Wasted Words (3 page)

“Come on,” he urged. “Garcia and Jensen will be there, and a ton of chicks. I’ll even give you dibs.”

With that, Cam walked away like she was carrying a lemon between her shoulder blades.
 

Kyle finally looked in her direction, watching her walk away. He jerked his chin at her as she leaned on the bar, smiling at the girl with the book while they talked.
 

“Weird bar, weird chicks.”

I frowned, gripping my glass a little tighter. “Cam’s not weird.”

“Yeah, she is. I bet she doesn’t even own a single pair of heels.”

“That doesn’t make her weird,” I said matter-of-factly. “That just means she doesn’t like heels.”

He still looked confused. “She doesn’t even wear makeup or anything.”

“Because she looks fine without it. What’s your issue?”
 

“I don’t know, man. She’d be bangin’ if she just put a little makeup and a push-up bra on.”

I shook my head, resisting the urge to deck him. “You’re an asshole.”

But he laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. “Oh, come on, man. Don’t be so sensitive. I’m just fucking with you. Cam’s cool — you know I like her. She’s a funny chick, just not your type.”

“And what exactly is my type?”

“Not that.” He nodded to Cam again.

“She tells me that all the time.” I shifted in my seat, watching her.

“Well, then she’s smart too. Thank God you friendzoned her from the jump,” he said with a laugh and took a drink.

“We friendzoned each other,” I corrected.

“Whatever. So are you coming out tonight or what?”

“Or what,” I answered, thankful for the change of subject. “I’ve got work in the morning.”

“So do I, and it’s not stopping me.”

“Well, apparently I don’t have the job security you do.”

He chuckled. “All right, all right. Would this weekend work better for you, Princess? So you can get your precious beauty rest?”

I rolled my eyes with a smile. “Yeah, this weekend could work.”

“Good. Then it’s settled. We’ll get drunk, get you laid, hang out with the boys. It’ll be everything you need.”

“If you say so,” I muttered, not at all interested.

“I say so.”

“Then how could I argue?”

Kyle held up his glass, smile bright. “Cheers to that, motherfucker.”

I raised my glass to his with a clink and we drank, Kyle draining his in a single shot. He set the glass on the bar and stood, fishing in his back pocket for his wallet.

“Leaving already?”

“Yeah, this place gives me the fucking willies, dude.” He tossed a twenty on the bar and slapped me on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you, brother. This weekend, it’s on.”

I smiled. “Good to see you too. Good luck tonight.”

He laughed. “Oh, luck’s got nothing to do with it. Don’t get crazy here in the bookstore, okay?”

“Hey, don’t joke. You haven’t seen this place when the new comic book issues come out.”

He narrowed his eyes in concentration. “It’s like you’re trying to talk to me, but I can’t understand a word,” he joked before turning, calling over his shoulder, “Later, man.”

I raised a hand in parting.

Cam didn’t come back until he was gone, and she had an overdone smile on her face.
 

I raised a brow. “What’s that look all about?”

“I was told if I don’t have anything nice to say not to say anything. Plus, I made a promise to a good buddy that I wouldn’t give him shit about his assbag friend who looked like he was scared of books.”

I laughed. “I think you’re right. About him being afraid of books, that is.”

She leaned on the bar, smiling sweetly at me. “They don’t bite. Much.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, leaning toward her too. “Don’t let him know, or he might come back,” I said conspiratorially.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

Cam

TYLER SMILED AT ME FROM across the bar, and I sighed, content with his company. You know, as many matches as I’d made, I’d never attempted to set Tyler up. The reason was simple: Tyler deserved the absolute best, and I hadn’t found anyone for him yet that lived up to my expectations for him. Not that I’d looked super hard, but that was beside the point.

Bayleigh pushed through the double doors just in front of the bar, waving at me cheerily as she walked past. “Hey, Cam.”

“How’s it going, Bayleigh?”

She made her way behind the bar and shoved her purse into the cubby where we kept our stuff. When she stood, she ran her hands through her blond hair, pulling it into a ponytail. “Weird question, but could you call me Leigh?”

My brow furrowed. “Sure, but why?”

She sighed and rolled her big, brown eyes. “It’s dumb.”

“I doubt that. Come on, what happened?”

“Well, I’m just sick to death of everybody spelling my name wrong. I went to get coffee this morning, and the barista spelled it
Baylee
. Not that it matters — I mean, it’s just coffee. But it’s gotten to the point that I spell my name to everyone I meet, whether it matters or not. Like, I met a guy the other night, and when I spelled my name he looked at me like I was crazy. So I’m trying on nicknames. At least there’s a chance someone will spell my name right if it’s more common. Leigh seemed like the obvious choice.”

Tyler tilted his head. “Spelled L-e-e?”

Bayleigh’s nose wrinkled. “Ugh. No. L-e-i-g-h. See?” She gestured to Tyler. “I’m doomed, Cam. My parents thought they were so fucking cute, those assholes.”

I chuckled. “I mean, there could be worse things, I guess.”

“I know. I know it’s dumb to get bent about it. I didn’t used to mind so much, but lately it’s been driving me insane. Guess there’s no easy way out, though. Plus, I don’t even know if I’d answer to Leigh.” She sighed. “Back to the drawing board.” She swiped her ID card on the register terminal and clocked in. “How’s it been today? Busy?”

“We were slammed at lunch today — I had to pull Elizabeth off the floor to help make lattes.”

“And Rose, too,” my boss said from behind us.

I turned to the sound of her voice. “Hey, Rosie. Finish that paperwork for the accountant?”

She rolled her dark eyes and pushed her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Yeah, and it only took me all day. The list of things I hate about owning a store is topped by paperwork.”

“You finished? Want a drink? Scotch or whiskey?”

She took a seat next to Tyler. “Scotch, if you’d be so kind.”

I grabbed a glass and poured her a couple of fingers of amber liquid into a rocks glass.

“You’re a lifesaver, Cam,” she said as she took the offered drink.

I smiled. “I do what I can”
 

Rose took a sip of her drink. “Bayleigh, don’t forget about the meeting in the morning. We’ve got inventory all day.”

“Yup, and then singles night tomorrow night. I’ll be here,” she sang. “Though I still need a costume. I don’t have anything even remotely comic book-related to wear.”

“Oh,” I said, taking the unplanned opportunity to set plans into motion like a sneaky, sneaky matchmaker. “I had an idea for you — what about Spiderman’s first love, Gwen Stacy? She’s blond too, all you’d need is a black headband and a skirt and top. A lab coat, if you’re feeling adventurous.”

She nodded, excited. “I can pull that off. I think my roommate was a sexy scientist last year for Halloween.”

Rose snorted.

“Perfect,” I said. “And you and
Greg
will be working the bar tomorrow night together.” I pictured them behind the bar together, and the giddy rush from The Reader and Batman returned.

Tyler gave me a look that said to stop meddling, and I gave him one back that said I’d do what I damn well pleased.

Bayleigh smiled and blushed. “Yeah.”

“Greg’s great to work with, isn’t he?” I nudged.

“For sure,” she swooned. “He’s sweet and funny. Plus, I mean, when he wears T-shirts and you can see all his tattoos? I’d watch him make Harvey Wallbangers all day.”

I laughed. “I should make him squeeze fresh orange juice for the bar. Like, out here on the floor where we can watch.”

Her flush deepened. “Oh, please do, and let me know when it’s happening so I can make popcorn.”

“I’m sure that won’t get me sued for sexual harassment at all,” Rose said and took a drink.

Tyler kicked back his pint and smirked. “That’s my cue.”

I pouted. “Wait, you’re not leaving, are you?”

“As much as I enjoy hanging around, I’ll leave you girls to objectify men without me.”

I laughed. “Aw, jealous it’s not you?”

His smirk stretched a little higher. “Maybe.” He tossed some bills on the bar top. “Have fun, ladies.”

“Bye,” all three of us chimed as he walked out, and we watched until he turned onto the sidewalk and disappeared.

“Man, that boy is fine,” Bayleigh said with a sigh, shaking her head. “I can’t believe he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Right?” I said. “He’s had a few serious girlfriends and dated a bunch, but he’s been through the ringer. Get this — in college, his girlfriend dumped him when he got hurt.”

Rose gaped. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I wish. She was a real piece of work. But his last real girlfriend dumped him for being ‘boring’ and ‘too nice.’”

“That’s not a thing,” Rose said and took another sip of her scotch.

“I guess it is a thing, but only if you’re an asshole. Anyway, that’s why he moved in with me. He lived with her and didn’t have anywhere to go when she dumped him.”

Bayleigh sighed. “How do you share a bathroom with someone that hot and not hook up? I’m dying to know.”

Rose shook her head and propped her elbow on the bar, drink hanging in her hand. “It’s not easy. I’ve lived it, and I have to say that the outcome is inevitable. My bottom dollar is on you guys banging at some point, but don’t beat yourself up if you cave. It happens to the best of us.”

I laughed and waved them off, though I could feel the hot flush in my cheeks. “We’re just friends, guys.”

Bayleigh’s brow bent in confusion. “But he hangs out here all the time. Comes to our events. Like, you guys are close, right?”

“Like I said, we’re friends.” I absently twisted a bottle of Fireball so the Devil on the label faced me with that wicked smile on his face.

“It’s not often that the chick gets friendzoned.”

“No, friendzoned by a guy means that you just end up a fuck buddy.” I chuckled. “I guess I’m just one of the lucky ones. It’s unfathomable to me that the two of us could ever be together, even in that daydreamy, pretend sort of way. We’re too different, even down to our height. He’s six-foot-six, which makes him
sixteen inches
taller than me. That’s almost a foot-and-a-half. Can you imagine having sex with him?”

Bayleigh wet her lips. “Yeah, I could.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ha, ha. I mean, he’d basically crush me. My nose barely comes up to his nipples. I bet having sex with him would split me in two, if his junk is as big as I think it is based on seeing him in sleep pants.”
 

“Oh, my God,” Rose laughed.

“So you
have
daydreamed about it,” Bayleigh said as she crossed her arms.

“You’ve seen him. How could you not? But it’s like fantasizing about a book boyfriend. One-hundred-percent of the time, it’s fictional, which makes it harmless.”

Rose snickered. “Right. Totally harmless, you imagining Tyler’s giant hammerhead and what it would do to your lady parts.”

“Nah, I imagine way more of him in the shower than anything,” I joked, not really joking. “Anyway,” I started, anxious to change the subject, “it’s nothing like you and Greg. The two of you have been through a lot, especially with dating. He’s caring and giving, and so are you. You work together, which makes getting to know each other easy, and you’re equal levels of hot. You get along. Your height difference isn’t ludicrous. Should I go on?”

“None of that means that we’d be good together,” Bayleigh argued. “He’s not even into me.”

“Absolutely not true. I’ve seen you guys talking, and I can just tell. Something in the way he looks at you, the way he smiles.
 
Just because he’s not all googly-eyed or tripping over himself to get to you doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you — he’s not quick to jump into something these days. Rose, tell her.”

She put up her hands. “Hey, don’t drag me into it. Just because we dated for a minute doesn’t mean I know much of anything.” She took a sip of her drink and narrowed her eyes. “I should probably have an opinion about the talk of you dating one of your managers, but alas. I’m out of fucks to give.”

“So,” Bayleigh said, lost in thought, “what should I even do about it?”

“Talk to him,” Rose answered. “He skates, maybe you could ask him for lessons. It was one of Patrick’s tricks to bag me.”

Bayleigh brightened up. “I’ve always wanted to learn to skate.”

“Just think,” I said as I pulled her into my side and waved my hand toward her dream future, or the doors of the bar, whatever. “Greg’s hands around your waist to hold you on the skateboard. Sunshine and Central Park, all smiles.” I glanced over and found her looking dreamily in the direction I’d gestured. “You should make a move on him. Let him know you’re interested.”

She shifted and looked away. “I dunno, Cam.”

“Psh. What is there to know?”

“Maybe that he actually likes me? That would be nice to know before I throw myself at him,” she said, exasperated. “I’m kind of a relationship idiot. I took a job at Habits from a guy who only wanted to have sex with me, and once he did, I got shipped off to Rose to get rid of me.” Her cheeks were pink, and she sniffled, her eyes shining. “I don’t want to get hurt again or taken advantage of. That’s kind of my track record, you know? I just want a good guy who loves me and brings me donuts when I have a bad day. Is that too much to ask?”

I pulled her into a hug, and she sighed against me. “No, it isn’t too much to ask. But Greg
is
a good guy. He’s not going to hurt you. He’s one of the most stand-up guys I know.”
Next to Tyler.
I almost said it out loud, but hesitated. Not sure why. I just saw Bayleigh with Greg before Tyler. Maybe it was those high standards.