It’s been so long that I’ve forgotten how fun and destructive sex could be.
Maybe it really is time for me to get back out there and start dating again.
Nah, women are too much work. Besides, I can’t even think about getting naked with anyone until I can look in the mirror without hating what I see.
Lucy
The next morning, I was hoping for a repeat of the day before. I would tidy up Nash’s place while he slept in; then I would cook us some waffles, and boom, he’d wake up, we’d eat together and have another deep conversation.
Instead, he slept through the cleaning and the waffles. I was too disappointed to wake him up, so I waited around in his apartment watching game shows on his television until almost noon, then left a note on the fridge, and slipped out the door.
On my way down the stairs, I nearly ran head-first into a woman carrying a plate covered in aluminum foil, about the size of a small mountain.
“Oh my god! I’m sorry!” I apologize. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“No, it’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention,” she says, balancing the plate in one hand to run her fingers through her beautiful, multi-colored hair. “Too much on my mind.”
“I know how that is,” I reply. “Well, have a good day.”
“You too,” she says with a smile before she continues up the remaining steps and I hear her knocking on a door.
Glancing over my shoulder like the nosy person I am, I see her waiting outside Nash’s apartment.
I thought he hadn’t slept with anyone in years? That was such bullshit. And I’m not jealous. Nope, not even a smidge. I just want to slam the pretty girl’s face into his door and rip out her gorgeous hair.
Swallowing down those dark thoughts, I blurt out, “He’s, um, he’s still asleep.”
“Ah, who is asleep?”
“Nash.”
“Oh. You know Nash?” she asks, pointing at his door in surprise, and I can’t help but wonder who she is. One of his admirers trying to get in his pants now that he’s officially divorced maybe…
“Yeah, I do. I live down below him.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I have a key to his apartment,” I brag just a little when I hold it up between my fingers. “Do you want me to let you in?”
“No, not if he’s sleeping. I was just bringing him some brownies. Want one?” She holds out the plate toward me, and I immediately know how Snow White felt when confronted by a witch. I can’t resist chocolate, even from the girl trying to bang the hottest man ever.
“Sure.”
“How about I leave these with you, and you can give them to Nash later when he’s awake and after you eat as many as you want?” she suggests.
“Sounds good to me,” I easily agree when I take the plate from her. “I’m Lucy, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you! I’m Jetta. My boyfriend Devlin is one of Nash’s good friends in the MC.”
“Ah, so he’s one of the Dirty Aces?”
“He is,” she agrees with a growing smile. “And are you and Nash…” she trails off and waggles her eyebrows.
“No, we’re just neighbors. I’m not even sure if we’re friends,” I admit to her.
“Oh, well, Nash isn’t known for dating much because of his wife and all,” she tells me, watching my face closely, I assume to see if I know that about him.
“Ex-wife,” I correct her. “They’re officially divorced now.”
“Is that right? Good for him.”
“I don’t think it was his choice.”
“Oh. Well, either way it’s done. It’s time for Nash to finally move on. He’s a good guy. All of the Dirty Aces are. And I owe them more than I’ll ever be able to repay,” she says with a slight frown tugging down her lips.
I want to ask what she means by that but don’t want to pry.
As the two of us stand there awkwardly on the stairs, I try to think of something else to say.
“I love your hair,” I tell Jetta honestly, no longer wanting to pull it out now that I know she has a man.
“Thank you,” she says, running her fingers through it again.
“I’ve never been brave enough to try colors.”
“Let me know if you change your mind. I just started cosmetology school, but I’ve been coloring my own hair for years.”
“Really? That’s awesome!” I tell her.
“I’m free the rest of the day if you want to try something new.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I don’t think I’m ready for blues and purples yet, but I would love to go a little blonder maybe?”
“Absolutely!” Jetta replies. “If you want to put those brownies away, then we can head to my place. Actually, it’s Dev’s place, but I’ve been crashing with him after a fallout with my asshole brother.”
“Ugh. The only thing you can count on with family is drama,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
“Exactly,” she agrees with a smile. I know right then and there that I’ve finally made my first real friend in this new city.
Chapter Seven
Nash
“What the hell are you wearing?” Ellie asks as soon as I walk through our apartment door wearing a new denim cut. The leather ones are more badass, but we’re all too broke to afford them just yet.
“Malcolm, Lowell and I have decided to start
