* * *
As much as I’d like to say the meal was the best part of the evening, I spend the night more interested in everything Connor has to say than what is on our plates.
“Wait, so you pay for all of your sisters’ school stuff? Like, everything? What does your mom do for a living?” I can’t understand why Connor would have to provide everything. I could see helping out, but…
“It’s not that I mind paying for the girls really,” Connor says, “but my mom expects me to take care of everything. She stopped working a while ago and just calls me when she wants money. Just the other day, she was asking for money for Sadie’s tuition and books. The thing is though, I had already paid that stuff, directly to the school.”
“That seems a little weird.” I don’t know why, but it takes me by surprise to hear his mom did that. “What do you think she wants the money for then?”
“I don’t know,” he sighs. “But I suspect that she’s using again. It’s been years, but I don’t really know what else to think. I’ve asked the girls, but they haven’t said much. I don’t know if it’s because there isn’t much to say, or if it’s because they’re trying to protect mom. I’ve hinted at it to her too, just in a text, but she hasn’t responded to me since then. I’m probably going to have to go over sometime soon to check on her.”
This conversation has taken a depressing turn, and even though I have no issues with being a sounding board for Connor, I kind of get the feeling that he’d rather not talk about this. I don’t blame him. It sounds like he’s been looking after his mom and sisters for quite a while, being the parent instead of the kid.
“Ok,” I say cheerfully, completely changing the subject. “Let’s get out of here. What are we doing next on our big date?”
Connor’s eyes brighten a little. “Yes, let’s go. We can do whatever you like. We can go home and go for a swim? Go grab a coffee? We can go have a drink with the guys and Denise?”
“Oh? Denise is out tonight? I actually wouldn’t mind going for a drink then if that’s ok? I’d like to get to know her a little better.” My mind goes back to the conversation I had with Ryder the other day. I want to see how he acts when she’s around. “Is her boyfriend coming?”
“Ummm.” Connor looks at his phone. “I’m not sure. The text that Devon sent doesn’t mention him, though.”
“Well, let’s go and have one drink, and then we’ll leave. I don’t want to spend the rest of our date with everyone else, but I wouldn’t mind hanging out for a little while.” I actually haven’t said all the things I’ve wanted to say yet. I still want to talk about what Connor meant by saying that I am it for him. That sounds pretty serious, and I can’t decide if I’m more scared or excited by it.
Chapter 47
Connor - A Strong Drink
We park right in front of Rough Mix and go right in. The guys are all sitting in our usual booth in the back. Bill usually keeps it reserved for us when he knows we’re in town.
“I’m just going to run to the ladies’ room.” Alex leans in and kisses me. “I’ll meet you at the booth. Grab me a white russian please. I think I need a break from whiskey.” And then she’s gone, around the other side of the bar and down the hall where the bathrooms are. As I watch her ass sway in those tight jeans, I’m tempted to follow her into the bathroom and get her out of them. Too bad I know that fucking her in a bathroom stall is not the way to convince her I’m serious. Once she trusts me, though, I’m fucking her everywhere we go.
I don’t know how I’ve kept my hands off of her so far tonight. We better stick to just one drink and then go, because I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself much longer.
“Hi Connor,” an unfamiliar voice says from beside me as I wave at Bill, who’s at the other end of the bar. “I knew you’d be back here, eventually.”
It’s that groupie from the bathroom, the one who was our server at the diner. “You came here after the show, so I figured you guys came here often.”
“Oh, yeah, hi… um…” I don’t remember her name. Or even if she told it to me, for that matter. Once I saw Alex that night, everything else just faded away.
“Sasha,” she fills in for me.
“What do you need, Connor?” Bill comes over and asks.
“Hey Bill, nice to see you. I’ll have my usual and I also need a white russian, please.”
“Coming right up.” He pours my whiskey and puts it in front of me before turning to make Alex’s white russian. I grab a $50 bill from my pocket and throw it on the counter. That Sasha girl leans in close when I do.
“That’s generous of you,” she says. “I’m sure your drinks don’t cost that much.”
“Yeah, well, Bill is a friend. He tries to give me drinks on the house but now that the band is successful I always refuse. I like to make sure my friends are taken care of.” This chick is awfully close to me, so I grab my drink and take a step back. Throwing back the whiskey, I call out to Bill that I need another one. He’s very busy tonight and I don’t mind waiting for a bit. I’m sure there’s a line at the bathroom, so I’ll be waiting on Alex, anyway.
“That’s really nice of you. You’re such a good person. And you’re so hot too.” She steps closer to me again, and I take one more step back. “I’ve loved your music for so long. I always imagined that you were singing about me.”
“That’s great, uh, thanks…” I’m really feeling that drink now. I must’ve had more wine at dinner than I thought, if this whiskey is hitting me this hard already. Alex and I had a bottle of red wine with dinner, but I don’t think we even finished it. “It’s fucking hot in here tonight.”
“Oh, yeah?” the girl in front of me says. What the fuck is her name again? Where’s Alex? “Do you need to go outside for some air?”
“Air?”
