Page 34 of My Anchor (Trio Series 1)

Pouring myself into school and Pinterest. I have been driving Shana and Cristal crazy with all the projects I’ve been doing, mainly because half of them remain unfinished. I’ve also been baking, unsuccessfully at first but I got the hang of it. My ass has gotten slightly larger and when I mean slightly I mean I have gone up three pant sizes. Apparently, I don't take break ups well.

“Linnie you gotta do something, you have hardly left the house, what’s it been five months?” six actually, six months two weeks and three days. Not that I'm counting.

I'm in the middle of putting together a three layer triple chocolate cake. More than likely, I will eat it alone accompanied with a gallon of milk. Chocolate is a girl’s best friend after all.

“Look I know Kyle is a prick and broke your heart but it’s time to get back out there, and girl you know I love you but shit, stop eating so much cake!” And there it is, my best friend pointing out that I do indeed have a problem.

“Okay fine. I will try.” I mumble out around my mouth full of frosting. Where is the milk at?

“Good go get fucking showered and dressed we are going out with Rick, Cris, and Dez.” Dez is around a lot more now. Mainly to see Cristal, but of course, I have been wallowing in my own self-pity to even really notice what is going on with the two of them.

“Okay, but if I can’t find anything for my ass to fit into we are staying home!” I shout on my way to the shower.

Four hours later we are at Unchained and I am good and drunk. Turns out shots of tequila are also a girl’s best friend. Rick was supposed to bring his new girlfriend, yes girlfriend a short blond bitchy tart, but she bailed last minute I guess, darn. He was in a very pissy mood until I talked him into the shots, now he is his perfectly happy self.

Shana and I are out on the dance floor grinding on each other like a couple of horny lesbians. I'm sure every guy in the place has a hard on, that’s how handsy we are being with each other. Cristal and Dez are at our table seeming to be deep in conversation. I see her laughing on and off, she looks so happy and carefree. That fucker had better have good intentions toward her. Rick was talking to them also but he got a phone call and hurried out the door. That was a while ago and I haven't seen him since. Oh well, he is a big boy, he can take care of himself. Even if he has to deal with the wrath of the blond tart. Oh yes, I forgot to say, I don't really like her.

“Can I buy you, ladies, a drink?” A voice says from the side of us. He is good looking enough, but not really what I would go for.

“Nope, we’re good,” I say and continue to dance with Shana. He seems to give up and leaves but no sooner than he left he shows up again. This time taking a place right behind Shana placing his hands on her hips. I catch the look on her face and it’s one that says ‘get it off of me’ so I take that as my cue to go into bitch mode.

“Hey, we aren't interested man,” I shout at him over the music and her shoulder.

“Shut it fatty I'm dancing with her.” Fucking dick, I really don't have the mindset to deal with this at the moment. I give Shana the ‘get out of the way’ look, and she moves aside. I take my shot, cock back and punch the fuckhead in the face hitting him on the side of his jaw. Now I'm not all that strong, my punch really doesn't pack much power but I give it my all and fuck does it hurt. Clearly, I'm not drunk enough if I can feel it.

“Fucking fat bitch!” He shouts at me. Then out of nowhere Rick and Dez are throwing him onto the floor. Shit, where did they come from?

“You okay Linn?” Rick asks grabbing my arm to inspect my hand.

“I'm fine, the fucker has a pillow face.” I try and laugh it off but shit it hurts. The vibe of the night is lost and now I just want to go home.

“You guys ready to go? I'm kinda over tonight. Gotta get to bed and prepare for the hangover I will have in the morning.” They all agree and we head out the door. Dez was the DD tonight and drops us all off at the apartment. I talk Rick into staying since his car is in the lot and he can just crash on the couch, not like he hasn't done it before.

Laying in my bed I'm almost asleep when Rick comes in holding a bag of ice. “Where did you find ice? I didn't even think we had trays.”

“You sure do slugger. It was only half full, should help a little.” He gently grabs my hand and places it on top. It isn't purple just red, nothing broke only a little sore.

“You sure gave that punch your all, didn't you? Damn it was hot, not gonna lie.” Still holding my hand lightly stroking the palm with his thumb he lifts it to his lips and places a soft kiss on my sore knuckles. It’s an intimate gesture, straying out of the friend zone we have both been so close to crossing since Lee and I broke up. With the look he is giving me now I think it just may have been pushed passed that line and I'm really too drunk to care about the consequences right now.

“She broke it off tonight, over the phone.” He says it almost as a whisper.

“That sucks,” I say in the same tone, not really meaning it. He is close enough now that I can feel his tequila laced breath on my lips. “Rick,” I say sounding breathy and desperate. He takes his other hand and skirts it up my side starting at my hip and ending on my cheek. Stroking it lightly with his index finger.

“Stop me, Linn.” He says in a pained voice, looking at my face, eyes glazed over with lust. I shake my head.

“Kiss me,” I tell him. He groans then slams his mouth on mine. We are a fumbling mess of sheets and blankets clothes and hands. It’s rushed and mind-numbingly good before I even know what is happening my legs are around his waist and he is slamming inside me.

I'm cold, so damn cold. Rolling over I see why. Rick apparently is a blanket hog. I wiggle over to him and try prying the covers out from under him. That wakes him enough to crack an eye open and mumble out an apology that smells like death warmed over. Damn morning breath I'm sure mine isn't any better so I make it a point to keep my mouth and nose hidden from any more contact with the outside world until I have the energy to brush the fuzz off of my teeth. He rolls me over so my back is to his front and tucks me into him with, thank god, the blanket wrapped around us both.

We end up sleeping for a while longer and when I wake up, this time, I'm still wrapped in his arms. “Did we just fuck up our friendship?” He asks me.

“How long have you been awake? And that’s too loaded of a question right when I wake up.” The last thing I want is to lose Rick as a friend and I really don't want a repeat of Lee either. God, I still miss him. Nice thing to think while laying in the arms of someone else right?

“Loaded or not I would like to know because I wouldn't mind a rerun, this time, a little less alcohol maybe.” Yes definitely less is good. I feel fairly good for as many shots as I had last night. I go to rub my eye and pain causes me to hold my hand away from my face. Shit, I forgot about my Rocky moment, hand still hurts.

“Were you talking about having another go right now or can it wait a bit? My teeth are wearing fuzzy bunny slippers and my head is demonstrating what it would be like to catch a grenade.” I say holding out my hand flexing it. It’s not swollen, so that is good. Just sore.

“Does it hurt?” Rick asks. He still has his arms wrapped around me and his face is in my hair. His warm breath is slightly annoying but I push it out of my mind, he is just snuggling. Slightly restricting my movements, eh let it go, Linn.

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