Page 13 of Just My Luck

“I hate you, Mallory,” Elaina groaned loudly.

“You wouldn’t hate me if you’d just go get lucky,” Mallory informed her sassily. “It’s St. Patrick’s day and you’re in here with me.”

“Because I can’t trust your ass not to throw up all over the man’s house!” Elaina retorted.

“Need some water, Mallory?” I asked.

“No. I need you to come get this nun and fu–” Again, Mallory’s words fell to muffled sounds.

“I’ll go get you some water,” I chuckled, walking down the hallway towards the kitchen.

***

It was half-past three o’clock. Mallory was finally asleep in my guest room. Elaina and I were sitting on my couch watching some cheesy ass chick flick, sipping on Irish whiskey andCoke.

“You know we don’t have to watch this right?” Elaina said, turning to face me.

“I thought you wanted to watch this?” I asked with my eyebrow raised. Elaina frowned and shook her head.

“Definitely not. This isn’t my cup of tea.”

“Don’t like romance?”

The question came out before I even registered it as a thought. It was none of my damn business if she liked romance or not. However, my curiosity was peaked because I thought all women liked mushy movies.

“Well…” she took a deep breath. “I’m kind of jaded about romance.”

“Oh? How so?” I grabbed the remote and hit the mute button. She nervously bit her lip as I turned and faced her. “Alright. I’m all ears. Why are you jaded about romance?”

“It’s just th–” Elaina cut her own words short with a deep breath. She set her drink down then crossed her legs underneath her. “It’s not just romance. I alsohateholidays.”

“What?” I gasped. My voice fluctuated slightly in pitch.

“Yep. Life has been a bitch and in turn, I despise romance and all holidays. Especially, St. Patrick’s Day,” she shrugged, downplaying her feelings.

I wasn’t sure why, but it hurt to hear her say all of those things. All the times Mallory had invited Elaina to my St. Patrick’s Day party, I thought it was because of the people. But I was wrong. It was the holiday itself.

How could a woman as beautiful, smart, and funny as her be so anti-happiness? I hadn’t known her long; however, I knew deep down she deserved only the best that life had to offer.

“Why St. Patrick’s Day?” I asked softly.

“I’m not trying to ruin the mood,” she giggled sheepishly.

Without thought, I held her hand gently. She looked down at our hands then up at me. I smiled confidently, but under the surface– I was a ball of nerves.

What the hell are you doing, Max?I scolded myself.

Logically I knew holding her hand was stupid. We had just met. There was no reason to be so intimate with her. However, there was the other side of me that gave zero fucks about logic. I just knew I wanted Elaina in any way I could have her. No matter how small the touch or short the time. I just wanted her.

Yep. I’ve fucking lost my mind. Absolutely–

My thoughts came to a screeching halt when Elaina’s soft lips pressed against mine. Her warm tongue pressed against the seam between my lips, making my heart skip several beats with anticipation and a fire burn in my core.

I sat frozen in my seat, but only for a split second. My arm wrapped around her and I pulled her against me as I parted my lips. Our warm, whiskey-coated tongues greedily explored each other’s mouths, intertwining perfectly. It was as though we had kissed a thousand times.

“Fuck,” I moaned against her lips.

“Maxwell,” she whimpered, grasping my shirt. “I need you.”

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