Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Arden groaned, but stroked Mike’s back, as if he deserved this care after hurting Arden’s feelings so badly. “Yeah, it was fucked up, but I see where you were coming from.”
“I’m still on your side. Whatever happens, you know?” Mike whispered, staring at the open doors of the garage. Someone walked past, not-so-discreetly peeking inside, but he didn’t care anymore.
This might as well be the final time he got to smell jasmine on Arden, and he wanted to make it count.
Arden gave him the gentlest, non-sexual kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. I really need a friend too, not just a lover. And… You got a few hours?” His laugh trembled between them. “‘Cause I’ve got a lot of cars to wash and could use some help.”
Mike smiled and pulled Arden’s hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. “I’ll get you comfortable shoes first.”
Chapter 20 – Arden
Chicken soup. Snickers bars. Canned beans.
Stacking shelves had a calming quality to it that helped Arden focus on the now instead of what really gnawed at his insides.
Washing powder. Tissues. Popcorn.
Mike loved this one. Coated in toffee and very crunchy, Mike had once teased Arden over him not liking anything too hard and crunchy. Arden had flirted back that he very much liked hard things. The movie had been forgotten, the popcorn had landed on the floor…
No. No more thinking about Mike.
At least since their breakup Mike started stinking of cigarettes again, so at least that was a deterrent.
But how was he supposed to pretend Mike didn’t exist when every interaction in the clubhouse had him as the context? Everyone knew Mike and Arden had been involved not that long ago, and even when they weren’t outright asking what happened, they watched Arden whenever he spoke to Mike, when he opened the window of Mike’s former room, and stayed quiet, just staring at him while their brains whirred, producing electricity Arden could sense in the air.
A week on, there was no end to the gossip, and he had no doubt some of the club members and hangarounds had wagered bets over them getting back together. Even Mona had prodded at Arden to try and work out if this break-up wasn’t another prank of some sort.
Arden sat on the floor in front of the shelves packed with chips and barely held back from rubbing his itchy eyes. He had glitter on his eyelids, and if he weren’t careful, his dewy complexion would soon sparkle.
A customer entered, but he didn’t bother to look at the screen showing the image from the camera at the front of the shop and picked up another bag of popcorn when a familiar silhouette loomed at the edge of his vision.
“Ardy!” His sister was dressed in a pink T-shirt dress with an abstract picture at the front and fringing wiggling at her knees. He was up before she stepped close enough to hug him.
“Kaley! Why didn’t you say you were coming?” He hugged her tight, shocked at the relief of her presence. She smelled of sweet flowers and had put her lush blonde hair into a bun, so casual in comparison to her glamorous exotic dancer persona that most people wouldn’t have known the two to be the same person.
“I didn’t want you to hide somewhere with Mike just so you wouldn’t have to face me,” she said, gently nudging his ribs.
Arden laughed and nervously pushed back his curls. He’d been embarrassed to confess that he’d fallen into Mike’s clutches. Just a week later, he’d have to bear the shame of admitting they’d broken up. Why was his life so shitty?
“Um… yeah, about that… No more hiding needed.”
The playful smile fell from her face, and she tightened her arms around Arden, pulling his face to her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He clutched at her in an instant, like a baby kangaroo seeking safety in its mother’s pouch. “Because it’s humiliating. I barely told you about me and him, and it’s already over.”
A low sigh escaped Kaley’s mouth, and Arden knew she wished to say she’d warned him it would happen. He was glad she didn’t.
“What did he do? Did he say it’s not you, because it’s all on him?” she asked instead, rolling her eyes.
“No… it’s complicated. He’s got his reasons, we’re still friends. I don’t like his reasons, but I get it, he has to make his own choice. I told you where I stand. But… it hurts so much, you know?” Arden stepped away when his throat tightened. He didn’t need this. Hadn’t he cried himself to sleep enough times already?
“That’s bullshit. You should just come home. Let’s pack your things right now. We could drink margaritas on our couch by evening!”
The elderly lady living nearby chose this moment to enter, surely on the lookout for her favorite cookies, so he shushed Kaley when she hadn’t dropped her voice.