I'm standing here, watching him cross the street to his car, and although my head tells me that letting him go is exactly what I should do, my heart is torn...
Every step his strong legs take him farther from me seems like one more inch deeper my chest is compressed.
What the fuck are you doing? My consciousness alerts me outta the blue. You've wanted this man more than you've ever wanted anybody else your entire life, why are you letting him leave?
I card my fingers through my hair, involuntarily remembering several of the times he did the same while telling me he loved the copperish color of my strands, and a heavy breath leaves my lungs in a gush without my conscious consent.
I'm convinced I have many consistent reasons to do what I'm doing. So why this feels so fucking wrong?
He reaches his car and I realize I'm praying... I've never prayed before in my life, but right now I am fucking praying for him to turn around and look at me. The fucked up part is, if he does, I'll probably just cave and run to him, which is exactly what I shouldn't do.
Jasper stops. He pulls the elastic that's been tying his loose bun. His long light brown strands cascade over his shoulders, hiding his tattoos.
I sigh.
Turn around, turn around, turn around... Please, turn around...
He opens the door...
My heart seems stuck in my throat and I close my eyes for just a split second...
Time is rewound to the beginning, to the day I met the heart-eater, almost a year and a half ago.
#(Dis)Sonant*Chapter1#
I had just turned twenty-one and had just run away from home. I was kind of a fugitive, looking for a job.
I wasn't desperate, I had the apartment and the generous trust fund my grandpa had left me beside the money I had been saving from my summer jobs since I was fifteen. But I needed to have an income, I had bills and college tuition to pay, and although I had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth and my bank balance would allow me to sit back and enjoy the ride at any given time, I was very aware that money didn't grow on trees, and my savings wouldn't last forever, especially if I started to spend it indiscriminately. On top of all that, I definitely couldn't count on my homophobic family. I had to find a way to manage on my own.
Lucky me, I had a good friend in Peter, my ex-boyfriend. He had indicated that place and had told me to drop his name in the conversation.
I had my fingers crossed as I got in the Sonant, the most classy and famous nightclub of Atlanta, for the first time.
It was around five in the afternoon and the huge club was completely empty as I passed unannounced through the main entrance. There was light rock music playing on the background and some soft rattling coming from the left, so I followed the sounds.
I stopped when I reached the bar and saw a very tall guy with his back to where I was coming from. He had his hair tied on a pony-bun and his undercut allowed me to see he had what seemed to be the tail of a dragon tattooed from somewhere under the shirt until the nape of his neck... It provoked a weird sensation in my stomach but I simply ignored it.
"Uh... He-hello?"
The tall guy turned, and for a moment I was silent, struck by his handsomeness.
Fuck, is he a bartender or a model? Looking like this he should definitely be on the cover of a magazine or on a billboard...
"Hey, there." He smiled at me, such a soft smile with cute dimples and all while continuing distractedly to dry neon green tall glasses, and my knees suddenly felt like made of jelly. "We're closed until 10 pm."
Wow, his voice...
His deep husky voice made something inside me tremble.
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out... My mind was fully focused on him and I really forgot how to form sentences. I was hypnotized by the powerful glow coming from his odd amber eyes.
Such stunning eyes, look at those long eyelashes...
"Is there something I can do for you?" The guy asked slowly, gently, in the sexiest, huskiest voice I had ever heard.
It made the hairs on my neck stand...
Oh, there are several things you could do for me, sexy...
I shook my head discreetly.
"I-I'm looking for J-Jasper." I blurted out, stammering ridiculously, plainly nervous, and the stunning man chuckled. "I'm looking for Jasper." I repeated in a steadier tone, feeling as embarrassed as it could get.
"What for?" He asked, again gently, squinting subtly.
Fuck, that squint! Can you be more alluring? I want to eat you in a cracker.
My mind was outta control.
I swallowed as discreetly as I could before answering.
"A job." I released in a heavy sigh and he chuckled again.
And for a second there I betted he could read my insane thoughts. It was like he knew the effect he was having on me.
"I need a job and I was told to come here and look for Jasper. He's the owner, right?" He just nodded. "Apparently he owes to a friend of mine, and... My friend, he's... He's calling in a favor."
"Who is this 'friend of yours'?" The tall guy asked while resting the glass he'd had on his hand all this time on the dark wooden counter between us.
His piercing stare made my face warm-up and I knew I was blushing three shades of pink...
"Peter." I tried to sound natural. "Peter Winston."
The guy smirked, which elicited more weird sensations in my body.
What the hell? You're reacting like a teenager!
I deliberately straightened up, telling myself to get a hold of my crazy emotions.
"What's your name, red?" He uttered the question in what seemed to me to be a deliberately seductive tone.
Oh hell, if you flirt with me my pants will probably tent, so please don't!
I had to discreetly take in a deep breath to pretend nonchalance.
"You can call me Leo." I gave him my nickname.
At that point, I didn't need anyone knowing my name or the family I belonged to.
He nodded slowly, his entrancing eyes never freeing mine.
"I'm Aiden, but you can call me Ade, that's how people around here know me." He winked! He fucking winked at me!
My heart jolted and then was racing.
"How old are you?" Aiden went on, unaware of the commotion inside me. "I'd say nineteen at the most, but since you're looking for a job here..."
"I'm twenty-one." I hastened to affirm. "You can check my ID."
I pulled my wallet from my pants back pocket.
"No need, I believe you." He said in a smile after raising his hand. "Besides, if you show me a fake one, I honestly won't be able to tell."
"So... Can I see him?"
"See who?"
"The owner, Jasper." I explained nervously. "Is he here?"
Aiden opened his mouth but quickly closed it and pursed his lips. Then he smiled a killer smile.
Oh, man! Don't do this! You're fucking killing me here!
"Do you have any experience of attending people?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
The abrupt subject change didn't go unnoticed by me, but, honestly? He could do whatever and I would just gladly follow his lead. I simply went with the flow.
"I've worked in dinners, restaurants, and hotel bars since I was fifteen." I answered confidently. "I have the references and they are all good."
I placed the folder I had in my hands on the counter and pushed it to him. He took it, opened it, and attentively read the first three documents as I uncontrollably eye-fucked him.
Then he sighed softly.
"Okay..." He looked at me. "How do you feel about a test... Edward." He emphasized my name while raising one of his perfect eyebrows.
Shit! Of course he would get to know my name looking through those documents.
"I can do it whenever." I stated unwavering.
"Great." He closed the folder and smiled more broadly. "So, come on in and help me with these glasses, will you?"
"Oh, really?"
He released a breathy chuckle and shook his head slightly.
"Yeah, really."
"Okay!"
I tried to move confidently, but his stare was making me the shiest I had ever felt my entire life, which directly affected my walk. He followed me with his amber eyes until I was right in front of him.
I had to tilt my head back to keep holding his gaze. He was truly tall.
"How tall are you?" I heard my own mesmerized voice blurting out the fucking question.
Aiden obviously found it funny. He chuckled and flashed his pearly teeth at me and I was practically drooling like an idiot.
"6'3." He answered, clearly amused by my involuntary fascination display. "You're around 5'8, aren't you?" I just nodded, kinda lost in the glint of his eyes, and he nodded too. "So, Edward, I should call you Leo, right?"
"That's how everybody I know around the town calls me." I explained a little absentminded. "You can call me 'E'."
His lips twisted in a crooked smile and I was surprised with the urge to place the tip of my forefingers in his dimples.
"I get to call you by a private nickname? Are you flirting with me?" He asked in a deeper voice.
I gulped.
"N-no!" I hastened to say and I could feel my whole face burning up. "I-I just... What I-I meant was..."
"I'm just kidding, kid." He cut me off with yet another chuckle. "No need to fret. Here," He threw a dishtowel at me and I caught it in the air. "help me dry these glasses."
And dry the glasses we did... While Aiden asked me so many questions and I answered all of them indiscriminately as if I wasn't trying to hide who I was and where I came from. I spilled everything as if I trusted him... And oddly I did, even if I had known him for less than an hour.
We talked and talked, and he chuckled and smiled a lot... And I was getting more and more fascinated by the minute.
It wasn't only his striking appearance and alluring presence, there was this energy pouring outta him and infecting me... I was feeling good as I hadn't felt in a long time... Aiden simply captivated me effortlessly.
I didn't get to know much about him, he kept turning the conversation around, back to me, every time I tried, but I didn't really care. I was having a nice time and I didn't want it to end.
Unfortunately, every good thing ends fast...
"Hey, Ade." A blond petite girl greeted as she entered the room. "Who's the kid?" She asked as she sat on one of the stools.
"My new trainee." He answered as I saw the girl eyeing me. "You can call him Leo. This is Sibilla." He told me after subtly elbowing me.
"Hello." I smiled timidly at her.
"Are you old enough to serve drinks, kid?" She asked with a defiant smile.
"I'm twenty-one."
"You seem nineteen at the most. Did you check his ID?" She turned her blue eyes to Aiden.
"Sure did, who do you think I am?" He answered in an unaffected smile then looked at me. "Don't mind her, she's our hostess and, therefore, very suspicious of everybody's age." He clarified and winked.
He winked at me again!
My knees buckled just a tiny bit. I was able to hold myself together and remain standing.
Sibilla sighed and eyed me some more.
"The twinks will love him, but the Daddies will be crazy about him." She stated with a weird voice that sounded kinda mysterious to me.
I looked at Aiden and I'm pretty sure my face told him I was confused because he laughed.
And that allowed me to notice the black barbell he had right in the middle of his tongue.
Oh. my. fucking. God! He has a tongue piercing! Can he be any more attractive?
"She always speaks her mind." He told me, still laughing a little, while I just stood there staring at him. He turned his eyes to Sibilla. "He's gorgeous, isn't he?" he asked her.
What?! You think I'm gorgeous?!
That astonished me to no end... A sexy-like-hell damn handsome guy like him thinking I was gorgeous? I was such an ordinary unattractive guy...
"But he's still being tested. Let's see how he does tonight." Aiden added, absolutely unaware of my crazy musings.
"Good luck, Kid." Sibilla said to me in a heartwarming smile, and I finally truly looked at her.
She seemed to be a nice person.
"Thanks." I smiled my best friendly smile.
She glanced at Aiden for a second and stood up.
"I'll change now, it's nine-twenty already and tonight we'll have a full house for sure."
"It's Thursday." Aiden said while moving around behind me.
"It is Thursday." Sibilla repeated.
Once we were alone again, I turned to Aiden, who was organizing bottles on the shelves. I was kinda baffled by how time had passed so fast, but my curiosity got the best of me.
"What's with Thursday?"
He turned to me while pulling the elastic from his hair bun and leaned on the counter behind him. I tried not to gawk at him as his light brown strands cascaded around his manly face.
"Blues Jam until midnight." He told me naturally while carding his fingers through his hair. "It's the fullest night of the week. If you do well tonight, job is yours 'cause you'll prove you can take any other night. Thursday nights are crazy, Kid." He smiled slightly and I realized I didn't like him calling me "kid". "Do you live near here?"
"Marietta street. Near enough for me to come walking." I answered kinda seriously, still a bit annoyed with the "kid" thing.
"It's my way home, I can give you a ride if you want."
Oh, that's tempting... Unfortunately...
"I came straight from college, so I have my car parked outside." I was afraid he could hear the sorrow in my voice.
Aiden nodded and nibbled his bottom lip... Certainly, my eyes were beckoned to his mouth, but I forced them back up.
"Where do you go?"
I took a little more than really necessary to answer.
"Georgia tech."
He smiled.
Oh, fuck, those dimples... So rude of him to dazzle me like this.
"What's your major?" He asked as if nothing was happening.
Well, nothing was happening to him.
"Psychology."
He simply nodded, squinting the slightest amount. I noticed it only because I was so aware of every one of his moves...
You met him hours ago, how can you be this infatuated already?!
"Is there a specific attire?"
"Huh?" He uttered as if he had been lost in thought.
"Do I need to dress a specific color or type of clothing?"
"Yeah, black or jeans pants." He answered simply. "Let me pick up a shirt for you."
After he gave me the black cotton shirt with "Sonant" printed on it in holographic letters, he smiled again, but this smile was soft, and not the provocative ones he'd flashed me countless times before.
"Medium. I guess it'll fit you."
"You've got a good eye for sizes." I thought out loud.
What's wrong with my speech control today? Why am I blurting everything out?
Once again, Aiden just nodded.
"Be here by ten, Sibilla will let you in. Look for Emmett, he's the manager. He'll guide you to your station."
"Okay."
"I hope you stay, Kid. I like you." He said nonchalantly. My heart skipped beats as I tried not to show my reaction. "See you around later."
And he winked. Again!
I stood there staring at him until he disappeared through the door. And then I was finally able to gather myself and walk out to my car.
#(Dis)Sonant*Chapter1#
Aiden had been painfully right. The night had been crazy. It had been so busy that I hadn't had a chance to go to the bathroom until it was over...
It had been damn fun, though. The club vibe was so great that even working I'd had a blast. The music, the people, the staff... Everything had been so fucking cool!
I was really feeling welcomed around everybody, even though they kept calling me "Kid". Well, I was the youngest among them.
"You're good at serving, but tomorrow I'll teach you how to prepare drinks." Alec told me as he smiled beside me.
I finished stocking the last whiskey bottles.
"Give the kid a week, man!" Noah spoke in a chuckle. "He just got here, and on the craziest night of the week, no less."
I stood and glanced between them.
"We need to know if I got the job first." I stated in a sigh.
I felt Petra's hand on my shoulder and turned to her.
"I'm pretty sure you got it." She assured with a confident stare.
I pursed my lips and shrugged, discreetly glancing ahead, at the dance floor, where Aiden was standing with his back to me while talking to Lindsay and Ryan, two of the other bartenders.
I still hadn't gotten what his position was, but he seemed to be somewhat like a supervisor. He'd served people all night but had also dealt directly with VIP clients and the Blues singers. I had also noticed that all the staff, including the manager, Emmett, seemed to respect him a lot. I was curious...
Emmett's hand hitting the counter right before me brought me back from my thoughts.
"Ade wants to talk to you before you go, Kid." He told me seriously, but there was a smile playing on the corner of his lips.
I was immediately nervous. I hadn't had the opportunity to even get close to him all night. We hadn't exchanged a single word.
"Okay." I nodded to disguise my sudden anxiety.
Soon everyone was saying goodbye and leaving. I was there sitting on a stool waiting for Aiden as he tapped Emmett's shoulder and, at last, turned to me.
I felt like I was riding a roller coaster while he walked with his piercing amber eyes on me. I had to slightly part my lips to breathe better and get some more oxygen to my brain. He was making me dizzy.
"How was it, Freckles?" He asked in a deep tone, one of his eyebrows arched high on his forehead, both his hands resting on his hips.
He noticed I have freckles... I like that he called me like that.
I blinked deliberately twice to push away the thought.
"It was crazy." I chuckled and he followed me. "But it was crazy good."
"Glad that you liked it... 'cause the job is yours if you want it."
"Really? Of course I want it!"
Aiden smiled broadly, seeming satisfied.
"Be here by nine, tomorrow." He said in a serious tone, but the smile was still there. "That's when we start preparing for the night. Pick up two more shirts before you go, they're under the counter."
"Okay, will do." I affirmed as I stood and smiled. "Thanks, Aiden. I'm really glad I got it." He just nodded. "Will I get to meet Jasper tomorrow? Or is he the kind of owner that's never around?"
I was just curious about the guy. And I confess... I was trying to stretch just a little my time with Aiden.
"He's the kind of owner that's always around." Aiden stated in a soft smile, his eyes glinting with what I identified as mirth. "You'll meet him tomorrow as you met him today."
That puzzled me.
"Today? He was here?" I could feel I was frowning in confusion.
"The whole time." Aiden confirmed calmly.
"Oh, I guess I was so focused on..."
"I'm him, kid." He cut me off in a chuckle, and I felt my eyes widening. "I'm Jasper. Jasper Aiden Hale." He stretched his hand to me. "I just don't use that name for anything work-related."
I forced myself to pick up his hand before I seemed rude. We shook hands as I digested, or better saying tried to digest the information.
"You're the owner." Again, I blurted out.
"Yeah." He confirmed as if it was nothing, smiling softly at me.
"I feel like an idiot."
Why am I spilling everything I think without a filter?!
"Don't." Aiden, or rather, Jasper, told me in a chuckle. "Not many people know me by my first name. And everybody around here knows they shouldn't use it to address me. You didn't know me at all, so... It's okay."
"Should I keep calling you Aiden?"
"Everybody around here calls me Ade, but if you feel more comfortable with..." He started saying.
"Do they all know you're their boss?" Once more my impulsive curiosity took over me. "I- I'm sorry, I just cut you off."
"No problem." He just lightly laughed it over. "They all do."
I just nodded again, still confused with why he didn't tell me he was him since the beginning.
We shared a look, but I couldn't read his... I just knew I was intrigued to no end and that was definitely not a good thing. He was my boss after all.
"Time to go home." Jasper kinda determined.
And I knew that from then on I would keep calling him Aiden but would think of him as Jasper. I didn't know why, I just knew that was what was going to happen.
