then stands. “There, all done.”
There must be more I can say to him but all that comes out is, “Thank you.”
“Anything for —” he begins.
“Time for us to go,” Alex cuts in, and gives Jase a hard stare.
I’d wonder if there’s a problem between them, but Jase seems unaffected and grabs his backpack off the floor. He sorts through it and gives us some more painkillers and spare dressings. “Replace these in a few days. Try not to get the others wet either.”
Jase gives me an awkward hug. The men shake hands and give each other one of those back-smacking man hugs.
Alex turns back to Jase as he leads us to the front door. “Thanks for everything, mate.”
“No worries… He doesn’t know, does he?”
Alex shakes his head and Jase’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t reply. I’m too tired to wonder what they’re talking about.
When we get to the car Alex helps me into my seat, then hops in the driver’s side. “Do those feel better?” He gestures towards my new bandages.
“I guess so. The painkillers worked pretty well.” Or maybe it’s the numbness in my heart spreading throughout my body.
He reaches into the back and then hands me my bag. “So, are you ready?”
I have nothing left here, or anywhere. “Yes.”
When Alex pulls away from the curb, my heart constricts. I want to tell him to turn around, to take me to Noah. But this is for the best, it’s the only option. Instead, I find my phone, scroll through the pictures of him, of us, and let a single tear fall.
There was never a choice for me to make.
Seven Months Later
“H EY, BUD. HOW’S it going?” Bear shouts in my ear as his large hand slaps my shoulder.
The music is loud as fuck and the atmosphere is buzzing. The usual for a Friday night in Khan’s. I glance around me at the vast array of scantily clad women and fix him with a wolfish grin. “Never better, mate. You?”
It’s a bold-faced lie. My life is a fucked-up mess since I walked away from Lizzie. Bear knows it too. He’s picked me out of the gutter more times than I even fucking remember. I see, rather than hear him, laugh as his eyes wander the surrounding area.
“Same, man. Same,” he replies with his gaze fixed on some bird’s arse.
He turns his attention back my way and observes me with his expert stare. His shoulders drop a little and the humour leaves his face. I know I’ve failed to convince him.
Catching the eye of the barmaid, I gesture for another two beers. It wasn’t difficult, as she’s been eyeing me since I arrived. She places them down in front of us and I hand her the cash. She blatantly pouts when I don’t bother to engage her further.
I smirk into my pint as a leggy brunette, who’s gyrating to the shit being played by the DJ, catches my attention. My interest evaporates the instant a muscular bloke snakes his arm in a possessive manner around her waist, a clear sign of ownership. Having learnt my fucking lesson, I refuse to get involved with any woman who’s obviously taken. I won’t wreck someone’s relationship for ten or fifteen minutes of riding my cock. That’s my one redeeming quality, I suppose.
Propped with my back against the bar, I glance over at Bear. He’s already got his hands on a pretty blonde, who looks tiny against his huge frame. He’s a massive bloke, he’s also one nasty bastard when rubbed the wrong way. I should know, we’ve had each other’s backs for years.
Bear nudges my shoulder, and I glare at him. He knows I hate being pushed, yet he does it anyway. The urge to pummel my fist into my best friend’s face is fierce and irrational. His knowing green eyes stare at me in amusement as he indicates with his head towards the blonde waiting on him a few feet behind.
The anger dissipates as I raise an eyebrow at him. It’s got to be a record. He’s only been here for ten minutes at most. He discreetly taps his watch and mouths ‘twenty minutes’ at me. I shake my head in disbelief and grin at
There must be more I can say to him but all that comes out is, “Thank you.”
“Anything for —” he begins.
“Time for us to go,” Alex cuts in, and gives Jase a hard stare.
I’d wonder if there’s a problem between them, but Jase seems unaffected and grabs his backpack off the floor. He sorts through it and gives us some more painkillers and spare dressings. “Replace these in a few days. Try not to get the others wet either.”
Jase gives me an awkward hug. The men shake hands and give each other one of those back-smacking man hugs.
Alex turns back to Jase as he leads us to the front door. “Thanks for everything, mate.”
“No worries… He doesn’t know, does he?”
Alex shakes his head and Jase’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t reply. I’m too tired to wonder what they’re talking about.
When we get to the car Alex helps me into my seat, then hops in the driver’s side. “Do those feel better?” He gestures towards my new bandages.
“I guess so. The painkillers worked pretty well.” Or maybe it’s the numbness in my heart spreading throughout my body.
He reaches into the back and then hands me my bag. “So, are you ready?”
I have nothing left here, or anywhere. “Yes.”
When Alex pulls away from the curb, my heart constricts. I want to tell him to turn around, to take me to Noah. But this is for the best, it’s the only option. Instead, I find my phone, scroll through the pictures of him, of us, and let a single tear fall.
There was never a choice for me to make.
Seven Months Later
“H EY, BUD. HOW’S it going?” Bear shouts in my ear as his large hand slaps my shoulder.
The music is loud as fuck and the atmosphere is buzzing. The usual for a Friday night in Khan’s. I glance around me at the vast array of scantily clad women and fix him with a wolfish grin. “Never better, mate. You?”
It’s a bold-faced lie. My life is a fucked-up mess since I walked away from Lizzie. Bear knows it too. He’s picked me out of the gutter more times than I even fucking remember. I see, rather than hear him, laugh as his eyes wander the surrounding area.
“Same, man. Same,” he replies with his gaze fixed on some bird’s arse.
He turns his attention back my way and observes me with his expert stare. His shoulders drop a little and the humour leaves his face. I know I’ve failed to convince him.
Catching the eye of the barmaid, I gesture for another two beers. It wasn’t difficult, as she’s been eyeing me since I arrived. She places them down in front of us and I hand her the cash. She blatantly pouts when I don’t bother to engage her further.
I smirk into my pint as a leggy brunette, who’s gyrating to the shit being played by the DJ, catches my attention. My interest evaporates the instant a muscular bloke snakes his arm in a possessive manner around her waist, a clear sign of ownership. Having learnt my fucking lesson, I refuse to get involved with any woman who’s obviously taken. I won’t wreck someone’s relationship for ten or fifteen minutes of riding my cock. That’s my one redeeming quality, I suppose.
Propped with my back against the bar, I glance over at Bear. He’s already got his hands on a pretty blonde, who looks tiny against his huge frame. He’s a massive bloke, he’s also one nasty bastard when rubbed the wrong way. I should know, we’ve had each other’s backs for years.
Bear nudges my shoulder, and I glare at him. He knows I hate being pushed, yet he does it anyway. The urge to pummel my fist into my best friend’s face is fierce and irrational. His knowing green eyes stare at me in amusement as he indicates with his head towards the blonde waiting on him a few feet behind.
The anger dissipates as I raise an eyebrow at him. It’s got to be a record. He’s only been here for ten minutes at most. He discreetly taps his watch and mouths ‘twenty minutes’ at me. I shake my head in disbelief and grin at
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