Their nasty glares lifted such a tension in the room that Nate thought he was suffocating while pouring a shot for the both of them. He hadn't expected them to be this sharply at one another's throat, he didn't even think they would be together in a room for this amount of time. He had no intention on dealing with this, hence why he downed his own shot without waiting for them, The starting his own pace of drinks.
Neither of them had been spoken to one another yet, both standing at one end of the counter island in the kitchen. Nate glanced between the two of them, pushing their shots closer and taking a second one of his own. When it had reached two minutes of their challenging gazes without a word uttered, he finally spoke.
"Are you guys going to drink?"
"Not with that bitch," Aunt Judy spat, tilting her head to the side with a smirk when she saw Tyler's lips widen.
Tyler furrowed her brows even more. "You're lucky you're not dead yet; don't make me give him another reason."
Aunt Judy threw her arms in the air. "How dare you say that to me?"
"You called me a bitch first!" Tyler snapped back, pointing a finger towards her. "I came in peacefully; I'm here to go out with my friend."
"No." Nate frowned, glancing towards Tyler who eyed him as well, unsure what she meant. Until she added, "You're not going out tonight."
"Bullshit!" Nate snorted, rolling his eyes and was moments from taking another shot when she snatched the glass away from him, the alcohol slightly dripping on the table. "Auntie, what the hell?"
"I said what I said," she puckered her lip, dumping the shot into the sink and proudly puffing her chest when she squeezed her hands on her waist. "You're not going out."
"I'm going out whether you like it or not," Nate spat; he wasn't a child anymore. Even though he was still in high school, his parents trusted him to get his own apartment while his aunt lived in the same city. There was no reason as to why going out for a night should be an issue.
She pursed her lips. "I'll tell Mell you went out without my permi—"
"Holy, you can be such a bitch sometimes," he snapped, narrowing his eyes towards her before returning his focus onto Tyler who scoffed, sharply turning her chin sideways. He pointed to his aunt as he begged, "Can you say sorry so we can leave? She's our ride."
"Fuck no!" Tyler retorted, widening her arms violently. "She's calling me names meanwhile she was the one being a little hoe when she was fucking my brother in race cars and bathrooms!"
Nate inhaled a sharp breath; that was something he had no idea happened which made his stomach began to twirl with nausea. He had no idea his aunt and Dante had relations in that way and for some reason, the shock shifted into anger—he did not like hearing of that. He slightly felt betrayed and he wasn't sure as to why; he knew there was an odd situation between Dante and his aunt, but he hadn't thought they had slept together.
Aunt Judy was taken aback, her mouth gaped open as she glanced a few times at the widened eyes of her nephew. Her brows fell tightly over her eyes and she pointed at Tyler to retort, but nothing left her mouth. She had no comeback to that since what Tyler had said had been the truth but it was not how she wanted it to be revealed to Nate.
Eventually, she sighed and her broadened shoulders fell, looking away from both of them without having said anything. Then, she returned the empty shot glass onto the table and, without eyeing them, whispered quietly, "We're leaving in ten minutes."
It was obvious that she was upset. Aunt Judy left the kitchen after that, walking away to another room in the apartment, clearly needing to distance herself from even more truths being revealed without her consent. When she did leave, Tyler groaned in annoyance with a grimace on her face. "Your aunt is so annoying—"
"Watch your mouth."
The way Nate's voice had been sharp, as if a knife plunging deep inside her soul and filling her body with a strange coldness, made her glance up to him. Her breathing halted when she met his gaze, the darkness that had overflowed his eyes a sight that she hadn't ever imagined seeing on him; it reminded her of her own brother when he committed his worst atrocities.
She flinched when she saw Nate move around the counter, slowly approaching her and not stopping until he was a few inches away from her. Then, he leaned his face close to hers, his eyes deeply piercing through hers as if directly gazing inside her mind, her brain, her soul. It was a menacing devilish stare, one that caused her heart to feel as if it would stop any second from how fast it was pounding.
His voice was laced with dangerous venom, one that she could almost smell the poison from it.
"That was the first and last time you ever call my aunt anything. If you ever call her a hoe or anything like that again, it better not reach my ears or else, I don't give a fuck who your brother or family is, I'll find any means necessary to destroy you."
***
When they reached the bar called Locco's, Tyler exited the car first, not even thanking Judy as she stomped her heels towards the entrance, pausing at the door to wait for Nate. Nate wanted to speak to his aunt in private for a few minutes, which was why it was the best moment to turn to her and say, "We'll talk about this tomorrow."
She slowly nodded her head, uneasily biting her bottom lip. Nate hadn't stared at her or said anything the entire ride to the bar, and he finally eyed her for a few seconds before unplugging his seatbelt and pushing open the door. Before he could step out, he heard his aunt call his name.
When he turned back, she sighed and said, "Thank you for having my back."
Nate thought of what he had said to Tyler, glancing at his shows for a second before nodding his head, a small smile pulling his lips. "I love you."
"Love you too," she waved her hand, "enjoy your night."
Tyler had been the one to pick his outfit which he thought was decent. He wore a black turtleneck that was a smaller size to squeeze his toned body, a golden chain around his neck and a diamond watch his parents had bought him as a parting gift before their big reveal. Tan joggers harmonized the entire set, well-accompanied with dim gray sneakers. She had also been the one to do his hair; gently tugged backwards with gel with one ginger curl bouncing in from of his left eye. He agreed he looked elegant when he peered in the mirror.
As for Tyler, she wore a short red silky dress with a small jacket over her shoulders, accompanied with black boot heels that Nate already found annoying.
The moment they entire inside the bar, Nate saw many eyes from older men glance towards Tyler and throwing a second glance and then a third. Tyler was a very good-looking beauty with a curvy physique that even Nate had glanced at a few times, although his only preference was men. Even more, it was clear that Tyler adored the attention since the moment they stepped in, it seemed as if her walk was boosted even more by each glance, her hips swaying further out side to side as they made their way to the counter.
They hadn't drank much at the apartment since the energy had fallen after he told her off, but they both had gotten their mood back when they saw the bartender walking back and forth between customers. When the bartender finally caught Tyler's eye, Nate saw a long smirk stretch across his face and he rapidly ended the conversation with his other customers after serving them before, at giddying speed, skipping to her side.
"Well well, if it isn't the one and only, Tyler H."
Nate raised his eyebrows; this man was devouring her with his mere eyes, examining every single details of her flesh as if he was taking thousands of pictures at the next crevice or mole he found on her skin. Either they slept together before or dated because it was totally obvious he was deeply invested or in love with Tyler.
Tyler tilted her head, her eyes appearing to fall into a daze as she leaned her chest against the counter. "How was your week, Thomas?"
"Can't complain," he sighed, preparing a drink at the same time. "Would've been better if you had come over," he said a bit more quietly, winking at her. Nate turned to Tyler and was surprised when she blushed. The way she was behaving was much girlier than he had witnessed before.
She bit her bottom lip seductively, her smirk lengthening. "You could've came over too."
"So," he placed the drink in front of her and leaned forward on his side of the counter too, "is that an invitation?"
"That depends," she cooed, pulling the drink closer to her and twirling the straw around the end of her tongue for a few seconds before licking the edge of her top lip, seeing his eyes move away from her gaze and focus on her lips for a moment. "Are you going to undress or no?"
"That also depends," his naughty stare was warm, filling her body with such hunger that she wanted to leap over the counter right away. He motioned for her to come closer and when she did, his fingers delicately reached for her chin and pulled her, his lips right beside her ear when he breathed, "What are you wearing underneath right now?"
"I'm not wearing anything, babe," she exhaled a long breath and even moaned slightly. "When's your break?"
"In ten minutes."
"I'll meet you around back," she whispered, his lips tugging on his earlobe for a second before she pulled away and lowered her chin, sending him the flirtatious rounded eyes she knew he couldn't resist. He bit his bottom lip, his eyes diverting to her nose, her cheeks and then her lips, until they both heard a throat being cleared beside them.
Thomas' face fell when he met the bright blue gaze of Nate who did not smile, maintaining his lips in a tight line. Thomas was not pleased to find Tyler with a man beside her, and he felt his throat clench when she wrapped her arm around his, tightly squeezing herself against Nate. He shuddered when he felt her crest against his arm.
"This is Nate," she smiled, "he's a friend."
"Nice to meet you Nate," he nodded his head, keeping a straight face. "I'm Thomas; can I get you something to drink?"
"A Long Island please." Thomas nodded his head once more, pulling away to make his drink. Nate took this chance to lean in towards Tyler and whisper, "Boyfriend?"
"Ex," she replied, glancing towards Thomas before continuing, "now a fuck buddy."
"He doesn't like me."
Tyler shrugged her shoulders. "He doesn't like any dude I walk in with." Thomas approached them again and placed the drink in front of Nate. "Did you want to run a tab?"
"Yes," Tyler smiled, "on me."
Nate frowned, "No, it's f—"
"On me." Tyler repeated, winking towards Thomas before gripping Nate wrist. "See you soon." She then pulled him away, both heading towards a table that was empty and standing beside if, Tyler taking a few sips of her drink.
Nate raised his eyebrows, glancing back to the counter and seeing Thomas greet other customers, serving them their drinks. "He's definitely into you."
"No, he's not." Tyler shrugged her shoulders, her eyes narrowing for a second after a sigh. "He broke up with me."
"What d'you do?"
"What do you mean? Why does everyone always ask me that; maybe he did something!" When Nate tilted his head with a knowing smile, she rolled her eyes. "I cheated on him." When she heard Nate gasp, she waved her hand, "but I didn't hide it...not for very long at least."
Nate's eyes widened, glancing at his drink before saying, "We can't be friends."
"Oh shut up," she smacked his shoulder, furrowing her brows in his direction.
He lifted his chin. "I don't condone cheating behaviour."
"I was young and stupid and I messed up. I've grown from that. But anyway, we're not here for me, we're here for you. Take your pick—who here is your type?"
Nate hadn't even glanced at anyone in here; he had been focused on the conversation between Thomas and Tyler that he hadn't really paid attention to the crowd. His eyes lifted, glancing across the bar and meeting the flirtatious gaze of a few women, one who winked and bit her bottom lip, to which he looked away. Sure he had been with women before and he didn't mind it, but he was looking for a man since that was what he really enjoyed. Besides, he hadn't had sex in a very long time, might as well find someone for the night.
"What about the guy over there? Brown hair?" She pointed in his direction. Nate turned to look; he was quite attractive, such a sharp jawline, it's edging appearing to be able to slide through any surface. He was wearing a formal suit, his hair curls bouncing all over the place as he chatted with a few of his suited buddies.
Nate shrugged his shoulders, wrinkling his nose and shaking his head. "He looks like a douche bag."
"That guy then?" Nate glanced towards the next one she pointed to. He was quite short but his muscles were thick, an aspect that Nate respected. His hair was shaved into a buzz cut, but Nate approved of the black nails and nose ring that was blinging from across the room.
"Not bad, not bad—"
"Hey." They both turned when they heard the familiar voice, realizing that Thomas was approaching them with a drink in his hand. Thomas winked at Tyler but his focus was on Nate, handing him the drink rapidly before starting to walk away already. "That guy over there wants to talk to you—bought you a drink."
They followed the direction they were pointing to, seeing a tall blond playing darts with his friends, nudging his buddy when he hit the middle circle. He went to go grab them, a beaming smile across his face when he glanced upwards and accidentally caught Nate's gaze. His first instinct was to slowly raise his hand as greeting and when Nate didn't do anything back, Tyler elbowed his side and hissed, "Wave, you dimwit. He's hot as hell."
Nate saw a giddy smile cross the man's face when he finally waved back. The man then looked away, returning his focusing on their game and missing his next shot—it was clear his attention was not entirely on his throws.
"I'm leaving in a minute; you should go up to him now."
His eyebrows curled. "Alone?"
"Are you serious?" When she saw Nate's face wouldn't budge, she exhaled a long annoyed sigh before grabbing his wrist. "I'll introduce you guys." She pulled him across the dance floor, whispering a few apologies to the people they bumped into before finally reaching the group, attempting to catch the blond man's attention but he was a bit too indulged into his conversation with his friend.
It took a few seconds, but the moment he saw them, he shot right up from his seat, suddenly appearing nervous as he placed his drink down and made his way to them, squeezing through his friends before finally extending his palm towards them.
"I'm sorry," he exhaled with a tense chuckle, gripping Tyler's hand first before moving it towards Nate. "I'm Andrew."
Nate squeezed his palm against his and inhaled a sharp breath, feeling a sudden static attraction and goosebumps formed on his skin. It almost felt tingly when he pulled apart, his lips turning into a smile as he introduced himself, "I'm Nate."
"He wanted to thank you for the drink," Tyler grinned, patting Nate's chest. Neither of them even turned to look at her, as if they were both enthralled in one another's gaze that they couldn't pull away for a moment.
It took a few seconds but Andrew's smirk lengthened. "Is that so? I hope you like it, I wouldn't want to get you a drink that you hate."
Nate slowly nodded his head, feeling a bit more comfortable to proceed alone. "Yeah, it's decent."
This man seemed to be an athlete, his broadened shoulders appearing to be from constant training. He was wearing shorts and his legs had lean muscles, revealing all its muscle fibres from every of his footsteps. He was taller than Nate, almost the height of Dante, and his appearance was charming and relaxing. His jaw was rounded, his nose was cutely stubby and he had adorable dimples piercing his cheeks. Strangely enough, this man also reminded Nate of his ex-boyfriend that he left back in his hometown.
He shook his head; he had enough of thinking about him, he was ready to move on for good.
"How about we go have a chat?"