Messy Love(24)

“Let’s forget about this for now and go back to work. Kam is going to bitch if we take a longer break.’’

She let it slide and threw her to-go cup in the dustbin when my phone beeped shrilly in my pants. Because of course, I’d changed the ringtone for my texts, so I was sure I wouldn’t miss one coming in. It’s pathetic, but it was that, or I checked my phone every five minutes.

Sophie and I looked at each other, and a small smile reappeared on her smooth face. “At least he’s a man of his words.’’

“Maybe it’s my brother.’’

“Oh come on, he never texts you. You told me yourself he prefers calling you.’’

“It could be someone else then.''

Her only answer was a long look that spoke volume.

I slipped a hand into my pocket and retrieved my phone. There’s a text from an unknown number. I bit my lower lip, my heart speeding up. Sophie was right. I couldn’t lie to myself. I wouldn’t feel so delighted and apprehensive upon receiving a text from him if in my mind it wasn’t already sure that something would happen between us. But I still didn’t know what I truly wanted, and I was worried the kind of thing he wanted didn’t match my expectations. I didn’t see someone like Wyatt Burton working too hard on a woman and for longer than a few days, or weeks for a lucky one.

“What does he say?’’

I blinked and pressed on the text to open it, my breath temporarily gone.



Babe, it’s Wyatt. It’s time for you to tell me if you’re in for a friendship with me. If you are, come to this party. I’ll be there waiting for you at 8.

Apartment 4. 56 8th Street NW.



“He tells me that if I agree to be his friend I’ll join him tonight at a party,’’ I said with a sigh.

“You sound disappointed.’’

“I expected him to say something else. I don’t know.’’ I rolled my eyes at myself and pocketed my phone without answering the text. He probably wasn’t waiting for one anyway. “Do you have plans tonight?’’

“Remember, I told you about the big dinner my cousin has to announce her pregnancy to our family.’’

“Oh yeah, sorry.’’ I glanced at her and saw a glum expression on her face. “You okay about that?’’

She nodded, but it lacked her usual lively vibe. “It’s just my family. They… They don’t necessarily appreciate my career choice or anything about me. It’s going to be a bore, but it’s okay.’’ She waggled her eyebrows at me then, and I saw a spark of mirth in her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll have juicy details for me tomorrow.’’

“Oh shut up,’’ I said with a laugh as we went back to the main room and found Kam tapping on his left wrist, bare of any watch. “Sorry,’’ I said and quickly joined him at his station, ready to go back to work.

Since my job on Ralph, Kam had let me tattoo more intricate designs. He also frequently let me work with him on big pieces for the clients who agreed to it, but considering Kam’s reputation, they’d let him do pretty much anything.

“You focused, girl?’’

I tightened my ponytail once again and grabbed a new pair of gloves after cleaning my hands with the products at the station. “I am.’’ I sent him a grin and then greeted the new client, a man I’d seen a few times already at InkSpired. Like always, inking people drove everything else away from my mind.

***





WYATT


Music blasted from the stereo, and the dirty lyrics drew out a smile from me a time or two. It’s a wonder Justin’s neighbors never complained when he hosted parties. I looked at him sprawled on the old couch with a cute blonde in his lap dedicated to making his mouth hers.

Around me, people made out, danced and drank. It’s a typical Friday night, and usually, I was the first one to find a chick, make out, drink and drag her out to fuck her before I asked her to leave. This time around, I was one of the fuckers leaning against a wall in the living room, people watching while I kept the front door in my line of sight. But it’s almost ten past eight now, and Marissa was still a no-show.

My fingers tightened around the beer bottle in my hand. If she didn’t want to be friends with me, then I shouldn’t be standing there. I should get one of the girls eye-fucking me and forget everything about Marissa Thornton. I should, but I didn’t.

“She’s not coming,’’ Ralph said, creeping in on me with a fresh beer and a very short brunette under his left arm.

I glared at him and arched an eyebrow at the woman with him. I didn’t know her but considering her large pupils, and how she swayed even against Ralph, she looked trashed. “I know.’’

“Then have fun,’’ he slurred and sloppily kissed his temporary girl.

I rubbed my temple and cursed him silently. I didn’t know what went down between him and Emma, but since the club, he’d been more unpredictable than usual. I didn’t want to spend my night taking care of his drunk ass again. I took a sip of my warm beer and glanced again at the door, and I stilled.

She’s here.

And she’s so fucking gorgeous, it’s hard to stay where I was instead of stalking to her and marking her as mine with a kiss I knew would make her forget about any other assholes around.