Page 22 of Petals of Blue: Part One
I can't help the snort that comes out of me.The audacity. At least his dumbass comment snaps me out of whatever standoff I had going on with the broken wine bottle. Withoutmuch fanfare, I push his warm hands aside and grab two bottles.
"Bee, don't," Jared warns in a rush as I tiptoe through the shards. "Fucking hell, woman."
Ignoring him and the guy rushing around us to sweep up the hazard, I head for the registers. Jared's still begging me to talk to him, tolookat him, but I don't. I won't.
Today is aboutDakota'sbroken heart. Not mine. I won't let this asshole take more from me right now, not when I have to give myself to my best friend. Jared can take his useless help and his crappy nickname and shove it right up his fucking ass.
Barely restraining my middle finger from flipping Jared off once I hop in my car, I drive away without looking back.That's a lie...My sad little heart forces me to glance in my rearview mirror. I knew it was a bad idea, and now I'm suffering with an ache in my chest all the way to Bethany's cute townhome where Dakota and she had a sleepover last night.
Pulling around back, I find a spot to park. Her parking is weird since it's on the edge of downtown Chicago. The deep breath I take does a decent job of cleansing my negative energy. At least that's what I'm telling myself. If I can't shake Jared off, I'll just twist my feelings and aim them at Dakota's cheating ex.
Fucker had the hottest, funniest woman...Idiot.
With my fanny pack slung over my shoulder and the brown paper bag of wine, I hop out of my car. I step back a bit, and hit the lock button, then do it three more times just to be sure it actually locked.
Car gets broken into one time and the paranoia follows me years later. My new vibrator got stolen though, so can anyone blame me for quadruple checking it's actually locked?
It turns out the answer isyessomeonecanblame and judge me. Not just anyone, either.
"You going to hit the button again or do you think you got it this time?"
Jared.
Fourteen
FELIX
The way our townhouse is set up is a bit odd. The street is basically our front yard, and the five backyards are gorgeous with gardens, patios, and sidewalks separating the spaces.
The parking situation makes my room incredibly annoying. Don't get me wrong, I think our place is beautiful and far enough away from the hustle and bustle of downtown that I'm not terrified of a break-in. But that doesn't mean everyone else isn't worried.
Beep beep.
Beep beep.
Just when I think they'll stop locking their fucking car...
Beep beep.
I swear to fuck?—
Beep beep.
I'm up and out of my desk chair without further thought. It doesn't cross my mind that a child might be playing with some keys. All I'm aware of is my annoyance as I storm through the house and out the back sliding glass door.
I can't see much through the line of trees, but I hear raisedvoices. Stomping along the path between yards, I catch a glimpse of...Jared?
"I'm not stalking you, Blue! I live here."
Blue?
"Bullshit!" Aaaand there she is, my reason for being on such a short fucking fuse this week. Her bright blue hair is up in a messy bun, she has no makeup on, and her biker shorts are almost completely covered with a big band T-shirt.
Whose fucking shirt is that?
"Good afternoon, Blue," I greet, my voice thick with untamed desire and frustration.
I wish I could convince myself that the way she stiffens when she hears me is because of excitement.It's not. Erica, as a teenager, would have squealed and run into my arms if I had surprised her. Because I didn't go to school with the rest of them, my presence was always met with happiness back then.
