GAUGE
Iplunged my hand into the bowl of popcorn and shoved it into my mouth, crunching down on it and swallowing before picking up my beer bottle and taking along swallow of the cold liquid.
Iwas sitting in the cinema room of the house, watchingTop Gunand eating popcorn. Ihadn’theard from the club in two days, and despite me messaging them several times aday for an update, the most I’dgotten in return had beenSOON.
SOON.
That was it.
Who textedSOONwith no context?
Did it mean we could go back soon? That they would come here soon? That they would contact me soon? Or maybe that they’dhave the Vipers soon? The single word was stressing me out more than babysitting Jolie. In fact, babysitting Jolie hadn’tbeen too bad so far. Sure, she was apain in my backside. She bitched constantly, she cussed me out at every opportunity. She went out of her way to do things to piss me off—like moving the bottle opener and slamming doors. But I’dalso seen adifferent side of her too. She was funny when she wanted to be. She wasn’tjust beautiful, she was smart too. Iremembered Dom telling me that she’ddropped out of high school, and Icouldn’thelp but think what adamn shame that was because she could do so much with her life if she wanted to. She didn’thave to dance for money; she could actually get out of that shit-hole city and do some good in the world.
I’dnever been cooped up with awoman like that before, but Ifound the familiar scent of her in every room comforting. She smelled of shampoo and candy and Ifound myself constantly hungry. And worse still was the ever present need to be eating or smoking or drinking, basically just doing something with my hands so that Ididn’tgrab her and fuck her senseless. It was becoming areal issue.
I’dalmost fucked up when I’dhad her in the shower. What had started off as teasing had ended in my jacking off to the thought of her naked body pressed up against the cold glass of the shower wall. Her eyes when she’dseen me naked, when those dark eyes of hers had widened, her pink lips parting on asmall gasp at the sight of me hard and ready. She’dwanted me as much as I’dwanted her. It had taken everything in me to not grab her and drag her back under the water with me. To wash that curvy body of hers, to suck and nip at every part of her perfection.
My cock twitched and Imoved in my seat with discomfort. Ichecked my cell for the fiftieth time, but of course there was still no reply since the single hateful word, and Islammed it back down before grabbing another handful of popcorn and shoving it into my mouth.
“Can Iwatch?” Jolie said from the doorway.
Iturned to look at her, struck again by how fucking gorgeous she was. With makeup, without makeup, it really didn’tmatter. She was just out of this world. Even standing there in an old tee and apair of bed shorts and fluffy socks, her hair tied up in abun on top of her head, she was fucking breathtaking.
“It’snot aromance,” Igrunted indifferently.
She frowned. “Top Gunis the epitome of aromance. It’sabromance and aromance all rolled into one.”
“It’sabout fighter planes and the bro code,” Iscowled back.
“It’sabout the brotherhood, I’ll give you that, but it’salso aromance.”
Ishook my head. “Women never get this movie,” Iscoffed.
Jolie came further into the room and sat down next to me. She gestured to the bowl of popcorn and Isighed and set it between us. She grabbed ahandful and began eating it as she talked.
“And what about Charlie? She and Mav were lovers.”
“Sex has nothing to do with romance,” Isaid with ashake of my head. Grabbing my cigarettes, Ilit one and let out aplume of smoke. “That’swhere women always go wrong. The movie is an action adventure about two best friends and the shit they go through together. How one man overcomes tragedy. Charlie’sjust apiece of ass to him.”
Jolie’sjaw dropped open and she stared at me in shock.
“What?” Icountered. “You think there’smore to it than that? You think that at the end of the film they didn’tgo their separate ways and move on with their lives?” Ishook my head again, daring her to argue back.
“They’re in love,” she argued, just like Iknew she would.
“Iknow,” Iagreed with asmirk.
“You were fucking with me,” she said with aroll of her eyes, and when Ichuckled she shook her head but couldn’thide the smile on her face. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah yeah, but you love it.” Ifinished my cigarette and stubbed it out and then Ifinished off my beer. Iheld one out to her and she nodded yes, watching as Ipopped the cap off on the edge of atable. She smirked but held in her laughter, and when Ihanded her the bottle she even said thank you.
“Ican’tbelieve you found popcorn,” she said, “and kettle corn, too. Most people only ever eat the salty buttery stuff.”
“Right,” Iagreed eagerly, “sweet is seriously underrated.”
She side-eyed me. “Oh my God, did we just agree on something?”
Ichuckled. “Iguess so.” Isat up abruptly and looked down at the floor. “Shit…” Isaid, dragging ahand down my beard.
