Senseless Attraction (21 page)

      I grabbed Sarah’s hand tighter. She was glancing around to see if she could find Tristan and his friends, while Corbet and I looked for the closest escape.

      Joe’s was huge for an underground place; there was at least twenty pool tables in the middle of the room, with low hanging lights over every table. Along all the other walls, besides the bar end, seated booths for those who only came here to watch and drink.

      “There he is, and what the hell is that girl doing draped all over him?”

      I looked over to the right corner, a few booths back from the bar, and found Tristan standing and leaning against the wall. His friends sat in the booth with some girls, but there was one girl with long brown hair, curled around Tristan. At least, he didn’t look that interested in her, so I told that to Sarah while my eyes stayed glued to Tristan, and my heart did a double beat. He looked really good, leaning there in dark blue jeans and a tight black t-shirt.

      “Yeah, well, he better not be. I’m going over; you guys coming?” She took a step forward, and then turned back to Corbet and me. However, we were quite comfortable where we were, having the bar helped us stand and not flee like I knew we wanted to.

      “I think I might stay here and get a drink. Alex?”

      “Yes, a drink sounds good, and then, you know how much of a shark playing pool-gal I am. I think I’m going to have a go at that. You up for it, Corbet?”

      Corbet stifled his laugh and said, “Yeah, that sounds good; I bet I could beat your ass.”

      I raised my brows and snorted. “I highly doubt that.”

      Sarah scoffed, rolled her eyes, and left, but at least we brought a smile to her face. Corbet ordered us two cokes, and I watched Sarah arrive at the group. A few of Tristan’s mates wolf-whistled at her. She ignored them and went straight up to Tristan and the girl. Sarah said something, the girl laughed and shook her head, then quickly left. Tristan seemed shocked for a second before he quickly recovered and smiled down at her. He said something, which made her point over our way, and I quickly looked to Corbet and said, “I think I would rather dye my hair pink than be here.”

      Corbet laughed. “I have to agree with you there, only I’d choose blue; pink is just not my colour, girlfriend.”

      I laughed and thought that the night just may be okay, if things could stay the way they were with Corbet and me joking around.

      “Come on, let’s head to a table and look like we know what we’re doing,” he said. I nodded and followed him over to a table on the left side of the room, farther away from Sarah. I liked his choice. He pulled out a few coins, placed them on the table, and then put one in the slot so the balls came out.

      “I thought you didn’t know what you’re doing?” I asked, helping him place the balls on the table.

      “I watch movies.” He smiled. I laughed.

       I wanted to look back over to Tristan, to see what they were doing, but I chose not to. I didn’t want to catch his eye, so I kept my eyes on the game. Corbet had the first shot and got two smaller numbers in; he told me that the bigger numbers were the ones I had to aim for. So after he missed his next shot, I had a go, and to my surprise, I got one in. Not the one I was aiming for, but that didn’t matter.

      On our second game, after Corbet won the first, I took a chance and looked over after hearing laughter coming from that direction. Sarah was sitting down in the booth smiling away while Tristan was leaning over the side near her. He said something and they all cracked up laughing. I was glad to see her having a good time, but in a way, I kind of wished that was me. Then I felt guilty for even thinking it.

      “I’m going to get another drink; this is thirsty work. Would you like one?” I said.

      “Yeah, thanks.” He didn’t look up from his go, so I left him to it and made my way over to the bar. I had been so enthralled in the game that I hadn’t noticed Joe’s had gotten busier. I had to wait my turn to order a drink; it was a little crowded, but I finally found a spot at the bar. I quickly shoved in and waited again to get the bar guy’s attention.

      “Are you winning over there?” A voice next to me asked. I turned to my right to see a guy about two years older than me leaning against the bar, waiting for his turn to order a drink. He smiled down at me, like most people did because I was so short. He seemed like a nice guy; it helped he had a warm smile that made his blue eyes light up. It matched his sun-kissed hair and casual surfer look.

      “No, not yet. My friend Corbet seems like he’s enjoying himself, and when that happens, he gets competitive,” I said.

      “So he’s just a friend?” he asked. I blushed and nodded.

      We stood talking for a while. I found out his name was Simon Walker, and he was doing his apprenticeship to be a bricklayer. He liked to watch scary movies, listen to heavy metal rock, and wondered if he was doing the right job. He wanted to be in advertising, although he said he didn’t have the brains for it. We laughed and talked, and I found myself really enjoying his company.

      “Anyway, I had better get back over to Corbet. Thanks for the company.” I smiled, grabbing the drink that’d been sitting there for a while. I hoped Corbet didn’t mind it being a little warm and flat.

      “Hang on,” Simon called. I turned back around. “I was wondering if I could give you a kiss goodbye, something to remember me by.” He smiled.

      Now that was a line and I knew it, even though I’d never heard one before. I glanced over to Corbet, who was talking to Aaron; they didn’t seem like they were arguing, and Corbet was laughing at something he was saying. Then I glanced over to Sarah and my stomach dropped; she was busy kissing Tristan as he leaned over the booth, while his friends looked on or at other things.

      I looked back to Simon blushing. “I guess,” I said. My heart rate picked up as he got closer. I moved my cheek closer to him, thinking that it would just be a quick cheek kiss because we hardly knew each other. I heard his laughter and blushed redder. He gently grabbed me under the chin and moved my face to look at his. His lips brushed mine and I gasped. I would never have done this, kiss a stranger in a public place, but a picture kept playing in my mind of Tristan kissing Sarah. So I pulled Simon closer, deepening the kiss. When his tongue made its way into my mouth, I could taste alcohol. I knew I should have stopped it then, but I didn’t.

      Then I was being pushed back. I opened my eyes to find Tristan standing in front of me, only I was looking at his back as he pushed Simon back even farther.

      “Hold up, man, what’s the problem?” Simon asked, holding up his hands in front of him to fend off Tristan.

      “Leave her alone; she’s mine,” Tristan growled.

      “Wait, she said nothing about having a boyfriend.”

      Oh, my God, who did Tristan think he was? I looked around to see where Sarah was; she was standing with Corbet and Aaron looking on, and she mouthed, “S
orry
.”

      Sorry? Sorry that Tristan was up here embarrassing me? Or sorry that she’d let him come up here?

      I moved to stand next to Tristan, but he stepped in front of me again. Instead, I peered around him and said, “Simon, he’s not…we’re not…”

      “If you’re not her guy, who the hell do you think you are stopping her from having a good time?”

      “I know you, Simon. You’re here every weekend doing the same moves on unsuspecting girls.”

      Simon’s whole expression changed. Instead of the nice smiling guy I was just kissing, he stood there with an arrogant smirk spread across his face. “Yeah, and so what? It’s not like they don’t enjoy it, and look at them— look at her.” He gestured with his hand, only Tristan didn’t move; he stood there facing Simon with his arms crossed over his chest, feet spread apart. Seeming almost menacing. Still, Simon continued, “Who in the hell would play with that?” He laughed. “With glasses that frigging thick—, the body isn’t bad, but those glasses. If anything, I was doing a service for the brotherhood.” He laughed again.

     
Stuff it, what a jerk. He made me feel sick. I had just let him kiss me, touch me.
I was disgusted at myself for letting that happen, but also for the fact that I had believed his words.

     
Who would want me?

      Tristan pulled his arm back as though he was going to hit Simon. I quickly grabbed hold of it, and he looked down at me. Whatever he saw stopped him; instead, he faced me with his whole body, blocking out Simon.

      “He’s not worth it,” I uttered.
I am not worth it.

      He searched my face for an answer, and in the end, he nodded. For a second, I thought he was going to step forward and hug me, but my phone rang. I dug around in my bag until I found it, pulled it free, and quickly answered it before whoever it was hung up.

      “Hello?” I said.

      “Is this, Alexandra Harmony?” asked a light female voice.

      “Yes it is.”

      “I am sorry to inform you, but your father has been in an accident. You need to come to the Base Hospital right away.”

       I froze. My mind wouldn’t— no,
couldn’t
comprehend those words.

      “Alex, what is it?” Tristan asked. He waved behind me to someone.

      “Miss. Miss, are you there?”

      “I…uh, yes, yes I’m here.”

      “Your father is being operated on now; you need to come here.”

      “Okay, all right. I’ll be there.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and hung it up, but looked at it. Just looked at it.

      Had that been real?

       “Alex, babe, who was that?” Sarah asked from beside me. I glanced at her and saw that Corbet was next to her, then back at my phone. I looked up to Tristan’s concerned face, and next to him was Aaron, who seemed confused. “She’s in shock. Someone slap her,” Sarah suggested.

      “I will,” Aaron offered.

      “You won’t touch her,” Tristan growled. God, he could sound so tough, so scary when he wanted to be. “Damn it, Alex, snap out of it; what's going on?” he barked, getting all up in my face.

      “What? Oh, oh God—I have to get to the Base Hospital, m—my dad…he’s been in an accident of some kind, th—they didn’t tell me what, but what can it be? He said he was going to stay home tonight. Oh, maybe he fell over in the house. That’s just a small accident, isn’t it? He’s going to be fine, right? But I have to go. I have to go, now.”

      “Right.” Tristan nodded. “Alex, get your ass up those stairs. Corbet take Sarah home. Aaron, I’m taking your car; give me your keys.”

      I heard keys being shuffled around, and Sarah grabbed me into her arms and whispered, “Everything will be all right, and your dad’s going to be fine. It’s all right—okay, Alex, your dad’s all good. Don’t worry about
anything
,” she comforted.

       I didn’t get to ask what she meant about the last ‘anything’ part because Corbet’s arms tangled around me in an awkward hug. “Don’t stress, pet. He’s strong; he’ll be fine.” He stepped back and said with a slap on my butt, “Now get going.” Then to someone behind me, “Sorry, man.” He held up his hands, waving them. Next thing I knew, someone had a hand on my waist and I was being forced out of
Joe’s and into the cool night air. I was gently forced through the car park next to Joe’s and to a busted-up, dark red car. The passenger’s door opened, someone helped me in, and to my surprise, the car actually started.

      “Alex.” I looked to the person next to me and found Tristan looking back worriedly.

      “Yes?”

      “Are you okay? Stupid question, but you’re worrying me; say something, please,” he asked as he pulled out of the car park.

      My bottom lip trembled. “I can’t lose him, Tristan, not him too,” I said and then burst into tears. Tristan reached over, taking my hand in his. He brought it to his chest, trying to give me reassuring words, but right then, nothing was helping. Nothing would, not until I saw him for myself and found out he was okay and what had happened.

      I had to let myself feel the emotions and cry until I got to the hospital. I could allow myself to sob like I was, even if I’d be embarrassed by it later for doing it in front of Tristan. But once we got there, I would stop; I would have myself under control. I needed to for my dad. Like my dad was strong for me, when Mom…when she passed away.