Shoot or lose

4

July 4th - 1995 
New Jersey

Angel

Happy Independence Day. I usually don't celebrate it because, first, I have no one to celebrate with, and second, I find it ridiculous when people paint their faces white, blue, and red and roam the streets hugging the flag. Please, stop embarrassing yourselves and other Americans who have a shred of common sense. Anyway, today though...I got invited to celebrate.

My golden boy, Eric, invited me to dinner at his house, or rather, his mansion. Just the two of us, and of course, the guards, but honestly, I didn't expect much and it turned out to be quite pleasant.

It's been two days since my conversation with the boss where I put a stop to our interactions. After Stephan's terrifying appearance at my workplace, Harry began trying to get closer in his weird way. Since then, fortunately, he's followed my orders to keep his distance.

We still argue, because how wouldn't we? But he's much more tame now, not so up in my business. One thing that hasn't changed, and probably never will, is the constant exchange of looks.

Whenever a man comes to the counter to ask for something, whenever Beka and Lili come to take their break with me, whenever Niall helps me with a drink on a very high shelf, whenever Eric shows up unexpectedly. Always, always, always.

Just yesterday, when we were all leaving the casino after many exhausting hours of work, he was watching our conversation. Niall and Lili were trying to convince Beka and me to go see a new movie that's showing tonight before the fireworks at the drive-in near their house. A typical, boring romantic comedy just like all the others. Clueless, I think it's called.

Call me a hater, but romantic comedies are not my thing at all; I'd rather gouge out my eyes with my own acrylic nails than watch one. The nausea is real. However, there's nothing my two favorite blondes could ask me to do that I wouldn't, so after dinner with Eric, he stopped at each of their houses, even Niall's, to pick them up, and we all went to the drive-in together.

"What lip gloss is that? It's so shiny," Lilith asks, her gaze fixed on Rebekah's plump, red lips.

Rebekah rolls her eyes playfully. "You don't have to play innocent, Lili. I know you're dying to try some."

Lilith widens her eyes and nods eagerly. "Can I?"

"Sure thing, honeybuns," Beka puckers her lips and in a flash, Lili presses hers against Beka's, pressing firmly to ensure the lip gloss transfers to her own lips.

I chuckle quietly when I hear Eric gulp; he's not accustomed with the fact that we share a huge sense of intimacy.

Niall, from the front seat, observes them through the rearview mirror. "And then you wonder why guys think you two are a lesbian couple."

"It's a good way to keep them off our backs and save me from wrinkles," Beka retorts with sass.

"Don't be so sure," I interject, feigning concern and pointing at her face.

Her smug grin quickly fades, and she retrieves a hand mirror to inspect her face. "What? Where?"

I chuckle softly, shrugging. "Just fucking with you."

She breathes a sigh of relief. "Not funny. I've even cut down on carbs to avoid them."

"Is that a thing?" Lilith asks with a curious squint.

Niall chuckles at Lilith's naivety. "Lilith...darling, do you know anyone who loves to make things up more than Beka?"

"I'm not making it up, read some books, you loser," she sticks out her tongue, along with the flip of the middle finger, while Niall just shakes his head in disbelief.