Roofie (MMA Bad Boys Book 2) (3 page)

“She’s lovely,” I say between mouthfuls. “You’re lucky you have a nice in-law, most get nasty stuck up types.”

“Yeah, I do love Gina.” She smiles wistfully as she continues eating. The next ten minutes are quiet as we eat the gorgeous Spaghetti Carbonara ‘til it’s all gone. “I’m so full right now I could actually pop.”

“Me too. God, why did I eat it all? I’ll have to work twice as hard at the gym today.” I groan and rub circles around my bloated belly. Though I hate being so full, that meal was damn worth it. Fuckin’ grade-A, that meal was.

“You always eat that much and always push your limits at the gym, that’s nothing new, Gem,” Carlotta says. “But I agree, twice the work out today.”

“Does it feel weird? Not fighting anymore, I mean,” I ask as I slump in my chair with my glass of Bottega Gold Prosecco. This wine is exquisite, its sharp yet smooth and Gina’s is the only place you can get it as she has it imported from Italy.

“A little bit. I don’t miss it though, but it feels weird not being in the ring anymore.” She plays with the placemat on the table, lost in thought.

After the last fight she had put her in hospital, fighting for her life, she vowed to Beast she would never fight again. That was a reality check for her and now she’s thrown herself into the tattoo shop we both own. She still attends the gym with me, helps me train and spars with me but that’s as far as her interest in fighting goes now. I’m grateful that she still helps me and cheers me on from the side lines. She’s my anchor and she knows it.

We both sit there, staring out the window and watching the busy Londoners stroll on by with their briefcases and expensive phones glued to their ears. We’re both lost in our own heads but the silence between us is comfortable.

I may seem like the live and let live kinda girl, but really, deep down, I’m insecure and paranoid. Hell, I’m even shy when I don’t have a drink in my system. I led a sheltered life. My parents are good people, don’t get me wrong but I was never allowed to do anything, I was only allowed out to play with my friends for an hour each day, I was never allowed to watch cartoons on the TV and I was forced to be a vegetarian. I was made to do my homework as soon as I was home from school, and bed time was no later than eight pm. My life was dull and boring, and most days I couldn’t wait to escape the imprisonment of the house to get to school. Once I finished college, I left my parents a note, packed my shit and moved to London. They never forgave me for leaving without a discussion and I’m glad they live all the way down in Eastborne. Deep down, I love them dearly, I do, they’re good parents but I needed to venture out and I hope one day they’ll understand the predicament that they put me through.

“Gemma?” Carlotta says, waving a hand in my face. “You were pretty deep in thought there. Time to go, chica.”

We get up and kiss Gina on the cheek on the way out, waving at the staff before the door closes behind us. We walk in the direction Carlotta’s new Mazda RX8 is parked and I still marvel at its beauty and feel kinda jealous that Beast splashed the cash on Carlotta to get it, though it didn’t happen without a fight.

Seatbelt secure, I wait for Carlotta to get comfortable before we pull out into the afternoon traffic in the direction of the tattoo shop. “How many clients have we got coming in this afternoon?”

“Three,” Carlotta replies as she checks her rear-view mirror. “This asshole is right on my arse and it’s starting to really piss me off.”

One flaw about Carlotta, her road rage. She’s only had it since she came out of hospital and it’s amusing to see such a bitty little thing get so enraged about another car. She didn’t used to drive everywhere if she didn’t have to, usually it was me. But since she got this car, she hasn’t stopped and I’m relieved. I hate driving in this city.

Pulling up to the private car lot behind the tattoo shop, I notice the car that was on our bumper glide on down the street slowly. Goosebumps rise on my skin, a prickling sensation warning me…of what? I have no idea. I shake it off and get out the car and slinging my bag over my shoulder.

We walk around the side of the building to get to the front entrance, talking about the day ahead. I stop dead in my tracks making Carlotta smash straight into my back, “Ouch!”

“Roofie,” I whisper. My nostrils flare at seeing him but lust smashes me in the vagina and I have to silently tell it to behave because I’m never going there with him again. Ever.

“Gemma.” He nods at me. “Carlotta.”

“What do you want? You’re not scheduled in today,” I ask him. I’m pretty sure he’s not one of the people due in today. I glance at Carlotta for confirmation and she agrees.

“I want to speak to Gemma.” His deep, husky voice send shivers down my spine. I’m pretty sure I can cum from just listening to him.
Shut up, Gemma, you fucking slag
, the little devil in my head tells me. “In private.”

“I’ll go get everything ready. No rush,” Carlotta says in a too high tone and a dirty smirk clawing at the side of her mouth. She’s going to fucking get it later. Turning, she unlocks the shop door and walks through, winking at me through the glass window. I’m going to smother her in her sleep and…

“Gemma?” Roofie is closer than he was before and I step back. “Hear me out, okay?”

Conceding, I blow out a breath of air and fold my arms just under my tits. Didn’t say I’ll make this easy for him. “Spill.”

“I didn’t know I spewed that shit the morning after we hooked up. Carlotta told me weeks ago but fuck, I’m a damn coward and didn’t know how to approach this without getting bitch slapped.” He pauses, eyeing me cautiously. So he fucking should. I knew he didn’t know, Carlotta enlightened me on that herself. But it doesn’t make what he did excusable, and it’s not something I can easily forget. “Look, I’m sorry, I really am. Trust me, the guilt is eating me and I really thought we should clear the air for the sake of the lovebirds. I don’t want no awkwardness between us anymore. And, shit, I’ve never said shit like that to a girl before. Trust me, I’m not Beast. That stuff is his game not mine. I’m so sorry, Gemma.”

I stare wide eyed at him after his little speech and my chest is pounding hard in my chest. I swallow as I see the guilt swimming in his eyes and the sincerity on his face which tells me he’s telling the truth. My shoulders sag forward and the tension leaves my body. Bitchiness aside, I’m not a bad person. I’ve had a shit time of it and I know all too well what guilt can do to a person. “Okay, look, I don’t want things awkward either. We drink in the same pub and we pretty much hang with the same people. What you did was horrible, and yes it was hurtful, but I’ve also said shit in front of a lot of people that I understand could hurt you too. Was that my intention? Fuck yeah. I wanted you to feel as humiliated as I did that night. I do regret it now, and I’m sorry too.” Pausing to gage his reaction, my eyes zone in on his, which are swimming with so many thoughts and feelings that I can’t keep up. “Friends?”

Holding my hand out to his, he smirks and squeezes my hand. Not hard, but soft, something I didn’t think he was capable with. “Fuck this.” He pulls at my arm until I’m smashed against his chest and he wraps me in his arms. His cologne and manly scent drift up my nose and I have to restrain myself from moaning out loud. He’s smells exquisite, like the best food and drink mixed into one when you’re hungry as fuck. I’m hungry now, and it’s not for food.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I smile to myself. I think this is the nicest I’ve ever seen Roofie, and it warms my heart just a little bit that he’s letting his walls down with me.

“Thank you,” Roofie says, a full megawatt, dimple showing, smile on his face. “For forgiving me. I guess having sex and drinking a shit load of booze doesn’t mix. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“That’s cool. My vagina isn’t going near you again though. But I appreciate the apology. I have to get in there.” I point to the shop behind us. “I have some designs to draw up so I better go. Thanks, Roofie.”

I struggle out of his hold and turn to head into the shop. “Bye, Gem. See ya around.” I have to take a deep breath and grip the door handle so I don’t go jumping in his arms again. His unique smell is something that will be etched in my sinuses for the rest of the day. Could be distracting but then again, it could be inspirational. Time will tell.

Closing the door behind me, I look up and notice Carlotta leaning again the reception desk, a devious grin spread across her face. “That was quite the hug.”

“Friends, Carlotta, that’s all. My vag is never going near his again.” I can feel the heat spread across my cheeks and I know Carlotta notices by the snort she produces. “Seriously. I don’t want a repeat.”

“Sure, Gem. I believe you.” She laughs as she saunters to the desk to answer the phone which I didn’t even realise was ringing ‘til now.

“Blissfully Inked, Carlotta speaking. How can I help?” Carlotta’s brows furrow as she listens to whoever is on the other end of the phone. “Okay, I think you have the wrong number.”

Hanging up, she looks at me with confusion. I ask her, “Who was that?”

“She said something about Roofie, spewing shit. I think she had the wrong number because why the hell would she call here?” Her confusion is infectious and I’m left wandering; what the fuck?

“Okay…Random. Oh well. I’m sure he has a lot of woman gunning for him. He’s not exactly celibate is he?” My laugh is strained as I scratch my forehead. “They’ll get over it.”

I walk over to my table and get my pencils and paper ready for drawing and Carlotta is looking at me with an expression of concern. “What?”

“Are you okay?” She says barely above a whisper.

“Why wouldn’t I be? Jeez, what are you? My fucking mother?” I really, honest to God, didn’t mean to shout at her. My nerves are on edge and I have no fucking clue why. “Shit, sorry, babe.”

She waves it off and continues with her work. Every so often, I catch her looking at me with a frown. Thing is, Carlotta can read me like an open book and sometimes it’s just irritating, at other times, I’m grateful because I’m not big on talking. Back home, I had no girlfriends I could rely on for support. I never understood girls to be quite honest. Most of them are catty, fake and annoying as fuck. Plus, I wasn’t really allowed friends. My parents said it would ruin my concentration at school, but what they didn’t think about was how anti-social it made me. I don’t make friends easily but Carlotta is easy to get on with and she was the one who approached me.

Our meeting for the first time is something I’ll never forget. She came up to me and ran on the treadmill beside me at the gym and said, “Hey, new girl. You’re the one that stands in the corner and gives girls the evil eye, and that’s the sorta girl I like to hang with. Quick question, because I don’t have anyone else to ask, rabbit or bullet?” After the fits of laughter, conversation was easy. We got along like a house on fire. I told her about my predicament with housing and she offered me a room. We’ve been inseparable since. I love her like a sister and our bond is strong.

Back to reality, I set about designing the tribal heart for the first client and I get so emerged in it that all background noises disappear. The one thing about drawing, I get lost in my own thoughts yet still do a fucking banging job on the design. Like now, Roofie is stuck in my head. I don’t want him in my head but I can still smell him like he’s in the same room. I can still feel his rigid muscles under the palms of my hand. Fuck. I don’t even want to go there again, like fucking ever. The dude treated me like a piece of shit on his shoe. Yes, he’s apologised but it will still take time to get over it. I’m a sensitive person. On the outside, I’m rough, hard and unapproachable to most people. On the inside, I’m complete mush. I read books with happy endings, books with a shit load of sex and I can sit and watch the Notebook twenty-thousands time and I’ll always cry. I sleep with a stuffed bear and I have a massive crush on Ian Somerhalder; what woman wouldn’t, right?

“GEMMA!” I’m pulled out of my thoughts when Carlotta practically screams in my damn ear, making me jump. My pencil flies in the air and bumps on her head before clattering to the floor. Oops, I still snort as I try not to laugh at her shocked expression and she smacks my arm.

“What, woman? I was working?” I turn in my swivel chair and steeple my fingers together in my lap. Looking up at her, I see her scowling. “Seriously, what the fuck?”

“Are you nearly done with the design? Bailey is here waiting. I’ve been calling your name for about five minutes.” She shakes her head and looks over my shoulder at my drawing.

“Just a few more touches and it’ll be done.” I turn back around, grab a new pencil and do the last few strokes for the lock in the middle before handing it to her. “Happy?”

“Yes, thank you.” She smiles at me before turning around, calling Bailey to her station as she goes.

Deciding on having my lunch hour whilst she works on Bailey, I call out that I’m heading to the café down the road. Shoving on my cardigan, I leave the shop and turn left, walking to our favourite place to get coffee; Lorena’s Café.

The bite in the air warns me winter is coming, and I fucking hate the winter. I hate having to wrap myself in a big as shit coat and cover all my assets. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arrogant and I have my insecurities but I know I’ve worked hard for the body that I have and I’m not afraid to show the world. I also hate that I have to use the heating in the apartment, it blows out dust and shit that we can’t clean out and it’s horrible. We didn’t really have much of a Summer. For about two weeks, we had clear skies, not including the London pollution, and bright sunshine. I got a tan and I was happy, but that was about as much as we got. The rest of Summer was filled with frightening storms, torrential rain and a muggy, humid, heat that made you sticky and fucking miserable.

Getting lost in my thoughts, I almost pass by Lorena’s and I chuckle to myself. Usually, I could walk here with my eyes firmly shut and let the smell of bacon and eggs lead the way, but this time I was totally lost in my head.

Opening the door, the little bell above chimes, alerting everyone of my arrival. I smile when I notice Lorena standing behind the cash register. Noticing me, she smiles wide. “Gemma!”