Page 61 of Talk Nerdy To Me
Chapter 20
BASE
“Fuck, I love this new sound,” Sticks says through a very exaggerated moan as he stills his cymbal after the final note.
It’s just me and him going over some of the music, since Randy and Taylor are off doing their part-time jobs.
“She’s damn good for the music if that was just a sample,” Sticks goes on.
I say nothing.
My head is in all the wrong places.
“Dude, either you tell me what has you pissed, or I’m going to crack you in the head with a drumstick.” He wiggles the purported weapon. “Now.”
Cursing, I put aside my guitar, and run a hand through my hair.
“Oh, so this is about her. Or about her being out with that ‘Level-One motherfucker’ you mentioned,” he easily guesses, fucking grinning at me like the prick he is. “Please tell me we’re about to do girl talk. I’ll need to remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
“I fucking hate you,” I say as I stand and walk out, ignoring his mocking laughter as he tries to catch up.
Just as I reach the fridge, he says, “So let me guess…she brought up the virginity thing again, and you’re still trying not to be a dick by not sticking your dick in a girl who deserves a lot better, right?”
I just glare over my shoulder, then reach down and snag a bottle of water, letting the fridge door close as I start moving through the house.
“Well, just hear me out. I think you’re actually being a much bigger dick for the sake of not being a dick,” he says, causing me to look over at him as I crash to the couch and prop my feet up.
“That doesn’t make a damn bit of sense,” I point out dryly, drinking the water as I shift my attention to the TV.
“It’s obvious you like the girl. Hell, it’d be hard not to, as long as you can appreciate the fact she’s a little different.”
I cut my gaze toward him.
“Drop it.”
He grins broader, clearly not ready to drop it. “She asked for one thing. One. Thing. With no strings attached. And instead, you’ve been giving her the boyfriend experience without the one thing she requested, so that, you know, she doesn’t get attached or anything. Makes perfect sense.”
Pinching my fingers together and lifting them in front of me, I tell him, “You’re this close to getting punched.”
“Look, I’m saying we have a few months before we go on tour for a solid year. A relationship with a deadline should be doable. You’re living in her house, after making the dick move to insert yourself into her life and snap pictures of her all the time. And she’s been cool as shit about it. As long as you both know the deadline, no worries. Get it out of your system. Get it out of hers. Otherwise, you’re just going to want it more than you really do, and so will she. It’s psychology, dude. Like one-oh-one or some shit.”
After giving him a glare for a little longer, I turn my attention back to the TV, even though my mind is actually nowhere in the vicinity.
He’s not telling me anything I haven’t already thought of a thousand times since last night. I keep fucking with her head and mine, and I can’t seem to stop myself.
“And you really think that’s what she deserves?” I ask him tightly.
He bats a dismissive hand. “She’s asking for less.”
“She doesn’t really know what she wants. She just thinks she does.”
“And you know her so well after just a couple short weeks,” he deadpans. “You’re even more arrogant than I thought. And that’s saying something.”
Groaning, I scrub a hand over my face, feeling my phone buzz in my pocket.
He continues on, pointing out the various ways I’m an arrogant dick, as though he’s been making a list, while I read my text from Ash.
ASH: Britt’s date made it fifteen minutes, and she’ll need a ride home. Don’t show up if you’re just playing with her head. And get out of her house if that’s the case.
