Page 9 of Petals of Blue, Part One (Wilted Duet #1)

Four

FELIX

Ican't get the image of that woman running away out of my head. I'm not sure what spooked her, but fuck was it disappointing to see her go.

Her blonde friend looked shocked to see her flee and immediately followed. I tried to give chase, but I could barely squeeze through the crowd. Those girls slipped through the sea of bodies like pros.

The way her body fit against mine and moved on me was a goddamn dream. Christ, she was sexy. I'm not ashamed to admit I had to rub one out as soon as I got home last night.

By the time I shoved my way off the dance floor, both the blue beauty and her friend were gone. Why the hell did she bolt, and where the hell did she go?

I only had her in my arms for a few minutes, but I can feel my obsession lingering. Going back and finding her will be easy. I have an interview there tonight, and she has bright blue hair. I'll spot her from a mile away.

Hopefully she's not someone visiting because I have a feeling once with her won't be enough. I get what I want, and I want her.

Declan pokes my shoulder and stage whispers, "What are you daydreaming about?"

Glancing at him, I fight the urge to push his grinning face away from me. I like him close, but sometimes he makes me want to kick his ass. "This interview tonight."

"I call bullshit," Jared teases, eyeing the pillow on my lap. "You're thinking about wet pussy."

Ignoring the way Declan stiffens and moves away from me, I glare at my friend. "I didn't get any wet fuckin' pussy, so fuck off."

"So..." Jared drawls and swallows a bit of pasta salad. "You're pouting about the lack of wet pussy."

Fucking Christ. Jared and Declan are like the exact same person with their quick sass and outgoing personalities. There are a few key differences though, one being that Declan is a fucking troublemaker and Jared is a bit more calculated in his decision-making process.

I nudge Declan's thigh with my knee. "Declan, tell him to shut up.

" There, that should take the heat off of me.

I don't love when they gang up on me, especially without Roman here to buffer their quips.

But when Dec and Jared go at each other, everyone else ceases to exist. Only fiery sass and wicked jokes are their focus.

Except this time, my master plan to pin them against each other doesn't pan out how I expected. Declan stands and drags his hand through his dark brown hair. "Nah," He says, then leaves the room.

When a door slams further into the house, my gut clenches. "What did I say wrong?" I ask Jared, feeling like a piece of shit.

Jared seems thoughtful when I catch him frowning. "I don't think that was necessarily about you."

"Necessarily?" Frustration fuels my tone, making Jared stiffen slightly.

The glare he levels at me is icy. "Yeah, Felix. You can't read someone for shit." Then he's up and storming out of the room too.

"What the fuck does that mean?" I grumble to myself and take a big gulp of my water.

At this point, I'd rather have a goddamn drink to chill my nerves, but showing up to an interview with a buzz wouldn't be a good idea.

Another door slams, making me cringe and reach for the joint tucked into my hat. Goddamn it, I can't smoke either. Living with three other guys hasn't always been easy, but moving from Seattle to Chicago has brought on a lot of stress.

Jared's dad got into an accident last year, and with Jared's natural inclination for anxiety, we decided to support him being close to his family. My parents are off traveling with Roman and Declan's parents, so nothing was really keeping us in Seattle anymore, anyway.

The sentimental ties didn't bother me because I was never close to my mom and dad. With my business degree and a decent amount of experience in management, I felt confident moving to another big city.

It was a bit harder for the Ledger brothers, Declan and Roman, to part ways with the place we grew up. But if there's one thing the four of us have in common, it's loyalty. Jared needs his family nearby to feel settled, so yes, we all moved.

Four, thirty to thirty-three-year-old males moving across the country and into a packed city was quite the hassle, though. Loyalty runs really fucking deep, and it's been tested quite a bit this week.

Add in Declan managing a new family-owned cafe, Jared teaching at a new school, and me and Roman needing to find new jobs? We're pretty damn impatient with one another.

Also, I don't know who the hell said women were hormonal, because what I just witnessed in this damn living room screams sensitive. Or maybe I'm just a dick. Probably both.

I honestly don't know what I did wrong. Declan's always been weird about sex, especially when we're talking about our latest lays. Actually, I don't remember the last time he got some. I bet that's his problem.

Groaning at the thought of Dec getting some pussy, I hoist myself up and slam my water down on the coffee table. I need a nap, but I'd prefer a certain blue-haired bombshell.

I'll find her; I know it.