I am so sorry with the bit of delay in getting this chapter up. A few things just wouldn't fall into place the way I needed them too. Towards the middle of this chapter there is a guy mentioned, I've used him before in this story and he will play another fun little part later on. And Marley's husband is a bit different but a pairing I am growing more and more to easy love. Anyway enjoy.
"Good afternoon to you," Seb laughed, putting his phone in his pocket. "Have a good morning, did ya?" He asked, placing a cup of coffee on the counter for her. "The shop called and the part they need for your car is still on backorder," he told her before he forgot about the call he got twenty minutes ago.
"Any morning that I am not being interrogated by my nosey roommate, is a good morning," she smirked, blowing on her coffee. It may have been early afternoon, but she didn't care; it wasn't as if the coffee actually kept her awake anymore. "Shit," she cursed. She's had her car in the shop for the past two and a half weeks now. It was starting to feel as if she was never going to get it back.
"All I am saying is that you look really happy. I didn't ask for a run down of things you have done since leaving home yesterday, I am noticing that you must have had a good morning, is all I am insisting upon," he laughed, shaking his head. "A bit defensive are ya?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Shut up," she mumbled, picking a cookie up. "Was Mikki here?" She asked, holding the sugar cookie up.
"Now who's the one being all nosey?" He chuckled, sitting next to her at the kitchen counter. "And yes, she left an hour ago," he informed her.
"Then yes, I did have a wonderful morning," she shrugged, giving him that small detail, albeit one he already knew.
"Gee thanks for that heads up," he dryly told her. "Where is lover boy?"
She rolled her eyes, bumping her shoulder into his. "He's over the Midwest; I think," she shrugged, not sure where the plane in question was at. She nearly burst into laughter seeing the very confused look on his face. "He's headed to New York. His sister is starring in a Broadway play, and he never misses opening night," she explained taking pity on her friend.
"Did he not offer to take you?" Seb teased.
"Do you want a black eye?" She asked him, not at all amused with his less than stellar questions.
"If memory serves me right, I don't get an option in that," he winced, recalling the time she gave him a black eye over something stupid. 5 minutes after the punch they sat on his couch in his parent's basement laughing over said incident while she traded the pack of peas he had used for an ice pack with an actual ice pack.
"Your fault for getting in the way," she tossed out. "Though if my memory serves correct, the ladies were all over you, after the incident," she pointed out. Sebastian laughed, nodding his head to confirm that story. "Besides if he did suggest for me to go with him, I would have denied him. It would be weird," she shrugged.
"And him having lunch with your moms wasn't weird?" He questioned.
"Not really," she shook her head. Things could have been better. "Speaking of which, it came out that he was here with you alone for a ridiculous amount of time, what the hell did you say to him?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," he laughed, pulling the plate of cookies closer to him. "Are you going to tell me what you and Mikki talked about while I wasn't present?" He questioned, knowing he had her.
"Of course not. But the difference being she is your girlfriend; Clint is just a friend," she stressed for him. "Big difference there. Now what did you say to him?" She pressed, grabbing another cookie from the plate.
"As your best friend, I wanted to know more about him. Is that a crime?" He asked with a chuckle at the glare on her face.
"I wish," she retorted with a sigh. "Though I can't fault you for doing it," she conceded. "Did you like what you heard from him?"
"Onyx, as your best friend, I have to ask why are you waiting to be with him?" Seb asked with a very pointed look.
"What do you mean why?" She asked outraged, getting off the stool to pace the living-room. "I've known him what two weeks?" She said, looking at her friend. "After I got out of a relationship with my ex, one that I must remind you lasted a year and one where he cheated on me, so why would I willingly jump straight into another relationship?" She asked him, her anger over the question her friend asked. It was insane for him to even think like that let alone voice said thought.
"Because you've become smitten with him, as he has of you," he calmly told her. "There is no right time to move on from Hunter. You may always hold a small bit of love for him, and that will be okay, Onyx. You don't have to wait forever to be with Clint," he explained softly.
"Give me a month and we can revisit this topic. But right now, I just want to be single and get to know Clint as a friend. I don't want to rush anything," she told her friend, with a smile, letting her anger go. "I'm happy with the way things are, don't go trying to push me into things I am not ready for," she warned, grabbing her cup of coffee to finish what she had left. "I am now off to visit Nick, as I have a few questions for him," she supplied, walking to the door, making sure she had her keys and phone, the rest she didn't need as she would be staying in the apartment complex, just going down to the first floor.
"Just know that when you get back I won't be here, as I do have a date with Mikki," he informed her before she could escape through the door.
"If you plan on coming back here, please let me know, so I can take up refuge on a friend's couch for the night," she told him with a wicked smirk.
"Will do," he chuckled. "Though I'm sure we will go back to her place as she doesn't have any annoying roommates lingering around," he teased, earning himself a middle finger from Onyx before she shut the door behind her. The trek to the first floor was fast, opting out of using the elevator for the stairs.
"I hear congratulations is in order," she said, smiling when Nick opened the door.
"Jeff?" Nick questioned, getting pulled into a tight hug.
"Do you really need to ask?" She asked him laughing. Nick shook his head. "Didn't think so. As much as I am going to miss you at the bar, it gives me the opportunity to bug you at your new place once it opens," she smirked at his chuckle.
"I wouldn't expect anything else," he laughed. "I'll even give you a discount," he said.
"Free will do just fine," she teased, watching him shake his head. "Is your better half home?" She questioned him.
"She is in the living room. Ask her about her news," he beamed, confusing Onyx gratefully. "Sweetie, I am headed out. Need me to grab anything on the way home?" He called into the apartment.
"Nothing I can think of. I'll message you if anything comes up," she said, walking to the front door. "Oh I didn't know you were stopping by," Nick's wife said.
"Seb was annoying me, and I wanted to say congrats to your husband over finally taking the steps to open his own place of business," Onyx shrugged. "I'll give you two a minute," she said, moving further into the apartment.
"You want anything?" Marley questioned, joining her friend in the living room after kissing her husband bye.
"I'm good," she smiled, swiping a handful of popcorn that sat on the coffee table. "What exactly was your husband talking about?" She questioned, eyeing her friend up.
"Depends on what he told you, Onyx. I can't say, one way or another, not until I know what you two were discussing," Marley told her with a soft chuckle.
"Your news. You pregnant or something?" Onyx questioned, eyeing her friend up.
"No," Marley laughed, shaking her head. "We have decided to hold off for another year until he has his place of business open and running smoothly, before trying to have kids," she easily explained.
"It would be tough to juggle a baby and a new business venture," Onyx concluded. "So if a baby isn't the news what is?" She asked curious, more so than before.
"I've been named head chef," she smiled broadly.
"I thought that wouldn't happen for a few more years?"
"Unfortunate circumstances," Marley shrugged, not wanting to go into as she didn't know all the details.
"Either way that is still amazing. We need to celebrate," Onyx suggested.
"Any reason for a girl's night right?" Marley laughed.
"Of course. We should go out tonight," she suggested.
"Not all of us have weekdays off," Marley reminded her friend. "Let's aim for Friday," she suggested.
"Friday might be better. We're not going to my brother's bar either," she warned.
"Can you even drink with you arm in that cast?" Marley questioned. "Your brother's bar isn't the type of place to go and celebrate much of anything," she laughed.
"It's not as if I have been taking my pain meds, as it doesn't hurt, it just itches like a mother fucker," she commented. "And no I haven't broken anything off in the cast trying to scratch the itch," she added on for her own benefit as Seb would question her as well.
Friday night rolled around faster than anticipated. It would only be Marley, Onyx and Sugar as they couldn't drag the rest of their girl friends out for a night of fun. The ugly green cast clashed with the dark metallic color of her dress. They already had a round of shots, now they were drinking their normal drinks, laughing and having a good time. Within five minutes, her friends were on the dance floor, as she skipped out this time around. Once she starts dancing there is no stopping until she is being forced out the door.
"What's a pretty little thing like you doing here all by her lonesome?" A white male with curly brown hair questioned, taking one of the vacant seats.
"What's a scumbag like you doing by your lonesome? Shouldn't your cronies be keeping you in line?" She retorted, going on to ignore him. If she wanted to find a random guy for the night, she wouldn't be off sitting by herself. If she wanted the attention of a guy, she would've went about and got it, she didn't want it. She wanted to enjoy her time with her friends, and she would really appreciate it if she didn't have to deflect guys to do so. "You can go now; you're not wanted here," she told him, avoiding him completely.
"Not a scumbag, but you are a right bitch," he muttered.
"I'm fine with being a bitch; it is obvious that you're not okay being called a scumbag. I didn't look at you or show any interest in you. You came over here on your own accord and started to hit on me," she huffed out, sipping at her cold drink.
"Let's add cold-hearted bitch to that," he chuckled, having consumed enough alcohol to find it more amusing than hurtful.
"Jason, dude let's go," a darker skinned man called, waving his buddy back.
"Run along before I chew you up and feed you to the sharks," she commented; her gaze shifting to the dance floor.
"You would be perfect for my friend; he'd tame ya in no time," he smirked walking off.
She had the urge to toss her drink in his face, but that would be a waste of her money and drink as he just wasn't worth it. Finishing off her drink, she went in search of her friends to enjoy her night with her best friends, forgetting about the interaction with the slimy scumbag. Dancing and consuming far more than she should until last call had her feeling light and fuzzy.
"Hear me out," Sugar said, sipping on the wine they decided they needed to drink the second they made it to Sugar's place. Going back to Onyx's place meant dealing with Sebastian and going to Marley's place meant dealing with Nick, who would call Sebastian just like he would call Nick whereas at Sugar's place, there is no one else there to ruin their fun.
"About what?" Marley questioned, looking at her friend. They hadn't even been talking about anything serious, mostly just laughing at random nonsense.
"The so-called slimeball that hit on our friend here," Sugar smirked, looking at Onyx.
"What about him?" Onyx asked slowly, regretting ever telling them about the incident with the guy named Jason. She was over it, had been hours ago. Her friend's apparently not so much.
"I've been thinking," Sugar commented, swirling the deep red liquid around in her glass. "I don't think you would have been so uptight with him if you wouldn't be crushing so hard on a certain cutie," she suggested.
"My feelings toward Clint had nothing to do with me blowing the guy from the club off," Onyx huffed out downing the last bit of her wine.
"Uh huh," Marley snorted into her drink. "It makes sense, because this Jason guy he was pretty good looking," she smiled.
"He did have it going on and those curls," Sugar dreamily sighed.
"What about Nick or even my brother?" Onyx asked looking between her friends. "Please don't tell me you want to give my brother a perm?" She pleaded, getting up on wobbly legs to get more wine. Why they left it on the kitchen counter for; she didn't know.
"You're brother with a perm; I don't think so," Sugar retorted. "Please, Onyx, you're going to tell me that you never noticed how hot other guys were when you were with Hunter?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't notice because it didn't matter since I had Hunter," she shrugged. Checking out any guy while she was dating anyone it didn't happen as she didn't have a need to see how hot another person was as she wasn't looking to upgrade her partner for any relationship she had ever been in. "And he wasn't that good-looking," she retorted, slowly making her way back to the chair she occupied before, but wanting to spill her wine.
"Are you saying that because you want to jump Clint, badly?" A drunken Marley giggled.
"I never said or hinted that I wanted to jump Clint," Onyx huffed out, taking a hardy drink of her wine.
"You're not denying it either, Onyx," Sugar pointed out. Onyx rolled her eyes, making herself a bit more dizzy than she already is. "Nothing is wrong with wanting Clint in any form. The guy truly cares about you."
"Enough so that he is willing to wait on you. When are you going to let Hunter and what he did to you go? It's not doing you any good to hold onto that pain," Marley stated.
"You don't get it," she sighed, slowly sipping the last of her wine.
"Enlighten us," Sugar commented, Marley nodding her head to encourage her friend.
"I know how great of a guy Clint is," she sighed, biting her lip for a moment. "I want to move on from what Hunter did, but it's not that easy as I do feel like if Hunter did it than Clint will to. I'm just waiting for him to get bored with me, so I don't get hurt worse than I already feel," she explained, casting her gaze to the red liquid in the glass.
"I know how to make you quit doubting yourself and him," Sugar smiled sweetly, steadying herself on her drunken legs, to stumble over to the door where all of their handbags laid.
"What are you doing?" Onyx groaned, closing her eyes.
"Are you calling him?" Marley laughed.
"If I can unlock her phone," Sugar pouted, falling over the arm of her couch. "What is your password?"
"Like I'm telling you," Onyx retorted.
"Ooo try Clint is so dreamy," Marley giggled, causing Sugar to laugh sweetly and Onyx to groan louder.
"I would but its numbers," Sugar replied, calming down from her laughter, to show Marley.
"You best not lock me out of my phone," she warned, making no move to get up and get her phone from her friends.
"Then tell us the passcode, so we can get in and not lock you out," Marley stated.
"0473," she muttered, making a note in her very hazy, drunken mind to change the passcode on her phone tomorrow if she could remember to do so.
"Interesting," Sugar muttered, reading the texts from Clint earlier that day. "Text him quite often do you?"
"Obviously," Marley snorted. "He looks rather adorable with kids," she gushed, seeing the picture he sent to Onyx, where he was cuddled with his niece and nephew on the couch both kids fast asleep, using him as their pillow.
"Marls listen to this," Sugar said, squinting at the small screen. "They look comfy; I mean you are comfy, winky face," Sugar giggled, reading the reply Onyx sent him.
"Do you know this because of the night you ditched your own party?" Marley questioned seriously, her giggles not contained.
"I don't know what you mean," Onyx played it off.
"How grown up of you to play the denial game," Sugar snorted, pressing the call button. "Oops," she laughed putting the phone to her ear, listening to his phone ring. "Voicemail," she started listening to his voicemail kick in.
"Like hell," Onyx muttered, leaning over the coffee table to get to her phone. "Sugar, seriously give me my phone," she warned, crawling across the coffee table, right on top of Sugar.
"Get off me," Sugar laughed, holding the phone out to Marley.
"Damn you," Onyx huffed, her attention now going to Marley.
"Hello?" Marley asked, hearing Clint now on the other end of the line.
"You're not Onyx, is she okay?" He asked, shaking the last remnants of sleep from his foggy mind, to worry about Onyx.
"If you count being drunk okay," Marley replied, using her feet to push Onyx away.
"Dude just hang up the phone, seriously," Onyx shouted.
"Can you put Onyx on the phone?" He questioned, not finding any of this to be funny. He really wanted to be sleeping as he needs to be in a few short hours.
"He wants you," Marley said, giggling when she understood just how her words truly sounded.
Onyx snatched her phone from her friend's outstretched hand, getting to her own feet was more of struggle than it should have been. Glaring at her friends, she walked to Sugar's guest room, shutting the door and falling into a heap in the twin sized bed kept for such situations.
"I'm so sorry about them. I didn't think they would pull a stunt like that. You must be tired as it's what," she paused, pulling the phone from her ear to see that was nearing 4 in the morning for her. "Almost 5," she said, moving to cover up with the blanket adding in the hour time difference between them.
"It's fine," he told her, relaxing now that he knew she was fine. "I've got to be up by 7, so it's just an early wake-up call," he chuckled. "Why the call?"
"It's a long story and I'm drunk," she told him shutting her eyes. "It started out with this scumbag hitting on me at the club, and it snowballed from there," she yawned.
"I see," he said, willing himself to relax after that news.
"You shouldn't worry as you are far better looking than he could ever dream to be. Did you know that you are like ridiculously hot?" She asked him. "And you smell delicious?"
"I didn't know that I smelt delicious," he chuckled. "The hot part I may have had a feeling," he smiled into the phone. "The hotness level goes both ways here, Onyx."
"Damn straight it does," she snorted, making him laugh deeper.
"Why are you drunk?" He asked, promptly changing the topic. He had a feeling that she said more than she ever would admit to while sober. Best to leave it at that.
"Marley got promoted to head chef, we had to celebrate," she easily commented. "Get some sleep Clint," she more so demanded.
"You should sleep, Onyx. Don't forget to drink water before falling asleep," he told her.
"Got it, night or morning," she yawned into the phone.
The last thing she heard was his deep chuckle. She didn't make it out of bed to drink any amount of water. Her phone falling to the cream-colored carpet with a soft thud.
"Drink this, take these," a deep voice told her, pulling her from her slumber with a groan as her head pounded an unsteady beat. She sat up her eyes remaining closed, willing herself not to throw up, taking the cup of what she assumed is water and the two capsules of aspirin.
"What are you even doing here?" She asked, thrusting the now empty cup into his hands.
"Jeff came to deal with his girlfriend; Nick came for his wife, and I thought being the best friend whom I am, that I would collect you and make sure you get home okay. Best friend duty," he smirked, keeping his voice low.
"What about Mikki?" She questioned, squinting at him. "Shouldn't you be off with her?"
"No," he chuckled. "She's visiting with family, not that we had plans; I figured you'd be hungover enough to need me today," he told her.
"It's sweet and endearing that you blew your girlfriend off for me. Even if I know that it's because you don't want to meet her family yet," she stated, slowly sitting up. "What time is it?"
"A quarter past 11," he commented. "Let's get you home and you can sleep the rest of the day if you truly wish to," he suggested.
"That is heaven, Seb," she replied, slowly getting up. "Do you have my phone?" She asked, looking around her as slow as she could without making her head hurt worse or her stomach to get violent on her.
"In my pocket," he informed her, helping her get up.
Later that evening, she woke in her own bed, the pounding now a dull thump. She reached for her phone, pulling the cable out now that it is fully charged to see that it was now after 6 at night, and that she had a few messages from Sugar and Marley. She would get to them later. First, she would deal with Clint's messages.
'I hope your feeling okay today.' She frowned because she didn't remember talking to him at any point since yesterday afternoon. 'You up to hanging out tmrw? I would see about today, but I'm sure you'll be sleeping most the day.' Seriously how did he know? The most she told him was that she would be going out for a drink with her friends, and it wouldn't be anything more than that. She left the message thread, to check her call log.
"Shit," she cursed, going back into the message thread once more.
'I'll see you tmrw. Madhatters tea house and cafe? I feel like shit. You've won a prize, as I've slept most of the day. Pick any prize. What the hell did I say to you?'
While she waited on his reply, she checked the texts from her friends, asking how she was faring, and saying they were never drinking that much again. She agreed with that sentiment, saying so in her reply back to them both telling them she still felt as if she were dying.
'I'll get back to you about that prize. I'll be at your place at 9, and we'll go from there.' She nodded to herself reading that section of his reply. She didn't want to read the next part, not wanting to know how big of a fool she had been 14 hours prior while drunk. 'You told me sorry, and a scumbag hit on you. And you proceeded to tell me to sleep. Did you drink the water like I told you?'
'Uh no.' She didn't remember drinking any water at any point. 'I think I should have though. I'll be here tmrw, hopefully awake and ready. If not wake me.'
'Shame on you. Deal.' He replied. Adding, 'I've suddenly got company. Talk later?'
'I need food anyway. Enjoy your company. I'll be around as I really don't want to leave.'
After sending her message, she tossed her blankets to the side, leaving her phone on her pillow in search of her roommate and food. Hopefully Chinese. Because if Seb truly knew her, he would have already ordered the Chinese food as she always craved it while hungover.