Page 4 of Faithless
“Good, you didn’t drown in pussy,” I said when he got closer.
“Unfortunately,” he sighed dramatically.
“Take a couple of these, will you?” I thrust the shot glasses at him. “I’m worried about spilling.”
“I wondered why you stopped suddenly like a ghost possessed you.” His hands were warm, but thankfully dry, as they brushed mine. I didn’t want to think about who or what they touched tonight.
“So who did you send away crying this time?” I asked, both because I was a masochist and because I didn’t want to dwell on that weird moment with the bird in the window.
“She didn’t cry, thank fuck,” he grumbled. “But that was Kay. She works in the governor’s office.”
“Trying to get those arrests scrubbed off your record?” I teased as we made our way back to the table together. “Probably shot yourself in the foot there.”
“Nah, I don’t give a shit about that. But she’s a single mom, told me she was down for the casual thing because her kids come first and all. Tonight, she can’t stop talking about how they need a strong father figure and that I would be so good for them. So, I ended it.”
“Would it really kill you to settle down with a nice ready-made family?” The words hurt as they left my chest, but as soon as I downed this shot, I knew it wouldn’t hurt as much.
“First of all, I knew her for all of three weeks. Second of all…” We reached the table and set the drinks down. Torr turned to me, smirking, with his shot still in his hand. “You’re one to talk, Aurora Wilder.”
“Touche.” I rolled my eyes and raised my drink, turning toward Daren and Lily.
I knew he was only teasing, but I still hated how much Torr’s words stung. He wasn’t wrong. I had a bit of a reputation for being the female version of him. But for me, it was different. I genuinelywantedlove—the constant, passionate kind that my parents had.
The only kicker was, I wanted it with multiple men. My mother, with her four devoted, loving husbands was exactly what I dreamed of for myself. They had essentially raised me to not settle for one partner, so why would I?
But their arrangement was still an unusual one in our fairly small town. And my attempts at dating multiple people had been met with derogatory remarks and heartache. It sucked, and I hated the double standard that made people respect Torr for playing around, while treating me as a warning sign.
Today was not about me, however. I put on a big smile as the four of us toasted our drinks and said happy birthday to Lily once again. Last call was made soon after, and I decided not to push my luck with Bryce and try for another round.
We chatted about work and mundane things while nursing waters until the crowd started to thin. Daren, ever the helpful one, started bussing tables until Bryce shooed us all out. Once we left the bar and hit the sidewalk, I realized that I needed a little extra concentration to walk, but I was otherwise fine. Daren and Lily walked ahead, arms around each other while Torr and I trailed behind.
“Smoke?” Torr held his pack out in my direction, a cigarette already dangling from his full lips.
“Yesss.” I took the cigarette greedily. Smoking was not my usual thing, and I was certain I’d regret it in the morning. But the nicotine buzz hit so much harder after a few drinks, and I really wanted to float away on a high right then.
I expected Torr to just hand me his lighter like normal, but instead he turned and stepped in front of me, forcing me to stop walking or else I’d crash into him. His dark eyes were shadowed in the dim streetlights. When he held up the lighter, flicking the spark wheel, the flame’s light danced over his cheekbones and nose, highlighting all the sharp features of his handsome face.
Our gazes remained locked as I leaned forward a few inches to light my cigarette. I sucked in a long drag, our staring contest continuing as he lit his own. The flame’s light disappeared and his face was cast in shadow again. We released our smoke in unison, the toxic clouds mingling in the air between us, molding into one before dissipating into the night sky.
Then I broke the spell with a snort. “What the fuck was that? Your latest seduction technique?”
“You wish.” He smirked before turning to walk alongside me again.
“Yeah, right,” I scoffed, maybe a little too loudly.
He let out a dry chuckle, more smoke exhaling from his nostrils. “It’s just fun to mess with you, Ror.”
I know,I thought but only grunted in reply.That was just Torr. He flirted with everything that had a pulse. I was the fool for reading into it.
Something bright caught my eye. I glanced up, thinking it was the moon or an especially bright star, but no.
It was that fucking bird.
The same creepy white dove that had stared at me though the window of the bar was now perched on a tree branch hanging over the sidewalk. I stopped walking but not because I wanted to. Something seemed to hold me in place, something outside of my control.
“What the fuck are you?” I muttered under my breath.
It answered me, with the same ancient, omnipresent voice I’d heard earlier.I am called Astarte, and I am your destiny, Aurora Wilder.
