ey, lover boy.” Natalie snaps her fingers in my face. “I’ve asked you like five questions.”
“Sorry, just nervous about everything. Today is a big day in many ways.”
She eyes me suspiciously, trying to read me.
“You’re hiding something from me. Spill it, Joe,” my sister demands. She might be Nate’s twin, but we share a close bond. Growing up everyone thought we were triplets. Ma got pregnant with Nat and Nate when I was around nine months old. So in a lot of ways we were a trio.
“Not a word to Audrey, but tonight over dinner, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“Shut up!” She smacks my chest with a wide grin. “I’m so happy for you, Joe.” She pauses. “Audrey though, you think she is ready for it. I mean don’t get me wrong...I love her dearly, but that’s a big commitment.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, I get it, sis, you’ve been talking to Ma.”
“That isn’t what I meant. You know I adore Audrey and love the two of you together.”
We are stopped at a red light near the restaurant we are meeting Kevin Stark at for brunch.
“Forget it, Nat. I don’t need your blessing and neither does Audrey.”
My hand is tight on the door handle and the light is getting ready to change.
“Joe…don’t be like this. I’m happy for you honest,” Natalie pleads but it’s too late. Her true feelings are out now, and she can’t take them back. I thought of all people she would be happy for me, for us—Audrey and me.
“I’ll meet you there, sis. I need some air.”
I get out of the car before the light changes and step onto the sidewalk.
The light changes and I wave my sister on. The car behind her honks their horn, and Nat throws her hands up as I cross the side street.
Suddenly I am struck hard, my body is catapulted, and I hit the hard fiberglass of a red sports car. My body feels like I am shattering from the inside out as I roll from the hood and under the wheels. The last thing I see before my world stops is Audrey’s smile from this morning. Her pink lips curved in a sexy grin—my heaven, amidst the hell that is dying.
Chapter 2
Audrey
Humming along to Awolnation, I apply my lip balm and grab my phone. I thought Joey would have called to make sure I am up by now. I cannot wait to hear how the meeting is going. I’ve always known Joey was special. He is meant for greatness.
I first met Joey through his sister, Natalie, when I was waitressing at a hole in the wall pool hall. He walked in and literally took my breath away. He was and still is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. The way he carried himself with such confidence was so damn sexy. I had never met a man so sure of himself. His sureness attracted me first, and then he opened his mouth. His voice was so sweet, like pure sugar. I thought I would melt then and there. He was so cheesy with his lame pick up line it was endearing. “My prayers have been answered. I asked God for an angel and here you stand.”
He actually made me blush and nothing makes me blush, ever. I’m not wired that way. I don’t ever get embarrassed. But Joey, that man, he just makes me feel everything. I’ve never had what we share. He has shown me that it is okay to let people in and it is okay to love them too.
When I first moved to Clemons, I had followed loser boyfriend number three with hope of us making it as a duo, similar to The Civil Wars. Grant had other plans. When things got tough, he abandoned me, leaving me here with nothing.
I bounced back, he may have bent me, but I wouldn’t be broken so easily. I took whatever jobs I could, and I met Nat one night by chance. I found her in the bathroom crying over some jerk who had stood her up. I said to her, “No man deserves your tears.” Then I bought her a drink and got on stage with her to sing Ladies Night.
Her voice was terrible, but we had a great time. We became instant friends and she started coming in and hanging out with me.
If it wasn’t for her dragging her sexy brother along with her one night, I may have never met Joey. That night changed my life. Joey thinks I have commitment issues, but I’m just scared he will realize how much better he’d be without me. His mom sees it, and one day she will make him see it too. He has such high aspirations. I don’t have any of that. I am floating from one day to the next. I need Joey to keep me grounded. When he looks at me, I feel as if I could do anything and be anyone. No one has ever loved me and believed in me the way he does. He makes me feel as if I really matter.
I keep waiting for the day to come where he no longer needs me, his bubbly sex kitten, and meets someone with goals, who can give him things I can’t.
Joey’s Ma thinks I am just sponging off him, because I like working at the bar with him and his sister. Carwell’s Bar feels like home. I draw in a lot of customers. I’m no Madonna but I can sing. I fill a lot of chairs on the weekends.
Swinging the door open, Lewis is already setting the tables for the lunch crowd. He smiles surprised to see me. One of my worst habits is being habitually late. “Morning, sweet thing,” he greets, kissing my cheeks.
I smack his sexy ass and he rolls his eyes.
“You can smack it all you want, but girl, you aren’t getting any of this fine ass. I don’t do women, not even those as sexy as you,” he teases.