Going Mad For Maddox

CHAPTER SIX

KODI

SNAKE EYES TATTOO has got to have the most ominous looking sign on this planet. A complete contrast to the boutiques that hugs the parlor. It's dark with shades of forest green while a python with big sharp teeth bites into the letter S.

A bell overhead rings when I enter and a bored looking Demetri looks up from the receptionist desk. His expression visibly changes when he notices it's me and he stands so abruptly files of paper topple over.

"Odi!" He uses that nickname he made for me and grabs the coffees from my hands, "you're a lifesaver in a form of a prettier version of Ryat."

I laugh, sipping on my iced latte when Talon comes down the hall, "that dumbass Kyle is still a no show."

"I told you we should've fired him after the whole ranch incident." Demetri slurps his frappuccino, "this drink is about to make me cum."

"Demetri." Ryat groans, "you don't have to be so fucking crude all the time."

"But if I'm not crude then I'm not that dude." He claps his hands, "I'm a poet. I'm a goddamn poet!"

"No you're not you're just a dumbass." Talon thanks me for the coffee and flips off Demetri on his way back to the office. "And pick up those papers while you're at it!" He shouts, slamming the door behind him.

"What's wrong with rich boy? Did his daddy stop paying for his car payment?"

Ryat eyes Demetri who's already half way done with his drink, "don't be an ass, man. We're two months behind on our payment for this place and this is all Talon has. You know his dad will give him shit if we have to close the shop."

"Why the fuck are we two months behind?"

"Between the constant no shows and having the average four customers a week, we're making nothing."

"Why didn't anyone tell me this?"

"We have, you just have selective hearing."

It's been two weeks since I moved in with the guys and I already feel more at home than I ever did when I was living with my mother. Demetri has become not only a roommate, but a friend. He took interest in baking recently and I've found him wearing my frilly apron on more than one occasion.

Talon on the other hand has been cordial with me and pleasant, but he's more closed off than Demetri. We're able to laugh together until he catches himself having too much fun and quickly leaves the room almost like he's ashamed of himself for showing even a sliver of joy.

I've caught him a couple times snorting white powder off the dining room table, but make no comment of it. People have their vices and their addictions, Talon is smart enough to know what he's doing. I'm not going to start acting like his mother, lecturing him about my disagreement of his substance abuse.

The last roommate and the same one who seems to be avoiding me at all costs has shown not even an ounce of niceties toward me. When Maddox passes me in the halls he makes acute effort to not graze me almost like if he touches me he's afraid he'll catch some terminal disease.

The other night he was blasting hard metal music to the point the floors were vibrating. I tossed and turn for two hours hoping he was going to turn it off and finally call it a night, but he didn't.