Enjoying Trouble (Trouble #3) (11 page)

Present

Will

I awoke the next afternoon to the smell of bacon and my mouth started to water. Was there any other way to wake up? Yes, with Janey beside me, but that hadn’t quite worked out the way it was meant to. She was gone - obviously hours ago - back up to her room without me.

“The beast has awoken,” said Zac from the dining table, his mouth full of breakfast.

“Just in time,” said Ava, taking two plates over to the table. “Come and eat.”

I sat up and winced at the sharp throb in my head. Why did I do this to myself? The mornings after were just not worth it. I shuffled myself over to the toilet and closed the door behind me, the click of the door reverberating inside my sore head. I was going to eat some breakfast and then go back to bed. Today was going to be a write-off.

“Did you speak to Janey?” asked Ava as I came back out and over to the table.

“Yep. She seemed happy.”

“With the new job or seeing you here, waiting for her?” asked Zac with a smirk. I gave him the finger and then proceeded to gulp the coffee that was set before me. Bacon and eggs were next. I couldn’t handle any conversation until I was done.

“She’s still sleeping; she must have worked hard,” said Ava stopping to take a sip of her coffee. “I hope this all works out for her.”

“I take it the cash on the coffee table is hers?” said Zac.

I nodded and said, “Tips. There will be a lot more where that came from.”

“I spoke briefly to her last night,” said Ava looking to me. “Did she seem happy to see you here?”

I shrugged and said, “I don’t know. Yes and no. She’s still hell bent on moving on, even when I know she doesn’t want to.”

“So why is she forcing it then?” asked Ava.

I let out a sigh and said, “I don’t know but it’s obviously something about me. Something that’s stopping her letting me be part of her new life for some reason.”

“That’s what I don’t get. You both make so much sense together,” said Ava.

“She needs time. We need to let her do her thing. This is the first time in her life she’s taking responsibility for herself,” said Zac. I nodded in agreement.

“She’s clean as well; for the first time in years. That’s got to be a good thing and she seems to be coping off her meds at the same time,” said Zac with a shrug. “We need to let her work it out.”

“And what about her friendships with us? With Will?” asked Ava.

“I’m working on that,” I said, rubbing my now full stomach. “I think we all know that I won’t give up on her.”

Ava smiled at me and then leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I looked to Zac with a smirk and said,

“Told you she always wanted me.”

Ava shoved my shoulder and I laughed, until the sharp pain in my head made me nearly pass out. My phone buzzed and I pulled it from my pocket to check the message.

Unknown
- I have information you need. Meet @Essence Bar - Tomorrow 10.00pm. Concerning your father

I frowned at the message, then tried to focus on it and read it again. My father? I had no idea who he was. Who the hell was this person and how did they know me? I texted back.

Will -
Wrong number

It buzzed back immediately.

Unknown
- No Will. Right Number. Be there.

I cocked an eyebrow in surprise and then rubbed my eye, trying to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating in my hungover state.

“Everything okay?” asked Zac.

“Yeah, just family stuff,” I said slipping my phone back in my pocket. “I’m going to love and leave you.”

“Want me to drive you back?” asked Zac.

“You’re probably still as drunk as me. I’ll organise a lift now,” I said, getting up and taking my plate to the sink. I leaned against the kitchen counter and texted one of the family drivers to come and get me at the same time as Janey appeared in the kitchen. She was freshly showered; her hair still wet and she looked and smelled amazing.

“Hey,” I greeted her with a smile.

“How’s the hangover?” she asked, getting some bacon and taking a bite.

“Dreadful,” I said, reading the incoming confirmation text from my driver.

“So how did it all go?” asked Ava.

“Not too bad really; I mastered the art of pouring beers and survived. I got some tips and was propositioned for a quick fuck after my shift,” she said with her mouth full of bacon. “All in all a good night.”

Ava laughed.

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“When can we go in and get drinks from you?” asked Ava.

“Or go in and laugh at you,” said Zac with a wink.

“Wait, who propositioned you?” I asked.

“Let me get settled before you come in and have a laugh,” said Janey, getting another piece of bacon and putting it in her mouth. Could I be jealous of bacon? I watched her lips move as she chewed, wanting more bacon all of a sudden. I just knew she would taste of it if I kissed her right now. I wondered who had propositioned her, knowing I would ask her as soon as she finished her bacon. I was clearly hungover and sleep deprived.

“I saw all your tips on the table; you could work every night to your advantage, looking like you do,” said Ava.

“Poor unsuspecting clubbing fools,” chuckled Zac as he got up and went outside for a cigarette. He casually took Ava with him, which left us in the kitchen alone. I watched her grab a plate that Ava had left for her and pull some bread apart. She popped it in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

“Who propositioned you?” I repeated, leaning against the counter.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said with a laugh. “But I don’t think he was used to the rejection.”

“Did you tell Jake? He can ban anyone from the club if needed.”

“Will, it’s totally fine,” she said with a smile. I frowned, trying to stop the familiar urge to protect her from everyone and everything. According to her, I wasn’t hers to protect anymore. I let out a sigh and rubbed my hand over my head, wishing the hangover away.

“I’m out of here; I’m in a food coma now and need more sleep.”

She suddenly laughed as she pulled apart more of the bread, about to say something and then stopped herself.

“What?” I asked.

She looked away and chewed her bread and said, “Nothing.”

I stepped over to her, my hand going near her own on the counter. “Tell me,” I said softly. She shook her head and refused to look at me as she focused on her plate.

“I was just remembering something, that’s all,” she said with a swallow. I watched her look at everything except me, feeling the air change between us. Our hangover cure was always: food, great sex, and then lots of sleep. My blood pumped faster at the thought and I hoped she was remembering that part of our lives. I stayed close to her, waiting for her to say something else. She swallowed the rest of the bread and then looked at the glass of orange juice near me; she would have to reach around me to grab it from the kitchen bench I was leaning on, so I deliberately didn’t move.  She leaned into me, her eyes knowing, as she grabbed the glass. Her eyes didn’t move from mine as she took a long sip of the juice. My hand went up before I could consciously stop it and I wiped the excess juice from her top lip with my thumb as she put the glass back down. My thumb lingered there, our eyes burning into each other as we almost failed to control our urge for each other. I wanted to kiss her again; I wanted to bury my nose into her neck. Her tongue darted out before it just as quickly disappeared, like she wanted to lick at my thumb and then thought better of it. I felt my body move even closer to her, so our bodies were touching. I snuck a glance over to Zac and Ava outside to see them both laughing at something on her phone. No-one was watching.

I turned back to Janey; her eyes full of desire, her breathing a little more laboured. No-one could deny the connection we had together, at least of all us. She was mad to think I would ever give up on her. My phone suddenly buzzed between us. I knew it would be my driver’s message, telling me he was outside. I cursed silently and took a step back, taking a look at the screen. Her shoulders fell slightly and she busied herself with getting more bacon from her plate, deliberately not looking at me.

“I remember our hangovers together, too,” I said into the silence between us. “Vividly.”

Her hands gripped the kitchen bench and she looked out to Zac and Ava, not saying anything. I had to leave. I wanted her. All my nerve endings were alive and coaxing me towards her but I didn’t think her brother would appreciate me taking her on the kitchen counter. I moved away from the kitchen counter altogether and said, “My ride is here. Good luck tonight.”

“Thanks,” she said softly.

I headed over to the front door and then took one last glance back at her. I caught her watching me as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. If I wasn’t mistaken, her eyes were full of mischief. Fear and lust went through me. I knew that look; it was trouble. I went out the front door, hoping it was for my sake and no one else.

Janey

I missed him. Missed that body and that amazing mouth that drove me wild. I missed his big, strong hands and rock hard thighs. I missed his abs of steel and his manhood that would put any other guy to shame. I felt the lust long after he had gone. Felt it tremor through me as Zac and Ava came back inside. My skin was tingling at the thought of him.

Hangover cures were something we looked forward to; it was always great sex. Whether it was because we were more relaxed or knew we had the time before a big sleep, it was always earth-shattering.

He needed a hangover cure; I was no longer around to give him one.

I missed him. Missed the trouble we got into together.

“You okay?” asked Ava. I nodded and moved away from the counter. I felt anxious and unsatisfied. I hated feeling it, so much so that I used to find someone to relieve it. He had unsettled me with a memory and his presence here today. I had to remember that I needed to stay away; if any word got back to his mother, then I would be history. Committed and forgotten.

My phone vibrated and I looked at the screen, careful not to get my bacon fingers on it.

Unknown:
You are the ugliest, most pathetic girl

I took a deep breath and watched the message disappear.

“Who was that?” asked Zac casually, finishing his juice.

“No one important,” I said with a frown. Knowing me better than I knew myself, he stepped closer to me and asked, “You sure?”

I nodded and said, “I need to get ready for work.”

I headed up the stairs, before he could ask any more questions. He would never find the messages, even if he hacked into my phone. I felt angry and anxious. The messages always had an effect on me, regardless of the level of cruelty. I threw my phone onto the bed and shut the door. I closed my eyes and took in a deep calming breath.

I craved numbness.

I opened my eyes onto my prescription bottle on the chest of drawers, knowing they would calm me, but also turn me into a zombie. I gave a frustrated sigh and started to get ready. I needed to do this the hard way. Deal with it. Ignore it. I was changing my life. This was the next step. I had to get ready for my job.

Will

I locked the doors of the gym from inside and then walked back through the now darkened space. I went over to Harry’s office to see he had already finished up and had headed upstairs to his apartment above. I noticed his phone on the desk and went in and grabbed it. I’d take it up to his apartment for him and then head out for the night. As I made my way upstairs, his phone chimed in my hand and I looked at the lit up screen as if by habit.

Janey:
Home with a job. See u soon

I stopped on the top step with a frown.

What?

I looked at the phone to check it was Harry’s and then watched as the screen went black. I knocked on his door and waited.

“Come in,” he called out. I went in to see him cooking himself some food in his kitchen.

“You hungry?” he asked me. I hadn’t stopped frowning yet.

“I just brought up your phone for you,” I said.

“Thanks, just put it on the couch,” he said, going back to stirring whatever he was making. “You want some? Will be another ten minutes or so.”

“I’m okay,” I said looking around at his apartment.

“What’s up?” he asked. My eyes narrowed on a familiar jumper that was hanging over the back of the couch. Unless Harry had turned to wearing girls clothes in his spare time, I knew the owner of that jumper was Janey. I stepped over and picked it up, before turning my glare onto Harry.

“She stays here sometimes,” said Harry, leaning over the pot and tasting his food with a spoon.