Bad Rep (Bad Rep #1)(18)
Author: A. Meredith Walters

Eli plopped down on my couch and pulled out his guitar. He tuned it and started to strum the opening chords to the Beatles’ Norwegian Wood. I sat down beside him and listened for a bit. I couldn’t help but compare him to Jordan’s musical talent and Eli was definitely lacking. Not that he sucked but his ability was a bit more forced and put on. It didn’t flow naturally the way Jordan’s did.

“So, what are you doing tonight?” Eli asked as he continued to pluck at the notes. I still had my grades in my hand. I held them up.

“I got B’s in my summer school classes. So I’m thinking I need some serious celebration in my future.” I grinned, unable to stop myself.

Eli nodded but didn’t respond, which was so annoying. Why couldn’t he just once act happy for me? Or seem remotely interested in something that was going on in my life? “So you want to celebrate, huh?” Eli put his guitar back in his case and he scooted across the couch toward me. I tried not to roll my eyes. He really did have a one track mind.

Eli’s fingers slid up the front of my shirt and traced circles on the skin of my stomach and I couldn’t stop laughing as he tickled me. Eli grinned down at me as he lowered his mouth to my shoulder and nipped me with his teeth. “Stop it, Eli! I can’t breathe!” I shoved him in the chest and he leaned back.

“So, what did you have in mind? You wanna hang at Randall and Cicely’s?” Eli asked, sitting back away from me, now that he could see fooling around wasn’t on the agenda.

Go to his cousin’s apartment? Uh, no thank you. I was sort of over hanging out while Eli got high and waiting until he was ready to make out in a darkened bedroom. It seemed like ages since that had seemed like a fun idea.

“No, I think I’d like to go out. I’ll probably go meet Riley after her shift and hang at Barton’s.” Eli made a face.

“Seriously? You’re not there enough?” he asked. I hated it when he seemed to be mocking me. I stiffened and I felt my face harden.

“Well, I really like the people down there. And I get a discount. So that’s what I’m gonna do. You can join me if you want. If not, no biggie.” I got to my feet and went into the kitchen to make some lunch.

My earlier good mood was effectively gone and I kind of just wanted Eli to leave. He was getting on my nerves. Eli followed me and leaned against the counter, watching me while I made a turkey sandwich. “You gonna make me something?” he asked. I grit my teeth but pulled out two more pieces of bread.

I grudgingly handed him his sandwich and started eating mine. “Well, if that’s what you’re going to do, I think I’ll hang with Randall for a while. Maybe we’ll meet you there later,” Eli commented, talking with his mouth full, which totally grossed me out.

I hadn’t expected him to offer to meet me and I was suddenly unsure if I liked that idea. I kept him completely separate from my college life. He was like my dirty little townie secret and I liked it that way. But he was offering to spend time together. And we hadn’t seen much of each other lately. And I thought I still liked him.

So I found myself nodding. “Sounds good,” I said, giving him what I hoped was a happy smile. Eli reached out and pulled me to his chest. He nuzzled my neck and I tried to relax into him. This would be good. Tonight would be fantastic. Even in my head, I sounded fake.

~~

“Can’t I go home and change first?” Riley whined as I ordered us two beers. It was 5:30 and Riley had just gotten off of work. I was already on my third drink and was feeling the warm fuzzies from the alcohol. I had to pace myself otherwise I’d be throwing up in the bathroom before 9:00.

“Fine! But hurry up! I’ll get lonely if you take too long,” I teased, swatting Riley’s behind with my hand. She shot me a look and downed her beer.

“I’ll be back in twenty,” she assured me, heading toward the front door.

I was left sitting at the bar, shredding a napkin. “What did that napkin ever do to you?” a voice asked. I looked up to see Jordan leaning over the bar toward me. I gave him a saucy smile and threw the destroyed napkin at him. He laughed and tossed it in the trash.

Jordan must have just come on the clock. His hair was starting to grow out and was still wet from the shower he must have taken before he had come to work. He smelled amazing. Like musk and man. And I wanted to bury my nose into his chest and just breathe him in.

Jordan laughed again, interrupting my obvious ogling. “So, what brings you in here on your night off?” he asked me, wiping down the counter. I smiled, feeling myself relax around him for the first time in forever.

“I got my grades from summer school in the mail today. I did really well and felt like a little celebration was in order.” Jordan reached out and gave me a high five.

“Nice, Mays!” He took my now empty beer mug and slid another one my way. It was a Sam Adams, my favorite. How did he know that? “This one’s on me.” He gave me a wink before going to tend to two guys who had just sat down.

I watched him while he poured their beers. And I watched him while he chatted up his customers, shooting them that sexy smile I had come to love so much. Hell, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. And it wasn’t just because of the alcohol.

I wanted him. The truth was I had never stopped wanting him. And I hated so much that he and I were not meant to be. Because I knew, deep down, that we could be beautiful together. And that just made me sad.

“Why do you look like someone just ran over your cat?” Riley asked, sliding into the bar stool beside me. I plastered a smile on my face and leaned over to give her a one armed hug. She patted my back soothingly.

“I’m fine! Just waiting for your sorry ass to get back,” I teased. Jordan came back over then.

“Hey, Riley. What’ll it be?” he asked her.

Riley shot me a look, as if to say she knew what caused my bleak expression. “Give me a g and t,” she said. Jordan quirked his lips at her.

“Ah, living large tonight?” he asked. Riley just rolled her eyes at him, not bothering to respond. Chuckling, he went about making her drink.

“When will you stop being all depressed over him? I thought you were over that?” Riley whispered after Jordan had brought her gin and tonic. My eyes followed Jordan as he went into the kitchen to get someone’s order.

“I’m not depressed. And I am over that. So just shut up about it,” I snapped. Riley just raised her eyebrows and shook her head.

“Sure, you are,” she said flatly. I was about to say something else when I felt a pair of lips against the back of my neck.

I jumped and whipped around to see Eli standing there with Randall, Cicely and another one of their friends. Some guy they called K-dog. Though I wasn’t sure why. “Hey! You made it!” I said overly brightly. I wrapped my arms around Eli’s neck and gave him a hug.