PLAYLIST
Listen on Apple Music
Skin- Sabrina Carpenter
Break My Heart- Dua Lipa
I Won’t Give Up- Jason Mraz
Marry Me- Jason Derulo
How to Love- Lil Wayne
The Way- Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller
Stickwitu- The Pussycat Dolls
Body On Me- Nelly
Stay With Me- Sam Smith
Anyone- Justin Bieber
Without Me- Halsey
CHAPTER ONE
ISAAC
“I call dibs on the brunette.”
I follow my friend’s line of vision over to the two women who are eyeing Noah and me and groan. One has bleached blond hair with way too much makeup and fake tits, while the other has natural auburn hair, less makeup, and breasts that look like they’re the perfect handfuls. “You’re a dick. You know I prefer the brunettes.”
Noah downs the last of his whiskey and chuckles. “True, but I’m sick of blondes. I’m ready for something different.” He grabs the bottle from behind the counter, since the bartender is a friend of ours and doesn’t give a shit, and pours himself another glass, bringing it to his lips and downing it in one go. “Besides, I’m wondering if the saying is true: blondes have more fun. And there’s only one way to test that theory out.” He nods toward the brunette. “Fuck her and see if she’s more or less fun.”
I shake my head and laugh, questioning how the hell I’m even friends with this guy.
When he refills his glass again, I side-eye him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You know I’m not going to just let you have her, right?” I tell him, referring to the brunette neither of us knows.
He laughs and says, “Of course not,” no doubt remembering the first time we met. We were both at this same bar, drinking with some mutual friends, when a sexy brunette approached. We both had eyes for her, but it was me she went home with. The next night, we were out again, and a blonde approached. I told him he could have her because I’m only into brunettes. She ended up being a dud and so Noah and I spent the next couple hours bullshitting while we watched the game. When I mentioned I was going boating the next day, and he told me he’d never been on a boat, I offered for him to join me and we’ve been hanging out ever since.
When I glance over and lock eyes with the brunette, I hit her with my signature smirk. She smiles shyly, raising her hand to wave at me, and I know I’ve got her hooked.
“Damn it,” Noah grumbles, as the women saunter toward us, the brunette keeping her eyes on me. “You always get what you want, don’t you?”
I shrug, owning my place in this world. There isn’t much I don’t have, and anything I want, I can’t imagine not being able to get. My dad raised me to go after what I want, to not stop until it’s mine, and I use that approach in all aspects of my life.
“If you wanted her, you should’ve taken the initiative,” I point out as the women approach and the brunette stops in front of me. “You said you wanted her, but I acted.” I grin smugly. “Let that be a lesson learned.” I throw an arm around the brunette. “What are you drinking, beautiful?”
She tells me what she wants, and I’m calling the bartender over to make it, when Noah’s phone buzzes on the bar top.
“I gotta take this,” he mumbles, grabbing it and walking away.
I order drinks for both ladies and am finding out their names, when Noah comes back over, a frown marring his features.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, forgetting about the women.
“My mom,” he chokes out. “She’s been sick for a long time. They just called and said she might not make it through the night.”
His words make me feel like a shitty friend. I never even knew his mom was sick. Noah is a quiet guy, and I never push. We hang out, drink, go boating, pick up women. But we don’t really talk.
“Shit, man, I’m sorry. What do you need?”
He shakes his head. “I have to go.”
He takes off toward the exit and I follow after him. “Wait, I can go with you. You’ve been drinking…”
“I’ll take a cab. I need to do this alone, but thanks.”
When he gets to the sidewalk, he hails a cab and jumps in without looking back. Unsure if I should force my way in or let him have his space, I text him, letting him know I’m here if he needs anything. He doesn’t text back, even though it shows he read it.
No longer in the mood to get laid, I go back in to pay our tab and then take off to my place. I live in a condo my dad owns a couple blocks away from the bar and campus. When I get inside, I text Noah again. I’ve heard him talk about his mom a few times, saying they’re close, but he’s never mentioned his dad, so I’m assuming it’s just the two of them.