Love to Hate You

Chapter 4

EZRA'S POV
It has been a week since I started working with Jasper. He's been acting pretty normal. Watching him flirt with the customers is annoying but I can't deny he's actually good at it. His looks definitely help. God, he's so hot. It should be illegal to look that good. While my mind is occupied with all things Jasper, I drive my bike to the barber shop. I need a haircut. My eyes can't see a damn thing with the length of my hair in the way. I enter the small business and a bell rings.
"How can I help you??" One of the barbers said. "Hi, I need a hair cut." I replied.
The guy smiles and points to the chair at his station. I take a seat.
"Do you want it all chopped off or are you looking for a trim?? I mean your bangs reach your nose."
"I want the back and sides shaved down and the top long."
He nodded and a few minutes later I was done. I ran my fingers through my straight, black hair and pushed the strands messily to the side. Just as I was paying the barber, my phone vibrated. It's a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: Sober friend needed. Offer still good??
I immediately know that it's Jasper. I get excited and reply.
Ezra: Yeah. Where are you?? I'll come get you.
Jasper: Meet me at the coffee shop.
There are a ridiculous amount of coffee shops in this town but I somehow know exactly which one he's talking about. The place I first set my eyes on him, while he flirted with the cashier.
It doesn't take me long to get there. Once I open the glass door, I spot him in the corner sitting at a table. He looks up and we make eye contact. His eyes widen and his cheeks turn pink. I smile and walk over to him.
"Hey." I greet him as I sit across from him.
"Um, Hi. I mean hey." He says nervously.
Is he being shy?? I stifle a chuckle but I can't help the smile on my face.
"I didn't think you'd actually contact me. I thought you took my number just to be nice."
"Yeah. Well, I get drunk and do stupid shit all the time. Don't feel too special." He said. I laugh. "Ok. I'll try real hard not to feel too special, Jas."
His face scrunched up. "Jas?? That's an awful nickname. Don't call me that."
"Oh, well in that case, you're stuck with it."
"Alright. Fine. Then I'll start calling you E. You've been reduced to a single letter."
Was that supposed to upset me?? I kinda like this childish banter.
"My very own nickname?? I'm starting to feel special, Jas. You should be careful." I chuckled. Jasper rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "You're impossible. I'm done. I'm too drunk for this shit." He grumbles as he gets up from his seat. I follow behind him.
"Where are you going??" I asked.
"Home."
I quickly realize that Jasper lives across the street and around the corner from the coffee shop. Convenient. He stumbles a few times. I grab his arm and put it around my shoulder, to help him go up the stairs of the apartment complex. He tenses up and I can feel his nervousness at how close we are but he allows me to help him anyway. He pulls his keys out of his pocket but they fall out of his hands. So, I picked them up and unlocked his door.
"Alright. I'm fine. You can let me go now." He said. I respect his boundaries and let him go. I look around his apartment. It's so clean.
"Cool place." I compliment. He stumbles his way to his couch and drops himself on it.
"Cool haircut." He replies. I instantly smile.
"I'm feeling special again, Jas. You're doing it intentionally." I tease.
"In your dreams, Ezra."
"Dreams come true."
Jasper turns his head to glare at me. I chuckle. I can't help but look at his blue eyes. They're beautiful. He's beautiful.
"Stop looking at me like that." He says. I look at him innocently.
"Look at you like what??"
"Like you're in love with me. I'm not into that gay shit." He spits out. The disgust on his face hurts but I remain cool, calm and collected.
"I'm not looking at you in any particular way. Maybe you are a little too drunk, Jas." I smirk.
"You're right. I need to sleep this off before work. Thanks for coming." On that note, I left his apartment and headed towards my motorcycle. Already excited to see Jasper later on at work.

JASPER'S POV
I walk in at the club and everyone greets me.
"Jasper!! You made it on time!!" Marcus said.
"Ha ha. Fuck you, Marcus. I'm never late. You just arrive too early." He claps me on the back and laughs. I get behind the counter of the bar. Ezra is already here. Almost forgot about his new haircut. It looks good. I'm not blind. It doesn't mean anything. Just a cool haircut. I can see the customers don't fail to flirt with him and he never fails to shoot them down. Which only makes him more desirable somehow to these desperate people. I make drinks and hand them out. I smirk, I flex my biceps and I show off. Do a few tricks and wink at all the girls. My tip jar is always full.
"Hey, Ezra. Come check this shit out!!" Marcus approaches Ezra with his phone in his hand to show him something.
"What is it??" Ezra asked.
"Look, look, look. Isn't she great?!" Marcus shows him his screen. Ezra shrugs.
"Eh, Not my type."
"The fuck you mean 'not my type'?! She's hot as fuck!!" Marcus said.
"What's going on over here??" I said. Even though I was clearly eavesdropping.
"Ezra, doesn't think this girl is hot!! Unbelievable!!" Marcus explained.
"I never said she wasn't hot. She's clearly not ugly. I just wouldn't be interested." Ezra clarified.
I take a look at Marcus' phone. The woman is a damn supermodel. What isn't there to like??
"Wouldn't be interested?? What kind of girl would interest you, E??" I question. Marcus looks at Ezra waiting for him to answer my question. Ezra smirks like the question amused him. "There isn't a woman alive that could interest me." He said, his smile never fading from his face. He's gay. I knew it. I mean the guy was so calm about cuddling in his bed. Of course, he's gay. Marcus' jaw drops.
"You like men?! No fucking way. I don't believe you." Marcus said.
"Why not??" Ezra asked.
"I mean look at you!! You look and act like a straight male!!"
Ezra just laughs. "Why?? Because I'm not flamboyant and saying 'yass queen' every two seconds?? I didn't expect you to believe in stereotypes, Marcus. I don't have to be feminine to like men."
"Oh. Well, I didn't mean anything by it. I support your community. No big deal." Marcus claps Ezra on the back. Ezra just chuckles. I'm too busy trying to wrap my mind around Ezra being gay.
"Ok. So, what kind of guys do you like??" I blurt out. Ezra smirks and drags his eyes up and down my body. Then he bites his lip seductively before saying, "Wouldn't you like to know." The action left my throat feeling dry. I was flustered. My heart started beating fast. What the fuck is wrong with me?? Marcus just laughs.
"Damn! You have to teach me to do that! Look at Jasper all red!!"
"Fuck you, Marcus." I flip him off and go back to work. I plaster a friendly smile and continue to make drinks.
A few hours later my shift is over and I know I shouldn't be drinking again but it beats going home right now. I want to have fun. Let loose. The dance club was crowded. The music is blaring. The DJ keeps it upbeat. I've got a brunette in one arm and a blonde in the other. They both want to fuck me. That sounds like a good time to me. I keep the drinks coming. I laugh. They laugh. We dance. I don't regret a thing. Nothing matters in this moment.
"Come on, baby. I'm not wearing any underwear." The blonde shouts in my ear over the loud music. I smile and nod. The brunette grabs my left hand and the blonde grabs my right hand, they drag me outside. I get into a car. I'm not sure who it belongs to or where I'm going but I don't care. The blonde kisses my neck. The brunette rubs my crotch. Then the car stops in front of a building. A hotel?? I don't know. I follow these women to an elevator. The whole time, they're touching me. Ding! The elevator opens and we stumble out. I blink and we're inside a room. I'm on a bed. It feels like a cloud. The blonde takes my shirt off. Hands. So many hands touching my chest. It feels nice. The brunette attempts to unbutton my pants but fails. I smirk at her and unbutton them myself. For whatever reason, I momentarily think of Ezra. The way he bit his lip and smirked at me. My heart starts to beat fast again. What the fuck am I thinking about him for?? I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't even realized my pants being dragged down my legs and bunched up around my ankles. I smile and keep entertaining these girls. Again, Ezra comes to my mind. I'm not having fun anymore. I feel nauseous. I abruptly get up and pull my pants back up.
"Where are you going??" The brunette whines.
"Sorry. I have to go." I said.
"But we were having fun." The blonde said. I look at her breasts. Those are nice but no, thank you. I pick up my shirt off the floor. I take my phone out of my pocket and like the crazy person I am, I call Ezra. Because why not??
I stumble out the door and walk down the hallway.
"Hello??" A very sleepy voice answers.
"How mad would you be if I showed up at your apartment drunk right now??"
I hear rustling and a brief silence.
"Jasper??"
"I'm coming over." I replied and then hung up.
I don't know how I made it but next thing I know, I'm knocking on his door. He opens the door and looks at me.
"I'm starting to think you're an alcoholic, Jas." He supports my weight and kicks the door shut. I smile. I don't know why. I just do. I notice  Ezra is shirtless. His skin isn't bare. He has tattoos covering his body. He lays me down on his bed and begins to take my shoes off.
"Hi." I greeted him. Ezra stops what he's doing and looks up at me.
"Hi, Jasper. Go to sleep. We'll talk in the morning." He said and then continued to take my shoes off. Once he's done, he tries to leave but I quickly grab his hand to stop him.
"I hate being alone." I confess. Ezra nods in understanding. He climbs into the other side of the bed.
"I'm right here." He whispers. I'm comforted by his words and close my eyes.