Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
TWO
Monk
What the hell am I doing here?
But here I stand at Petra’s apartment door, debating whether I should knock or turn my ass right back around.
Not only did I pass on a paying gig for this party I probably won’t even enjoy, but the girl I came to see is taken. And apparently a lesbian. I’m not one of those guys who thinks I can “turn” girls with my magical dick. I respect everyone’s sexuality. And God knows I’ve witnessed enough infidelity in my family to respect other people’s relationships. I would never go after someone else’s girl.
So again… what the hell am I doing here?
I’m here for Verity.
Not to make a play for her right under her girlfriend’s nose. Of course not, but she intrigued me. I’ve never reacted to a woman the way I did to Verity. I think I hid it well. My hands never stumbled, but my heart rattled in my rib cage like someone laid a defibrillator on my chest. A line of electricity ran between us when our eyes met. It sounds like something from a cheesy rom-com, but the rest of the room faded into the background and for a few seconds all I saw was her. And there was such an instant intimacy in the look we exchanged. I wouldn’t even characterize it as sexual. Not that I’m not attracted to her. Hell yeah, I am, but that wasn’t what that initial look was about. It was a recognition unlike anything I’ve experienced.
I’m here to convince myself it wasn’t real, because if it was, then the universe hates me. Feeling something like that with a woman who doesn’t even like men and is committed to someone else is some cosmic bullshit. The way she stared back at me, though—her discomfited look at the zing of heat when we shook hands.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, turning to leave and head back to my car parked on the street. “And pointless.”
The door to the apartment swings open behind me. I look over my shoulder to find Petra standing on the threshold, arms folded across her chest. Beyond her shoulder, the living room is crammed with people. Janet Jackson’s “Someone to Call My Lover” drifts out to the hall.
“Where you going?” Petra asks with a quirked brow and her patented smirk.
I turn to face her and point a thumb toward my car. “Uh, I forgot… I didn’t bring anything.”
“Boy, nobody asked you to,” she scoffs, opening the door wider. “We got plenty. Come on in.”
“Plenty” turns out to be a spread of pizza and wings. The budget definitely went to the alcohol. A small window through to the kitchen reveals a large collection of liquor bottles and cans of beer crowding the counter.
I sweep the apartment in a glance, searching for Verity, but half glad when I don’t see her among the students crowding the apartment. Some are seated on the couch, on the floor, on the small patio the sliding door opens to. A few of them are dancing, laughing seemingly carefree. I’ve been working my ass off the last four years, and I can count on one hand the number of parties I’ve been to. Besides a demanding class schedule, I stay booked, playing all over the city. Most students would kill to have the problem of too many gigs. Me? I’m just tired and ready to graduate so I don’t have to balance school with everything else.
“You hungry?” Petra asks, gesturing toward the boxes of pizza and trays of wings.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“If you’re not hungry,” Petra says, “at least grab a drink.”
A petite girl with a close haircut dyed purple walks up, leans into Petra’s side, and takes her hand. Petra smiles down at her.
“What’s up, Randi?” she asks, her eyes wandering up and down the girl’s curvy figure. “Been a while.”
“Hmmm.” Randi offers a heavy-lidded grin and licks her lips. “Too long. Thanks for the invite.”
“Anytime, you know that,” Petra all but purrs. Her glance bounces from the pretty girl at her side to me. “I need to check on something, Monk, but Zeke’s in the kitchen making drinks. He’ll hook you up.”
“Alright, yeah.” I look from her to Randi, testing my instincts to figure out what’s up between them.
“Glad you could make it,” Petra tosses back as she and Randi walk away.
Is Verity not even here? Didn’t Petra say they’re dating? I never could keep up with Petra’s relationship revolving door. Seemed like she had a new girl on her arm every week when I knew her before.
I enter the kitchen to find Ezekiel minding the vast array of liquor bottles spread across the counter. He must be some kind of ad hoc bartender because he’s taking orders and mixing drinks.
“Hey! You made it,” he greets me with a wide grin. “We got a little of everything. What’ll you have?”