Page 25 of Troubles

My face flames red and I duck my head away rummaging through my purse for absolutely nothing. I could just die right now.

And, of course, my dear friend misses nothing. “We’ll talk later.” She tickles my back as she skips away from our table.

After lunch, we grab a couple picture frames from the store and head to Aidan’s apartment to look through the few pictures we were able to print before we got distracted.

17

Aidan

Jesus. Having at Lis in the darkroom was not what I fucking planned, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to feel bad about it. I just want her more now. Our weekend of no work ended with me taking on Finn’s shift Sunday and Lis at home—not mine, hers. I want more.

My thoughts were that she’d have a lot more free time with her term having ended, but it’s like her spring holiday all over again. Every available minute is spent working for the two solid weeks before Lis starts in with her summer term. I have never seen anyone so driven.

I pick up several photo shoots while she’s working and manage to sell some of my journalistic pieces to a few news outlets in the city. My career is getting back on track, but I’ve spent far too little time with Lisbeth.

And I’ve not heard from Lorna—at all.

No texts. No calls.

Nothing.

I walk into Lis’ bar and settle in an empty spot at the end. She’s mixing drinks for tables in the dining room, while smiling and chatting up the people at the bar. It’s busy enough in here to afford me the luxury of watching her. I take her in, every move, every smile.

Last time I was here, we were still just friends. Just an innocent thing. Now, I can’t get her out of my mind. The look of her, the sounds she makes—the taste of her. Beyond that, I just like her. The little things. The corner of her lower lip between her teeth when she’s concentrating. The way one eye all but closes when she smiles really big. Her quiet determination. She’s amazing.

“Hey,” she says with that smile. The one that pinches her eye shut. “What can I get you?”

I prop my elbows on the bar and speak quietly. “I’ll have a whiskey, yeah?”

When she leans in to hear my words, I take hold of her hand and my thumb slides to her inner wrist. That spot calls to me. Her skin is so soft there—so smooth. And the smell of her perfume is fucking intoxicating. She sighs and leans just a little bit closer. Seeking a kiss. Just a quick one, but I’m over the moon that she does that.

“Do you want dinner too, or are you just here for the whiskey?”

“The whiskey is fine, a steak would be great, but I’m here for the company. I’ve missed you.”

Another smile and she pulls away, fixing my drink, checking the others at the bar.

“How was your class today?” I ask when she comes back down to my end of the bar. We’ve not spoken much since she started her summer term three days ago—we’ve had maybe seven texts in the last three days.

Lisbeth’s face totally shifts, her shoulders slumping, and her lower lip goes between her teeth. I want to be the one nibbling them. “We had a quiz today. I didn’t do well at all.” She pops down a bit to pull a pint for the old guy sitting a few seats over. “I might need to drop it and just graduate next May with everyone else.” She tries to hide the stress and worry behind a weak smile.

“It’s one quiz. You’ve got time to make your grades. Why are they giving exams two days in anyway?”

“The class is accelerated, like really accelerated. And it’s Advanced Anatomy—a ton of memorization. I should probably drop before it’s too late.” She grabs a napkin rolled around utensils and places it in front of me with the salt and pepper shakers.

“If you drop this class, you have to push off your graduation?” She bites at her lip again and nods. “Why would it be easier in the fall? Why take it later?” She puts so much pressure on herself to do well. To do it on her own.

“The semester is longer, so I’d have more time to memorize the body systems—and I’d have my study group. They’re all taking it then and we can quiz each other—flashcards, that kind of thing.” She moves down the bar checking her patrons, filling drink orders for the dining room.

The smell of steak and mushroom risotto fills the air around me making my mouth water, and Gracyn slides a plate in front of me.

“How’re you doing tonight? My girl there has been a bear the last couple weeks.” She stares me down, hand propped on her hip, attitude in full effect. “You know anything about that?”

“Jesus, Gracyn. Lighten up. I told you it has nothing to do with Aidan.” Lis’ hands go to the long loose braid hanging over her shoulder, fingers twisting and twirling at the soft curl at the end.

“I’m tired and this class is going to kill me.” Turning to me, Lis asks, “Is your steak cooked alright?”

“Fucking perfect.” It’s red in the center and perfectly seared on the outside. I cut a piece and scoop up some of the risotto, turning the fork to Lisbeth.

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