Love At First Hate (Love At Firsts Book 2)(8)

As I’m driving down the highway, my phone rings. I groan upon seeing who is calling me. Lindsey. I’m debating between dodging her call and answering.

Just as I’m about to press the answer button, it stops ringing. Hopefully, Lindsey will leave a message and not call me back straightaway, but no such luck.

As soon as it stops ringing, it starts again. I don’t want her to harass me all night or even show up at my place, that’d be a lot worse. So I reluctantly press the connecting button on the console.

“Hey.”

“Hey, baby, how was your trip? Did you land safely?” You’re calling me, and I picked up. Yes, I landed safely!

“Trip was good and yes, I landed safely. I’m on my way home now. I’m exhausted.” I yawn.

“Do you want me to come over and cook you some dinner? I’ve missed you,” she says in a seductive voice.

“No, I’m good. I’ll just pop something from the freezer in the microwave and probably crash as soon as my head hits the pillow.”

“Please, I miss you, baby.” And so the whining starts.

“I’m exhausted. I barely got any sleep in Vegas, and my leg is killing me. I wouldn’t be good company. We can hang out tomorrow.”

“Hang out? Do you still see yourself as a teenager? We’re in our thirties, Nate. We do more than hang out. We have deep conversations about our future together and have sex when you’re not being a woman.” This is the smartest thing I’ve ever heard her say.

“Lind, our future isn’t going to go very far, and you know it. I don’t do marriage, I don’t do babies, and I’m good with living on my own.” I was going to say that our future is as bright as she is, but she wouldn’t understand the joke.

“Listen to me, Nate. Your father has pulled a lot of strings for you, all those years. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him now, would you?” She sadly has a point. My father has been known to make other people’s lives a living hell, and I wouldn’t put it past him to do the same to me, especially considering he willingly sent me to war.

“Look, I’m tired and in pain. I just want some food and sleep. I’m going to hang up before we start fighting because I’ll be honest, I just can’t deal with this and you right now. Good night.” I hang up before she can say anything back to me and turn the sound off. She can call all she wants, I won’t answer. Same goes for the door. She doesn’t have a key to my place, at least not that I know of. Unless she had one made behind my back, something I wouldn’t put past her. She can be as manipulative as my father when she really wants something.

The screen of my phone lights on the console, but I don’t pay it any attention. I drive straight home, trying not to fall asleep behind the wheel. Last thing I need is to crash my Impala. I’d rather be hurt than my baby.

I park in the driveway, glad that I’m finally home. I shoot a quick text to Ellie.

Me: Made it home. Lindsey getting on my nerves already.

It doesn’t take her long to reply.

Ellie: Is she there? Do I need to come kick some ass?

She cracks me up.

Me: No, she called as I was on my way home.

Ellie: Meh, don’t pay attention to her and get rid of her.

Me: Two words…great mouth.

Ellie: Pig! Is it really worth putting up with her just to get head?

Me: It has its perks, at least she shuts up when she sucks me off.

Ellie: Fair point. Go get some rest if you don’t want to tattoo like a five-year-old tomorrow.

Me: Yes, mommy. Goodnight, doll.

Ellie: Goodnight Natter.

If I were younger and she wasn't a total madwoman, I’d have hit on Ellie when we first met. She is totally crazy, but she has a heart of gold and would make any man happy. Sadly, I see her as a little sister and not a potential short-term girlfriend. I wouldn’t want to ruin the relationship we have with a couple rounds of good sex. It wouldn’t be worth it.

I get out of my car and get my stuff from the trunk before making my way inside. I’m relieved to see that Lindsey didn’t sneak in here to surprise me. It would have been a surprise, but not a good one.

Sadly for me, I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t have the heart to tell a woman it’s over. It would be the same if she didn’t use the threat of my father at all times. I just hate it when women cry, especially if it’s because of me.

I put a piece of frozen lasagna in the microwave and heat it up as I strip down to my boxers for comfort. When I’m at home, I hate being dressed. The only reason I’m keeping my boxers on is because of my neighbor. Matt. Ever since the day I moved in, he’s been a real pain in the ass. It wouldn’t be the first time he would show up to ask for something just to annoy me, and I don’t want him to catch me naked. He likes men, and I’m not sure how I would react if he were to come onto me.

Just as I’m about to take the lasagna out of the microwave, I hear moans coming from next door. Here we go again. I’m not against two people enjoying their sex lives to the fullest, but the walls are thick, and I can clearly hear them going at it. Or maybe he’s just doing it against the wall on purpose to piss me off. I wouldn’t put it past him.

I groan and try to ignore them. I take my plate out of the microwave and take it to the couch. I put the plate down on the coffee table and sit down. I turn the TV on to an episode of Sons of Anarchy and take my first bite of the delicious tomato goodness when louder moans and screams come from next door. I turn the sound louder, not wanting to be a cock block but also not wanting to know every single detail of his sex life, or needing to go over there and tell them to be quiet. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d have to ask Matt and his boyfriend to keep it quiet. It’s actually a weekly occurrence. I’ve lived here for a year or so now, and it’s the same thing week after week. I wish things were different and that we got along, but he’s a loud, annoying bastard who doesn’t care about his neighbors and actually enjoys tormenting them. I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s come over to ask me for stuff he possibly couldn’t need and has been a nuisance more often than not.