Wanna go out for some drinks? I know a place.
My phone immediately vibrates in my hand, and I nibble my bottom lip as I open the text.
Hayden:
Tell me when. I’ll pick you up.
He insisted on picking me up, even though I told him I’m perfectly capable of driving myself. Doing one last look over in the mirror, I swipe my finger under my eyes to clean up any smudged eyeliner and apply some dark redlipstick. Rolling and popping my lips together, I stand and admire myself, as I look like Amy Lee, except my hair is brown, not black, and freckles pepper my cheeks. The black, leather circle skirt hangs just below my ass, and the oversized band t-shirt is barely tucked in the front of the waistband. I decided to wear my hair down today, which is rare for me, since I much prefer it up in a messy bun.
My arms wrap around myself in a hug while my teeth clatter from the night breeze as I wait for him at the curb. Just when I think he’s bailed on me, I hear an engine roaring up the street. I know it’s him because nobody around this quaint neighborhood is driving anything like that. Around here, it’s fully electric vehicles or hybrids. I think I’m the only one still driving something gas-powered.
He pulls up to the edge of the driveway in a cherry red Ferrari. I have to pick my jaw up off the ground before he notices me gawking. I fully expected Hayden to drive a lifted or squatted truck or something along those lines, definitely not a Ferrari.The same question from last night replays in my head:Who the fuck are these people?
The driver’s door opens, and Hayden steps out, walking around the back of the car toward me. He’s wearing black skinny jeans and a t-shirt that clings to him like a glove. His eyes devour me, head to toe, as he steps into the driveway in front of me. A flush heats my skin from my neck to my cheeks under his assessing stare. My feet shift while I pick at my nails. If he doesn’t say something soon, I’m afraid I’ll run back inside and cancel the night out.
“You look… Beautiful,” He says as he runs his hand down my arm until he reaches my hand. He gently tugs me by the hand, leading me toward the passenger door, not once removing his hungry eyes from mine.
“Thank you.” My mouth is suddenly desert dry, making my voice rough. All I can think about is getting something to drink to relieve it.
Sinking into the soft leather seat, I take a deep, steadying breath. His car smells incredible, like warm amber and cedarwood, mixed with fresh, clean leather.
We speed out of the development, blaring Creed and Breaking Benjamin. I’m beginning to believe they’re his favorite bands, and I can’t blame him if they are. I glance at Hayden every so often, keeping my glimpses short, so he doesn’t notice. He looks so peaceful andfree, as if he has not a single care in the world. A faint smile is permanently painted across his lips as his arm waves through the summer air out of the open window. His aura makes it impossible for me to keep my eyes off him. Not in an obsessive way, but in an intrigued way. His ocean blue eyes, like the prettiest Caribbean blue, and his wavy brown hair. He’s utterly gorgeous. So is Ryder, but he’s a total contrast to Hayden. They’re like night and day.
Hayden and Ryder have the same tattoo wrapping their necks. Wings. His sleeved arm rests lazily on the steering wheel as his head thumps to the bass of the music.
“The wings…” I begin to ask, but lose my courage before I can finish. I don’t want him to think I’m being invasive. There has to be a meaning for the matching permanent art, but it’s none of my business if he doesn’t want to share.
“What about them?” His head turns to face me briefly before returning to the road.
“Do they mean something?”
His waving out of the window freezes, and his face falls. “Something like that.” His nostrils flare as he inhales sharply, “Have you been here before?”
Okaay…Don’t ask about the tattoos—noted.
“Once or twice.”Lie.I used to work here, but he doesn’t need to know about that dark side of my past.
He shifts, peering out the window to assess the old, rundown bar. Internally, I fight against the urge to reach out and brush my fingers along his sharp jaw, feeling the prickles of his stubble. As if he can read my mind, his head turns to face me, giving me a smile that makes his dimples pop. Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I bite down and drop my gaze back to my hands nervously fiddling in my lap.
My door opens, startling me out of my daze. I hadn’t noticed he exited the car. Hayden extends his hand out to me, in a silent gesture. Placing my hand in his, I hadn’t realized how small mine was compared to his large, calloused one. It’s hard to believe that men with manners and kind hearts still exist in this world.
We walk up the ramp with my hand in the crook of his elbow, onto the dimly lit patio. Howly still hasn’t upgraded the yellow, flickering lights that hang from above the entrance doors. Cheap bastard. I thought for sure he wouldhave added better lighting around this place after that night in the parking lot.
The doors creak, and the bell rings as we enter. The place is quiet aside from the classic rock playing softly from the jukebox. I let go of Hayden’s arm and pull out one of the stools at the wooden bar. There’s a lot more wear and carvings in the wood top than when I was last here.
I tap my knuckles on the wood top and whistle. “Howly?”
“I recognize that voice anywhere!” Howly shouts from a distance. He hurries from the back room, tossing a bar towel over his shoulder, and limps over to me with a huge smile on his face. He has really aged since I saw him last, and he didn’t have that limp before. Holding his arms out, he pulls me into a tight hug that squeezes the breath from my lungs.
“Hi, Howly. Long time no see!” I gleam, patting his back. He releases me with a grunt, and I take my thin jacket off to hang it over the back of the stool. This bar was always hotter than Satan’s ass in the summer and colder than a witch’s titty in the winter. There’s no in between.
“Howly, this is my friend Hayden.” I introduce the two, although I think we bypassed ‘friend’ status not even twenty-four hours ago. They shake hands and carry on with the conversation, while I watch Hayden in utter mesmerization. He speaks so easily. There’s a calmness and confidence about him that seems to be pulling my craziness towards him. Like Yin and Yang, opposites attract type ordeal.
I’m snapped back into reality by Howly’s words. “Be careful with that one,” Howly warns playfully, raising an eyebrow, pointing at me. I know where he’s about to go with this, so I narrow my eyes on him, silently telling him shut up before he goes any further, but he throws his head back laughing instead. “What? Don’t want me scaring this one off? You do that well enough yourself, kiddo.”
My eyes dart from Howly to Hayden, and Hayden slowly turns to face me with raised eyebrows. I swear I saw a flash of amusement in those big blue eyes.
He finds this funny.
