Page 92 of Fragile

Max handed me my drink and joined me with his back to the bar, checking out where I was looking; pretty much every, nook and fucking cranny. I was desperate to see her. Maybe even ask her about the phone number thing. Had she given her contact details to anyone? Even though we’d slept together, we were currently in the friend zone so who knew? She’d have every right to do that. I’d still smash my fist into the face of any fucker I saw her with.

As I continued to search the room, Max put in from beside me, “She isn’t in here. She’s working the tables in the restaurant,” with a shit-eating grin.

I frowned, “But you said guys were watching her arse,” I pointed out, shooting him a glare.

His smile got much meatier. “I was winding you up, mate.” And it had worked. The flare of jealousy I’d felt had been quick and sharp. My obsession with Leonie was slowly driving me mad, it appeared.

I huffed and tutted as Luca, who stank of weed, sailed over. “How’s the new desk job? Boring as fuck I imagine,” he said with a snigger.

Nodding I said, “At least I’m doing something to make the world a better place shithead. How are things in the modelling world?” I sneered and then second-checked myself. “You know what, I don’t really give a shit. You earn money by looking pretty, end of.”

He tittered; Luca’s confidence was unshakable. “This face advertises quality products, my friend,” he volleyed back.

I snorted at that one, “Yeah, and condom packets. I got a box which had you on it the other day and if there’s anything sure to make your dick limp, its staring at your melon head.”

“Up yours, I’m saving lives,” he piped up with a shrug.

“So am I. And I think you’ll find that you’re stopping life dickhead,” I replied pointing out the main purpose of condoms.

“And disease. What can I say? I’m all over safe sex.”

“I know, I have you in my drawer. You also stink of weed. If Felice finds you in here with a joint, you’ll be barred. That goes for Sam too.” I fake coughed, waving my hand in the air between us.

“Sorry Mom,” Luca volleyed back with a grin. “You’re just fucking jealous.”

“Blow me, pretty boy,” I replied with an eye roll. We were all jealous of Luca.

And then the banter flowed, I was challenged to a game of pool and put on the list, there was a chalkboard on the wall above an old fireplace of those that had scored so far. I was up for the next game and would be playing Dale which wasn’t good. As well as nightclubs, his father owned several pool bars and he’d literally grown up with a cue in his hand. Basically, I was screwed.

As Max was talking about Jonathan Swift, the rich Lord who had invested shit loads of money in the current project he was working on, Leonie appeared and I fazed him out.

She walked through the door and it was like the scene went in slow motion, most of the blokes, including the two cunts playing pool turned to look at her. My fingers tightened on my glass so much I was surprised it didn’t shatter.

Max was sitting beside me on his stool, we were both facing the pool table and a group of gyrating females he’d pointed out earlier. They were not for me. There was now only one girl on my mind; Leonie Smith had ruined me for anyone else.

She had her hair scraped up in a ponytail and was wearing her uniform of black jeans and a shirt. Leonie wore little makeup which made her look somewhat younger, almost underaged.

She was searching the room, looking for me and satisfaction pumped through my guts. Mine.

I was frozen in my seat and I could feel Max watching my reaction to her appearance.

“She recovered after you hauled her off stage? A bit over the top, wasn’t it?” Max said as she started towards us with a wave.

“You were the one who shopped her in, and she knows that so if she ignores you. You earned it.” I felt a twinge of annoyance as a customer caught her attention and started asking her a question.

Max was still blathering in my ear and I turned to scowl at him. “Ah, Leonie won’t blank me, I make her laugh,” he said, taking a swig of beer, so sure of himself. As my expression darkened further, he added. “Relax, she’s not my type.”

Snorting, I said. “I was under the impression that anything with a pulse was your type.”

“That’s a bit harsh. You appear to have gone all alpha on her arse. Something you want to tell me?”

“No. We’re friends, albeit close friends, but friends nonetheless,” I babbled rapidly as she moved away from the customer and came within hearing distance. Act cool motherfucker, I told myself.

“How many times did you get the word friends into that fucking sentence? Pfft, what a pile of bollocks,” Max husked under his breath.

Leonie came to stop in front of us both, her smile so warm and sweet, I wanted to taste it, to take her mouth with my own, pull her against me.

“What’s a pile of bollocks,” she said brightly, her ponytail swinging as she looked between us. I wanted to wrap the strands around my hand and yank her head back. After which I’d bury my face into her long, slender neck. Fuck me, I needed to rein it in unless I wanted to be sat there with a raging hard-on.

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