Four
1476 Words
There’s no way, there’s genuinely no way. I must be going mad. Maybe I should ask Josie for the number of her therapist, I clearly needed professional help. Did my mother drop me as a baby? That’s the only logical explanation to this.
I winced as I wrapped my hand around the carton of milk, pouring it into my coffee. What the hell was I up to in my sleep to cause such damage to myself. Again, the only logical explanation was that I’d some how cut myself in my sleep.
Using what, I have no idea. But it was more believable than the fact that I apparently had slept my way into an alternative universe where I apparently had a twin brother. Oh, and according to the said brother, mythical creatures were real.
I chuckled to myself, I never thought I was much of an imaginative person, but evidently I was wrong.
“What are you laughing at, hon?” My mother asked, causing me to jump out of my skin. She was like a mouse, I never even heard her come in.
I rested my palm against my chest, letting out a loud breath. “Christ, mum. Don’t creep up on me like that.”
She chortled as she dragged out the clean clothes from the washing machine. “You were in your own little world just then. Thinking about the party?”
Actually, I was wondering if Teen Wolf were onto something.
“Yep, only a couple more days.” I flashed her an over enthusiastic smile. She had no idea I wasn’t excited, I couldn’t do it to her. She’d been talking about throwing me a party for my 21st as long as I could remember, I didn’t want to disappoint her by telling her it was the last thing I cared about.
She tilted her head, looking at me as though she might burst into tears at any given moment. “I can’t believe I’m going to have a 21-year-old. How did that happen?”
I chuckled as I took a sip from my coffee mug, pushing down the feeling of dread that bubbles within me every time my birthday was mentioned. “Time flys.” I mumbled.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, I had met up with Josie for some dinner before our friend, Nicki, met up with us later on. Now, we were sat at a bar whilst I explained how I had gone insane and I needed to be institutionalised.
“So what are these men doing when you get there?” Nicki questioned, her blue eyes filled with intrigue.
I shrugged as I took a sip of my pina colada. “They’re just standing there waiting for me, without shirts.”
Josie grinned as she wagged her brows. “I know what your problem is.” She winked.
I took another sip, these drinks were going down way too easy. “Enlighten me.”
She perched her brow, setting her drink down on the table. “You need some action.”
“Yes!” Nicki exclaimed, before starting to come down with the inevitable drunk hiccups. “Yes!” She squealed again.
I pursed my lips in distaste. “I don’t think so.” I mean, I did. I was going through quite the dry spell, but the guys around here didn’t really do it for me.
“You do!” Josie groaned, before pulling out her phone. “I’m texting Connor, we’ll meet up with the guys.”
I scrunched up my face, waving my hand in the air as I dismissed the idea. “Connor’s friends are not for me.”
Josie rolled her eyes. “They don’t have to be for you, they just have to be good enough for the night.” She teased.
Nicki giggled as Josie continued texting. “Josh is-” another hiccup interrupted her, “kind of hot.”
I lowered my head to hers, scanning her face as I lifted up her empty glass. “How many of these did you drink, girl?”
She shrugged with a sheepish smile. “Enough for Josh to be hot.”
I laughed as I shook my head, the girl had no tolerance when it came to alcohol. As far as lightweights were concerned, she took the trophy.
“They‘re on their way, they’re only round the corner.” Josie grinned as she put her phone away.
I groaned, before downing the rest of my cocktail. “I don’t want Josh, I want the sexy greek-gods from my dreams.”
I lifted my glass in the air as I made eye-contact with the bartender, if Connor’s friends were coming then I’d need a lot more of these. “Keep em coming!”
“Willow,” Josie requested my attention. “Your two sexy men are in dreamland, Josh is real and on his way.”
I pouted as she stared me down. “Fine,” I mumbled. “Only because I’m experiencing a serious dry spell and don’t want to go into my birthday resembling the Sahara Desert.”
Nicki giggled through her hiccups as Josie flashed me a wink. “That’s the Willow I know.”
And right on queue, Connor stormed through the entrance of the bar with his love-struck puppy eyes that were fixated on Josie.
She engulfed him in a tight hug, as my eyes landed on the two behind him. Josh and Liam, two names that were forever destined to be on the list of f.uckboy names.
Josh smiled warmly as he made a bee-line for me. His quiffed, mousey-brown hair was styled perfectly, not a strand out of place. His chiselled jawline threatened to cut my finger if I ran it across his skin and his hooded, brown eyes appeared as though they looked deep into my soul.
It wasn’t as though Josh wasn’t attractive, because he was to most girls. But he was preened to perfection, he spent half his week on the sunbed and the other half getting his eyebrows waxed.
He had a great body too, don’t get me wrong. He had the athletic, lean type of build that led me to believe he was the type to run 5 miles every morning before he started his day.
Again, most would find this attractive. But I preferred the rugged, rough and ready look. The rugby player build, rather than the swimmer build. I wanted my man to be able to lift me with one arm and be able to throw me about a bit, something I doubted I would get from Josh.
“Willow,” he smirked as he took a seat in the stool beside me. “Josh.” I quirked a brow.
I’d also heard Josh left a trail of broken hearts wherever he left, leading girls on one-by-one, before refusing to settle down and offer commitment.
“Can I buy you a drink?” He offered, looking at the empty cocktail glass in front of me. I smiled politely. “I’ve ordered my next one already, thank you though.”
He nodded his head as he placed his arm along the back of my stool. “When’s the big birthday bash?”
I cringed at the mention of my party. “In two days, did Josie invite you?” Now, why did I ask that. Because if he says no, then I’ll have to out of courtesy.
The corners of his lips turned upright. “She didn’t actually, would you like me to come?” No.
“Sure.” I beamed. “The more the merrier, right?” Stop talking, Willow.
He chuckled at my comment. “I’ll be there then.”
Great.
“Great.”
He shuffled in his seat, leaning in closer. “So what are your plans tonight?” The smell of bourbon lingered on his breath.
“Uh,” I twisted my lips, backing up slightly. “I’ll probably head home after this next drink.”
His chocolate eyes narrowed in on me, something primal swirled within them. I’d just made myself a challenge, one he appeared determined to conquer.
“So soon?” He teased, taking the glasses from the bartender who had brought over the next round. “You should stay.”
I glanced over at Josie, who gave me a nod of encouragement. I pressed my lips together, thinking about my options. The likelihood of me meeting anyone who resembled the men from my dreams in the next hour was incredibly slim and Josh was right here, for some reason breathing down my neck.
Was I that desperate for a bit of action? It had been four months, so yes I absolutely was.
I grinned in Josh’s direction. “Or maybe you could come with me.”
- Writer
