“Hey, Carlie, can we talk in private,” Drew said. “I need to get some advice from a woman.”
Carlie shot me a cheeky grin before taking Drew out into the back room.
DREW TURNED UP AT THE bar the next night looking more dapper than usual. Hell, that wasn’t hard. He normally wore an extremely baggy t-shirt covered in stains, with a pair of baggy jeans and runners. His hair usually hung in a lank mess around his face. I’d never really thought about whether Drew was good-looking or not. It just wasn’t one of those things you considered. Like you never thought about whether the clock on the wall was good-looking or the carpet on the floor. He was just Drew.
I didn’t know what they’d done to him but he looked like a normal human being. His clothes fitted him and he stood up taller. His hair was tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck. It made him look like a bit of a wanker but, short of getting it cut off, I guess it was the best they could do.
He glanced over, as though worried about what I’d say. I shot him a grin. The poor kid needed all the confidence he could get tonight. As much as I hated losing the challenge, it’d do him good to get out of the club and have some fun. He had no outside life, nothing but hanging out here. Much the same as me, but he was far too young to have no life. He should be out dating and having fun.
I gave him the thumbs up when he sat down at the bar.
“What do you think?” Carlie said. “We took him shopping before work and got him to wash his hair. It makes a big improvement.”
“I don’t look stupid?” Dre
w said. “It seems stupid to wear a tight t-shirt when I’m not buff like Razer.”
“It looks more stupid to wear something twenty sizes too big for you. Now, make sure you make eye contact instead of staring at your feet and don’t look nervous.”
Drew nodded then stared at his feet.
“Don’t twitch, Drew,” Carlie said.
“I’m not twitching.”
Carlie poured him a beer.
“Drink this to help with the nerves but not too fast. You don’t want to be drunk before she gets here.”
Drew took the beer but sat it on the bar without taking a sip.
He hadn’t said who he was dating. Maybe one of the younger girls who came into the bar or someone he’d met elsewhere. I couldn’t even imagine him approaching a girl without it being a little disturbing but there’s no accounting for taste. Maybe he found a girl who liked his fumbling and muttering.
Before I could ask, Gina came into the bar. She had her hair done up and makeup on. I hoped she wasn’t doing it to impress me because she’d be wasting her time. That red lipstick did make her mouth look incredibly appealing, though. It’d been a long time since I’d kissed a woman, a long time since I had any desire to, but it took all my willpower to hold back.
I was almost tempted to go over and say hello to her, there was no harm in being friendly, when she sat down next to Drew.
Before I could tell her that Drew was waiting for his date, I realized what was happening. Gina and Drew? Together?
Impossible. She felt sorry for him and agreed to help him out. That had to be it. She couldn’t be seriously dating him. Not Drew. Surely, she could do better than that.
I waited for her to glance over, a sign that she was only dating him to get to me, but she never took her focus off him. Not once. He said something to her and she laughed. I loved her laugh but, when she was laughing at Drew’s joke, I hated it.
“You snooze, you lose, buddy.” Carlie s put a double whiskey down beside me before I even asked for it.
I didn’t snooze but I’d surely lost. This was what I’d wanted but that didn’t make it taste any sweeter. Gina dating Drew would be the worst possible outcome. I’d have to see them all the time, being all over each other. Drew would be that type, all mushy and love-struck. I’d never have a moment’s peace. Hell, I’d rather teach him guitar than cope with that.
I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to forget about them. At least Drew would never hurt her. He’d treat her like she was made of glass. She was in the safest of safe hands with Drew.
“It’s one date, it’s not like they’re getting married,” Carlie said. “Why don’t you get that stick out of your arse and go for it? And don’t give me that ‘I’m too damaged bullshit’ either. Just get yourself un-fucking-damaged or you’ll be a miserable bastard the rest of your entire life.”
Not much a man could say to that. But damaged I was, and damaged I’d stay. There was nothing else for it.
Before I could even open my mouth, Carlie jumped in.
“Don’t even think about bitching about this to me, Jackson. Drew’s more of a man than you’ll ever be. He’s proved it tonight.”
Chapter 10 Gina