CHAPTER ONE

Ash

A blonde was making eyes at me from across the bar.

As I took a sip of my beer, I glanced at her.

Eh…she was alright.

I returned my beer to the surface then stared at the TV. The Padres were up by one out.

Sage caught the look. “You going to talk to her?” His beer was in front of him, the foam still floating on the surface.

“Nah. Tens or better.”

Sage discreetly glanced at her. “She seems fine to me.”

“Too much flab over the stomach.”

He grinned then shook his head slightly. “You really are a dick, you know that?”

“Like you weren’t thinking the same thing.”

“Actually, I wasn’t. “He glanced at her again. “She has nice legs.”

“I’ve seen better.” I finished my beer then thought about the following day. I had a clinical rotation at the hospital and I wasn’t looking forward to it.

“I don’t understand how you score so many girls.”

“Because I’m a dick to them.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Being a dick gets you pussy?”

“Only easy girls with low self-esteem would put up with a guy like me. That’s how I know who I should bring back to my place. I don’t want a girl who’s actually smart.”

“You’re going to die alone. You know that, right?” He had a smirk on his face.

“That’s the plan.” I clanked my glass against his. “I get to keep all my money to myself and I don’t have to deal with any bullshit.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“Nope. Definitely not.”

Sage looked at his watch. “I should go.”

“I probably should too.”

He pulled the money out of his wallet and dropped it on the table. “You going home alone tonight?”

I looked around the bar. It was pretty much empty. The rest of the girls that hung around were deathly pale and skinny. They didn’t have curves in the right places. A girl needed to have a nice rack to get my attention.

I turned back to the blonde in the corner. “I guess she’s not that bad.”

He laughed. “Last call can change your perspective. I’ll see you around, man.” He clapped my shoulder then walked out.

My gaze was on the blonde. She had thick thighs, and she had mascara in the corner of her eye. If I weren’t horny and there was better talent in this bar, I wouldn’t bother. But right now, I’d take what I could get.

I walked to the bar and stood beside her stool. “You’re out late.”

She gave me a smirk. I could tell she was pleased by my attention. She should be surprised. I was a perfect ten and she was like a….two, maybe? Since no one would witness this hook up, I didn’t care.

I looked at my watch and realized it was getting late. I decided to cut the shit. “I’m in medical school and I have money. You want to fuck?” I really did sound like a dick. Whatever. It usually worked on girls.

“Oooh…so you’re a smarty?”

“Some might say that.” I nodded toward the door. “You want to get out of here?”

“Don’t you want to know my name first?”

“Not really.”

She twirled her blonde hair in her fingertips. “I usually prefer it if a guy buys me a drink first…”

The fact I was at all interested in sleeping with her was a compliment in itself. “I’m not going to. I’m walking out that door now. If you want to come, then let’s go. If not, whatever. I’m out of here regardless.”

She tensed at my words, caught off guard by my bluntness.

“Ight. Bye.” I left my beer on the counter then headed to the door. I pulled my keys out while I walked then spun them in my fingers.

“Wait.”

I stopped in my tracks then looked at her.

She finished her beer then grabbed her purse. “I’m coming.”

“Then hurry.” I walked out the door without waiting. I didn’t even hold it open for her.

She trailed behind me then finally caught up to me. “Which car is yours?”

“BMW,” I mumbled. I unlocked it with a press of a thumb then got inside.

She sat in the passenger seat then felt the leather. “You have a really nice car.”

“Yeah.” Like I hadn’t heard that a hundred times… I put the car in drive then headed back to my apartment.

We came inside, did our thing, and then I was ready for bed.

I pulled on my clothes and didn’t look at her. “Alright. See you later.”

“What?” She sat up then pulled her shirt to her chest. “That’s it?”

“What were you expecting?” I ran my fingers through my hair then left the bedroom.

She chased me down a second later. “Um, how am I supposed to get home?”

“Drive,” I snapped.

“I didn’t drive here, idiot.” Her sassiness started to come out.

“Oh.” I was too busy not caring. “Call a cab.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open. “You aren’t going to drive me?”

“I’m tired.” I opened my refrigerator and grabbed a water.

“Well, I’m tired too…can I just sleep here.”

“No.” I gave her the death stare. “I don’t do the sleep over thing.”

“And you don’t drive a girl back to her car like a gentleman?”

“I never once said I was a gentleman,” I snapped. “It’s not my fault you were stupid and assumed that.”

Her eyes started to water so she turned away. “Jerk…”

I was too busy not caring to notice her words.

She walked out the door without another word.

I really was an asshole.

But like I said, I didn’t care.

CHAPTER TWO

Alaska

I wasn’t looking forward to living in an apartment. I would have to share a washer and dryer with everyone else in the building, and I didn’t like sharing walls with people. But I couldn’t afford my house anymore. If I were going to make my dreams come true, I’d have to make a few sacrifices for it to happen.

After everything was inside, I sat down on the carpet and leaned against the wall. “Thanks for helping me, Payton.”

“Anytime.” My sister leaned against the opposite wall. She looked around the room, inspecting all the empty corners. “It’s a lot smaller than your old place…”

“I’ll make it work.” Having a bad attitude wouldn’t make the situation better.

“You don’t expect me to help you unpack too, right?” She eyed the boxes with dread.

I laughed. “No. But now I wouldn’t ask you even if I wanted your help.”

“Good. Because I have a life.”

“Chasing after every boy you see doesn’t count as having a life.” My sister was two years younger than me and in college. All she cared about was meeting guys.

Typical.

“Just because you already found someone doesn’t mean you should rub it in.” She rolled her eyes.

Jace and I had been together for two years. He was a good guy and I knew we would get married soon. He just had to get down on one knee and propose. When I lost my house and had to move in here, I expected him to ask me to move in with him but he didn’t. I didn’t bring it up because I didn’t want to put pressure on him. He would ask when he was ready to.

“Where is he anyway?”

“He had to work,” I answered.

“He always has to work.”

I shrugged. “He’s a busy guy.”

“But he’s always busy. He didn’t come to your birthday because he had to work.”

“Firefighters can’t just ask for days off like other people can.”

“But it was your birthday.” She gave me a firm look. “Don’t get me started on all the holidays and events he’s missed. He’s hardly around.”

I was beginning to think my sister didn’t like him. “Do you have a problem with Jace?”

“No…I just think he should be a better boyfriend sometimes.”

I’ve had this same argument with multiple people.  “Grown ups have other responsibilities besides hanging out with their girlfriends or boyfriends all day. I can’t count the number of times I missed stuff because I had to work on the weekend.”