La Cosa Nostra, This Thing of Ours (9 page)

"I want to be, don't you?"
Yes, yes, yes I do a little victory dance on my bed
.

"Of course, as long as you know we are taking it..."

"Slow, yes I know." He is mocking me a little, but it is so cute I let it go. 

We talk for about an hour just get
ting to know each other better. Well actually, he gets to know me better. Every time I ask him a question about himself or his past, his answers are short and he goes right back to asking me questions. 

"I'll call you tomorrow and
let you know what's going on." I yawn in the phone and we decide it is time to get off.  

"Goodn
ight, Petal, dream of me," he says before hanging up the phone.
No problem there
. 

Chapter 10

I go to the
Sarhar's in the morning for a little work out before going to the library. I kind of secretly wish to see Liam there. After our talk last night and the way I'm feeling, I can't wait to see him again. He's a no-show though, so I work out in peace. 

After I shower at the gym, I head to the library.

"Why do you look so happy?" Jax says when I sit in between him and another girl in our group. 

"What?" I just realized I have a stupid grin plastered on my face.

"You look like Jack Nicholson when he played the Joker," he scoffs and I stare at him, the smile leaving my face. 

"Geez, who pissed in your
Wheaties?" I scoff back. The look of hurt on my face instantly makes him feel bad.

"I'm sorry
, Tara told me about the other night at Flame's. Are you seeing that guy now?" He seriously looks like he could cry. "He's bad news, Harper," he says, already knowing the answer to his question. 

"We are taking
it slow, don't worry about me. You know I can take care of myself," I tell him, miffed at the way he is acting. 

"Slow. S
o you haven't fucked him yet?" Jax blurts out a little too loud. The whole group's attention is now on us. 

"Jesus
, Jax!" I whisper, looking down at my book, avoiding the staring eyes. I have always been very clear with Jax that we are only friends. "Do I need to leave?" I whisper in his direction, as I feel him brooding beside me.

"
No, I just don't understand what he has that I don't." He is now facing me, whispering softly as the group goes back to their discussions. I just stare at him dumbfounded. "I know, I know. I'm a jealous asshole," he answers my stare.

"He doesn
't have anything you don't have. You know that I love you..." He holds up his hand to stop me from finishing the sentence I've said so many times.

"As a friend..."
he huffs. "I just kind of hoped that as long as you weren't dating anyone, maybe there was hope," he mutters, giving me his best sad puppy dog eyes. "So you really haven't slept together yet?"

"Not that it is any of you
r business, but no." It's like his hope is renewed for a second. "That doesn't mean anything about us though. Even if it doesn't work out with Liam, we will still be only friends," I repeat.

"I think I could handle you being with anyone but this guy."

"Why?" I know he is intimidating, and I'm sure a lot of guys don't like him, but really, why would he say that?

"Just forget it." He rolls his eyes at me and turns to the group to hear what they are discussing.

Around 5:30 that evening
, we are deep in a discussion when my phone beeps. My insides warm when I see it's a text from Liam. 

When will you be done, Petal
?

Soon I hope
.
I text back

Can we go on a date?

Tara had already told me that she and Tony were going to Flame's with another couple. Since the night Tara and Tony met, they had been inseparable. Liam had told Tony he wanted to bring me. She texted me earlier saying she couldn't wait for tonight. I had no idea what she was talking about so I called her. 

First thing I did was thank her very much for telling
Jax, the first hour was torture. He finally started loosening up after lunch. 

I'll meet you at F
lame's when we are done
. I text him.

I can't pick you up
?

I don't know when I will be done, I want to go home and shower. I will meet you there!
I think there is going to be an argument coming as to how I am getting to Flame's. To my surprise, he just texts back.

FIIIINE!!!!!

I can picture him brooding and running his hands through his hair in frustration. For giving up so easily, I text back a smiley face and...

Can't wait to see you,
xoxox, your Petal.
I'm still not sure how I earned this nickname, but he seems to like it so I go with it.

You are so naughty, just when I think I don't know if I can handle this kind of relationship you say somet
hing like that making me melt. BTW, can't fucking wait to kiss those lips.
He texts back, I think I'm about to liquefy right there in the chair when Jax starts staring. 

"Lover boy?"
he sneers. This time I roll my eyes at him as I join back in the group discussion. 

It's just after 8:30 when
we call it a night. I pack up my books to hurry out to catch the next bus. 

"Hey, did you need a ride?"
Jax is rushing to catch up with me.

"I'll take the bus
," I scoff, standing by the bus stop. 

"Oh come on, don't be mad.
I'm just worried about you, that's all." Jax gives me his best 'I'm sorry' face.

"You don't need to be wor
ried. I'm fine."

"So are you going to ask him about his wife?" It's a question, but yet the way he asks it I feel like it is more of a statement.

"I don't know, Jax. It was all rumors and tabloid junk." Gesturing with my hands to leave it be. 

"Just let
me give you a ride home to say I'm sorry for being such an ass today." I give in because waiting for the bus is going to take too long. Once we reach my apartment I go to get out of the car.

"Harper."
Jax grabs my wrist before I can step out.  "Please just use your head."
Condescending much, Jax?
 

"Yeah
, I will," is all I say before getting out of the car and slamming the door. If that wasn't the biggest insult, he thinks I am being a love sick idiot drooling over a man. When in fact all I've been doing is using my head.
Haven't I?

It's almost 10:00 by the time I s
hower and change.  I almost text Liam and tell him I'm too beat to go out. The fact is I am, but wanting to see him is winning, so I put on a short skirt and a halter shirt with a plunging back. You can see the top of my skirt in the back. It shows it all. I can't wear a bra, but the front is more fitted holding everything in place. I pin my hair to the sides so that all of my hair stays in the back. A little cover for all the skin I am showing. I call a cab and head toward the club. 

I had put
my phone on silent after the second message from Tara asking where I was at. I responded with 'I will be there as soon as I can'.  Apparently, that wasn't good enough, so she texted about thirty minutes later asking the same question. I was surprised I hadn't gotten any texts from Liam yet. I reach in my purse to grab my phone and it's not there.
Fuck, when did I have it last?
The library. Shit, I left my phone at the library. You just don't realize how much you depend on your cell phone until you don't have it. 

Pulling up to the club
, the line is around the block. I take a chance and walk up to the bouncer. I don't even have to give him my flirty smile.

"You've been expected, Ms. Troy
," the large tattooed man says as he lets me in the door. I hear jeering behind me from the crowd that has been waiting for no doubt quite some time. I walk straight to Gino who lets me up the stairs with a smile and a nod. Once I reach the top of the stairs I look down the walk. 

Standing in front of the booth leaning u
p against the railing is Liam. He is laughing at something someone in the booth said. I see Tara's big hair for a second so I know she is one of the occupants in the booth. I'm just about to start walking up when a six-foot-tall model type steps up to Liam. She is wearing basically a loin cloth and a bandana. 
Really, wow. I thought I was dressed provocatively
.  

She leans in plac
ing her hands on Liam's chest. I see his jaw muscles twitch. She presses her whole body to him wrapping her arms around his neck and starts to sway with the music. I want to run up to her and pull her by the hair away from him, and then slap him for allowing it. 

But I don't do either.
I stand frozen watching with a pit in my stomach. I don't know if I expected him to escort her to a private room or just start bumping and grinding with her right there.  Instead, he takes her arms at the wrists and removes her from his body. Holding her arms to her sides he says something to her that really makes her mad. She flips him off and starts stomping in my direction. I see Liam wipe his forehead with his hand, laughing with the occupants of the booth. The girl brushes past me hitting my shoulder and almost knocking me down. 

The feisty farm girl in me would have said something, but instead I ignore
her and continue to watch Liam. They are still laughing. I can tell they are making fun of the girl. Liam turns his head in my direction. It takes him a millisecond to start walking fast toward me.

"Hey
, you." He beams, wrapping one arm around my waist, taking my face with his other hand. His thumb is lightly rubbing my cheek as he gazes down at me. His eyes are dark, happy as he smiles his sexy ass smile. "I am so glad to see you. You had ten more minutes before I came searching for you," he says close to my ear so I can hear over the loud music. "Can I kiss you now?" It is so cute how he asks for permission. It's like a little boy asking for ice cream. I smile and nod yes. 

Before I get the whole nod out
, his warm soft lips are on mine and he's sliding his tongue over my bottom lip to open my mouth. It doesn't take much effort since I was going to be opening it anyway. It's a soft and gentle kiss as our tongues explore each other. He kisses my top lip before ending the kiss. I want to protest almost immediately, but realize we have attracted onlookers. 

"I have b
een craving that all day, Petal," he coos at me, coming in for another kiss that is just as gentle but hot all at the same time. 

"Harper!
" I hear the shrill cry of a very drunk Tara.  She practically knocks Liam out of the way as she gives me a bear hug. She is one of those 'I love you' drunks. "It's about time you got here. We thought we were going to have to handcuff Liam to the table. He's wanted to go look for you for the past two hours. Come on, I want you to meet everyone," she screeches, dragging me to the table. 

I turn to see
that Liam is hot on our tails. Tara plops back into the booth as soon as we get there, taking a long swallow of her drink. Liam places his hand on my bare back. The contact is warm, but it sends shivers through me. 

"I like this." He smiles rubbing his
hand up and down my back. "You look beautiful by the way," he whispers in my ear. 

"Thank you
." I lean into him to get close to his ear.  Everyone at the booth crowds around, but there is still little room. Before I know what happens, Liam is sitting and I am on his lap, one hand on my back the other now on my leg. 

"Harper, this is my good fri
end, Chuck, and his girlfriend, Simone." Liam introduces the other couple at the table.

"I hav
e heard a lot about you, Harper," Chuck says, smiling at me, like he knows a secret that I should know too. "As long as I've known old Liam here, he has never talked about a girl like he has talked about you." My face feels warm, I'm sure I am blushing. The mix of sitting on Liam's lap and what Chuck just said makes everything very warm.