“I talked to Max today, and he told me he knows an awesome photog that is looking for a couple of tattooed hotties.” He points to himself and me. “So anyway, he wants us to go with him and a few other guys in a couple weeks to some shoot she is doing.” I take a sip of my beer and look at him.
“Sounds awesome. Who’s the photog?” He lifts his shoulders while finishing off his pizza.
“I don’t remember, but Max said he’s shot with her, and she is awesome. That’s all I needed to hear.” He has a point. If Max said she’s good, she’s good.
“What’s the shoot for?” He rolls his eyes.
“Dude, I don’t know. Give Max a call; he’ll fill you in on everything.” I grab another slice of pizza and a beer before heading to the couch.
“I’ll call him tomorrow. We are all supposed to hang out anyway.” He plops down next to me and flips on the TV, landing on some tattoo show. It gives me the itch to go get another one.
“Oh shit, tomorrow night, we are chilling here, right?” I look over at him and raise my eyebrows. “I invited a few girls. I just want to make sure it was here.” I can’t help but laugh at him. I think with my dick a lot, shit what guy doesn’t, but Blake is worse than I am.
“Yea, we are chilling here. Who did you invite?” He gives me a smile and tosses back the rest of his beer.
“The usual crew, plus a few girls I worked with last week.” I give him a nod of my head and finish off my beer. “How was the shoot, I forgot to ask?” I put my empty beer down and face him.
“I’m sure the pictures will be awesome. Tina is just so hard to work with. You know how it is. She is just so serious all the time. It makes the shoot harder to get into.” He gives me a nod of his head and lights up a cigarette, blowing a puff of smoke into the air.
“Yea, I know, brother, but just like some of the models we work with, you just need to grin and bear it.” Ain’t that the truth. I’m not looking to make waves in this industry. I know how easy it is to have it all disappear overnight. I did a few shoots with this guy Steve, great guy, professional and fun to work with. He ended up sleeping with one of the more popular models, and when he didn’t return her feelings, she ended him. She threw him under the bus on social media and told photographers if they worked with him, she never would. Poor guy lost it all just to get his dick wet. I’d be a fucking hypocrite if I said I haven’t done it, but I’m definitely more careful now. It needs to be a mutual understanding that it is all in fun and nothing more. It’s been working for me. “I’m turning in, dude. I told your brother I’d come in tomorrow. I need the extra cash.”
“Alright, I’ll see you when you get home tomorrow. Tell Brody I’ll give him a call when I wake up.” He waves his hand behind him as he walks down the hallway. I’m so damn happy I don’t need to work tomorrow.
I wake up stiff as hell still sitting on the couch. I stretch and look over at the clock; damn, three in the morning. I get up and make my way to my room when I hear my phone buzzing. I listen and realize I left it in the kitchen, so I head in there wondering who the fuck is calling me at three o’clock. I grab it off the counter and see it’s Max. I answer it quickly, hoping I don’t miss it. “Hello?”
“Shit, Jax, did I wake you? I’m sorry, man, but I’m kind of desperate for a ride home. I came to the bar with Luke, but he went off with some girl, and I don’t even have cash for a cab. Do you mind?” Fuck!
“Yea, man, I’ll come get you. What bar are you at?” He tells me he’s at Ecstasy, and I hang up. I grab my keys and head out the door. I’m nothing if not dependable. I will always help out if I can, as long as it’s a friend willing to help me out too. Over the last two years of modeling, Max and I have become good friends, and I know without a doubt he’d come get my drunk ass.
I pull up by the club and call him. “Hey, man you here already?” I look around to see if I can find him, but being that it’s Friday night, there are a lot of people still hanging out in front.
“Yea, I’m here. Where are you at?” I’m still looking in the crowd of people to see if I can find him, and holy shit, I see probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t tell you her hair or eye color, and I can’t even make out the details of her face all that well. It’s the way she throws her head back and laughs that caught my attention. Not to mention the tight-ass dress she has on. I keep staring at her, almost willing her to look my way. Just then, my door flies open and I jump. Max is looking at me and laughing.
“Shit, man, I didn’t mean to scare you. I told you where I was, but you didn’t say anything back so I just found you.” I quickly look over to where she was, and damn it, she’s gone. I sigh and look over at him.
“Sorry I didn’t hear you. So you have a good time tonight?” He proceeds to tell me what a great night he had, the many numbers he got, and even about this girl that he hooked up with that he saw.
“You know how it is, sometimes shit just happens, but I was kind of into this girl, and she blew me off completely. Seeing her tonight was actually kinda shitty, so I just told Kallie I would talk to her later.” I look over at him with my eyebrows raised before returning my eyes to the road. “Oh shit, Kallie, she is a photog I’ve worked with a few times. She’s really fucking great. Actually, I called Blake earlier when I couldn’t get a hold of you to tell you guys about a shoot she is doing in a few weeks. She is wanting to do this big shoot out on the beach with a bunch of models, both men and women. I told her about you and Blake, so be expecting a phone call.” Damn, that sounds really fucking interesting.
“Thanks, I am looking forward to talking to her and hearing more about it. I appreciate you throwing my name out there.” He slaps my shoulder pretty fucking hard, and I turn to look at him. He’s just giving me a drunken smile so I laugh. I pull up in front of his apartment and park.
“You’re a fucking great friend, Jax. Thanks for getting me. We still chilling tomorrow
?” He swings open the door but waits for me to answer him.
“Yea, we are still on for tomorrow.” He climbs out and sticks his head back in.
“Thanks.” I don’t even get to respond because he closes the door and walks away. I head home thankful that it is only a fifteen-minute ride.
I wake up, roll onto my side, and look out my window. This house may be small with only two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, and living room, but it’s the outside that sold me. There is a huge patio with a built-in BBQ and a kidney-shaped in-ground pool. To the right of the pool is a hot tub, and to the left of the pool in the back corner of the yard is a fire pit area with plenty of seating for hanging out on long summer nights. Blake and I entertain a lot, so the outdoor space is put to good use. We are also only a short walk to the beach, so we utilize that often too. Like this morning, after I get my ass up, I’ll go for a run on the beach.
I roll onto my back and think about all I have to do today, but first things first. I need to go for a run. I work out daily, but I like to mix it up. I run on the beach because it is one hell of a workout on your legs, but tomorrow, I’ll take it to the gym. I get out of bed and throw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before getting my running shoes on. I make my way to the kitchen, but only for some water. I will have my breakfast when I get back. I guzzle down the water, grab my iPod, and head out the door. I put in my earbuds and select my workout music. The first song starts to play, and I immediately get pumped; it’s Shattered by Jinks. I start running and focusing on the music. Before I know it, I’m on the beach, feeling the burn in my legs. I run two miles down the beach and two miles back up. There are quite a few runners out here, sunbathers, and even a few families scattered in. I take it all in as I’m trying to keep up my pace. I see several beautiful women, and it brings me back to last night when I saw that woman laughing. It’s absurd that my mind would even go there. I only saw her for minutes at best, but damn, there was just something about her. The more I run, the more I think of this mystifying woman, a woman I will more than likely never again see.
I shake my head to clear it of these ridiculous thoughts and finish my run home. I walk inside, completely drenched in sweat and legs feeling like rubber, loving it because I know I got a great workout. I make myself a quick omelet and sit down to relax before taking a shower. My phone rings, and I see it’s Max. “Hey, man.”
“Jax, listen, I really appreciate you picking me up last night. I’ll make it up to you tonight. I’ve got awesome steaks, lots of beer, and a few fine ladies.” I laugh and finish off my omelet.
“Sounds good. What time you heading over tonight?” I put my dishes in the dishwasher and head out back to have a quick cigarette before my shower.