Freeing Tuesday (5 page)

“You want perks?” he smirks.

I'm way too many drinks in already and things are just falling out of my mouth. I've never been this comfortable with a guy. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Please do,” he leans towards me, resting his arms on the table.

“I’ve only had sex twice.” Evan’s eyes go wide and his mouth drops open. “You can't tell anyone!”

“Wait...You're what, twenty-seven?” I nod. "How the hell? I… What… Impossible! I call bullshit, Tuesday. Straight-up- mother-fucking-bullshit!”

“I'm serious Evan. It’s not funny so close your mouth and quit laughing!”

“I'm sorry. I just don't understand how someone as beautiful as you could possibly only have had sex twice. I’m surprised Alex wasn’t all over that.”

My brain falters at the sound of his name. Even with Alex I was never this comfortable. “Uh…”

“Oh my god, you're blushing!”

“No. No, I'm not!”

“It’s cute! We could totally rectify this situation though. You obviously don't know what you're missing,” he tips his beer bottle back and takes a sip before winking at me.

“You're a dick, Evan.”

“Wait a minute. How were you married and your husband didn’t enjoy your goods all the time? What an idiot! How is that even possible?” His head looks like it’s going to explode trying to figure out how someone didn’t fuck me seven ways to Sunday. Or maybe it is how someone goes more than a day without sex.

“I'm done, Evan, I don't want to talk about it anymore. I told you a secret, now tell me one of yours so I don't feel weird.”

He doesn't even hesitate before speaking, “I'm jealous of Jameson.” His eyes are trained on the label he’s peeling.

“Why?”

“He’s happy.”

“You're not?” I tilt my head, trying to catch his eyes.

He shrugs, “I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, I'm beautiful no doubt. So that makes me happy, but he’s got everything he ever wanted. He’s got the girl of his dreams, amazing kids, a good job. He doesn't have to worry about paying next month’s bills.”

“Aww, you're jealous, that’s cute! You are beautiful I'll give you that, even though it’s kinda conceited to say it!”

“Do your shot, Tuesday!” he says, trying to change the subject.

I tip the shot back and grimace at the bitter taste. “Happy now, asshole?”

“I'd be happier if you would let me fix your little situation.”

“Pervert!”

“I'd make it good.”

I look around the dimly lit bar to make sure nobody is listening, “I can't believe we're even talking about this, Evan”

“I believe that’s the first actual truth you've told me.”

“Um. What do you mean?”

He smiles sadly, “I'm not stupid. I might act it, but I'm not. I see right through what you're telling everyone.”

“You must be drunk, Evan.”

“And you’re evading. Tell me more.”

“You couldn't handle it if I did. You’d hate me and I'd lose everything I've ever worked toward. I couldn’t handle that.” He reaches over and takes my hand in his a thumb dragging over my knuckles.

“There isn't a single thing I can think of that would make me hate you.”

“I still can't risk it," I whisper.

“Why not? At least tell me that.”

“If I say it out loud someone will hear and they’ll find me.”

Evan thinks about that for a bit before looking into my eyes, “I think I’m falling for you.”

Shit!  
“No, you're drunk. It’s all in your head. It’s because I won't let you into my pants.”

His eyes flash something that I don’t understand but he catches it and instantly reels it back in. “I think you're wrong. Maybe we should go back to my place and find out.”

I should have known he was joking. My heart was racing for nothing. So why do I suddenly wish he wasn’t just playing with me?

I pull myself together quickly. “What a tempting offer after what I just walked in on,” I laugh. “Thanks, but I’m all set on catching your herpagonasyphilitis”

He laughs and chugs the rest of the one and only beer he will drink. “Shucks. I was so hoping to share. I mean sharing is caring, right?”

“I’m all set. You can keep it!”

His head bobs up and down, “You’re right, I must be crazy. It probably is just because you won’t let me in your pants.”

Tuesday

“I mean seriously, Jason, where the fuck does he get off saying something like that to me?”

The corners of Jason’s mouth perk up as he watches me practically pull my hair out. I resist the urge to reach over the counter and smack him for laughing at me. “Maybe it’s the truth. Stranger things have happened.”

“No,” I shake my head and pace back and forth across his kitchen floor. “There is nothing stranger than Evan-mother-fucking-Williams telling a girl he thinks he is falling for her. Joke or not.”

“Calm down, Waffle. It’ll be fine,” he snickers at the nickname he took to using after the drunken night we all had a few years ago when the words twat waffle tumbled out of my mouth. No matter what I say, he won’t change it, and he only calls me Tuesday if he’s pissed off. “When is the last time you got laid anyway?”

My hands shoot to my hips and I glare at him. What the hell is that supposed to mean? How does my sex life or lack thereof, have
anything
to do with Evan telling me he was falling for me?

He nods, “Yep, that’s what I thought. You have sad vag syndrome. The only known cure is a big stiff shaft.”

My eyes widen and I know my face is turning red. He turns and grabs his phone, tapping on the screen a few times before turning his attention back to me.

“Christ, between you, AJ and Evan I don’t know who talks about getting poked by the bologna pony more. Are you sure you guys aren’t gay? I mean you sure would make a pretty couple with either one you go with.”

He growls and rounds the corner of the island, stalking towards me. His hand drops to his crotch and he grabs himself, “I’ll show you bologna pony.”

I pat my hand against his chest just to ruffle his feathers a bit more. I know I can joke with Jason and it won’t lead anywhere. He’s my safety net now that Alex is gone. I lean up on my toes and whisper into his ear.

“You couldn’t handle me, big boy.”

He laughs and I can’t help but smile back at him. I love it when he looks happy. It doesn’t happen much lately so when I can get a smile out of him I try to keep it. His arms wrap around me and pull me to him.

“You’re probably right. I don’t need a feisty thing like you breaking my pole. I get enough volunteers when we’re on tour.” We stay in an embrace for a few more minutes before he clears his throat. “Why the hell is your ass vibrating? Do you have a dildo in your pocket?”

I smack away his arms and reach for my phone. Instantly, I shoot daggers at Jason with my eyes as soon as I read the text that came through.

Evan- so I hear ur sad vag needs some lovin’. u know I can help with tht…

I take a few deep breaths so I don’t punch Jason or drive to the shop so I can kick Evan's ass.

Me- I’d rather have a sad vag than grass crabs fuck u very much.

Evan- just a lil itch in the crotch area, they can keep u company until ur tired of them then they make a cream 4 those little fuckers clears em right up.

Me- I’m good with anything that has 2 do with ur crotch.

Jason’s chest rumbles with laughter as he reads over my shoulder. I pull back and elbow him in the ribs.

Evan- well nvr say I didn’t offer. Im more than willing 2 make myself a cozy lil home nuzzled against your cooter any time u please.

Me- Im pretty sure Ill pass. That things burned off more rubbers than the cars in all the Fast n Furious movies combined.

My phone rings a few minutes after I hit send. It took those few minutes for Jason to catch his breath from laughing so hard and even though I still wanted to kick his ass for texting Evan about my sad vag, he has me laughing too.

“What!” I snap into my phone after seeing that it’s Evan calling.

“Who the fuck lit the fuse on your tampon, cuntcake?” Evan barks through the speaker. His voice is loud enough that even without it being on speaker, Jason hears and starts laughing again.

“What have I told you about calling me cupcake, mother fucker?”

“CUNTCAKE,” he says again, “as in a crusty unused cu-”

“Don’t you dare…,” I growl into the phone, cutting him off. Turning around I notice Jason doubled over, barking out laughter and clapping. “You can quit acting like a handicapped seal, Jason.”

“Seriously Tuesday, what the hell crawled up your ass between last night and right now? Oh wait, nothing crawled up your ass because you won’t let anyone
near
your perfectly shaped ass.”

“You know what? I can’t even deal with your shit right now. I’m tired of this shit already today. You’re just pissed because I don’t stroke your ego like every other chick in your life.”

“I’ll let you stroke my
ego
anytime you’re feelin’ froggy, baby.”

I end the call as fast as I can before something comes out of my mouth and I lose my temper. Flipping off a still laughing Jason, I make my way back toward my apartment feeling even more confused about everything than I was before.

Evan

I laugh as my phone drops to the counter. “I’ve gotta have you cover a few of my appointments this afternoon so I can fit this Cunterfield guy in.”

Sean looks up from the tattoo he is right in the middle of and shakes his head. “HUNTER CHESTERFIELD!” he enunciates loudly, probably hoping I get it stuck in my head so I don’t go around calling some new client the wrong name. Seriously though, I like Cunterfield so much more.

I make it through six tattoos, using one of Sean’s old guns, and four piercings before we mellow out for a bit and I finally have a chance to sit down and work on this guy’s outline. I manage to finish it just as the bell rings over the door and the shop fills with a bunch of voices.

Four guys, one of which puts me and poor Paul, Abby’s body guard, to shame size wise, and a blonde chick with Shaft Approved written across her tits.
Yeah, my shaft totally approves.
They all scatter in different directions as I make my way over and lean on the door frame.

Who the hell brings an entourage with them to get inked?
“Can I help you?” I grin, “If you’re charging admission to watch you get your ink, I want my cut of the dough.”

The giant fucking monster walks towards me and makes me feel small. Hell, even
I
look
small next to this dude. That doesn’t happen often.

“You Evan?” he asks. I reach out and shake his outstretched hand.

I nod, “As long as you aren’t sayin’ I have a court date, a baby momma or a dick drip then yeah, that’s me. I take it one of you is Hunter Chesterfield.” I catch myself before I make the mistake with his name.

“That’s me.” One of the other guys jumps between me and the big dude and bumps my fist. I breathe a bit easier knowing I’m not tattooing the fucking Hulk today. “You the mind behind all the madness around here?”

“Yep, this is my shop. Let’s go get you set up so I can get to it.” I grab my stencil as we walk by and show it to him. “According to the sketch that you dropped with my buddy Sean, you’re talkin’ about a couple hours of work.”

I grab a chair for his buddy that followed us back, or maybe it’s his brother. They look an awful lot alike so I’m going with brother. I reach out and get his name so I know who I’m talking to. He introduces himself as Aiden and I nod. Turning my attention back to Hunter, he tells me where he wants everything and I toss in my ideas before we finally settle on a final design. I rip the tape off the box that FedEx dropped off about twenty minutes before they showed up and haul out my new machine.