“Hey,” I say as I stop by Alexandria’s side. She sends me a withering glance before returning her attention to the short dude, like I’m some sort of irritating bug buzzing in her ear. “You left me.”
Short dude watches me with curiosity but otherwise doesn’t say a word.
“You’re the one who was making out with another girl.” She smiles but it’s forced. No teeth showing either, just a minor lift of her lips. “Where’s my drink?”
“I’ll get you a drink,” short dude pipes up, that grin on his face never fading. He turns it on me and sticks out his hand. “Hey. I’m Steven.”
“Tristan.” I shake his hand briefly. Friendly enough guy, though I hate him for hogging all of Alexandria’s attention. “You still want something?” I ask her. I want to tell her I’m sorry about Layla but not with Steven here.
Alexandria shakes her head, offering Steven a real smile, with teeth and everything. “I think Steven has me covered.” She doesn’t bother looking my way.
Anger rumbles in my veins and I take a deep breath. Figures. I blow off a deep throat offer for this girl and she’s kicking me to the curb. Women. They’re all the same.
Fucking annoying.
“Whatever,” I tell her before I turn and walk away. I refuse to look back. If she wants me, she can come running. Though I doubt she will. I’ve pissed her off twice. I bet she won’t give me a third chance.
“Nice meeting you,” Steven calls after me.
I’m tempted to flip him off but I keep myself in check. He’s just being nice and I have no idea what that’s like. I’m the farthest thing from nice. Shep tolerates me because we’re related and Gabe sticks close because he and Shep are best friends. I’m the third wheel most of the time.
It’s worse now that they have girlfriends. Jesus, I can hardly stand to be around them. I can hardly stand to be around anyone.
The only person that intrigues me is Alexandria. And she acts like she hates me most of the time.
I can’t win.
Deciding I need to go lick my wounds by myself, I push through the front door of the bar and head out into the cold night, lighting another cigarette as I stalk toward my car. I don’t need this shit.
I don’t need anyone.
I walk into the tiny office of the mini storage place and smile at Betty, who’s on the phone listing the various storage unit sizes and monthly rates. She runs the place along with her husband Daryl and they’re always kind to me. Betty offers me gentle advice, like noting the best times when I should stop by here and dig through my stuff.
“Nighttime is a bad idea,” she’d said with a scowl when she caught me rifling through my storage unit at sundown. “Unsavory people hang around this time of night, hoping to sneak in and steal stuff. You best watch out.”
I’d taken her advice, though I found the term unsavory rather amusing. She could be describing my parents, considering what they did. Not that I would ever tell her.
Betty doesn’t even bat an eyelash that I come at least once a week to sort through my things. When I first started coming around, I thought it was kind of weird but I noticed that other people did it too so I just ran with it. Besides, this is practically turning into a business for me, selling off my old stuff. A way to make fast cash.
And with my trust dwindling I need as much fast cash as I can get.
“Don’t linger too long,” Betty says after she hangs up the phone. I hand over my money order payment for the month and she puts it in her cash box. This place is beyond old fashioned. They even accept checks, though I don’t bother owning a checkbook. “A storm’s blowing in. Real nasty one by the looks of it.”
I glance out the window. The sky is definitely dark and full of threatening clouds, but we’re in California. There’s no such thing as rain anymore. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Cleaning out some stuff you don’t want?” Betty asks brightly. I told her about taking some of my nicer purses and things and selling them online. She never pries, never asks where did I get so much expensive stuff. Just smiles nicely and tells me I need to do what I can to survive in this day and age.
Direct quote.
“Yeah. I have some gorgeous dresses I don’t ever wear.” It hurts my chest thinking about those formal gowns I’ve collected over the years. Various functions with my family, proms and formal dances, that one year I was homecoming queen…they all necessitated formal dresses, cocktail dresses, sparkly pretty things that cost a ton of money. Back when I didn’t look at price tags and bought what I thought was pretty or stylish. Money had been no object and I’d shopped with the best of them but now, I’m a tightwad who doesn’t spend.
Instead, I sell.
What’s the point of having all those pretty dresses if I’m not going to wear them? I’m not in a sorority (old Alex would’ve been) so my formal-dance-going days are pretty much over. They just sit in my storage unit taking up space, getting older and more out of fashion the longer they’re hidden away in their protective covers. There’s a cool vintage consignment shop downtown that I spotted a few days ago. The perfect spot for my dresses to go and sell to someone else, where girls will actually wear them versus hide them away in a bag.
“Too bad you have nowhere to go with those fancy dresses of yours. You’re such a pretty girl,” Betty says with a sigh, making me blush. Yes, I’ve heard that before but I don’t feel pretty. Not anymore. Pretty little Alexandria McIntosh doesn’t exist anymore. She hasn’t for months, closer to a year.
Now I’m Alex Asher—I took Mom’s maiden name. I like the way it sounds. I’m starting to like who I am as Alex Asher. Studious, quiet, down to earth. The old Alex wouldn’t have given that guy I met at the bar Steven the time of day.
The new Alex actually gave Steven her phone number. He texted last night, asking me if I wanted to go out to dinner.
I accepted. Maybe he’s not my normal type but nothing about my life is normal any longer. Going out with a sweet, average guy might be just the thing I need.
At least he’s not sexy trouble like Tristan Prescott.
“You’re too kind, Betty.” I tug my purse closer to my side and head for the door. “And you’re the beautiful one. See you around.”
The door shuts on Betty’s cackling laughter—I think she liked it that I called her beautiful—and I head down the narrow driveway toward my storage unit. The place is seemingly endless and it all looks the same. Just as Betty warned, it’s gloomy outside, the sky seeming to darken with every minute that passes and I quicken my steps, deciding I need to grab my dresses and go, no dawdling allowed.
I’m gathering up the dress bags when the wind starts up, so hard it slams the unit’s door shut, shrouding me in darkness. I rush to throw it back open, pulling on the little chain that turns on the single light bulb swinging from the ceiling. I buzz around the narrow space, nearly tripping over the stacks of bins full of my belongings. Items that represent my old life, stuff I still can’t seem to let go.
Eventually, I’m going to have to let it all go.
Within minutes I’ve got so many dresses to haul out in my arms I know I’m going to look ridiculous hopping on the bus to head back to my house but I really don’t care. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do and anyway, I don’t have a car. I probably could’ve asked Kelli to help out—she bought a cute used lime green VW bug right before the semester started, but I don’t want to tell her what I’m doing. She’ll think I’m weird.
And then she’ll start asking questions. Questions I don’t want to answer.
Just as I’m locking up the storage unit and fighting against the intense wind, the rain starts to fall. Yanking my hoodie over my head I run for the covered bus stop that sits in front of the storage facility, thankful the dresses are protected by plastic. I hop over quickly forming puddles, splashing water everywhere when I land in a couple, cursing under my breath the entire time. When I finally collapse on the damp bench seat, I press my face into the folds of my sweatsh
irt, praying the bus will show up soon.
But of course, it doesn’t. Fifteen minutes pass and I’m already freaking drenched. My Converse shoes are soaked through to my socks, as are my leggings up to my knees. The rain hits the plastic garment bags and rolls off, dripping directly onto me. It’s starting to get cold, the shelter a weak buffer against the increasing winds. My legs are shaking and I squeeze the dresses closer to me, groaning when all the beaded raindrops fall off the garment bags and onto my sweatshirt.
Great.
I stand and go to the edge of the sidewalk, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bus approaching. My hoodie falls off with the movement at the same exact time a car goes speeding by, so close it tosses up water that had built up around the nearby clogged drain. Splashing me right in the face, making me screech in shock.
Like I’m straight out of some ridiculous, can’t-get-it-right, having-the-worst-day-ever comedy movie.
I wipe the water away from my face as best I can, telling myself I can’t cry. I’m stronger than that. So what that I’m getting soaked by a crazy rainstorm? I’ve dealt with worse. Once I get home I can shed all of my clothes and soak under a nice, hot shower. That ought to warm me up. Make me forget my troubles.
Hopefully.
Another car approaches and I step back, shoving my hoodie onto my head. The car slows and comes to a stop directly in front of where I’m standing and I frown, hoping it’s not some pervert asking for directions.
Or worse, asking if I want a ride. I’ve had a few weird guys stop and ask me that since I started taking public transit and it sucks.
The passenger side window rolls down and I see a head peek through. A very familiar head, with rich brown hair and a too-handsome face.
Tristan Prescott.
A knot forms in my stomach when I hear his deep, slightly raspy, stupidly sexy voice.
“Alexandria? Is that really you?”
I glare at him. “Go away.”
“It is you.” He grins like a loon. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”
“No.” I lift my chin, trying to look as dignified as possible while knowing I resemble a drenched rat. “I’m waiting for the bus.”
“You’re soaked. My car is nice and warm. Come on.” He sounds exasperated which only irritates me further.
Why does he have to see me at my worst moment? I look awful. I’m cold. I just want to go home.
Tristan can give you a ride home…
I press my lips together. Hell no.
“Roll up your window and go away. Find some other girl to kiss on.” I wince the second the words slip out of my mouth. I sound like a jealous shrew. And I’m not one, I swear. He can go make out with whoever he wants.
As long as it’s not me.
Lies, lies, lies.
“You’re being ridiculous.” He throws the car in park and rolls up the window before getting out, dashing toward me in the pouring rain, ridiculously good looking as the rain plasters his shirt to his shoulders and chest, showcasing all of those delicious muscles. Just like that my blood starts to hum. Ugh. “Give me whatever you’re holding and I’ll put it in my trunk.”
I shove the wet pile of dresses into his arms and run to open the passenger side door, sliding into the seat and slamming myself inside. The car is warm and smells faintly of spice and man.
Don’t do it. You’re not a freak. You’re not…
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. Freaking Tristan smells amazing. He’s listening to some nineties grunge station on the satellite radio but the volume is turned down low. The interior is immaculate. Black leather seats with silver trim. I assumed his car would be a dump with empty beer cans rolling around on the floorboard but I guess I was wrong.
Why this makes me happy, I’m not sure.
Pushing off my soggy hood, I try to smooth out my damp, tangled hair, pulling down the visor so I can study myself in the lit mirror.
Gah. I look like straight hell. My hair is a wreck, my cheeks are bright pink from the cold and there are black smudges of mascara under my eyes. I wipe them away as best I can, slamming the visor back up when the driver’s side door opens and Tristan climbs into the car. He turns to look at me without saying a word and I study him, my breath lodged in my throat.
His presence seems to overwhelm the small confines of his car and I press my lips together, struggling to say something. But no words come. All I can do is stare, my gaze eating him up. His damp hair, the way it curls around his ears and neck. The scruff on his jaw and chin, the shape of his mouth. His lips are…mesmerizing. Almost the same size, the bottom lip is a little fuller and when his tongue sneaks out to lick the very center of that perfect bottom lip, my brain just—shuts off.
“Want me to drive you home?” His voice breaks through the fog shrouding my mind and I sit up straighter, smooth a useless hand over my hopeless hair.
“Yeah, um. That would be great.” I face straight ahead, willing myself to become mesmerized with the rhythmic back and forth of the windshield wipers, not Tristan’s lips.
“Where do you live?” He asks, sounding amused at my expense. Or maybe I’m just being defensive.
I rattle off my address and he comes to a stop at a light, asking me for it again so he can plug it into his phone. I wrap my arms around my middle as we wait for the light to change, a shiver coursing through me and he sends me a slide glance before reaching over and practically grabbing my knee.
But he’s going for some switch that he clicks onto high.
“Seat warmer,” he explains to me when I meet his gaze. “You’re cold.”
“Thank you,” I mumble.
“And wet,” he adds. I chance a quick look at him to see if there’s double meaning there—maybe I’m the only one who’s a perv—but he looks completely innocent. And totally concerned. “You should take the sweatshirt off.”
“Yeah, right. You just want to see me strip.”
“That sweatshirt looks pretty heavy.”
I say nothing because he’s right. The sweatshirt is cold and wet and heavy and freaking miserable. When the light turns green and his attention is solely focused on driving, I work my way out of the soaking sweatshirt, peeling it off my body and letting it fall onto the floorboard with a wet plop.
“Jesus,” he mutters, shaking his head.
“Sorry about getting your floor mats so wet.” Men are particular about their cars and this is a nice one. Like, one my father would’ve admired if not flat out owned if he could.
But he can’t. He had to sell all of his fancy cars to help pay back the money he embezzled from his clients.
“Don’t worry about the water. I just can’t believe how wet your hoodie is. You must be freezing.” He leans over and cranks up the heat.
“Thanks.” I relax in the seat, the seat warmer working its magic along with the heater blasting hot air on my face, slowly making me feel drowsy. I stare out the window, watching the rain fall fast and heavy and I’m thankful that I’m not riding the stinky city bus or worse, still waiting outside for that stupid bus to show up.
Instead, I’m in Tristan’s very nice, very expensive car and he’s driving me home.
Life is weird.
I pull up in front of the address Alexandria gave me, a small nondescript house in an older neighborhood not far from campus with a crappy yard and overgrown rosebushes lining the front, just beneath the windows. Typical off campus housing, I’m sure she has an abundance of roommates and hardly any privacy.
In other words, she lives like a savage.
“Honey, we’re home,” I murmur as I pull into the driveway.
Alexandria doesn’t make a sound.
Putting the car into park, I turn to find her body relaxed, her head turned to the side, facing the window, her hair falling across her cheek. Eyes shut, her lips parted. Sound asleep.
Pretty. Quiet. Not mouthing off or protesting or frowning at me. I like her like this. I study her unabashedly, my gaze roving over her dark blonde hair
, her flawless creamy skin, those rosebud lips that would tempt a saint to kiss them. Just once.
Just to see what she tastes like.
I lean back in my seat and take a deep breath. I’m thinking fucking crazy thoughts. She hates me. She’s more trouble than she’s worth. I’d only fuck her and leave her anyway so she’d hate me even more when it was all said and done.
Like Shep and Gabe used to say before they ditched me, I don’t do relationships. I won’t be swayed. Those two assholes I call my best friends can go ahead and fall deeper in love with their girls. Get engaged, get married, have a couple of brats and live that boring ass life every other sucker thinks he wants.
Not me. My parents are still together but they were on shaky ground not that long ago. Hell, my mother had to be put in rehab almost two years ago, after she lost a bunch of money in bad investments.
And when I say a bunch of money, I’m not talking a couple thousand dollars. More like hundreds of thousands of dollars—to the tune of close to one million dollars. That had been a minor blip on the family bank account but the worst part of the situation? The dude who convinced Mom to make those investments? Also happened to be her lover.
Needless to say, she almost lost her sanity when she lost her money—and her secret boyfriend. The downward spiral had been painful but somehow, my parents came out on the other end. Mom’s better. Dad’s golfing. They rarely spend time together anymore and they like it that way.
Their distant relationship proves to me what’s the point. My parents aren’t as fucked as Shep’s, with his social climbing bitch of a mother and stern-as-hell father who seem to revel in their hate for each other. But there’s another prime example of why I don’t want to be in a relationship.
They all end up bad. Every single one of them. I don’t care how blissed out and in love people claim they are, it eventually goes to shit.
Alexandria stirs, drawing my attention and I turn off the engine, the sudden quiet seeming to push her into wakefulness. She sits up quickly and looks around, disoriented as she brushes her hair away from her face. Her head turns toward me and our gazes meet. Lock. “I fell asleep,” she says obviously, her voice soft and sexy.