Forever Together (Forever Love #2) (25 page)

"I’m sorry." I offer him a hand, almost being dragged down by his weight.

"Damn that tree's like the next level of exercise." He chuckles, standing up straight, his eyes sparkling as they take me in.

"Hey." I squeak like a dork.

Seriously Cindy you've been dating the guy for four months and you still lose all rational thought every time you see him?

"Hey beautiful. I just wanted to see you." His hand cups my cheek which I’m sure right now is burning.

His lips come closer and closer to mine and my tummy flips when they touch. It’s like a million electrical currents are running through my body and I press my lips more firmly against his so that I never lose this feeling. We pull away and I can’t help letting out a fan girl scream inside when his eyes stay closed a few seconds longer, a smile plastered across his face.

"It’s late. You could have just saw me at school tomorrow." I shrug though inside I’m beaming.

"I never wanna wait to see you Cinders, you know that."

I nod my head dumbly, biting my lip at the look in his eyes.

"How long can you stay?"

"However long you want me here."

"Forever?" I smile shyly.

"Forever Together." He holds his pinky up and I join it with mine.

"Deal."

"You know I love you right."

I freeze. I so did not know that. He’s never said it before. Of course I've said it plenty of times... to his picture. Wait wait wait, Brady Cooper loves me. He loves me? ME?

"I love you too." I almost pee myself when I say the words. I can’t even control them leaving my mouth.

"Well then that’s good then cause I ain’t ever gonna stop."

His head again dips down to mine and his lips take mine in a searing kiss that takes my breath away. I hope he never stops because I don’t wanna ever lose this feeling. Not ever.

"Uh uh." Trina’s voice interrupts my reminiscing and my head shoots up at her panicked tone. "Well boo two
,
looks like you’re gonna get to see that whole flirting theory in action."

"What?" I ask confused, noticing a second later the blue lights bathing the inside of the car.

I look in the rear window at the cop car following behind as we pull over at the side of the road. When I face forward I can see the sign telling us we're in Franklin. Oh crap! I've never been pulled over before. Apart from Noah I don’t think I've ever even spoke to a cop before.

I try and think of any reason that I'd be arrested, only coming up with when I threw an empty soda can on the ground when I was in a rush last week. Is littering illegal? What if the cop just takes one look at me and knows I’m a criminal?

Breathe Cindy, breathe. I need to relax.
H
h
e wouldn’t haul me into the station for a soda can after all. I think back to Trina and Liv’s words from earlier. I just need to act totally innocent. Didn’t they say something about sticking my chest out too? I can totally do that.

Trina winds the window down as a shadow falls across us. A chubby face peeks through the window, taking in all of our faces.

"Ma'am just a routine check up on cars in the area. It’s mighty late to be travelling into town."

"We're just coming back from my friend’s bachelorette party." Trina gestures to Liv who gives him a shrug.

"Have you girls been drinking?"

"They have, I haven’t."

"Well alrighty then, could you just step out the car for a few seconds ma'am
?
.
"

"She hasn’t been drinking." I rush out, not even thinking about how I look right now. I stick my chest out for good measure and even give him a flutter of my eyelashes. "We're totally innocent." I say that last part
y
in a low voice, sounding seductful I think.

"Is there something in your eye ma'am
?
.
" The cop asks, getting a snort out of Liv.

"We're just three girls travelling to get home sir." I flutter my eyelashes some more ignoring his comment.

"Well you'll have to get out the car regardless."

"You
’
r
e
right." I blurt out to Trina and Liv. "He's gay. We got a gay cop, what are the odds?" I throw my hands in the air in frustration.

The moment I see the scowl on the cops face though, I wince.

"Looks like we're going to jail." Liv sighs, sinking down in her seat.

Chapter 18

Brady

We walk down the stairs leading to the bar. It feels like I’m walking to my fucking execution. Damn Tucker and his bright fucking ideas. I should know better; I should damn well know what my boy Noah’s reaction’s gonna be when some half naked floozy
b
fl
ounces up on stage. He’s gonna beat Tuckers ass then he’s gonna attempt to beat mine. The key word there is attempt by the way because Noah might have a good few inches on me but I got a good few pounds of muscle on him. I'll just sit on the fucker if I have to.

The place looks all kinds of seedy with its red walls and black linoleum floors. I feel like I’m walking to one of them underground strip clubs you see in the movies that all the bad guys meet in. I could totally be a bad guy. I’d make a fucking good one too.

"What the hell is this place?" Noah asks when we enter the bar.

There’s tall tables with iron barstools dotted about the place, some with men on their own that I'd bet a thousand bucks are creeps that spend all their time watching porn. Those I almost expect. What I don’t expect though are the tables of women, some on bachelorette parties with their cheap veils on their head and learner signs on their chests. I don’t expect the couples either. This is some kinky shit and I don’t like it.

"It’s a show I told ya." Tucker the dumb fuck doesn’t seem to notice the strangeness of women and couples being at a strip show or whatever-the-fuck this is meant to be. He just makes a beeline to the empty bar and holds his hand up, signaling for the bartender.

"This place looks a little... off." Noah grimaces
,
looking from the sticky floor to the stained cushions of the high barstools. Fuck, I don’t wanna know what those stains are.

I shove my own wariness down and plaster on a fake ass smile. What was it Tucker said this was again? Oh yeah, Mistress Weller. If that doesn’t sound like some fifty shades of fucked up shit I don’t know what does. “The lady in red lace who'll give you the show of your life.” I suppose that could mean anything. And Tucker did say she was a classy broad. Fingers crossed this isn’t one
of
Tads lame ass pranks and it’s just some chick singing show tunes in a red dress.

I follow Noah to one of the only relatively clean looking seat
s
and hop on up, waiting for Tucker to bring our drinks over. If I’ve gotta sit in this place, then that douche can fucking pay for my drinks. I’m a pretty cheap date tonight anyway since I’m designated driver. No complaints from me though, after what happened a couple of weeks ago I don’t really feel like getting shitfaced and pissing my pants. Not that I’ve ever done that shit. Must have been Noah or something.

"So you and Cindy going well?"

I snap my head up and can’t help the wide as fuck smile that comes across my face at the mention of my Cinders. Damn that girl
’
s got the power to send me up to cloud nine.

"Hell yeah man."

"Good, I’m glad. You know you never did tell me why you two broke up." His eyes are like fucking lasers entering my brain.

"Shit happened." I shrug.

"You two are all good now though right so it doesn’t matter anymore."

"I fucked up."

"Well I guessed that. I can’t imagine sweet little Cindy doing anything wrong."

Sweet little Cindy? If he knew what sweet little Cindy was doing to me last night, he'd change his opinion quickly. That girl is dirty.

"I'll tell you one day." When I’m not still drowning in the guilt and shame of letting the best thing in my life walk out.

Doesn’t matter that I got my girl back. It doesn’t even matter that my Cinders doesn’t seem to hold grudges, I fucked things up. I acted like a coward that day. I let her believe I just didn’t give a fuck when it couldn’t be further from the truth.

"Three beers." Tucker drops three bottles of Budweiser on the table, the glass clinking against the chipboard table top. "Has it started yet?"

We shake our heads looking towards the stage. There’s a red velvet curtain covering the pretty big stage. It’s no stadium but it’s pretty much like a theatre. There are lights beaming down on it putting most of the room in shadows.

"Well this place is cool huh?" Tucker rubs his hands together like some overexcited teenage fucking girl.

"It’s definitely fucking unique; I'll give you that Tuck. You look a little out of place with that Nancy boy hairstyle though."

"Hey this is fucking fashionable asshole. The fucking hairdresser said so." He scowls.

"Oh yeah, I’m guessing when you were getting it cut you spent more time looking at your hairdresser that what the fuck she was doing." I raise my eyebrows, knowing full well I’m right.

"Damn straight. She was a fucking knockout. Like next level hotness. All tit’s and ass and red hair. I wonder if she was a natural redhead."

"You didn’t fuck her then?" Noah asks looking smug.

"Chick wouldn’t even look at me. I mean you'd think when she saw the hotness that is Tucker she'd be all over this shit. Wouldn’t even give me her fucking name." He shakes his head.

"Oh did the nasty hairdresser hurt your feelings." Noah puts a baby voice on and get
s
a shove in the shoulder for his efforts.

"Shut up asshole."

We laugh it up
and
ignor
e
ing
the grumpy ass face Tuckers got on. I should totally write this shit down so I remember it in the morning. I haven’t seen Tucker this pissed about a female since Mrs. Marshall called him Ticker the first day of freshman year. That nickname followed him around for a while.

He practically starts bouncing in his seat when the lights which are already low, darken even more. The stage lights up and the curtain begins to pull apart, two red veils sweeping to either side of the stage.             

The place is quiet, everyone facing the stage and I’m starting to get a funny feeling about this shit.

"Is everyone ready for the sexiest show in Savannah."
A voice resonates through the room and the crowd starts to murmur. Where the hells it coming from? I get my answer when I notice the giant speakers fixed to the wall in every corner of the room.
"I’m pleased to present the very sexy, the very passionate, the very alluring Mistress Weller."

"What the fuck did you do Tucker?" Noah hisses.

"Shh the shows about the start."

The curtain starts to lift, inch by inch revealing the mysterious Mistress Weller. She's not facing us and we can only see her back. The long red gown she’s wearing is covered in some sparkly shit. She’s got one satin gloved hand on her hip and the other in the air.

"Hello everyone." One hand's on her hip and the other's in the air. I think the move
’
s meant to be sexy but nah it’s not doing it for me. There’s just something about her that’s weird. I can’t put my finger on it though.

"Dude her voice is kinda... deep." Noah frowns.

"Are you all ready for a show?" She says slowly turning around. Her voice is kinda low.

I think my eyes bug out when she’s fully turned. Holy shit that is one ugly ass chick but the crowds going wild. Are they seeing things? I don’t know what fucked up shit Tuckers into but I’m about a minute away from bleaching my eyes out. Shit I think she’s got stubble.

"Holy shit." Noah mutters, covering his face with his hands. I'd say he’s thinking the same thing I am.

I look to Tucker just as he growls "Fucking Tad."

"Well that chick got hit by every branch when the stalk dropped her ass." I shake my head.

"Dude I don’t think that’s a chick."

I lean forwards, squinting my eyes.

"What the fuck you talking about Tuck? That’s a girl. She’s an ugly girl but still a... HOLY FUCK THAT’S A DUDE!" I smack my hand on the table and the room goes quiet. I can feel about a hundred eyes on me right now.

Tuck's pale as a ghost as he fucking should me and Noah looks like he’s waiting for some sinkhole to open up under him. Fuck all that though. That up there is a damn man!

"Right I’m outta here." Noah rushes out, the stool dropping back behind him.

"Yep, let’s go."

Everyone’s still quiet but no fucking way am I looking at that stage. Instead I neck the still full beer and turn to my boys who are already half way through the door.

"Wait for me fuckers. Don’t leave me with the dude in the dress!"

"Leaving so soon boys?" The chick or dude or whatever the fuck it’s meant to be calls to us.

I don’t think I’ve ever run so fucking fast in my life. I throw myself through the doors after my traitorous former friends which definitely ain’t on my friends list now. By the time I catch up to their asses, Noah’s got Tucker against the wall. I should help but I don’t really give a fuck so I think I’ll just catch my breath and watch from a distance.

"It wasn’t my fucking fault!"

"I say no stripper so you take me to... to... what the fuck even was that?!"

"Mistress Well-"

"I know what her fucking name was." Noah looks mighty pissed. Shit you can see the spit flying out of his mouth.

"Actually dude, I think the ‘her’ you're referring to is a ‘he’." I helpfully add. Hey I’m nothing if not charitable.

"I don’t see why I’m getting the fucking blame. Tad told me it was a good place."

"Tad as in the brother
who
said if you eat dog food you'll bark?" Great he just had to bring that shit up. I can still feel my stomach revolting at the memory.

"We-" Tucker doesn’t even get a chance to finish the word cause my boy Noah’s on a roll.

"Tad who said Mrs. Barker had a thing for students and got you suspended for a month when you offered to be her new boy toy?"

"Um-"

"Tad who said you can get drunk off hand wash?" It’s now a proven fact that you can’t get drunk off hand wash. You can get sick as hell though.

"Well how the fuck was I supposed to know it was a prank?"

Noah throws himself away from Tucker and starts running his hands through his hair.

"Look we'll just got to another bar, have a drink and get this bachelor party going. No big deal." I shrug, doing anything to stop a brawl starting.

I’m facing an hour drive back to Franklin with these two, I don’t need no tension and shit.

"Yeah." Noah sighs, sounding like he'd love nothing more
than
to be heading home.

Sure he's spent the last half hour in a dive bar and sure he’s come pretty damn close to seeing shit that can’t be unseen. I got no idea what that show actually fucking was but I got no interest in finding out.

"Man
,
all this planning. What a fucking headache." Tucker murmurs. He’s looking at the glowing sign above the front door to the bar like it’s covered in shit. "At least it can’t get any fucking worse."

Damn idiot obviously spoke too soon cause the sound of a phone ringing meets our ears. Fucking Tuckers jinxed us. I pat myself down to see if it’s coming from me and Tuck does the same thing.              We stop when we hear Noah answering.

"Yep... uh huh... you're kidding me. Yeah we'll come now... Ok thanks a lot Derek." He clenche
s the phone
s it
in his hand looking ready to dash it at the wall.

"Who was that?" Tucker looks at me as if I’ve got
all the
any
fucking answers. I just shrug.

"The girls have been arrested."

***

I’m pissed as fuck. Liv and Trina's obviously robbed a bank or some shit and framed my Cinders. She wouldn’t hurt a fly and now she’s locked up like some criminal. This night’s gone to shit. First with that gay show Tucker took us to and now this crap.

At least I managed to make the hour drive in forty minutes. I'd be proud of my speed demon ways if Tucker hadn’t been laughing his ass off for the entire drive. That asshat wouldn’t shut up about how funny it was that the cop’s fiancé got arrested. I'd be laughing right along with him if the cop’s best friend’s woman hadn’t got arrested too.

If that wasn’t bad enough the CD in the stereo of my truck got jammed and I’ve been listening to High School Musical for about thirty-nine minutes too long. Then I had to explain how Brian likes the movie and gets all excited when he hears it and Tucker was laughing for a whole other reason.

I know one thing, if I ever decide to turn into some kinda phsycho in a scream mask, Tucker’s number one on my hit list. Bet the fucker won’t be laughing so much then.
Oh no, we'll see if the fu
ck thinks
everything’s
so
funny then.

"Dude what is wrong with you?" Tuck shakes my shoulder. He's looking at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind. "What're you laughing about? Is it the high school musical thing? You finally realized how bent it is?" Like I said, number one.