Page 13 of Forgotten Comeback (Parisi Family #5)

Chapter

Twelve

Taylor

Having talked Kat into after-work drinks, we arrive at the Diamond bar, and I wave at Mia.

“I didn’t know you were dropping by.” Mia and I greet each other with a quick peck. “Hey, Kat.”

“Hey, Mia.” Kat smiles politely at my girlfriend.

“We just finished working that party at Ace’s and need to unwind,” I explain. And it has nothing to do with me needing reassurance after Gavin’s taunting.

“Pretzel bites coming right up.” Mia puts in our order and begins making our drinks.

“You’re the best,” I tell her when she slides over two cosmopolitans.

Her attention’s snagged at the other end of the bar by her co-worker, and Kat and I carry our drinks to a corner table, taking a seat. “Since when do you like cosmopolitans?” My friend raises an eyebrow.

I let out an annoyed sound from the back of my throat before taking a sip. “I don’t know.”

Watching Mia over the rim of my cocktail glass, I can faintly hear Kat telling me something, but it’s hard to focus, not with Mia and her male co-worker being so familiar with each other.

“Hellooooo? Are you listening?” Kat says.

“I don’t like the way the other bartender is a little too handsy with my girlfriend,” I admit, tearing my attention away from the duo.

Kat discreetly glances at the bar. “He handed her a bottle opener; I’d hardly call it handsy.”

“Whose side are you on?” I demand.

She holds up her hands. “The hands-free side. Look, if your girlfriend wanted to be with guys, she’d certainly have her pick.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I huff.

“What I mean is she’s hot, and she picked you. Freaking relax.”

“You’re right.” I let out a long breath. “I know you’re right. It’s just I’ve always known I was into both teams, but with Mia, I’m the first female she’s been with. What if it’s a fluke, and she figures it out and goes back to playing with the men’s team?”

Interesting Mia wants the D but not the P, yet she’s in a ‘relationship’ with a woman.

With a grimace, I down my drink.

“Girl, you’ve got to stop, or you’re going to sabotage this thing yourself,” Kat warns me.

“When did you suddenly become the relationship expert?” I deflect, because deep down I know she’s right.

She snorts a laugh. “Do as I say, not as I do. Obvs.”

“I need to go to the bathroom. Keep an eye on them,” I tell her.

Walking in the opposite direction of the bar, I’m fighting every urge to go over there and…

Cause a scene.

Be needy as hell.

Pin Mia down on why she won’t go down on me.

Forcing myself to do none of the above, I enter the ladies’ room and touch up my lipstick, taking a deep breath.

My phone buzzes, and I grab it from my purse. Opening the message, I have to pick my jaw from the outdated tile.

Offer accepted.

The number is unknown, but I could pick that pierced dick out of any lineup. Which is troubling. One of the many troubling aspects of this, including but not limited to me zooming in for a closer inspection.

Damn. It’s just as pretty as I remember. Nice size and girth. Beautiful smooth pink skin, unlike a veiny, angry-looking purple dick. Those freak me out, like a vein might rupture and the dick explode or something.

Gavin’s big hand is wrapped around the head, and I zoom in on the barbell.

I’ve never been with a guy with any type of dick piercing, I wonder…

No!

IDK how you got my number, but let me break it to you. No woman wants unsolicited dick pics.

Bubbles appear, and I take great satisfaction in deleting the thread and blocking his ass. Or dick, as the case may be.

As for the other troubling aspects, I block them from my psyche as I go in search of Mia. Finding her in the back chatting it up with her coworker, I ignore him as I grab Mia’s hand and lead her to the utility closet.

“What’s up?”

I pin her against the wall and slam my lips to hers, needing…something.

“Damn, Taylor. What’s got you so worked up?” Mia says against my lips.

Something other than Gavin. Anything other than Gavin.

“I need to come,” I level with her. “Could we try you going down on me? There are no cameras in here, and I’m so wound up, it won’t take me long—”

Her eyes go wide. “Uh, Taylor, I’m working.”

“You weren’t working when I found you hanging with your coworker,” I point out.

“I’m not entitled to a break?” Mia bristles.

“Of course—”

“I’ve gotta get back to the front,” she tells me in a cool tone, walking briskly to the door.

“Okay. You want to come over after your shift?” I trail after her.

“I’m not feeling it tonight,” she says dismissively.

Not feeling it, or not feeling me?

“Alright, well, I guess I’ll talk to you later,” I say softly.

Rejection washes over me as I return to the bar, only to find Kat’s gone. Checking my messages, I see she’s already bounced. One hundred bucks says it’s with Dominic, but I’m the last fucking person to cast judgment, so I keep my opinions on her ex-boyfriend to myself.

Returning home, I’m too tired to shower, but points for me for taking off my makeup and moisturizing.

Deduct points, though, for me texting Mia and then checking my phone like a million times to see if she changed her mind about coming over.

Considering she left me on read, it’s safe to say she hasn’t.

“Hey, Bonnie. You need a nightcap?” Inspecting her soil, it’s looking a bit dry, so I fill up a glass and give her a drink. “Look at you, being a thirsty bitch,” I tease.

I fill a water glass for myself and grab my evening pills from the little organization box. Popping them in my mouth, I toast Bonnie before downing them.

“Night night,” I say, flipping off the light and walking upstairs to my bedroom.

Having swallowed my prescriptions, now it’s time to swallow my pride. I lay down with my new, fully charged vibrator and open my phone to the screenshot of Gavin’s dick I saved before deleting the message.

My therapist can thank me for the job security as I turn on my vibrator to the highest setting.