Forever Mine

Chapter one

Felix

“You are a complete and total asshole.” I slurred a bit while holding my fifth, tenth, twentieth? I don’t know, but I drank a lot of beer and plenty of shots tonight. I was determined to make this a great night and also forget the one person who wouldn't leave my damn mind. After what happened with Ava and the kids, spending that little bit of time with her affected me more than it should. Anyway, my best bud, my brother, is home before he gets deployed and we’re doing what we do best, get plastered before it happens. It just sucks it had to be right after new year’s. I never really cared for the holidays, even growing up. Growing up on a ranch in the middle of Texas wasn’t exactly a cake walk and with that destroyed cake came a lot of very forgettable memories, at least ones I want to forget, but this year was different. After retiring from the Marines and coming back home, I found a new sense of family, one that accepted me with somewhat open arms, but in the end, everyone opened them. A family, one of which my brother is leaving again and this time and for the first time…without me, “We’ve always done tours together and this is the first one where you’re going by yourself. Without me. It’s not right.”

“Don’t miss me too much, fucker. I need someone here to hold everything down for me.” Aiden grinned as he downed another shot of whisky, “You know damn well I’ll come home.”

I met Aiden when I was eighteen at bootcamp and we were bunk mates. We hit it off after silently competing with each other and pushing each other to our limits and, well, we might have had a fist fight or two, but that only brought us closer. During time off and leave, I would go to his place with him, for most of the time. Home was never really…home, especially after the events that happened before I left for camp. I would go and say hi to mom and spend a day or two and try to mend my past, but when that s**t the brick, back up to New York I went. Soon, I went back home sporadically. I couldn't handle it. Call me a b***h, but that's what I am.

His place is where I met his sister for the first time and damn, was she something else. We got close, her being like a sister to me, but that didn’t stop me from flirting, but I did it because I’m an ass, because it makes her squirm. Thinking about it now, I shouldn't have. I knew she wasn't for me, but I was stupid.

It wasn’t until I came to visit after seeing me rents for a bit when she was in the hospital that everything opened up to me. Her being unconscious while her fiance walked in on me holding her hand and everything that followed. But all is good now. Finn and I are cool, good friends even, and Sawyer will always be that little sister to me, and so will Ava.

But then there’s the other thorn in my side…if you want to call her that.

“Yeah yeah, we both know the real meaning behind that statement and you know that’s the only thing we could say to make our parents be okay with us enlisting. Funny, how even in different states, we think alike. But if you would have told me about this sooner, you know I would be going with you.” I grinned as I grabbed the bottle and poured us two more shots, “Where’s your girl?”

His eyes shifted to the bar where Luna was working. She was a pretty little thing, a little bit on the shorter side, with long dark hair but cute none the less. Not exactly my type. I like my girls with a bit more meat, curves, the perfect places for me to hold them and please them in ways they can only dream of. She was busy making drinks every time Aiden looked over. The poor asshole. You can tell he likes her but he doesn’t have the balls to say anything. I have never seen him like this. It was actually quite entertaining.

She came into our lives after Ava started working at the bar to help pay for her mom’s medical bills, bills and diagnosis she kept from everyone for years. Watching Aiden become that lovesick fool is sickening. I’ve never seen him like this, even with his ex, Mile’s birth mom, Kristen, “First off, you couldn’t. I need you here to make sure things go okay. Nothing against Art but he’s going into daddy mode, Archer has his own fuckin’ issues, Finn is beyond busy and stressed with the three girls driving him up the damn wall, Dylan and Jordan are just…ugh, and I don’t know Gage that well, so you’re the best I got and second of all, she’s not my girl.” He grumbled, taking a shot, “Besides, she has a boyfriend.”

“You sure about that big guy?” I laughed, “Because I know you’ve been out trying to get muscle upon muscle and make us all normal people feel terrible about ourselves while you go out and save the fuckin’ world like superman, but while you’re doing that, us weak folk here have been hanging out and let me tell you, she’s been coming around by herself. No guy. No girl. Nadda. Although, shame about the no girl part. That could be fun.” I pointed the tip of my beer at him with a grin, “You have two days to do something about that and when that ball drops at midnight, you might as well go for a hot wet smokin’ kiss.”

He grabbed the bottle and poured us two more shots, “What’s the point? To come home and her be with someone else? f**k that.”

“You’re an i***t. You sound like a lovesick fool who has a crush on your best friend. Man up and make a damn move before it’s too late. But I’ll tell you, if you don’t make a move, you’re going to regret it.”

“I bet. And I sure am a fool, but he’s a bigger one.” He said, pointing to Monroe who had just walked through the doors with his arm around Ollie and Archer behind them, “What are you going to do about that?” I rolled my eyes and groaned.

Monroe.

The guy I wish I could strangle.

The guy that has her on his arm.

When she’s supposed to be on mine.

But I f****d up and that ship sailed a long ass time ago and I can’t go back.

I took the shot and downed it, ignoring the burn of the whisky, “Nothing. She’s with him and I am going to go grab a sexy, single girl wearing a short dress and come home late in the morning.” I winked, getting up from the table as soon as the three walked over. I shot a quick glance at her and nodded my head at Archer, ignoring the cockroach.

“One day you’re going to tell me what the f**k happened.” He grinned.

“In your dreams.” I grinned right back but I knew eventually I would need to talk to someone about it. He would be the best bet. I know he wouldn't judge me. I was just more afraid of the looks of pity from him when I finally told him what happened.

Archer slid in, taking the spot next to Aiden and gave me a weird look, “You good bro?”

“Abso-fuckin-lutely.” I grinned, “And how is Lil D’ doing?”

“I hate you all. Give me that.” He grumbled as he grabbed the bottle of whisky and an extra glass and poured himself a shot, taking it.

“Dude, you’re underage.” Monroe snapped as he stood next to me facing them, with his arms crossed, “You’re going to get in so much trouble.”

“Only if someone tells.” Archer rolled his eyes, “Let me live a little. After these past four months, I deserve this. Give me a fuckin’ break, besides, it’s not like I’m sixteen. I turn twenty in like a few months.” He rolled his eyes.

“Aren’t you still…like a senior?” I asked, laughing.

“d**k. I graduated a year a half ago.” He laughed, “Besides, I should be able to have a beer if I’m putting my life at risk every damn day.”

“Whatever.” Monroe rolled his eyes. It just made me want to stab them out even more and the fact that he slid into the booth before letting Ollie sit first like he should have made me want to stab them even more.

Ladies first is my motto. Always.

Through the door that you hold, the food they get, they order first and they finish first…always.

“Well, while you two love birds dance around the subject, I’m going to go find a subject to dance around.” I grinned and before walking away I stopped next to Ollie.

God, she’s fuckin sexy and doesn’t even know it. Always has been and she’s only gotten better throughout the years.

Except now…

Because they can’t tell, but something isn’t right about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Without looking at her, I whispered, “Looking good Ol. Good enough to…eat.” in her ear, hearing her breath hitch, and walked away without letting her say anything. I took a quick peak before she sat down. She was wearing this sexy mini skirt and tight red top that hugged all the right places but wasn’t too revealing and those f**k me heels…god I love those heels. But something caught my eye. She had more bruises, nothing too large, on her arms and legs. I started to see red until I shook my head. Maybe I’m too drunk and I’m seeing things.

Or maybe she fell off her horse again. I’ll need to talk to Craig about that damn snake problem before it gets out of hand.

As I walked to the bar to try and get Luna’s attention, I took a peek behind me only to see Ollie looking my way, glaring, turning red. I gave her my signature smirk she hates so much and a brief wink before turning back to the bar, but not before checking her out one more time. If only she would pull her head out of her ass, we could literally live the life we were supposed to. The life that I dream of all the damn time, when I actually sleep and I'm not suffering.

I can only wait for so long before I give up.

“Hey, Shining Star.” I yelled over the large crowd of people. She looked over at me and rolled her eyes and shook her head, but she couldn’t help the smile on her face. “How about you hook me and this beautiful specimen here with one of your finest cocktails.” I grinned as I wrapped my arm around some gorgeous girl next to me.

I turned my head and eyed her up and down. I saw her come in with her friends earlier tonight and turn down numerous guys, I think. I don't know, it's hard to keep track of the girls in the place, especially if I'm not completely interested in them. She’s sexy as f**k, long tan legs, waist-length red hair, beautiful curves. My kind of girl. She gave me those f**k me eyes and I loved it but touching her like this burned; it felt wrong on so many levels.

She has nothing on the brunette that drives me fuckin’ wild.

“You know, I’m going to regret my decisions later.” Red said with a wink, “But you can’t regret what you can’t remember.” She purred, looking me up and down like I was her next meal. I internally rolled my eyes. That was literally the worst thing I’ve heard all night, but I need to finish what I started. Actually, I’m not drunk enough for this.

“Don’t worry babe, you’ll have a night you won’t forget.” I winked. Why do I do these things to myself?

Luna came over and handed me a beer and the girl a glass of coke. I c****d my eyebrow at her as I took a swig, “Can I talk to you?” she leaned over the bar and whispered, eyeing the girl next to me before shifting her eyes back, “It’s…important.”

“Honey, he isn’t interested.” The girl leaned over and clicked her tongue, “You're just not his…type.” She eyed Luna up and down. I just turned my head and looked at her with that ‘excuse me’ look.

“Actually, I don’t think you are. Bitchy and shallow are last season.” She glared at me, huffed and walked away back to her group of friends and all I could do was roll my eyes. After a moment, I paused and just laughed. This is my life now and it’s pretty fuckin pathetic.

“You didn’t have to do that.” She reached out and grabbed my wrist, giving it a quick squeeze, “These girls don’t bother me. I can handle myself.”

“I know you can, but I did anyway. You’re a friend and we stick up for each other, plus I’m not going to let some shallow b***h say crap to you like that.” I shrugged, “What did you want to tell me?”

“That she’s eighteen and has been hitting on every guy that has walked through those doors and then turning them down like they’re toys.” She shrugged, “Figured you would be more interested in a well rounded girl. Established career. Beautiful long brown hair. Smart as hell.” She said as she looked over at the table where Ollie looked like she would rather muck the stalls than be here.

“Can you be even more subtle?” I laughed, “As much as I would like to cross that bridge again, if I did, I would drown because that boat has sailed and she’s…with him. Besides, enough about me, I came over here to talk to you.”

“About what and make it quick because I got a lot of people who think I’m the most popular person in this bar right now.” She laughed.

“Him.” I pointed my thumb to Aiden over my shoulder, who was sitting on one side of the table next to Archer, while Monroe and Ollie were on the other side. I watched her for a moment. She fiddled with her cup and played with the bracelet on her wrist over and over, twirling the horse charm between her fingers. Her smile was fake and her body stature was stiff. She kept looking over there, her eyes shifting to me and then back to the conversation and back at me, “He’s leaving in two days.”

“I heard. I heard he spilled the beans on Christmas morning before you guys had a chance to get dressed. Tell me, do all you boys in that house like to walk around in your underwear sporting semi’s?” she laughed.

“Once Ava has her baby, I’m killing her.” I laughed, taking a swig of my beer, “I was dressed, by the way, pants and a shirt, the other's sweatpants but nothing outrageous. But you should have been there. We would have left you alone with two soldiers, him and his…friend.” I laughed.

“As much as I would have appreciated that…I’m sure I’m not his type and…um…I’m…not available.” She mumbled, “I gotta go back to work. I’ll see you later at Ava’s. I won’t be out of here until like two or three, but she said I could crash.” and she turned around and left, but not before looking over at Aiden one more time before heading into the back.

I sat at the bar, suddenly losing my buzz as my fingers tapped the glass of the bottle. I noticed a blur trying to sneak by behind me towards the bathroom. I would notice those gorgeous brown locks anywhere but it was that damn perfume. Vanilla coconut.

While she went to the bathroom, I looked over at the table and noticed the jackass was still there with Aiden and Archer and he looked pissed and boy, was I about to piss him off more.

I slid off the stool with a grin and headed right to the hallway where she was. For once, luck was on my side as there was no one else virtually there, so I waited for her to get out of the bathroom, but f**k, she was taking forever.

Finally, when she walked out the bathroom door, I grabbed her arm, turned her and pinned her to the wall, my arms caging her in front of me, her face inches from mine.

Because what I’m about to do will change everything, at least I fuckin’ hope so, because at the end of the day, seeing her with him drives me fuckin’ crazy and it’s time I threw myself into the mix.

Because Ollie, you’re mine.