Love, Ally by Hannah Gray
twenty
Ally
It’s been a week since Cole and I went to dinner with Matt and Jenn. A week since they told me to not tell him that they’d paid for Cole to live with them. A week since we had some really hot sex in a staff-only room at the restaurant. So, in other words, a week ago was a shitstorm.
How we got away with banging in a locked room before returning for some dessert, all like, “We’ll have the tiramisu, please,” like we hadn’t just banged on a damn table minutes before, I have no idea. Either Matt and Jenn are great actors or they really had no idea what we’d disappeared to do. Either way, I don’t really care. It was worth it. There was just something so thrilling about doing that in such a forbidden place. I sort of want to make it a weekly occurrence.
Cole and I have always had a hard time with keeping our hands off of each other, and at the restaurant was no exception. I can’t resist him. And lately, it’s as if we’re making up for lost time and have turned into damn bunnies.
Oddly enough, a voice inside of me is telling me that Jenn and Matt aren’t the bad guys. I have this strange feeling, like whatever they did, they did it for a reason. I also think that maybe, just maybe, more is to come. It seemed like they desperately needed me to keep this secret for just a little longer. And even though it means keeping more secrets from Cole, call me crazy, but I plan to do just that. I can tell he enjoys having them around. Not that I can blame him. It’s nice to have someone—anyone—after years of radio silence from any parental figure. I think it’s that void that you feel when you experience a thing like your parents not wanting you. You just want someone to care. To see you. To acknowledge you’re there.
Their words filter through my mind over and over. “We wanted you too, Ally.”
I think of how differently things would have turned out if only Marion and Dave had let them take me. I can’t seem to find a motive for why they wouldn’t have.
I have other secrets I’m keeping from Cole too. Just keep adding them to my list.This bomb I’m going to have to eventually drop on him, I’m afraid it will fuck up his line of vision. And if I know Cole, he’ll want to hurt anyone and everyone who hurt me. I can’t let him do that. It will tarnish his name and ruin his future. I love him too much for that to happen.
But Cole can be as stubborn as they come, and I’m afraid no matter what I say, he won’t listen.
“Do you have to work tonight?” Sloane asks while curling her hair.
“Nope, first weekend off in a while.”
I’m a little bummed. I like making the cash. But it’s been slower than usual, so Lenny only wanted either me or Carla on. And since she is the one with three mouths to feed at home, I told her she could have the shift if she wanted it.
“There’s an open mic night at the bar in town. I hear they never even card. Can we go? Please?” She sticks her lip out. “I really want to hear you sing.”
“Depends. Are you going to sing too?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Girl, my voice is shit. But if it gets you up on that stage, you bet your ass I will.”
Clapping my hands, I jump up to change, actually excited to sing in front of people. It’s been a while. “Let’s do it.”
Rushing over to our mini fridge, she pulls out a six-pack of Smirnoff Ice. “We’ll Uber over. Let’s get buzzed first. That way, I don’t freeze up onstage.” Taking one of the bottles from the pack, she giggles. “A few of these babies, and I’ll be singing so loud that you’ll need earplugs. You’ll probably pretend like you don’t even know me.”
“You’ll do just fine, I’m sure,” I assure her before looking at her drink selection. Wrinkling my nose, I push past her and grab my new bottle of Crown Royal Peach. “I can’t drink that shit, but I’ll take a few shots of this.” Looking it over, I frown. “Besides, to sing in front of people again, I’m going to need something stronger than your bitch drinks.”
“Hey! These are yummy!” she whines.
“Different strokes for different folks.” I shrug. “Drink up!” I say, pointing to her bottle. “We’ve got singing to do.”