Nothing Is Left, page 11
part #11 of Forever and Ever Series
Chapter Eleven
Slade
Dad handed me my paycheck with a grin on his face.
I watched him suspiciously. “What?”
“Nothing.”
I eyed him again before I ripped open the envelope. When I looked at my paycheck, my eyes widened. “A raise?”
“Yep. You earned it, kid.”
“Sweet!” I rubbed it all over my chest.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m soaking it up.”
“You’re supposed to cash it,” my dad said sarcastically.
“I can finally afford my own place.”
“Good for you. Now you can stop shacking up with Trinity.”
“Ha. What makes you think I won’t still be with her all the time?”
Dad didn’t continue the conversation and decided to walk away.
Razor clapped me on the shoulder. “Look at those big bucks. You better buy us all lunch.”
“Buy your own lunch, jerk.”
He laughed then stepped away. “So, what are you going to do first?”
“Get new strings on my electric guitar. They won’t last much longer.”
“You still play?” he asked.
“Yep. I’m damn good at it.”
“I play the drums.”
“You do?” I asked in surprise.
“I’m pretty good.”
“Seriously?”
“Why are you so surprised?” he asked.
“I’m not,” I said. “Can I hear you play?”
“What?” he asked. “Why?”
“I just want to see how you sound.”
“Because…?”
“I’m trying to put a band together. So far, I’m the only person who’s joined.”
“A band?” he asked incredulously. “With you?”
“Yeah, I have tons of songs already written. It’ll be fun. We can play a few gigs for extra cash.”
“What’s the name of your band?”
“Alligators Down Under.”
He nodded his head in approval. “Sounds pretty cool.”
“So, when can I hear you play?”
“Today after work?” Razor asked.
“I’m down.”
“Cool.” Razor headed back to his station.
“Starting the band again?” Dad came to my side.
“Yep. It’s going to be wild.”
“I bet,” he said. “So, when are we getting our tattoos?”
“I’m ready whenever you are.”
“We can have Razor do them.”
“What side are you going to put yours on?” I asked. I lifted my shirt. “I only got my left side available.”
“Then I’ll do my left side too.”
“Mom doesn’t care?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why would she?”
“She’s a control freak.”
“No, she thinks it’s cute.”
“That’s cool,” I said. “I think Trinity will like it too. She’s into ink.”
“I bet,” he said dismissively.
“So, who’s going first?” I asked.
“I will,” Dad volunteered.
“Sick. I’ll hold your hand if it’s too painful.”
He rolled his eyes. “I think I can handle it.”
***
Dad lay down while Razor got everything ready. “You feel comfortable doing this?”
“Do you?” he asked with a laugh. “You sound a little nervous.”
“I’m not,” he said. “I just feel bad for you. If you mess up, you’re messing up on your boss.”
“I don’t mess up,” he said seriously. “I’m the best artist you got. Why else would you have picked me?”
“Don’t be scared, Dad.”
“I’m not scared,” he said immediately.
Razor got the area ready then began to work. “Just so you know, I’ll need a few sessions with this. It’ll be a lot of color.”
“I know.” Dad stared up at the ceiling and didn’t flinch as the needle moved into his skin.
I watched Razor as he moved over every inch of skin. “This is going to look so sick, Dad.”
“I bet.”
“Mom will fall in love with you all over again.”
He smirked. “I’m pretty sure she’s still hooked on me from the first time.”
Razor etched along the muscle covering my father’s ribs.
“Dad, you’re in pretty good shape.”
“I do play basketball with Cortland almost every day.”
“Be careful not to laugh,” Razor said.
I gave my dad a mischievous grin.
“Don’t even think about it, Slade.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and patiently waited for Razor to finish.
***
After work, I headed to Razor’s apartment. “Sweet place.” It was small, but every apartment in New York was small unless you were rich.
“Thanks, man.” He headed down the hallway. “I’ll show my Sound Room.”
“Sound Room?”
“It’s where all the music happens.”
We walked inside his spare bedroom. Posters of old rock bands covered the walls, and an old record player sat on a table. Records were scattered across the surface. His drum set was top of the line and shined like it was still new.
“Nice set,” I said.
“Thanks.” He grabbed his drumsticks then threw them in the air. “Ready to be amazed?”
“Show me what you got.”
Razor played a Jimi Hendrix song then did a drum solo from Muse. I sat back, surprised that he sounded so well rehearsed. By the end of the second song, he was sweating. Now I knew why he had such massive arms. When he was done, he chugged a whole bottle of water.
“You’re in,” I blurted.
He laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
***
Trinity was reading on the couch when I walked inside. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey.” She kept reading.
I kicked off my shoes then sat at the opposite corner of the couch. Her legs were resting parallel to the back cushion. I picked them up and put them in my lap. Then I started to massage her feet. “How was your day?”
She dropped the book immediately and moaned at my ministrations.
“Just like when we have sex…”
She was too relaxed to give me a smartass comment.
“So?” I asked. “How was your day?”
“It was fine,” she said. “It’s better now.”
I rubbed her heel then her toes. Her feet were tiny, and I always thought they were cute. When she painted them different colors, they looked nice.
“How was yours?” she asked.
“Awesome,” I said. “I got a raise, found a drummer for my band, and my dad started his tattoo.”
“You got a raise?” she asked excitedly. “Congrats, babe.”
“Thanks.” I felt warm whenever she was proud of me. It didn’t happen very often.
“And who’s the drummer?” she asked.
“Razor.”
“I didn’t know he played.”
“He’s really good.”
“Well, that’s nice. And that’s really cute you and your dad are getting matching tattoos.”
“Yeah…” It did mean a lot to me that my dad was inking something to share with me. The only other time he got a tattoo was when he married my mom. “Now I can get my own place.”
“That’s exciting. You’ll love having the privacy.”
“No, I’ll always be with you.” I hardly ever slept at home anymore. I was always with Trinity, and not just to get away from my parents.
“I know…” She rolled her eyes.
I pinched her toe threateningly.
She laughed. “Kidding…kidding.”
My hands moved to her ankles and her calves. “Your legs are so sexy.”
“You’re sexy.”
I crawled up her body until I was face-to-face with her. “You think?”
“Yeah.” She wrapped her arms around my neck.
I kissed her gently, my mouth taking hers like I had a hundred times. But somehow, it felt better with every kiss. She wrapped her legs around my waist while she deepened the kiss, showing me how much she missed me all day.
My hand went for her jeans to drag them off but she broke our kiss.
“Skye and Cayson will be here soon.”
“What?” I demanded. “Why?”
“Double date board game night.”
That sounded horrendous. “They just got back together. Let them fuck for a month or two.”
“It was Skye’s idea.”
“I never liked her…”
She chuckled. “Oh, shut up. You love Cayson.”
“I love making love to you more.”
“Well, if you make it quick.”
“Baby, I always like a challenge.”
***
We just finished when they knocked on the door.
Trinity was still on her post-orgasm high.
“Get dressed, baby.”
“Can I take a nap first?”
I pulled on my clothes then checked my hair in the mirror.
Trinity finally dressed then fixed her hair with her fingers. Then she carried the board games into the living room while I answered the door.
“Yo.” I bowed. “Please enter.”
Skye touched my arm to acknowledge me, and then made a beeline for Trinity.
Cayson walked inside, looking happier than I’d ever seen him. “Hey.”
I hit his shoulder. “Look who’s on cloud nine.”
He shrugged but didn’t deny it.
“I told you just to take her back.”
“Yeah, I wish I did it sooner.”
“I’m surprised you guys wanted to see other humans.”
He chuckled. “Skye arranged this. If I had it my way, we’d be in bed right now.”
“Right,” I said. “Trinity and I just got it on before you knocked on the door.”
He cringed. “Uh, cool?”
“Like you didn’t do it before you left the apartment.”
“Do you really want to know if we did or not?” he asked incredulously.
I decided to change the subject. “Did you kill Ward and dump his body into the harbor?”
“No.” He eyed Skye, who was chatting with Trinity like they hadn’t seen each other in ten years. Then he turned his attention back to me. “But she sees him every day at work…stupid Brit.”
“Well, Skye doesn’t strike me as the cheating type so I think you’re good.”
“But he kissed her. I don’t like looking at him.”
I shrugged. “Trinity kissed Reid. I know it didn’t mean anything. You got nothing to worry about, man.”
He gave me a fond look. “Since when did you become the more mature one of the two of us?”
“I don’t know. I guess when I fell in love.”
He patted me on the shoulder. “Have you reconsidered what we discussed?”
“What?” I asked.
“You know…marriage.”
“I already told you what my stance was.”
Cayson decided to back off. “Got any beer?”
“Yeah.” I grabbed two then popped the caps.
“Skye brought wine. They’ll be drunk in about an hour.”
“Ugh,” I said. “They talk so much when they’re drunk.”
“Yeah…but they’re fun in bed. At least Skye is.”
“Trinity is insatiable. As soon as we’re done, she wants another go.”
Cayson eyed me. “Maybe you aren’t doing a good job…”
“Shut the hell up.” I nudged him in the side then headed to the couch.
“Your nails are so cute,” Skye said. “Where did you get them done?”
“At Queens Feet,” she answered. “You should get yours done there.”
“I know. Let me know next time you go so we can go together.”
“Deal,” Trinity said excitedly.
Cayson and I shared a bored look.
“Let’s play Shopping Mall,” Skye said.
“We aren’t playing that,” I said immediately.
“Poker?” Trinity asked.
“Fine,” I said. “Anything but that Barbie game.”
We passed out the cards and played a few rounds. Trinity and Skye spent more time giggling and drinking than playing the actual game. If we were playing for real money, we would have run them dry.
They finished the first bottle then moved onto the next.
“Drunk Trinity is the worst Trinity,” I said, knowing Trinity wasn’t listening to a word I said.
“Why?” Cayson asked.
“She’s all emotional and stuff. She’ll tell me how much she loves me and beg me to never leave.”
“Well, at least it’s sweet. It’s better than her telling you off or something.”
“I guess.”
“I got no money,” Trinity said. “Oh well.”
“Just go to the bank and get more,” Skye said.
“Do they have poker chips?” Trinity asked, slurring her words.
“I don’t know,” Skye said, practically falling over. “Ask Reid.”
I stilled at the mention of his name.
Trinity seemed to sober up for just a second.
“Next time you see him at the bank, just ask him for poker chips.” Skye laughed like it was the most hilarious thing she’d ever said in her life.
Next time? Did she see him recently?
Trinity was giving her a threatening look like she wanted Skye to stop talking.
“What?” Skye asked. “Slade doesn’t know you saw him?”
What. Did. She. Say.
Trinity looked mortified. “Does Cayson know Ward has seen you naked?”
Cayson stiffened beside me.
This game night just went to shit.
“What did she say, Trinity?” I demanded.
“Uh…” Trinity looked panicked.
Cayson clenched his jaw and stared at Skye, clearly livid.
“Whoops…” Skye drank straight out of the bottle.
“When the fuck did you see Reid?” I asked.
“It wasn’t a big deal.” Trinity waved it off.
“Wasn’t a big deal?” I asked incredulously. “Then why didn’t you mention it if it wasn’t a big deal?”
“I know how you get.” She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t. Roll. Your. Eyes.”
Cayson and Skye were having a staring contest.
“What the hell, Trinity?” I barked. “What were you doing with him?”
“I went to the bank and he was there,” Trinity hissed. “Chill out.”
“Chill out?” I asked. “Why the hell did you go to his bank? There are at least a hundred different banks in the city alone.”
Cayson rose to his feet, his shoulders tense. “Skye, let’s go.”
Skye gave Trinity a scared look. “Oh no…”
“Good luck with yours,” she said.
“And yours.” Skye got up and stumbled.
Cayson didn’t help her like he normally would.
“I didn’t know he’d be at that exact bank,” Trinity argued.
“You still could have gone anywhere else,” I said.
“Get your purse,” Cayson said. “Let’s go.”
Skye followed with it in her hand.
He opened the door and pulled her out. Then he slammed it behind him.
I was too pissed off to care about their fight. “Answer me.”
“It’s right next to my work!”
“Walk a few extra feet to Chase! Those damn things are everywhere!”
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” She got up then marched to her room.
I chased after her. “We aren’t done talking!”
“Well, I am.”
I reached her room then threw her on the bed. “What did you and Reid do?”
“Excuse me?”
“What did you do?” I repeated.
“He opened my account and then I left. That was it! What? You think I would cheat on you?”
“Well, I can’t fathom why you would go to his bank!”
“Get over yourself,” she said with a sigh.
She tried to sit up but I pushed her back down and climbed on top of her. I pinned her wrists against the mattress. “How would you feel if I went to places where I knew my ex would be?”
“Again, I didn’t know he would be there.”
“Use your damn brain, Trinity. I wouldn’t walk into my dad’s shop and think he probably wouldn’t be there.”
“Nothing happened, okay?”
“Then why did you lie to me?”
“I didn’t lie,” she argued. “I just never mentioned it.”
“Same thing! You always tell me you want me to be honest with you. I never lie to you—ever.”
“So, you’re telling me there haven’t been any instances when a girl has thrown herself at you since we got together?”
“No. If I told you every little thing I’d be talking from sunrise to sunset.”
She tried to knee me in the groin but I blocked it.
“You just proved my point. You don’t tell me everything.”
“But if I had a conversation with an ex, I would tell you.”
“He’s not even an ex,” she argued. “I went on two dates with him.”
“And almost picked him over me!” I yelled in her face, feeling furious.
“Why are you so threatened by him? I picked you, didn’t I?”
“Like you never regret it,” I hissed.
She suddenly stopped fighting me, and sadness came into her eyes. “Of course I don’t. Why would I?”
“Whatever.” I got off her, not wanting to look at her.
“Slade!”
I walked out and headed to the front door.
“Slade!” She chased after me.
I stepped out then slammed the door behind me. I knew she wouldn’t follow me because she was drunk. Once I was out of the hallway, she wouldn’t try to find me.
Chapter Twelve
Skye
The honeymoon was over.
Even though I was drunk, I knew this was going to be a bad fight. Cayson didn’t say a word but he didn’t need to. I knew he was furious. His shoulders were tense and he kept clenching his hands into fists.
Once we were inside my apartment, he slammed the door hard. He slowly paced the room, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. It was just like the night he barged into my apartment and told me he knew everything was a lie. He was that mad again. “Cayson—”
