The Dreams We Keep - EDITING

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

Theo

I pull in a long drag from my joint, the sweet tang of herb filling my lungs. Exhaling slowly through thinned lips, the smoke curls and drifts up, up, up, into the soft red glow from the decorative blood red sconces and matching chandeliers until it coils and thins out amongst the stone walls and dark wood beamed ceiling. Lolita is for sinners, where the living and dead come together, and is mine and Kasper's preferred refuge.

Wrought iron gates, cathedral stained glass windows, leather furniture, black lace drapes and calaca skeletons adorn the dark and sinister bar. Ever since I can remember, I've had a fascination for the eldritch.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Kasper lifts a questioning brow, watching me from his seat in our rounded corner booth. The bar is packed tonight, like most Friday nights, with a house DJ and scantily clad women and men who've come to drown out their work week in expensive liquor and tasteless one night stands. The monotony of my generation interests me as much as a lobotomy would.

I pass Kasper the joint and grab my glass of Don Julio tequila. Leaning back into the black leather tufted boot, I let the smooth flavors of oak and vanilla wash away today's bullshit before replying with a lackadaisical shrug, "Nothing."

Kasper shoots me a knowing glare before toking the joint and passing it back to me. Smoke billows from his nose like an angry bull. "Don't be like that, T." He finishes his tequila and signals the waitstaff for another. "I've known you for what?--" He quickly and silently tallies the years up, "10 years now? You can't lie to me. I see right through your shit, so try again."

Knowing Kasper since I was 17, two freshmen roommates wreaking havoc at MIT, was a blessing and a curse. The fucker knows everything about me, whether I care to admit it or not.

"Fine." I scrub a hand through my hair, sighing heavily. "I just have a lot on my plate."

"Dude, I get that. But have a little faith." I scoff, rolling my eyes, faith and I never have seen eye to eye. "Billy is one step closer to identifying who was taking the money from our accounts and where it was going. His guys are top notch. We'll have our hands wiped clean of this soon." Kasper tries to instill hope in me, but I find it hard to accept it. Trusting people doesn't come easy, and with a situation as high-stakes as this, I find my lack of control to be excruciating.

A waitress stops at our table, "Hi boys." She purrs as she unloads her tray, placing two fresh glasses of top shelf tequila in front of us.

"Boys?" Kasper cocks his head teasingly to the side, analyzing the woman with long brown hair and bright blue eyes. Her painted red lips tip up into a flirtatious smirk. He leans towards her, twirling a strand of hair between his fingers, "Baby, the things I'm capable of doing are far from boyish."

She practically melts at his words, her eyelashes flutter as she bites down on her lower lip.

"When is your next break, sweetheart?" Kasper implores. Our conversation was long forgotten.

I swallow back a groan, annoyance making my skin crawl. Most nights out with Kasper end up like this. A willing, albeit beautiful, woman falling for Kasper's ridiculous charm and the two of them finding a dark corner together.

"My break is in thirty. Come find me then." She winks at my friend before strutting off.

"Damn." Kasper whistles, watching the girl walk away, her hips swaying and skin tight shorts leaving nothing to the imagination. "Tonight's turning out better than I'd expected."

He turns back to me, taking a sip of his drink as I scowl from across the table. "What?"

"You're fucking ridiculous." I shake my head.