Page 6 of Expressionate
I shake my head and then smile at her. "No problem. You should probably take a couple until your brother can grab yousome."
Her eyes widen, and she laughs. "Tax wouldn't go get them. He'll take me and just avoid the tampon sectioncompletely."
"Take a couple anyway," I offer, opening the door and grab a handful to give toher.
With her cheeks tinted pink, she accepts. "Thanks."
I walk her to the door and crack it open. The man from before, the one who had been sitting in the car with her – her brother, I'm assuming – stands outside in the hall with his fist raised to knock. He stops when he sees that the door is open and the girl stepsout.
"Hey, sorry about that," he says awkwardly. "Thanks for letting her use yourbathroom."
He's tall, several inches taller than Todd. It’s the first thing I notice. Unlike Todd, though, he's not classically handsome at all. In fact, some people would probably be turned away by his looks. Not because he’s ugly, but because his features are intense. The way his eyes are shaped casts shadows down across his cheeks. But when he looks up I have to fight not to suck in a breath – not that I could anyway because all of the oxygen in my lungs evaporates. I’ve seen men with dead eyes, with greedy eyes, but this man’s eyes are…windows into a place I know I should be terrified of. They’re dark and gorgeous and so incredibly alluring. I don’t realize I’m staring until he blinks, disrupting my view of them for a millisecond. Those are the kind of eyes that lead straight to hell, and entice you further every step of theway.
I look down at his sister. They’re complete opposites. She has soft, honeyed skin and bright sunny hair. Her brother, on the other hand, is as dark as she is light. Inky black hair, tanned skin, and there's a sprinkling of dark stubble over his jaw that crawls halfway down his throat. A throat, I’m thinking, that looks strong and thick. How are throatsattractive?
Black tattoo lines peek out from beneath his t-shirt and travel down his right arm. I'd bet good money that those tattoos go back up and across his chest, and probably even his back as well. His eyes are hooded and dark, midnight blue. In them, I see something familiar. Something that calls out to me. Maybe that’s why my heart is galloping in my chest the way it hasn’t for a long, long time. In his eyes, I see a well of darkness andpain.
“It was no problem,” I finallyreply.
His apartment door opens, and my head automatically turns as another man walks out. He’s dressed in tight leather pants and a ripped t-shirt. This man’s striking, blond hair is spiked up in the front and flattened forward from the back. Several belts circle his waist, hanging around his hips the same way several bracelets line one of his arms. Surprisingly, there are only two leather, chain necklaces around his throat hanging over the white fabric of his shirt. He’s the kind of guy who is more Todd’s speed, but, like Todd, his external attractiveness pales in comparison to the man in front ofme.
Beverly bumps my back as she exits the apartment, clad scantily in her bright green tube dress, clutching a tiny, black purse that can't hold much more than a credit card and lipstick. She takes one look at him and I see a predator appear in hereyes.
She practically purrs as she sashays toward the new guy. "Hi there," she says in a throaty voice. "I'm Beverly. Are you one of ourneighbors?"
The new guy looks her up and down once before flashing her a cocky smile.Well, what do you know, I think,two peas in apod.
Ally tugs on her brother’s shirt and whispers something to him. He glances at me as she whispers. He pauses, unsure, before shaking his head and whispering something back. Ally pouts adorably and then turns to me. "Do you like music?" she askssuddenly.
I blink, startled. "Uh," I begin, "Isuppose."
“Ally,” her brotherwarns.
She ignores him. "Because my brother is in a band and they play at a bar called City Limits. You wannago?"
I look at her in surprise before I glance at her brother. "You take her to bars?" I ask curiously. There's no disdain in my voice. Ally seems like a sweet kid; obviously she's proud of herbrother.
He shakes his head. "No, she's not coming. Ally has schoolwork to do." He looks down at her, but she hasn't taken her eyes away fromme.
"So, do you want to go?" sheinsists.
"I...uh..." It strikes me that I don’t know these people, yet when I glance at Ally’s brother, I feel a curiosity that so rarely comes over me. And though it seems that Ally is sweet, it feels like her brother isn't too keen on inviting me. "I have someone coming over tonight," I sayfinally.
"It's not tonight," her brother says. He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets, tensing the muscles in his forearms as he does. I don't even think he realizes how large he is. "It's this Friday. We play on Fridays and Saturdays if you want to comeby."
I open my mouth to politely decline, but the pain that only consumes the blue fire in his eyes catches me again. This isn't a situation where pain would be present in a person’s expression. Boredom maybe, but not pain; not unless that pain has been buried deep inside, burrowing until it can't get any deeper, sunk into a person's soul. I see that pain, and my own echoes itsplea.
Instead of saying no, I find myself nodding. "Yeah, that sounds cool. I'll try to stop by." I glance over their shoulders at Beverly as she and the friend eat each other alive with their eyes, flirting hardcore. "It looks like my roommate likes your friend. I assume he's in the band. Can I bring her?" She’ll be a welcome distraction if I needone.
Ally and her brother glance over their shoulders as well. "Shouldn't be a problem," the brother says turning back to me. "I'm Tax, by the way." He tugs one of his hands from his pocket and extends it to me. I take it and let his fingers clasp tight aroundmine.
"Love," I say. I try to stop the way my hand tenses in his, waiting for the ultimate 'What? That's yourname? How funny' comments. Surprisingly, though, he doesn't dothat.
Instead, he smiles and finishes the handshake. "It was nice to meet you," he says instead. "Thanks for letting my sister use your bathroom and for the – um—" He looks down at the tampons in her hand and grimaces before jerking his gaze back to mine. "Anyways,thanks."
I nod as he turns around and Ally waves before heading back into their apartment. Tax calls for his friend before knocking on his shoulder and telling him to get his ass back inside. It seems Beverly has his complete attention, though, so I'm not sure how that will go. I turn and head back into my own apartment. Just as I'm about to close the door, I hear the elevator down the hall ding and the doors slide open. Trish steps out with her mascara a smudged, black mess on her cheeks. She sees me and heads my way, bypassing Beverly and the band guy, whose head tilts in her direction for a split second before returning toBeverly.
I close the door behind us and her whole body trembles as I enfold her into a hug. I usually don’t like giving or receiving hugs because I feel stifled, but I’ll hug her because I know that’s what she wants – she wants someone to shove all of the emotions back inside, squeeze them until she can close the hatch and secure them once more. I’d rather let them all out and then lock the door behind them when they leave. If all they lead to is this, why would I want them? She smells like lemons and ocean spray, probably a mix of cleaning products and her shampoo. When she finally releases me, I notice I have some of her mascara on my shirt, but I don't sayanything.
