Page 65 of Never Started
"Well, Bear, believe it or not, not everyone can pull off being as grumpy as you. Some of us actually enjoy happiness. Shocking, I know," I bounce back at him with a chuckle.
I'm met with an unamused grimace and a typical eye roll.
Tough crowd.
Since coming to work on this oil rig, Bear has become one of my closest friends. However, we couldn't be any different, even if we tried. He's a grumpy asshole, but he's a good guy.
"I'll tell you about it if you tell me who that song you played last night is about..."
"Not a fucking chance. I'm not that curious," he grunts, annoyed.
Unlike the other guys out here, Bear's constant annoyance doesn't bother me. It intrigues me if anything. I find joy in seeing how far I can push him before he blows up.
Fuck it, it's fun.
There's very little to do out here to keep us entertained. This is my form of entertainment.
Although I like fucking with him, and he's an all-around moody bastard who constantly has a chip on his shoulder, he's easy to talk to, and he's a good listener. Granted, he listens more than he talks.
My point is, he doesn't like me all the time, but he tolerates me, and that's good enough for me. Somehow, we just click.
"Fine, I can see how bad you want to know, so I'll tell you," I say sarcastically.
"Yeah, I'm dying to know, Mav. It's killing me not knowing every detail of your life." He shakes his head and lets out a deep chuckle, showing just how unimpressed he is with me.
"You wound me. Anyways, remember the girl I told you about?"
"The falling stripper?" he replies as he continues to work without glancing at me.
"She's not a fucking stripper," I grumble under my breath. "Yes, her."
"Yeah, and?"
"We're still seeing each other, and I think it's getting serious."
"You think?" He turns to face me, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Yeah, well... She's not necessarily easy to read."
"Uhm,ever thought of just asking her?"
"Duh, asshole. Tried that."
He snorts, clearly amused now. "What the fuck do you mean you tried that?"
"I asked her to make it official a few times..."
"And…?" he says, his deep voice rising an octave higher than usual.
"And, it didn't necessarily go like I hoped.” That’s putting it lightly. The first time I asked her was after our date at my and my parents’ restaurant in New Orleans. She didn’t talk to me for a week after that—thought I blew it. The second time was last month, after she made me come so hard I fucking saw stars. Then, she laughed it off and called me emotional. The third and latest time was last week, to which she scoffed and changed the subject. I’m considering it progress.
When Bear chuckles, I quickly add, “But that's beside the damn point."
"The point?" He's full-blown laughing now.Asshole. "What could the point possibly be, Mav? You think things are getting serious with a girl who keeps turning you down?" He slaps me on the back just as his laugh grows.
"Well, when you put it like that, I sound like an idiot."
"Youarebeing an idiot," he deadpans. All signs of his previous laughter have now dissipated. "Look, I don't know shit when it comes to women, but I do know that if she tells you she isn't interested, that's typically a clear sign that she isn't. Why waste your time, bro?"
