka the best you’ve ever had)
I can’t help but laugh. She is one delusional chick, and I’m fucking glad to be rid of her. There’s no way I could keep up pretenses with her for the sake of an easy lay and a bed for the night. I feel sorry for the poor fucker she’s going after. I’m disappointed in myself for even bringing her home last night. She fell into the club around one a.m. wanting some cock. Looking between her and the small leather couch I’d been kipping on for the last few weeks, I decided I’d take her home and crash in her bed for the night.