register drawer.
A few moments later, I grabbed my wool coat off the hook on the wall and switched off the lights. With Bryan beside me, I flipped the sign to closed, then locked the front door after we stepped through it.
Outside, we turned together and walked side by side beneath faded awnings and mostly closed shops. Lost in my own thoughts, I twirled the looped end of a long string of beads. He plunged his hands in his jacket pockets, his wide shoulders hunched. Whether from the chill in the air or worry inside his head, I wasn’t sure. In a pool of light from a streetlight at the end of the block, we stopped to wait for the crosswalk signal to change.
Finally, he spoke. “I’m not willing to give up being friends, and I don’t see why I should when you and War aren’t even dating anymore.”
“The band, it’s your ticket out of all of this.” I gestured widely at the dilapidated squalor surrounding us. Homeless people hunkered inside cardboard houses. Sirens. Gunshots. Shouting between two angry, rough-looking guys on the other side of the street.
“Yeah, there’s that,” he said as the signal changed. Placing his hand on my lower back, he guided me across the street. The angry shouting faded as we hurried along. “Not to be too arrogant about it, but do you really think War’s gonna get rid of me, the best guitarist he has, just because I’m friends with his ex?”
“Yes, I do.” I raised a brow. “This is War we’re talking about.”
“I disagree. I think we can be friends if we’re not in his face about it.”
“But last night—”
“Last night, I wasn’t thinking straight. We just have to avoid situations where he might misconstrue things.”
I gave that some consideration, wanting to believe Bryan was right.
“Or is that not the real issue for you?” he asked, giving me a long look as we turned onto the street that led to my uncle’s place.
“Of course it is.” I didn’t want Bryan to jeopardize his future for me. “What other reason could there be?”
“Maybe you’re afraid being friends with me would interfere with you getting War back.”
Shocked, I stopped, and Bryan stopped with me, his gaze shadowed since we were between streetlights. “War isn’t taking me back.” That would involve apologies and forgiveness on both sides. I couldn’t even fathom a situation with that occurring.
“That’s not my question.” Stepping closer, Bryan gently lifted my chin.
“No,” I whispered, my skin tingling where he touched me. “I’m not afraid of that.”
What I truly feared was losing Bryan for good.
“So, you don’t have any plans to try to get War back?” Bryan was so close, his breath misted my lips, and his seductive scent swirled around me.
“No, I don’t.” I didn’t have any plans except to bask in the warm glow of him right now.
The heat rolling off Bryan was insane. I imagined getting closer to that fire. Placing my hands on his chest, I’d go up on my toes and tilt my head back while he lowered his.
“Okay, then it’s decided.” His grip tightened on my arms, and he drew me a little closer. “During the week, I don’t see any reason why I can’t continue walking you home from school. Same as before, but better without War dictating everything.”
Numb, I nodded, and he continued talking about what we could and couldn’t do while I watched his lips move and imagined them moving together with mine.
I was screwed.
I was so into Bryan, a guy I could never have except on a limited and most likely temporary basis.
War
I was totally fucked.
In the garage, sitting on an amp, waiting on the guys to show up for band practice, I replayed the events of the weekend in my head. Sunday had begun just like Saturday, with me recovering from booze and drugs, and I didn’t even get laid. Not because I didn’t have offers, but because I refused them. I didn’t want just any pussy. I wanted one. I wanted only Lace.
When had this happened?
When had she gotten so deeply embedded under my skin that other chicks seemed almost unappealing?
“Hey.” Sager made eye contact with me as he ambled up the driveaway, surprisingly without his best friend. “You’re here early.”
“So are you.” I shrugged. “Had nothing better to do.”
“Me either. King’s at counseling. Should be here shortly.”
Sager set his bass case down near me, chose one of the assortment of lawn chairs hanging on pegs on the wall, and brought it back