Breaking Elle (2 page)

“You know I wouldn’t miss a game. I’m always there to cheer on my best friend, the future shortstop for the New York Yankees.” I chuckle as I playfully nudge him with my elbow.

“Whatever. Still don’t get the whole Yankees Fan thing when you live in Boston,” he replies shaking his head.

“Are we going there again?” I laugh. “You should know by now that I like living on the edge.” I say, tilting my head.

“Definitely living on the edge with that decision. Red Sox fans are brutal.” He smirks and turns to observe the crowd on the dance floor.

“I’ve survived twenty-two years with no bruises or scratches.” I laugh, taking a sip of beer.

I hear Evelyn before I see her. She glides her way through a cluster of people and finally gets to me. I wish she’d stay where she is, but I can’t ditch her like that, especially in her time of need. I laugh at the thought of her suffering. Evelyn doesn’t look like she needs my help to end her misery as she scans the crowd for her next victim.

“Hey guys!” she chirps, swinging her hair off her shoulders.

“Where did your Prince Charming go?” I ask with a smile, slipping off my barstool and craning my neck to look over the crowd. How am I going to get through the wall of people to find the bathroom?

“He had other options,” she says, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m fine with that. He wasn’t my type anyway.”

“I never knew you were so picky.” Tyler smiles crookedly as he takes a long pull of beer.

“Funny.” She retorts, her response dripping with sarcasm. “You guys are a couple of fuckin’ comedians. Are you sure you’re not boyfriend and girlfriend?” She cocks her head to the side, rolls her eyes at Tyler, and winks at me.

Tyler gazes over at me and gives me that damn smile that I’ve seen every day for the past fourteen years of my life. “I wish,” he says, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “But I’m not good enough for this one.” He gives me his best pouty face.

“
Puh-lease
,” I look up and smile, wrapping my arm around his waist. “You know the deal.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tyler replies as he sips his beer and smiles down at me.

Tyler has been my best friend since we were kids. He’s like a brother to me. We’ve shared too much about our lives for me to feel comfortable with him as anything other than my best friend. Tyler’s not-so-secret crush on me has complicated things before. He is my lifeline, so I keep myself closed off from the possibility of him being more than a friend. I can’t risk losing him. I need our friendship more than a flash in the pan relationship.

I turn to Evelyn and smirk. “It’s not a foreign concept to have a guy for a best friend.”

“I agree, but the way you guys carry on, you’d think you were a couple or something. Just saying.” She turns, cozies up to the bar, and makes eyes at my bartender friend before ordering a drink. It doesn’t take her long to hook her claws into him.
Bartender
is now Chad. Evelyn is quick with the draw; she doesn’t do a lot of talking. She’s all action.

“I need to go to the little girl’s room. Are you gonna be okay with this one?” I giggle at Tyler, and nod in Evelyn’s direction.

“I can handle her.” Tyler squints, surveying the crowd again. “Do you need an escort?”

“I love that you feel the need to be my bodyguard, but I’m a big girl.” I say, as I adjust my skirt.

“Positive? Looks like a jungle out there. I don’t want anything happening to you.” He says as he scrutinizes the expanding crowd.

“You need to relax.” I say, laughing as I playfully push my hand against his hard chest. “If I don’t make it back in ten minutes, send out a search party!” I grab my purse off the bar and turn, fighting my way through the swarm of bodies.

“Fine, ten minutes!” I hear him yell as the mob swallows me.

The lights swirl, pulsate, and splash the room with a kaleidoscope of colors as I make my way across the dance floor heading back to the bar. No one can hear me yelling ‘excuse me’ over the loud music as I trip over my own two feet. I try to avoid crashing into the person in front of me. He hurriedly wraps his strong arms around my waist, preventing my collision with the dance floor.

His fingers caress the small of my back, and then his hand sweeps across my arm, leaving a trail of heat. His chest is hard and rippled beneath my hands and his scent is spicy and intoxicating. My body reacts so strongly to his touch and the desire is almost more than I can fight. I feel his warm breath on my cheek when he says, “I’m sorry,” in a smooth voice with an accent I can’t quite place.

Nothing registers in my mind and no words fall from my lips. My eyes take in his perfectly chiseled face framed by dark brown tousled hair and deep blue eyes that lock with mine. I finally respond breathlessly by saying, “It’s okay,” and slowly turn away, feeling the heat rising from my toes to my cheeks.

I carefully slip through the crowd with legs limp underneath me, recalling the feel of his skin on mine. Unable to fight the urge, I look over my shoulder and see that he’s still watching me. The corner of his mouth lifts into a swoon-worthy smile that makes me blush. I turn away, fighting my body and its reaction to this man. I cannot deny that I felt something fantastic when he touched me, and I definitely cannot go back.

We’ve been here almost two hours. The dance floor is still overflowing, and the music continues to blast out of the speakers. I’m anxious to leave as I shoulder my way off the dance floor, and snatch a stool at the bar. I plan to spend the night at Cane’s. His roommates are gone for the weekend, so we have the whole place to ourselves. I pull out my cell to text Cane I’m on my way.

Elle: Leaving now. ;)

Cane: Sooner the better.

Elle: B there in 15.

Cane: Get here already ;)

Elle: Love U

“Hey, looks like you can use some water,” Chad says as he slides a tall glass of water in front of me.

“Thank you.” I turn to the bar, dropping my phone in my purse. I take a sip and watch Chad from the corner of my eye.

“Long night, huh?” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Yes. I’m beat,” I reply, watching as he wipes the bar again. I laugh to myself and find myself wondering if the constant wiping motion is the reason for those bulging muscles of his.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He grins.

I shake my head and smile into my glass. “I need some fresh air.” I look over to find him smiling at me.

“Ugh, my feet are killing me.” I turn to the sound of Evelyn’s voice as she trips to the bar. Grimacing, she rests her elbow on the surface, slips off her heels, and hops on the stool to rest her feet.

“Are you ready to head out?” I ask, glancing toward the exit and then back at her.

“Hold on, sheesh! Give me a minute to rest my poor feet,” she retorts, wiggling her manicured toes. “Aren’t
we
a little eager to get out of here?”

“It’s been a wild night,” I reply. I slide off my stool, watching as people are already leaving. Chad waves from behind the bar. I’m not one to be rude, so I wave back. It doesn’t escape my notice when his eyes trail the length of my body. I take it as a compliment.

“OK... OK.” She huffs. “Just give me a sec.” She slips her heels back on and slides off the stool. “What’s the rush? You got a hot date tonight?” She smiles as she tries to catch up to me as I walk towards the exit.

“Yes, I do actually. You can drop me off at Cane’s apartment.” I smile over my shoulder. “What about you? No luck tonight?”

“Hmm, not so much,” she answers softly as she falls in stride with me. I wonder if this is all an act, and she actually is hurting from the breakup with her boyfriend.

“What about the tall, hot guy you were talking to? Prince Charming?” I laugh. “I’m surprised he could resist you.”

“I don’t know. I can’t be everyone’s type. Maybe I need to take a break from men and focus on something else. Like, take up a new hobby or something.” She sighs. “I want a guy to pursue me for once.”

“Well, maybe you’re not giving them a chance to.” I chuckle, nudging her arm. “Reel it in, girlfriend.”

“Maybe.” She crinkles her nose and laughs.

I peek over and see that she’s checking her phone. Her eyes narrow as her fingers frantically move. I assume she’s texting her ex.

“Hey, are you all right?” I ask, putting my hand on her shoulder. I hate seeing how brokenhearted she is. She kind of reminds me of my mom and a knot forms in my stomach. She’s trying to put on a brave front, but I know her better than that.

“Yep, I’m dandy,” she says, glancing up from her phone before shoving it back in her purse.

“Really? Because from where I’m at, it doesn’t look like it.” She rolls her big brown eyes at me. “You know I’m here for you, twenty-four-seven.”

“I know.” She sighs. “I think it’s just going to take a little time.”

I have little faith in the cliché that time heals all wounds.

“Well, the invitation stands.” I smile.

“Elle, have I told you lately that you’re awesome?” she asks with a small grin. “I’ll be fine. Now, where the hell did we park?”

We walk the parking lot for a few minutes searching for her tiny silver Mercedes. An enormous black Hummer with shiny silver rims, black tinted windows, and large fog lights has completely blocked it from our view.

“What the hell would someone do with all this truck?” I say as I wait for Evelyn to dig her keys out of her purse. “Evelyn, come on. I told Cane I’d be there in fifteen minutes, and it’s already been twenty.” I am slightly annoyed that it took us so long to find her car.

“Relax, five minutes isn’t gonna kill you,” Evelyn replies as she finally finds her fob, unlocks the doors, and slips into her car.

“I’m needing my man right now,” I say. I slide into the front seat, rolling down the window to feel the summer breeze on my face. I was not expecting the owner of the Hummer to be staring right at me with his hypnotizing blue eyes as we pull away. I smile without thinking, feeling that same rush of heat to my cheeks as I watch this gorgeous hottie disappear in the mirror. I shake my head, thinking a guy like him is nothing but trouble.

New places, new faces are fine. I like that, but I didn’t move here to make a lifestyle change. No. I needed to get away from all the shit I brought on myself back in Texas. The Gypsy Bar is the first place my new roommate Luke brought me to when I arrived in Boston a couple of months ago. Luke and I decide to meet here tonight to hang out, pass the time, and possibly take a couple of chicks home.

It’s packed tonight, which means there are plenty of women to choose from. I love having lots of options. It’s like being a little boy in a candy store even though there’s nothing little about me. I’m six feet two with just enough muscle. People tell me that the line about everything in Texas being bigger describes me perfectly.

I place my elbows on the bar and grin, admiring the women, college girls, and just all females in general. That’s all I care about right now. I have some standard requirements when it comes to choosing my prey: long hair, tight body, face of an angel.
Perfection
. I usually get it, and they typically come to me. It’s rare that I chase after anyone. I wave down the bartender who seems to be too busy hitting on someone. That’s a major benefit of being a bartender, but I’ve never had to work hard to get a girl. Whoever he’s talking to is making him smile. All I can see is her long, wavy brown hair and that she’s wearing my favorite color red. I can’t fucking resist a woman in red.