“You know what I find really irritating?” I asked, peering over my phone at the TV screen. “The way you spend more time browsing shows on Netflix than actually watching them.”
Aaron looked over at me and rolled his eyes.
“God. I also hate the way you roll your eyes.”
Aaron and I had been screwing around for a few weeks now, and I was rapidly growing tired of him. That was always how it went. Invite them in, let them stick around a while, and then I got bored. Easier to cut them loose sooner than later.
Also, everyone was saying we were just days away from stay-at-home orders, and there was no way I was quarantining with this dude.
Aaron turned off the TV and turned to face me.
“Okay, out
“You know what I find really irritating?” I asked, peering over my phone at the TV screen. “The way you spend more time browsing shows on Netflix than actually watching them.”
Aaron looked over at me and rolled his eyes.
“God. I also hate the way you roll your eyes.”
Aaron and I had been screwing around for a few weeks now, and I was rapidly growing tired of him. That was always how it went. Invite them in, let them stick around a while, and then I got bored. Easier to cut them loose sooner than later.
Also, everyone was saying we were just days away from stay-at-home orders, and there was no way I was quarantining with this dude.
Aaron turned off the TV and turned to face me.
“Okay, out with it, Case. What’s going on? You’ve been at me for days now.”
I shrugged.
“I dunno, Aaron. Maybe we’re done here?”
He looked at me, slight surprise registering on his face. It was quickly replaced with a shrug of his own.
“Sure. If that’s what you want.”
I nodded. Pretty sure, dude.
Aaron stood up and grabbed his jacket off the nearby chair. He leaned over and picked up his bag of weed, stuffing it in his pocket. Cheapskate. Then he looked at me and smiled.
“It was fun, Case. I love that thing you do with your tongue.”
I smiled and flicked my tongue out at him, the platinum stud piercing glinting off the overhead light. He laughed and gave me a quick salute before heading out the door. I threw my feet up on the ottoman and sighed. Oh, well. I leaned over and picked up the joint he’d just finished rolling. At least he’d left that. I sparked up and smoked it while flicking through the Netflix menu.
with it, Case. What’s going on? You’ve been at me for days now.”
I shrugged.
“I dunno, Aaron. Maybe we’re done here?”
He looked at me, slight surprise registering on his face. It was quickly replaced with a shrug of his own.
“Sure. If that’s what you want.”
I nodded. Pretty sure, dude.
Aaron stood up and grabbed his jacket off the nearby chair. He leaned over and picked up his bag of weed, stuffing it in his pocket. Cheapskate. Then he looked at me and smiled.
“It was fun, Case. I love that thing you do with your tongue.”
I smiled and flicked my tongue out at him, the platinum stud piercing glinting off the overhead light. He laughed and gave me a quick salute before heading out the door. I threw my feet up on the ottoman and sighed. Oh, well. I leaned over and picked up the joint he’d just finished rolling. At least he’d left that. I sparked up and smoked it while flicking through the Netflix menu.
First thing I did when I got up the next morning was call the clinic and book an appointment for tests. Luckily, they were booking the same day. Aaron and I had used protection, but I didn’t like to fuck around with this shit. Better to get tested now than get a nasty surprise down the line.
I crawled out of bed and pulled on some clothes. I looked in the mirror, my pixie-cut blond hair poking off in all directions. I rolled my eyes at myself and ran my hands through it, trying to tame it somewhat. Then I just stopped and stared at myself. I was tiny at 27, just over five feet. And I didn’t get the tiny body to go with the height, either. I was all curves and my tits were far too big for my frame. Something had to change, though. I needed to mark this split with Aaron like I had with all the others. I didn’t want another piercing, and I still hadn’t decided on a tattoo. I looked back in the mirror and smiled. My hair.
On the way to the clinic, I stopped in at the drugstore around the corner and checked out the hair dye section until I found exactly what I was looking for—a fiery red. Perfect. I brought it up to the cashier, paid, and continued to the clinic.
Hours later, after I’d polished off a few slices of leftover pizza, I got to work dying my hair. I was very careful to protect the sink and counters before starting, despite my messy nature. Thing was, it wasn’t really my house. At my own place was one thing, but I was just house-sitting for the year. This Wexler family had bought a new house but hadn’t yet sorted out what to do with this one. I had six months left and then I’d have to find somewhere new to crash. It also meant I’d have to get a job. This whole arrangement had been sweet. I’d be sad when it ended.
I wrapped my head loosely in a towel and walked into the front room, where I could easily see out into the courtyard. My neighbour, Allie, was just coming home with Loki. I’d met her a couple of months ago when we had this impromptu celebration for her marriage to Matt. The second, and I mean the second, I stepped into her house I knew she and Matt would be the coolest fucking neighbours ever. And they didn’t disappoint. Those two got the best weed.
Otherwise, the courtyard was empty. I was just about to turn away when I caught some movement in my peripheral vision. My lips curled up in a smile as I caught Zach leaving the house, trotting down the steps and turning towards the street.
God, he was gorgeous. Like, unearthly gorgeous. Over six feet tall, dark eyes, dark curly hair, a body like a fucking beast. And that ring on his thumb? I’d had many a pleasant thought about what that would feel like grazing against my nipple. That man was fire. Who cared that he was eight years older than me? Rawr.
As if he could read my mind, he stopped at the edge of the courtyard and looked back, right at me. I smiled and waved. He gave me a quick wave, no smile, and walked away.
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