MARISSA
Once inside Sophie’s car, we exchanged incredulous stares. I bet Sophie’s heart wasn’t hammering in her chest so hard her whole ribcage vibrated. And she probably didn’t have her brain going berserk replaying every of Wyatt’s words over and over again.
“That was epic,’’ she said after a full two minutes of silence. “No, really,’’ she went on at my WTF look. “I have no clue what happened back there, but it was epic. It was also strangely arousing with all that anger and tension coming off of you both.’’
“Sophie!’’ I covered my mouth with a hand and shook my head before I gawked at my friend again.
“I’m not the one who slept with him. Apparently, you made a lasting impression on him.’’ Her smile turned into a laugh then, but it didn’t trigger mine.
“It’s not funny.“
“For you, I know it’s not and believe me, I still want to kick him in the balls for what he’s done to you, but he doesn’t look like a happy guy right now. Maybe…’’ she trailed off and then cringed before her car came to life. “Let’s forget it.’’
“Do you think I can forget this?’’
“Well, no,’’ she amended with a quiet laugh. “And I’m pretty sure it’s not the last you’ll see of him either.’’ She pointed in her side view mirror. “In fact, he and the guy you tattooed just walked out.’’
I turned around and bit my lower lip when Wyatt stumbled. Ralph caught him before he hit the pavement and supported him up to make sure he wouldn’t fall. Apparently, Wyatt didn’t like anybody’s help because he was trying to push his friend away, but whatever Ralph said shut him up.
“Maybe we should offer them a ride,’’ Sophie said hesitantly.
“It’s your car, but if you do, I’m out of here.’’
She rolled her eyes and pushed her glasses up her nose. “Don’t act like a child. I know he’s hurt you, and I’m supportive, but you can ignore him.’’
“Do whatever you want. I don’t care,’’ I said with a sigh and fixed the car parked in front of us as Sophie lowered the window on my side right when Ralph and Wyatt appeared.
“Hey,’’ Sophie called, catching both men’s attention. Ralph’s smile widened. Wyatt’s eyes squinted at me. Two very different reactions from two very different men. “It looks like you’ve got a heavy bag. Want a ride?’’
“I wouldn’t mind. We Ubered it here. Thanks,’’ Ralph said and twisted to open the back door. “Get in, you ass,’’ he said to Wyatt who cursed him back as he slowly made his way to the back seat, taking deep breaths.
“I’m warning you. If you puke in my car I’m not just going to kick you in the balls for what you did to Marissa, I’d cut off your dick into pieces. Got it?’’
Both men received Sophie's warning with a pained grimace. Wyatt’s quiet nod satisfied my friend, and she finally started driving.
“So, where to, guys?’’
“Wyatt’s place. I think we better call it a night,’’ Ralph answered and gave her directions to the place I had sworn to never even drive by after the other night. The only good thing out of tonight was the evening breathing coming from Wyatt after five minutes of awkward silence in the car.
***
WYATT
I was drunk, but I wasn’t so drunk that I could fall asleep after five minutes spent in a car. No, but I used my limited acting skills to make them believe it. Better that than doing something more fucked up. I did enough already.
“You can park here,’’ Marissa’s voice broke the silence. I cracked my eyelids open and saw her pointing at my building.
“He doesn’t live far from you,’’ Sophie whispered, but it sounded loud in the quiet car.
“Oh yeah?’’ Ralph asked, leaning closer to the front seats. “Where do you live?’’
Marissa shook her head and sighed. “You should get him out of the car, Ralph.’’
“So mysterious, sweetheart,’’ he purred and then laughed to let her know he was merely joking, but I knew him, and if he had seen an opening, he would have plowed in. “Alright, thank you for the lift, Sophie, and I’ll see you both next week for my follow up appointment. The tat looks good.’’
I quickly closed my eyes when Marissa turned around, but I saw her proud smile before darkness swallowed me up again. I didn’t listen to the three of them talking about the tat or whatever the hell they wanted to talk about. That smile, that breathtaking smile knotted my stomach.
And now, the content of my stomach rolled.
“Shit!’’ I sat up and blindly reached for the car door. When it opened, I stepped out, fell against the small town car and puked all over the pavement.
Three doors opened and closed, and I stood there with my hands on my thighs, puke at my feet, but thankfully I wasn’t too wasted that I couldn't avoid myself.
“Gross,’’ Sophie muttered. “I better get in the car before I start redecorating the street too.’’
“At least now I’m sure I won’t have to clean your bathroom,’’ Ralph noted and patted my back as I straightened up again and found Marissa’s eyes already on me from the other side of the car.
“Fuck off,’’ I mumbled and covered my face. The scruff prickled my palms.
“Such a grouch.’’ He then turned around and waved at Marissa. “Okay girlie, I think you’ve seen enough for one night, uh? ‘night.’’
“Good night, Ralph,’’ she said quietly and opened the passenger car door, ready to climb in and leave. Again.
“Wait,’’ I said before I could think of what to say. All I knew was that I needed to stop her before she left. Her eyes went back to me, closed off and distant. There wasn’t even anger there anymore. “I’m sorry. I’m just…sorry.’’
This time, I turned around before she could leave and fished my keys from my pocket.