Chapter 29

I apologize for this chapter. I wasn’t thinking and was going with the flow, and it happened so… Bear with me, in the end, we’ll get to where we’re meant to. Happy reading, and try to press that star-looking thing, yeah? Okay.

**
“So… What have you got planned, Aus?” My eyebrows knit together as I look up at Austin.

“Well, I’ve already spoken to a few investors online that actually seem interested in the whole gym thing, so I think the whole meet-up event would be awesome for you to see who you could work with,” Austin explains, excitement clear in his voice, and I can’t help but smile.

“How sure are you these people will be here tomorrow?” I ask.

“Umm, I talked to them, and they agreed to it, so…” Austin drags the word studying me carefully. You can’t blame me for being skeptical; things never go this smoothly for me.

“Okay then, fine,” I wave my hands. It was better to leave all that to him. “Can we go get drunk now?” My head hurts from all the overthinking, my chest feels tight, and I’m waiting for dear old dad to make another appearance. A drink is the only thing that can help with this.

I look sideways by the gym entrance door where Sparks and Drew are awkwardly standing. We came here yesterday and realized Cananiar isn’t really in bad condition to host a bunch of fancy investors. It looks as good as a well-taken care of gym could look. Plus, Chris, the new manager, is doing a pretty good job. The only thing stressing me out was the number of members we currently had. I mean, come on, people, what happened to getting up every morning to work out?

So, after checking it out yesterday, we came back today to ensure the place was prepared to look a bit classier for tomorrow. According to Aus, it wasn’t supposed to smell sweaty and have machines in every corner tomorrow.

With Chris’ help, we’d rented and brought in a bunch of bistro tables, which now have white sheets covering them. Drew, being the one with the most connections, organized liquor that didn’t look like it would be found at some dumb teenage party, and according to him, the food was still being organized.

Sparks, however, surprised me the most during all of this with all the heavy lifting she did and correcting our poor arrangement. She basically arranged the whole place, chose the correct color of tables and sheets, which apparently had to match the gym walls. She organized the cleaning of the whole place, and now she looks so drained. So, when I say we are all looking forward to going to Gomez’s for a drink before ending our day, I mean it.

“Fuck yeah, we can,” Drew yells, and without another word, walks out ahead of us. Austin follows close behind, and I take a moment to look at how cool the place looks; even the reception area looks welcoming for the first time since I started it.

“Like what you see?” I look back at Sparks and eye her from top to bottom, appreciating how good she looks in yet another pair of thigh-length cargo shorts.

“Yeah, I do,” I grin, and she rolls her eyes.

“I’m glad you do.”

I’m surprised for a minute by her response. She knew that I was talking about her, right?

“It’s all for you,” she adds, making me visibly gulp by the way she’s eyeing me before walking out, leaving me there, my jaw on the floor.

What the fuck was that? Did she flirt with me? Or was she just talking about the gym?

I quickly lock up the place and follow her to my bike.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” she asks, and I scoff, shaking my head.

“That… that inside the gym.”

“What’s inside the gym?” Sparks continues playing dumb, and I’m enjoying the game, so I walk a bit closer to her.

“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about,” I whisper when I’m close enough and place my hands on either side of my bike to lean closer to her.

“No, I don’t,” she whispers. “Can’t I be glad that you like what you’re seeing?”

“And what exactly was I seeing?”

“Oh, come on, guys, get a fucking room, we don’t have time for this!”

I sigh and look up to see Austin stretched out from the driver’s seat of his car, grinning widely. I forgot they were here.

“Can we just go get drunk, guys?” Drew sighs, looking uncomfortable with half of Austin on top of him in the passenger seat.

“Yes, can we, Nine?” Austin redirects the question to me, and I back away from Sparks and nod.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Drive,” I glare at Austin. Without a word, he sits up straight and gestures with his hand.

“Ladies first.”

_

This bar is genuinely the chillest place to hang out at the end of a long day. I mean, we could’ve gone to a club if we wanted chaos. But what I want tonight is to be served by a calm, grinning bartender while listening to a live band and soft music. The only thing I’d change about the place tonight is how packed it is. It’s actually quite noisy with all the conversations going on around.

We walk to the counter, where we’re greeted by friendly Gomez.

“Gomez, hey man,” I smile, hoping he had no grudge from our last meeting, you know, where I punched him.

He looks up from the counter where he was mixing some drinks and grins immediately when he sees us.

“Hey, Austin, my man,” he fist-bumps Austin, then with the same energy gives Drew a wide hand shake. “And you… Let’s hope your apologies hit as hard as that hand of yours,” he points at me, chuckling, and I give him the same handshake as Drew, chuckling along with him.

“You know I’m sorry.”

“It’s cool, hope you’re feeling better though.”

“That’ll depend on how drunk you’ll manage to get me tonight,” I shrug, and he laughs.

“You know I got you,” he says, before his eyes land on Sparks, and his grin widens if that’s possible. “And who is this classy glass of tequila shot?” Jesus fucking Christ. “Hey there,” he stretches his hand to shake Sparks’, but I reach out for her hand and hold on to it before she can lift it.

“Hey,” Sparks smiles at Gomez. Trying to ignore the fact that her hand was being taken hostage by mine.

Gomez drops his hand and studies Sparks in the most irritating way, and suddenly, I don’t feel so guilty about punching him. “What’s your name?”

“F-”

“Flame.” I intervene, subtly narrowing my eyes at him.

Gomez looks at me, then raises his hands in defense.

“Okay, I get it.”

“So, what may I get you guys?”

“The usual,” Austin yells.

“What was that about?” Sparks mutters, and I decide to play her game.

“What was what?” I raise my eyebrows at her, holding back a smile when she rolls her eyes and looks away.

For the rest of the night, we sit by the counter and make loud conversation, laughing as the drinks take more control over us. Gomez knows the drill, and he keeps them coming until we stop him. The music gets louder and suddenly catchier.

“I want to fucking dance!” Austin yells. The place was still buzzing with activity, but no one was on the small dance floor away from the bar and booths.

Well, except Austin in a few minutes.

“You should fucking dance!” I yell back and hear Sparks giggle next to me.

Drew pats him in the back as he gets off his stool. “Let’s go!” he yells, pulling Austin by hand, and in long strides, they make it to the dance floor.

I laugh and look back at Sparks. “How are you?” I swing back and forth from her, loving the buzz in my veins.

“Scared…” she mutters, and I look around for anything that looks threatening.

“For… Of what? Me?” I point myself a frown already on my face as I lean closer to her. Nothing else seemed threatening or violent.

“No. I just realized we didn’t think this through, we’re all wasted, who’s driving us home?” she asks, and I close my eyes, blinking for what seems like a long time.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Austin’s place is right around the corner. We’ll stay there… And Drew can literally drive wasted or stoned.”

Sparks nods, “Okay then,” she looks at the counter for a minute before looking up at me. “Can we go then? I feel nauseous,” I take a minute to process her words before nodding.

“Of course,” I scan the dance floor for Austin and Drew and notice them laughing with some pretty girls already. Damn, they move fast. “Let’s go,” I stand up and stretch my hand for Sparks.

**
We bust out through the door we came in, Drew and Austin with their hookups for tonight, and me holding on to Sparks, who looks really weak as we stagger our way to Austin’s car.

“You, okay?” I ask her.

“Mmhm,” she mumbles, and I recall the first time we met. She really doesn’t hold her liquor well.

“We’re getting there soon, okay?” I swing her arm on my shoulder as Austin tries to recall where he parked his car.

We squeeze into Austin’s car, Drew in the driver’s seat because he’s the responsible one, me seated next to him with Sparks on my lap already half unconscious, and Austin in the back with the ladies because he likes attention.

The drive to Austin’s is short and annoying, with the girls giggling loudly at Austin’s and Drew’s stupid jokes. The guys weren’t even that funny. Sparks tracing my neck with her finger was comforting, though.

Immediately, we get into Austin’s apartment, we part ways, and I notice Austin and Drew taking the women to the guest room downstairs. So, I decide to make us more comfortable and go to Austin’s room, locking the door behind us.

My room in his place didn’t have a bathroom, and his did, and knowing how Sparks got when she was drunk like this, she’ll most definitely need one.

Before I can finish that thought, she groans, “bathroom,” and I know it’s go time. I predicted this moment. We stagger into the bathroom, and she quickly throws herself on her knees and gags painfully.

I frown in disgust and pity, watching her pour her heart and stomach out painfully into the toilet bowl. Her hair is already up in a ponytail, so I only squat next to her to rub circles on her back.

I really hope this will end before I pass out on the floor next to her. My sight is hazy, and I’m struggling a bit to keep my head up.

I feel my lips curve into a small smile as I remember the night we met. She gagged just as painfully. I did warn her to stop drinking; Sparks just doesn’t listen…

The fact that we’re not strangers now makes my smile widen. I’m helping her out right now because she’s some girl I feel bad for… I’m here with her because she’s a friend.

And to make it worse, I don’t just think of her as some girl I want to fuck…

I’m brought back to reality by her loud gag and a painful, pitiful whimper after, and I bend to look at her face. Her well-tanned skin is now pale, and when she finally looks up, tears are rolling down her cheeks.

“I am never drinking again,” she groans.

We’ve all said that.

“I feel like I told you once not to drink as much if you know you’ll get sick after.”

“Shut up,” she weakly shoves me away, “tonight was your idea,” Sparks defends, then pouts, “I hate this.”

“Well, let me make it better then, my lady,” I get up, stretching my hand out for hers, and she smiles weakly and holds onto it.

“I’m going to go get you some water,” I stagger back downstairs, leaving her washing up by the sink.

I trip on my own feet at some point, but with my mind fixated on the mission I have, I’m able to grab her a bottle of water, ignore the sounds coming from the guest room, and walk back to the room. I find Sparks washing her face by the sink, and sigh loudly.

“So, you’re not letting me clean you up tonight, huh?” I ask, and she turns off the tap and looks at me, her skin glistening.

“I’ve only washed my face, the rest of me is pretty… Unclean,” she smiles, and I grin.

What was with her today?

“I told you, you’re a horny drunk.”

“I am not,” she argues very weakly.

“Oh yeah?” I tease, walking towards her and placing the bottle on the sink counter.

“Want to bet on-”

That’s right, I’m not able to even finish that thought, let alone my sentence, before Sparks’ fingers are tangled in my hair as she pulls me to her.

It takes me a moment to register what Sparks has just done, but I’m fast to reciprocate and pull her closer to me by the waist as my lips speak to hers in the only language they understand.

She throws her arms around my neck and tightens her hold as my hands drop, feeling on her thighs before I lift her to straddle me. We break off the kiss, and I nuzzle her neck, kissing and tasting her skin as I walk us back into the bedroom.

I must be fucking dreaming…

I place her on the bed and, without another thought, climb on top of her, ready to put a whole other meaning to our so-called friendship.

Who doesn’t like a little benefit in their friendship? –

Shit… I suddenly recall her words from the other day. She said she didn’t want me to use her. Was this using her? How would she take this when she sobered up? Would we even stay friends?

“What?”

I blink and realize I was just staring off into space like some awkward teen who had no idea what to do with a woman’s body. I sigh, hating my brain for catching on to my actions, and get off her, sitting on the bed.

“What?” she asks again, sitting up, and I look at her.

“I need you to know something first,” I mutter, and she raises her eyebrows.

“You have something, don’t you? Like some disease…” she says, and I smile.

She’s never sounded more like her judgy self than now.

“No,” I laugh.

“Oh, thank heavens,” she sighs. “Then what? Did I do something wrong?” I turn and face her with my whole body.

“No, you’d never do anything wrong, Sparks,” I scoff, finding it ridiculous how much I mean that. “I… I’m not using you, and I don’t want you to think that of me.” I shake my head. “I somehow give a shit about what you think, and I know you think I’m an asshole and slut that just uses girls,” I exhale. Where the fuck am I going with this?

“It’s true,” Oh boy, this is what I get for running my mouth without thinking, “but I don’t want you to think I’m doing that to you, Sparks.” I slur. “I don’t feel the same for you as I do for other girls, and I don’t… Even know what the fuck I’m saying right now… I just-” I sigh, “You deserve better than what I have to offer. I have nothing-”

We sit in silence for a few seconds, with me just staring off into space as my words dawn on me and break my heart… A scream pierces through the air before Drew and Austin erupt in laughter, bringing me back to the present, where I just stopped a hookup and ruined any chance I had of it happening with this amazing girl.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she stutters, taking back my attention.

“You don’t have to say anything, Sparks… I just wanted to let you know,” I tell her. It felt kind of good to admit all of that. Now, if she ever chose to mess around with me, she would know it’s different from anyone else.

“No, I mean, don’t you think this is a conversation we should have when we’re sober and not in a house where your friends are having a foursome right below us?” she asks, and I look at her and laugh.

“Oh… Right,” I nod, knowing fully well I won’t have enough guts to say what I’ve just said when I’m sober. Sober me is probably going to be so pissed at me.

“I mean… I am so drunk I feel like you’ve just confessed to liking me.” She narrows her eyes at me, and I laugh again.

“Yeah, you’re too drunk for this… ” I tease, but deep down I’m having a tiny breakdown. Had I confessed to liking her without even knowing it? I mean- I did tell her that she’s different from the others.

Fuck-

“Oh no, I’m not, I’m sure I’ve heard you just right… And it’s okay.”

“It is?” I frown.

Now you have to understand, my brain is slowly starting to shut down here. I probably wouldn’t even recall all this tomorrow, and it was for the best. This isn’t okay.

Sparks smiles sweetly and cups my cheeks, rubbing them with her thumbs. “How about we talk about this some other time?” I nod, and my eyes widen as she leans closer and gives my lips a quick peck before falling back onto the bed.

I sit there watching her make herself comfortable on the bed before she whispers, “Come here.” Sparks stretches her arms for me, and without a second thought, I lean into her embrace. Resting my head on her chest and allowing her to… Cuddle me?

My blinking slows down as she plays with my hair, and I try, but my heart doesn’t stop racing. Because why the fuck am I letting this happen? I shouldn’t-

**
Okay, so I didn’t really give much thought to this chapter. I thought this would be the Friday gym night one, but my brain and fingers had other plans and created this, and just like Cain, I went with the flow. I guess all the action will be in the next chapter then…

** R-editor me here, I hadn’t truly given much thought to this chapter, but it didn’t turn out shitty, and that’s facts, soooo… vote and comment?