Something for the Pain(21)

Out of nowhere some pretty brunette chick appears next to me, holding out a red cup. She smiles at me, before shoving it in my direction. “You’re that Alex guy, right? You fought here a while back and kicked that dude’s ass . . . I remember that night.”

I smirk and reach for the cup, remembering how good that fight felt. It was one of my first times fighting with a clear head . . . off of the drugs and heavy alcohol that I had been drowning myself in after my mom passed.

“Yeah, glad you enjoyed the fight.”

Smiling, she reaches for another cup from the tray she’s holding and hands it to Memphis as he joins us. “You’re both badass fighters. Hope you boys enjoy the show tonight.”

She waits for Memphis to grab the cup she’s holding out before winking at us both and walking away to refill her tray.

“What the fuck?” Memphis takes a swig of his beer. “Since when did they get chicks to pass out drinks?”

Laughing, I shake my head and take a swig from my own glass. “I have no clue, but that chick had perfect fucking timing. I’m definitely not complaining.”

Two guys enter the makeshift ring and stare each other down, ready to fuck each other up. The crowd starts going wild as the announcer introduces some guy named Cody and another name that I can’t even pronounce.

The blonde guy—Cody, comes at his opponent, swinging a bare-knuckle fist into the right side of his face, almost knocking him over. The blow causes everyone to get rowdy when the guy—whose name my mind can’t even remember, let alone pronounce–wipes at the blood pooling at the side of his mouth.

As he pulls his hand away and sees the blood, he starts rotating his shoulders, preparing himself for his comeback swing. After that hit, he needs something to earn his balls back.

“So what’s the deal,” Memphis asks, distracting me from the fight right as the other dude swings and misses. Damn . . . that was not the comeback he needed.

“What do you mean?” I point my cup out in front of me. “We’re watching a fight here and you’re worried about small talk?”

“Come on, dude,” Memphis growls out, being the overprotective pain in the ass that he is. “Something is fucking with your head. I can see it all over your face. Plus you’re tense as shit. You wanted me here, so talk.”

I pull my eyes away from the fight and turn to face Memphis, taking a quick drink of beer before talking. “Just some shit with Tripp. Nothing that I won’t be able to handle.”

“What kind of shit?”

“Damn, you’re quick on the questions tonight.” I point out in annoyance. “Just some shit. I’m dealing with it. I wanted you here so we could just chill and have a good time, so let’s do it. Drink up and enjoy the fight.”

“I’m not buying it. “Memphis reaches for my cup and finishes off my drink after he tosses his cup in the trash behind him. “There. There are no drinks and the fight just ended. Apichatpong lost his ass off.”

“Who the . . .” I look over Memphis’ shoulder to see the taller dude sprawled out on the dirty gravel, bloodied up and breathing hard. “Son of a bitch. . . . You’re good at ruining shit sometimes.”

Memphis shrugs as if he doesn’t care. “Tell me something I don’t already know. Like what’s going on with Tripp. That’s a big thing to deal with. You and Tripp are . . . well you and Tripp. I’ve never seen a friendship like the freaky one you two have.”

Well so much for coming here to watch a good fight. Damn . . .

“Follow me to Blue’s. Then we’ll talk.”

After fighting our way through the crowd, we both hop in our separate trucks and meet up in Blue’s parking lot. I haven’t been here since that night I left Jade’s to meet Tripp here; the night that she asked me to move in with her.

I jump out of my truck. “I need a few drinks to talk about this. Until then, don’t expect too much.”

Memphis just nods in understanding and follows me inside. He’s used to my shit by now.

We’re here for a good twenty minutes, him watching me as I slam back my third shot, before he decides to jump back in and push the subject.

“You slept with her didn’t you,” he says without hesitation. “It’s all over your face, Alex . . . and trust me, downing those shots aren’t going to do shit to clear your head. It doesn’t work. Trust me.”

“Is it really that fucking obvious?” I push the empty shot glass away and run a hand through my hair in frustration. “It’s eating at me, bro. I want more. I can’t look at her without wanting to put my hands all over her now and claim her as mine.”

“Why don’t you,” he questions. “Do it. Make her yours. You guys have been friends long enough to know if it would work out. You haven’t gotten tired of each other yet, right?”

I peel the label from my beer bottle and then slam back my beer. “It’s not that simple. She has a ‘boyfriend’ or whatever you call that douche. We all live in the same damn house.”

Memphis smiles knowingly and takes a drink from his beer bottle. “We both know that’s not what’s holding you back. You’d win her over that fucker any day. There’s not a damn thing that girl wouldn’t do for you. You’ve been there for each other through everything. He has nothing on you. It’s not even a competition.”

My heart speeds up as his words set in. He’s right. Lucas has nothing to do with me not making Tripp my girl. I’d steal her from him in a heartbeat without giving a shit. It’s the loss that scares me; the loss that we’d both feel if things didn’t work out and we had to move on from each other. I never want to be hurt by her and I sure as fuck would never want to hurt her. I care about her way too much.

“I know, man. I don’t know. It’s some shit I’ll have to figure out. Until then, I’ll just have to do my best to keep my hands to myself. No more sexual shit between us. Strictly friends.”

Memphis snickers. “That won’t last long.”

“It’ll have to.” I finish off my beer and stand up, ready to go home and jump in the pool to cool off. “Or I’m fucked.”

“You want Lyric to talk to Tripp and see how she’s feeling about all this shit?”

I shake my head and toss down some cash. “Hell no. That’s the last thing I want right now.” I throw my arms around Lyric and squeeze her as she attempts to sneak up on me. “You’re not that smooth, doll.”

“Damn you, Alex!” She slaps my chest and pulls away. “Why won’t you just let me scare you once? Just one time and I’ll be happy, dammit.”

I can’t do that.” I tease. “Well, I’m out of here so you guys can enjoy dinner. I have food waiting at home for me.”

“Lucky dog you.” Lyric teases. “Tell her to send dinner my way sometime. She’s got skills in the kitchen and I’ve been dying for her homemade dumplings.”

“Alright, man.” Memphis looks up at me, before wrapping his arms around Lyric and pulling her against him. “I’m here if you need anything. I mean that shit.”

“What’s going on,” Lyric questions, looking between the two of us. “Something I should know?”

“Not right now, doll.” I wink and start walking backward to get away before she can get it out of me. “Later.”

As soon as I get out to my truck, I strip out of my shirt and pull out of the parking lot. I need to hit that pool at full speed to blow off steam, and quick.

Before I blow off steam in the one place that I can’t. Between Tripp’s thighs . . .





OH MAN! OH MAN!

I don’t know what made me think that this tattoo was a good idea. I have to be stupid to think that I’d be able to handle his hands on me after last night. I can’t. I couldn’t, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to again.

Ever since I left his room at the shop today, I’ve been imagining the feel of his strong, tattooed hand holding my breast. Every time I looked down and saw his hand there, flashes of him between my legs invaded my mind. I couldn’t see anything else. I couldn’t seem to shake the image off. All I wanted was to feel what I was I was imagining. I wanted to feel him filling me.

“Babe . . . damn, you’re somewhere else tonight. Hello . . .” Lucas snaps his fingers in front of my face, saving myself from the dirty thoughts of Alex that I’ve been drowning in the whole night.

Even at a party I can’t seem to keep my mind straight. There are over thirty people here, yet the only person I want to talk to is Alex; the one person that isn’t here.

“Lucas . . .” I warn. “Don’t snap your fingers in front of my face. You know how much I hate that.” I push my way out of his arms to go make myself another drink. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long week and I’ve got a lot on my mind with the bar and stuff.”

Lucas pushes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, squeezing my breasts and jiggling them. Ugh . . . I fucking hate when he does that.

“Let me wake you up then, baby.” He rubs his lips up the side of my neck, before biting. I slightly pull away, before he can leave a mark.