Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 87856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
"You are working the counter?" I ask.
"I'm not trolling for johns."
"You're filling in as our assistant manager over the summer?" I ask.
"Yes," she says.
"Does that not leave you in charge of scheduling?"
She makes a hmm noise. "Even so." She motions to me. "One more shot, Tricky. 'Luna, you look great today.'"
"Does it need to be about how you look?"
"Anything. As long as it's not a question about my boyfriend."
I'm tempted to fuck with her. She hates when I refer to her as Oliver's girlfriend.
In theory, I get it. She wants to be her own person. She doesn't want a qualifier. But there's something about the idea of belonging to someone—
It's kinda nice.
Luna clears her throat.
"You look great today, Luna. Is that a new dress?" I try.
"It is. Thanks for noticing." She smiles. "No, Oliver isn't working today. He's off this week."
"Trouble in paradise?"
"He's at Berkeley, visiting Daisy." His kid sister. Luna's best friend. Complicated shit.
"It's June."
"She's taking a summer course."
Is that why Imogen is in Brentwood? Or was she born and raised in Los Angeles? "Is Holden miserable?" Holden is Daisy's boyfriend.
Once upon a time, Oliver and Holden were best friends. Until the whole 'I slept with your sister thing' (Holden slept with Daisy, Ollie's sister). And then the whole 'I slept with your best friend thing.' (Ollie and Luna hooked up. And Luna is Daisy's best friend).
I swear, I need a diagram to follow the gossip here.
"He's there too," she says.
"Weird."
"Kinda," she says.
"Why aren't you there?"
"Are you kidding? I'm not getting in the middle of that catfight."
"You must miss her?"
"Like crazy," she says. "But we talk three times a week. And I'll be up there in a few weeks."
"Once the dick-measuring contest ends?"
"It's almost sweet," she says, "like they're competing for who loves her the most."
"Does that bother you?"
"Not the way you mean," she says.
"How do I mean?"
"Because Oliver is my boyfriend and I want all his love?"
Guilty.
"I'm an only child."
She's lucky that way. She can't lose a sibling. But, hey, I know better than to say that. "Siblings are annoying."
"Yeah, but they know what it's like to grow up in your house, with your family. I wish I had that."
Dare crashes the almost intimate moment. "You look hot today, Luna." He winks and runs his fingers through his dark hair in a total you know you want me move.
"Is that what you wanted?" I ask.
"I prefer words like 'sophisticated' and 'gorgeous' but I know they're a little long for you two," she says.
"Sophis-ta-what?" Dare plays dumb.
"You look nice too," she says. "The iconic Inked Love uniform."
He is wearing standard-issue hipster tattoo artist gear. White v-neck (it doesn't compete with the colorful ink and it shows off the tattooed biceps). Jeans (his are dark. Some are light. Holden is the only one who dares to wear shorts). Trendy kicks. (Checkered Vans for Dare today. Grey eco-friendly sneakers for me).
"Aren't you hot in jeans?" she asks.
"I hope so." He turns to show off his ass. "Tell me I look good."
She motions so-so.
"Brutal," I say.
"You can deny it if you want, but I know you see it," Dare says.
"Your motorcycle jacket?" she asks.
"No. That's Tricky's thing," he says. "He's the brooding one. Well, when your boyfriend isn't here. Or maybe when he is. Love and all that."
"Yes, love and all that is how I think of my relationship." Luna laughs. "How do either of you get laid? You have no charm."
"Charm has nothing to do with it." Dare flexes a bicep.
"That tracks," she says.
"Ah, you don't mean that." Dare smiles.
"Really, I do. The personality… not good," she says.
"That's why he only sticks around for a night. It's not long enough for someone to get to know his personality," I say.
Dare nods it's true.
She laughs. "You two are just like Ollie and Holden. Well…" Like they were, before the whole I'm screwing your sister thing put a wedge between them.
"Only more beautiful." Dare avoids the messy stuff, the same way I do.
Everyone in my life avoids the messy shit. Everyone except my secret online exhibitionist.
"Exactly what I was thinking," Luna says.
"Is this guy giving you trouble?" Dare motions to me.
"I'm used to it," she says.
"What is up with him?" Dare asks.
"Isn't he your best friend?" she asks.
Dare motions sorta. "He's all right."
"Too good-looking, huh?" I try to jump into the banter, but I don't deliver the enthusiasm. "Ruining your game."
"You are a shit wingman, yeah," Dare says. "But it's not looks. Come on." He motions to his face. Turns to Luna for backup. "Be honest. I'm better looking than Tricky."
"You're both so annoying, it's really hard to not bring that into the rating," she says.
"Who's more annoying?" Dare asks.
"That's like comparing bad coffee with… equally bad coffee," she says.
"Not your best metaphor," he says.
"No." She laughs. "It's not."
He chuckles. "You don't want to hurt Patrick's feelings. I get it. He does have a fragile ego."