Chapter 17
Bad Boys
I don’t want to go out tonight, but now I feel obligated so I can apologize to Adrian. About thirty minutes later, everyone, except Kade and Shyanne, loads into the cars. Apparently they prefer each other’s company to ours. I’m not surprised. Kade seems to be pretty reserved, and Shy doesn’t like meeting new people. I’m happy she’s spending time with Kade but hope their little thing doesn’t blow up and mess with the dynamics of the house.
Gemma and I drive separate from the boys, but we get there at the same time. Adrian doesn’t speak to me when we get out of the car. It’s not just that he doesn’t speak to me—he’s blatantly ignoring me. When we get inside, I see Adrian wasn’t kidding; his harem is waiting. He gets a beer, then goes straight to the table to sit with Katie and her friends.
Once Gemma, Max, and I get our drinks and a table, I draw in a long breath, blowing out my cheeks when I release it. I feel the urge to get up and yank Katie by her ponytail out the back door. The visual makes me smile, but I’m frustrated that I let his moods and behaviors, impact mine.
I remind myself that he’s not my type. He's the opposite of my type, somehow that doesn’t make me feel better.
Gemma clears her throat. “So,” she begins, looking at Max. “How have your classes been?”
That’s her lame attempt at lightening the mood, but I still appreciate it.
“Good,” he says, but before he can elaborate, there’s an eruption of laughter from the harem table.
I don’t want to see, but that doesn’t stop me from looking over my shoulder. Katie is pressing into Adrian’s arm as all the other girls listen intently to whatever ever he’s saying. Wanting to swing just one girl around by the ponytail, I turn away before I act on that urge.
As if sent to rescue me, I see a hot guy wearing a tight black T-shirt, and several tattoos, enter. He and his friend take seats at the bar while beckoning the bartender. As I’m watching him to see if there are any girls with him, he turns and catches me staring. He lifts his chin and gestures to the empty bar stool next to him. Like a lamb being called to slaughter, I stand and start walking toward him.
I hear Gemma ask where I’m going.
"I see someone I need to get to know,” I say simply.
As I make my way to the stranger, I straighten my shirt, tugging down on the front to be sure I'm showing plenty of cleavage. I'm tempted to see if Adrian is watching, but I resist.
As I start to climb onto the bar stool, he reaches out his hand to help me up. I take it and sit facing him, crossing my legs then place one arm on my knee, leaning closer to him.
“I’m Keegan.”
Lifting his chin, he replies, “Charlie.”
Mmm, like English Charlie, who plays a hot biker on TV.
My Charlie has medium length black hair, which could probably use a good wash, and dark green eyes. He’s good looking, no Ryder Reed, but not bad.
We watch each other for a few seconds before I, not very subtly, lower my gaze to his arms. Arms can tell you a lot about a guy. If he spends time in the sun, works out, and if he does have tats, that can tell you more. Once I met a guy who was incredibly attractive, funny, and could drink a navy seal under the table. Halfway into the night, I was checking out the tats on his arm when I found he had pictures of three kids inked on his arm. When I asked about them, he went on and on about how much he loved them, then finally admitted he’d lost custody to the state.
No, thanks. I’ll be moving on now.
Charlie here has the bottom half of a huge skull showing from under his sleeve. I touch the hem of his sleeve but look to him for permission first.
“Go ahead,” he says, one side of his mouth tipping up.
I bite my lip as I lift his sleeve. “That’s freakin’ awesome,” I tell him.
His eyes wrinkle at the sides as he looks at me questioningly. “Really?” he asks, looking surprised
We talk for a few minutes, and I find Charlie less than interesting. He works at one of those cash advance places, still lives with his parents, and smells like his hair looks—could use a good wash. This is definitely a case of don’t judge a book by its cover. I would’ve left after his admission that he still lives with his parents, but, if I’m being honest, I want Adrian to see me talking to another guy. I know I was an assuming bitch earlier, and he has a right to be pissed, but seeing him with those girls affected me. I’m kinda hoping that him seeing me with someone else will affect him too.
I feel a hand the small of my back, interrupting my thoughts, and the ramblings of the loser. I turn to find Adrian standing there. I want to jump into his arms and beg him to carry me away from loser Charlie, but that’s not the effect I’m going for right now.
He lifts my left hand from my lap, inspecting it, then looks back to me with a tortured expression. “You took your ring off,” he says, confusing me.
Before I can ask what the hell he’s talking about, he goes on. “It was just a fight, couples have fights, but it’s not worth ending a marriage.”