Vince

Thinking

Hannah pushed everyone out of her way to be the first to see it.

"Oh baby I love it, but what is it?"

I turned to let everyone else get a look at it, "It's a bluejay."

I ran my fingers over the gold lettering hanging around my neck. Vince reached out and touched the ink which made me whip around and hold it away from him.

"Don't touch it!"

"Why not?" Vince asked.

"It hurts."

"Oh I'm sorry," Vince said sincerely.

I carefully turned back around so Vince and David could examine it. Vince ghosted his fingers around the red area, apparently needing to touch my skin to know it was real.

"It looks like Laura's," Vince laughed.

"Who's Laura?" David asked.

Vince went silent and I felt like smacking myself in the head. I turned around to try and explain away the mess he created.

"Laura's this woman I met when I was on that trip," I said, acting like that was the whole story.

"Right, your friend had a problem."

"I'm the friend. It was my problem. That's why I know Laura," Vince said carefully.

David pursed his lips while thinking, "I feel like I'm not getting the entire story."

"I slept with her David."

David was at a loss for words. He just nodded and let it go. Hannah looked between me and Vince, slowly making a connection in her head. When her eyes looked over me I nodded to confirm what she was thinking.

A shit eating grin spread over her face. I went back to the artist so he could wrap me up and set me free. Kaleb had start the car and was corralling everyone towards it.

David kissed me goodbye, saying he had some things that needed to be done. I got into the backseat next to Vince and watched as he played with his fingers. Kaleb brought us to some pub and ordered some appetizers while everyone else was looking over a menu.

"So, Rhia, since when did you sleep with women?" Hannah asked.

I locked eyes with her, saying in the most serious voice I could find, "I'm practicing for the day you finally fall in love with me."

Hannah nearly spit out her drink. The appetizers showed up and I started stuffing my mouth so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone else. Hannah noticed but didn't feel like letting me off the hook.

"Vince, did you also sleep with Laura?" Hannah asked.

Kaleb started coughing, grabbing his drink and taking sips to stop the coughing.

Vince looked up from the table and replied, "I did."

Kaleb held his hand to his chest, "And you brought her up in front of Rhia's boyfriend?"

"I'm her boyfriend," Vince growled.

"Neither of you are my boyfriend," I sighed.

"Then what the fuck am I?" Vince asked aggressively. I narrowed my eyes and he calmed himself, "I'm sorry."

"Vince, I want us to be a thing but I want to see if it's even possible before deciding we are a thing. We're just seeing how it goes for now."

The waitress came around and asked for our orders. While she was distracted taking Hannah and Kaleb's order, I whispered in Vince's ear.