Page 1 of Pieces of Us
Prologue
Linc
“The Night That Linc Left”
Six Months Ago
Jax and I walk into Melrose, a club in downtown Boston and our usual Friday night spot, a little after nine. Marcus sent us a text that he’s already at the bar; hopefully, he has drinks waiting for us. The place is packed, lights flashing, bass rumbling through my chest, and it’s exactly what I need tonight. It’s been a long couple of weeks, and I feel like we haven’t been out in forever.
All three of us could stand blowing off a little steam tonight. Jax has been a ball of stress for weeks trying to land a spot on a special team at work, and he finally got word this week that he got it. And a plan for a community outreach campaign that I have worked on for over a month was finally approved.
Then there’s Marcus. He’s been working for his family’s company since we graduated from college, and it seems to be slowly killing his soul. I know it isn’t what he really wants to be doing, but he is one of the most loyal men I’ve ever met. He’s the guy that you know will always be there for you, and even though he has a rough exterior, he loves his people with everything he’s got. So, he just puts his head down and does what’s expected of him in preparing to take over the family business.
We push through the crowded club and finally find Marcus at the bar, and thank fuck, he has drinks for us. The club is busy for this early on a Friday. It reminds me of our nights out before life got serious, before we became burdened with bills and jobs.
“Hey, Marcus, thanks for getting the first round.” Jax greets him with a fist bump.
I prefer hugs to fist bumps, so I curl my arm around his shoulders, slapping his back a couple of times. “I got next round.”
Marcus shakes off my arm like he usually does. He knows I’m an affectionate guy, so he tolerates it in small amounts to humor me. Jax, on the other hand, will return my hugs. They’ve both been like family to me since we met in college, and I was raised to not shy away from physical affection, no matter who it is. If you’re family, you better get used to my hugs.
I turn to face Marcus. “Are you going to find someone fun tonight or are you going to attach yourself to that barstool?”
He shakes his head. “Dancing is your thing. I’m good right here with my whiskey.”
It’s been six years of me trying to break him out of his hardened shell. He’s not the type to hook up or randomly date. He has only spoken about a couple women over the time we’ve known him. Never lasts long and we don’t ask why. I hope that changes for him; he’s a good guy. I know he would be good for someone if he would let a woman get close. Either he’ll cave to my attempts, or some woman will come along and flip his world upside down. Doesn’t matter which way it happens; I’ll be happy to see it.
I take a long sip of my beer and glance around the dance floor. It’s been three months since I’ve hooked up, and I’m about to go insane. I might go a week or two without sex, but it’s not normal for me to go this long. Work has taken up a lot of my time lately, and no one has really caught my attention in a while. Even if I find a woman attractive, the conversation leads nowhere.
Jax and Marcus have always been the guys that are more interested in sticking with one woman. Me? I don’t let things progress past the third date. That’s “relationship territory,” where women usually begin asking “what this is,” or they want to start keeping things at my place. That’s not me. I’m not good at relationships or deep feelings with women. I’m not ready to take on another person’s wants, issues, or expectations. I just want to exchange a couple of orgasms and then sleep in my own bed.
I wave over a bartender and order our next round. As I’m slipping my card back into my wallet, I hear a laugh that has a smile forming on my lips. It’s loud, and unlike any other laugh I’ve heard before. It makes me want to know what was so funny.
I tuck my wallet back into my pocket and look toward the source of the sound. I see two women a couple of seats down from us and one of them tips her head back, gracing me with the sound again. I’ve never noticed someone’s laugh before. From where I’m standing, I can see she’s probably a little older than the women I usually date, but that won’t stop me. Not when shehas dark hair a little past her shoulders, a fitted tank top that shows off her full tits, and her jeans mold to the curve of an ass that could only be made by God himself.
Jax notices that I’m looking past him and turns to see who I’m looking at. “She’s cute. You should go talk to her.”
“I should.” I take another drink of my beer.
“Go buy her a drink,” Marcus tries to encourage me.
“I haven’t gotten laid in three months.”
Jax and Marcus freeze. Why I felt the need to tell them that, I have no clue.
Jax looks at me, confused. “Why?”
“I don’t know. Work has been a lot, and I just haven’t been feeling it lately.”
Marcus chuckles. “Finally, you’re growing out of your man whore phase.”
“Hey! I’m not a man whore.” I frown. Maybe I’m a little sick of the reputation I’ve earned over the years.
Marcus squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t get worked up. It’s okay if you’re slowing down. I’m actually proud of you. It’s time you settle down a bit.”
“I said nothing about settling down.’”
Jax barks out a laugh. “God forbid you actually find one person that might hold your attention for more than two weeks.”
