My Anchor (Trio Series Book 1) (4 page)

“I won't get over it.” She snaps at me.

“I wasn't going to say that. Not at all. I was just going to say you haven't come to terms with it. Looked it in the eye and beat it down so it doesn't keep you down.”

“Like you have? Linn, I know you haven't ‘come to terms with it’ when it comes to your past.”

“This isn't about me.” I start to defend myself.

“Go to bed. You have an early class.” She waves me off.

“You sure?”

“Yes go to bed.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too Linnie.” She says back when I'm on my way to my room.

“You think this guy you could be different?” She asks when I'm half way there stopping me. Causing me to ask that same question to myself.

“Maybe?” I look at her and shrug. “Goodnight Cris.”

“Night Linn.”

Could he be different? I really don't know if I'm ready for that or if I ever will be. Today was probably the first time I ever did anything with a guy that wasn't sexual and I had fun. Fun. In that moment I realize that yes I would like to keep seeing him.

Getting under the covers I see my phone is blinking. Shit, I forgot all about Lee’s text. Picking up the phone I see I’ve missed 5 texts.

Lee: no witty response for that one?

Lee: I still think I can make you scream louder

Lee: maybe with my head between your legs?

Lee: I bet he didn't go down on you. Don’t think that is really his style

Lee: girl like you needs to worshiped with a skilled tongue

The last text was sent two minutes ago so I send him one back.

Linn: No he didn't. And just between you and me, I was faking it. I tend to get a little loud when I'm drunk.

Not one minute later.

Lee: knew it

Lee: go to bed screamer and dream of me licking that pussy of yours

Wow, this man…

Linn: got my vibrating best friend here to help with that. Thank you for some new material. Goodnight.

Lee: shit might have to rub one more off now thanks for that. Goodnight.

The thought of him stroking himself is enough to get me going. Reaching over I grab my purple friend and don't stop till I have come at least five times. Damn that man.

“Shit Linnie wake up you’re going to be late!” I'm roused from a deep sleep by Shana yelling at me. What. The. Fuck. I roll over and grab my phone to see that yes I'm going to be late for my first class! Frick! I must have gotten distracted from setting my alarm last night when Lee text me. That fucking man. I jump out of bed and throw on the closest pair of jeans, bra, and a tee shirt. Run to the bathroom to splash some water on my face drag a brush through my hair throwing it up into a messy bun on the top of my head. Even in my rush, I have to stop and apply mascara and eyeshadow. I'm out the door then back through it because I'm barefoot. Shit. I step into my flip flops and then I'm out the door. Again.

Luckily I paid attention on the tour so I know right where to go. I am fairly good with direction except when it comes to not running into anyone on my way to class. I run smack into something solid rounding the corner. Ow! Damnit! Today is going great!

“Shit girl you in a hurry?” A deep rough voice says. He must be the something solid. Now I'm not by any means a tall person. I’m 5’3 on a regular day and 5’6 on a drinking night. Thank you, heals. Looking up I can tell this guy is at least six and a half feet tall and he is built. Lee is tall but maybe 6’3. Why do I find myself comparing?

“Hey, you okay?” He asks.

“I'm sorry, yes I'm in a hurry I'm late for class.”

“Which one?”

I pause for a second wracking my brain which seems to have fogged over from Mr. Tall and freaking sexy standing in front of me. “English lit.” I finally say. Thank you, brain for working again.

“Oh don't worry bout it. Styles is never on time, I'm headed there too. Walk with me? I can keep you from running into more oncoming traffic.” He says with a grin. I nod to him and we start walking.

“Names Rick.” He says leaving the door open for me to say mine.

“Linn.”

“Nice to meet you, Linn.”

Looks like today isn't going to be too bad.

Turns out I have two more classes with Rick, which is nice, I have someone to talk to and sit with. Oh, and look at. He really is something to look at. They guy probably lives at the gym. His hair is completely buzzed off of his head and he is clean shaven. Tattoos peek out from his shirt sleeves that seem to be testing the stretchiness of the fabric. A girl does need her eye candy.

I meet up with the girls later in the day and introduce them to Rick. They both love him right from the start as I do. He is funny as hell and a really could fit into out happy little trio. We invite him to go tattooing with us this weekend, yes I know that sounds cheesy. He already has ink himself and knew right where to go so win win.

Throughout the week Lee and I keep texting nothing as dirty as before just a quick hi how was your day kind of thing. He wanted to go do something this weekend but I had to decline for the girls. They really would kill me dead if I backed out on getting tattoos.

Saturday is here and we are at the place Rick told us to go. Inked Steel. Shana has decided she wants to get something her mom can see at all times and will absolutely hate. Very grown up of her I know. She is getting a very sexy she-devil on her left shoulder. Me. I'm getting a daisy on my hip for my mom since her name was Daisy. Simple. I'm not too sure about Cristal, though. She said she would just look through the books see if anything caught her eye. We really knew what that meant, she wasn't getting one.

We walk into the place and tell the girl behind the counter our appoint times and she hands us the consent forms. We start filling them out when Shana's guy comes to get her. He’s maybe 40 something with a full head of gray hair and every inch of his exposed skin is covered in artwork. I smile at her and wish her luck. The girl is gonna need it she is kinda a wuss when it comes to pain.

“Which one of you is Cristal?” A voice with a slight Aussie accent asks. That has Cristal jerking her head from the book she is looking at. When she sees him her eyes grow even bigger. I can totally see why. His hair is tied back into a knot and his face has a slight stubble. He has gauges in both ears, not big ones, and his lip is pierced. He, like the guy before, also has an array of colors all over his arms. And they are some arms. Wish he was doing my tattoo.

“Um that’s me, but I…” He interrupts her by sticking out his hand.

“I'm Dez, why don't you come on back and if you change your mind it’s all good. I'm not booked for another couple hours. Gets a little boring back there by myself could use someone to talk to.” She takes his hand and instead of him shaking it he pulls her up in one swift movement. “Let's go butterfly.”

By the way, he was looking at her and vise-versa she might just get to experience that thing she asked about the other night. “Linn?” A beautiful woman maybe 25 with purple hair and a nose ring calls my name. Guess it’s my turn.

Three hours later we are all done. Shana’s took the longest but looks absolutely beautiful and I'm in love with mine it’s perfect. When we get out to the waiting room Cristal isn't there. “Have you seen the other girl we came here with?” I ask the girl at the counter, who's name is Candy.

“Back there with Dez still.” What? Did she actually go through with it? Both Shana and I look at each other with a stunned expression. That’s when we hear it. Cristal is laughing. I haven't heard her laugh like that in so long that I almost forgot what it sounded like.

They come into view and she has the biggest smile on her face like she is happy and not that shy little girl. Whoever this guy ‘Dez’ is we need to take him home with us. When they reach the desk he looks up at Candy and seems to go into business mode. Grabbing a sheet of paper he hands it to her. It’s the same one we got with the aftercare instructions, but he also hands her a business card that he produces from his back pocket.

“Baby I just booked you another, should be here in a few.” Candy all but purrs to Dez. They must be fucking and she thinks it’s more because the look he gives her is not one that reciprocates the word ‘baby’.

“Thank you.” Cristal squeaks out then quickly rushes past us and out the door. Leaving her instructions and the business card still in Dez’s hand.

“I’ll take that,” I say walking over to him. “Whatever that…” Doing a circle wave with my hand in Candy’s direction. “Is. Figure it out because I haven't heard or seen that girl light up like that in years.” He just stares at me. Shocked at my words no doubt. I hear Candy huff. Catty bitch.

He seems to snap out of it then nods his head. Letting me know he understands. I grab Shana and we are out the door. “Damn girl you sure can be a bitch sometimes.”

“Sure can. But shit, did you see that? Tell me I wasn’t the only one.”

“No, you sure weren’t. I hope that boy is smart.” Looking closer at the card he was going to give her I see a name written on the back. Desmond. Followed by I'm guessing his phone number. I hold it up to Shana.

“Looks like he was trying to be.”

After tattoo time we head to Jack Shack, a burger bar, to eat and meet up with Rick. He was working so wasn't able to come on the tattoo adventure. Cristal is off since leaving and isn't saying much and she won't show us the tattoo she got. So we just leave it, if we push too hard she will go into shutdown mode. After we eat she decides she wants to go home so Shana takes her. Me and Rick, on the other hand, we stay and start having shots of Seven. Good idea? Probably not but hey when did I ever say I had those. In my drunken haze, I do notice that Rick and I just so happen to be checking out the same men. Interesting. He has never let on one way or another but he doesn't seem to be out. “Do you want to try and get his number?” I chance a question. Referring to sexy blond who is most definitely giving him eyes back.

“What? I'm not gay.” He all but squeaks. Bingo. Not out then.

“Nothing wrong with being gay. Just saying. You're a good looking guy so is he. Why not?”

“I'm not… Shit. Let's just drop it okay?”

“Okay. I'm here, though, remember that.”

“Yeah. You ready to get out of here?” Defeat.

“Yep lets go.”

We call a cab because, well neither one of us should drive. Stumble/walking our way out to the curb to wait for the cab to show up. We are clutching each other like life lines and laughing about something I can’t even remember.

“What the fuck Linn?” An all to familiar sexy voice asks from behind us. Turning around I see a very pissed off Lee. “Thought you said you were doing stuff with the ‘girls’ tonight.” He actually uses air quotes when he says, girls. “But here I find you. Repeating last weekend with someone else?” His voice is harsh and sends me back in time. You’re a god damn whore Linn. Where were you tonight Linn? If you are going to act like a whore you might as well be one Linn. I start shaking hearing those words being spoken in my head. Like always they turn everything to shit.

“Linn you okay?” This coming from Rick. “What the fuck man? You don't need to talk to her like that. Who the fuck are you anyway?”

Wrapping my arms protectively around myself I feel as if I'm a teenager again being called awful names.

“Shit.” I faintly hear Lee curse. “Get your hands off her,” Lee says all but ripping me from Rick’s hold. “She’s my… just… I’ll take care of her. Get in the cab and go home.”

“Look, man, I not just going to leave her with you unless she tells me otherwise.”

I'm still shaking caught in a moment in the past. Stuck there until Lee puts his hands on my face and tries to get me to make eye contact. “Linn, babe, look at me. I'm sorry.” He softly rubs his thumbs on my cheeks. This makes me snap out of it a little and I look at him. He has worry written all over his beautiful face. The corner of his eyes are slightly crinkled and it just makes him look even more handsome. “Where did you go just now?” He whispers maybe to himself it’s so quiet but I hear it.

“Linn you know this guy?” I shake away more of my daemons and answer a puzzled Rick.

“Yes, it’s fine Rick you can go home. See you Monday in class?”

“Yeah. Okay. Call if you need anything.” I turn my head to him and smile. He gets into the cab that pulls up and now I'm left alone with Lee.

“I'm trying to stay calm here but it’s slipping a little.” He tells me.

“I was out with the girls, we got tattoos today and came here after. Rick met up with us then and we all had dinner. Cris wanted to go home so Shane and her left. Rick and I stayed for a few. We were just going home when you showed up.” I may say that last part a little mean but his outburst was shitty.

“Well, I'm sorry for showing up and ruining your fun for the night.” He lets go of me and backs up. “Who is Rick and why did he have his hands all over you?”

“I met him my first day of classes we just clicked same with Shane and Cris. He is a great guy and you really don't need to be all possessive when it comes to him. He is more likely to be attracted to you than me although he would probably deny it.”