Stain (Stain #1)(28)

He reaches over to pick up his cup. “Here’s to hoping he’s roasting in hell,” he announces, and drinks and drinks until it’s all gone. Despite all the noise around us, there’s a cloud of tension hanging over us in that instant.

Knowing she probably said far more than she should have, Suzy clears her throat before taking out her pencil and pad. “What’ll be, kiddo, the usual?”

“Yup.” Short and concise.

Jotting it down, she turns to me. “And you, sweetheart?”

I shake my head. “I’m okay, thank you.”

“Order something,” he grumbles, his gaze boring into me.

“Uh…maybe some fries…?”

“You got it. Basket of fries, coming up. Hang tight. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“You follow me around school, you’re at this bullshit therapy group I’ve been forced to go to, and now you’ve come all the way down to my little shithole with some stupid-ass excuse about homework. I don’t know what the f*ck you want, but I’m going to make it real easy for you and tell you I’m not…”

“I want to draw you,” I blurt out.

He looks at me like I’ve gone brain-dead. I raise a hand to sweep my hair behind my ear with a sigh. “I’m applying to the New England Institute of Art, and they need my portfolio by December. I’ve been following you around because you have this look I think would translate really well onto a canvas. I thought I could capture your likeness from far away and not have to bother you, but…” I raise my shoulders to align with my ears and let them drop with a sigh as my eyes drop down to the black-speckled tabletop.

“Look at me.”

I can’t say why his directives have such an unquestionable effect on me, or why. I can’t seem to deny them. But without even the slightest hint of hesitation, they fly to meet his brooding, pewter gaze.

“Continue what you were saying.”

Another sigh. “But I need you sitting in front of me in order to get your angles and contours exactly how I’d like them.” It’s so hard to hold his stare, especially when embarrassment warms my face like it is now. “I was hoping you’d let me draw you.”

With his razor blade stare fixing steadily on me, he raises his arms and folds them behind his head. “Why not ask Noah? We have the same face.”

“Actually, you don’t…not really.” At the intrigued cock of his left eyebrow, I look away before elaborating. “I know you’re twins, but Noah’s face is more symmetrical, his features are delicate, beautiful even. But you…you’re…”

“Uglier,” he quips, the corner of his mouth flirting with a boyish grin.

I shake my head, “Far from it.” I lick my lips as my eyes dart to his face before looking away again. “You’re…rugged. Striking. There’s a hardness about you that’s really compelling. It’s hard not to stare at you.” I bite my tongue at the unsolicited admission.

There’s a soft exhalation of a chuckle before he asks, “What’s in it for me?”

I flush, not sure the tone of his inquiry is entirely innocent. “I don’t have a lot of money…”

“Not interested in your money,” he inserts dismissively.

“Okay. I can tutor you. I’m assuming with all the class you’ve missed out on so far you probably have a lot of catching up to do. I can help.”

He gives a shake of his dark head. “That’ll just end up wasting not only your time but mine too. My time is pretty f*cking valuable right now.”

It doesn’t take a genius to surmise exactly where that valuable time is spent. Without warning, my mind conjures the image of his lean, muscular body adorned with all those beautiful tattoos. It’s emblazon across my mind like a billboard pictorial off the interstate. Nine inches. Circumcised. That sudden thought is plucked from my memory bank. My eyes widen and I can feel the palpable heat in my face, mortified that I even know that. “What do you want then?” An alarming sense of dread tiptoes down my spine the instant those words leave my mouth. That sensation is made worse by the sight of the Grinch-like smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.

I open my mouth to ask him the reason behind the grin but I’m interrupted by our waitress’ return. I’m partially grateful to her for saving me from making a complete fool out of myself. Again. Though another part of me is still somewhat curious to hear his response.

“Here you are, kiddos. A Sudsy bacon double cheeseburger with the works and a side of loaded curly fries for you.” She sets the massive burger and fries in front of him. “And here’s your basket of fries. I had Sudsy add a bit more for you, honey, you look like you need to eat more. Flag me down if you need anything else.” With that she waddles away to another table, leaving me to wonder whether I was just insulted.

“She’s a real pro in the subtlety department,” he remarks dryly, taking a big bite of his burger. In the time it takes him to polish off his food, there’s little to no conversation between us. While mindlessly nibbling on my basket of fries, I occasionally glance his way. It’s odd that I find him eating something so simple, so utterly appealing. He eats like he hasn’t eaten in days, with a strong, voracious appetite that seems insatiable. I catch his gaze while he licks his fingers of the ketchup on his fries. There’s an irreverent glint in gun-metal eyes that suddenly speaks of so much more than just his literal appetite.