Page 57 of Wasted Oil

“If I wanted you here Janelle, I would have told you. Please leave.” I sigh, closing my eyes but she doesn’t move; she just rakes her nails higher up to my thigh.

Frustrated, I sit up, turning so my back leans on the inside of the bed and my legs away from her reach.

"Oh come on Rhett baby, you seem stressed, let me help you relax.”

Before I get the chance to respond Janelle has crawled up and is now straddling me with her hands on my shoulders. I go to grab her waist to move her off me but in doing so made her lean in and plant her lips to mine. She’s grinding on me trying to get me to match whatever energy she’s putting off, but I don’t. I grip on her hips when I hear rustling of gravel and my eyes open. My sight is set on the one I planned to break.

By the look on her face, I did what I set out to accomplish. I did it, I broke her.

She flips around so fast by the time I’ve moved Janelle off of me and climbed out she’s bolted towards the house and in her truck, peeling out sending rocks bouncing off the side of the barn.

Why couldn’t we have just stayed in bed this morning for fuck sake.

Chapter sixteen

I shouldn’t be jealous, he’s not even mine.

Melanie

“Ok, I need the cafe tables pushed to the storage room in the back and those cocktail tables from the U-haul out in front placed where the others once were.” Sailor, Alex’s younger sister, who’s in college and currently studying hospitality and tourism, came home this weekend to help. Both girls are directing orders left and right trying to get the bookstore ready for Kathryn’s book release party tomorrow and the store is in a flow of chaos.

Alex got, what looks like, the whole town in on helping with the set up, but really with The Den being the only bookstore in town and the nearest one two hours south in Abilene its not hard to believe they weren’t able to find help, even if it is mainly all of the Daniels gang and Alex’s mom Lynn. Elise, Alex’s friend from Illinois even flew out to help. Xavier and my mom are here of course as well as Johnny, Rhett and the rest of the Parkers.

Despite my subsided anger and heavily achey heart towards Rhett and Janelle’s little escapades two weeks ago, I push it deep down and try to stay as busy as possible to help my best friend on probably the second biggest thing to ever happen in her life, and the first being the day she officially owned this place we are currently standing in. Though I wasn't physically present I sent two big buckets of blue hydrangea's and was on face-time while she signed the papers and collected the keys. Sure it's no Barnes and Noble but let's be honest walking into one of those is overwhelming. I’ve seen some that have elevators and just saying that stresses me out. Not to mention the prices are a bit rich for my blood.

What’s different about The Den. Its 1200 sq ft of what feels like every romance trope ever made. Like I said, Alex loves love and she really wears her heart on her sleeve. That’s what makes her book cafe so different and a huge hit, especially on all socials. On top of all that, she has a podcast called, You’re Welcome, that she films in one of her private rooms she has for those who bring their book clubs in for meetings. She talks about everything from love and loss, to gossip, reviews on movies and TV shows and of course the one thing she loves more than anything else in the world is her books most of which you guessed it are smut, but there is seriously every book that has even the slightest bit of romance in it. I have seen some Stephan King books around here because of her twisted soul for horror.

She’s the girl everyone wants as a friend and I can preach that everyone actually needs her in their lives because she can be your number one hype girl on everything and anything. Literally everything and anything. For instance this one time Elise was visiting from Illinois and we went to Chippendales for her 18th birthday, Elise was crushing on one of the guys who was giving her those "fuck me" eyes, but I mean, it was his job right?! I still to this day have no idea how Alex can sniff out something between two people and act on it with no restraint. She dragged Elise by the arm, walked straight up to one of the dancers, who’s name, if I remember correctly, was Romeo, and said,

“Hi, this is Elise, my best friend it's her 18th birthday and I was hoping you could give her a little extra something for the festivities tonight.”

I shit you not, with that Lucifer smile of hers she stuffed a wad of cash into his pocket and shoved them into a bathroom together. From what we were told later that night was that he was true to his name and super yummy. I start giggling to myself as I’m draping the pearl satin cloths over the cocktail tables.

“What's so funny?” Alex asks me as she comes up with a centerpiece with shades of pink roses that are arranged with some black feathers all together in what looks like a top hat like vase. She has taken bits from the book and used it for the party. She even has a full wall from ceiling to floor in roses of varying shades of pink and a neon sign in the center that says , A rose is a rose is a rose. - Gertrude Stein. As the photo op area with a small table full of different hats you would wear to the Kentucky Derby. The book is about a best friend's brother, enemies to lovers, fake dating all made around the Derby and a girl who owns a Hat shop. Hence why the vases all look like hats.

"I was just thinking about that night we went to Chippendales with Elise for her 18th birthday and what you did.” I smile at her while walking over to the cafe counter helping grab the other centerpieces from the box.

“Oh my lanta, that was such an amazing night. Gahh it will forever go down in history as the best girls night ever!” She says.

“This is looking so good Goose, I'm so proud of you.” I say pulling on her arm while resting my head on her shoulder as we look over the store.

“Couldn’t have done it without you, Mav.” I shake my head.

“Oh, Cállate tu niña loca. You did this all on your own babes.” I say looking at her.

“No, I'm serious Mel, you have been my biggest fan even when you weren’t here, you never let me doubt myself or doubt my dream and seeing you chase yours really put it in perspective that, I too can have my dream.” She nudges my shoulder with her eyes glossing over and a small smile on her face to show the dimple on her left cheek.

“Only your dream came true babes, mine has run straight into a brick wall.”

From the corner, her sister Sailor comments.

“ok, rude sister, real rude.” We turn on a laugh, looking at her.

“You're family, you’re obligated to help, also this is like your job in real life.”

I’m just watching the two bicker amongst each other and I can’t help but cross my arms and hold my fist to my mouth trying to block my grin.

“You’re not even paying me for this.” Sailor says, popping her hip with a little sass.

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