Beautiful Misery (The Beautiful Series) Page 3

  Lying back, I crossed my arms behind my head and stared at the plain white ceiling. I had three weeks to get this place in shape and have it ready for opening night and Evie’s birthday.

  I had a lot to do in those three weeks. First thing, building a deck over-looking the ocean and the large piece of beach I now owned. Jenna and I had it all planned out. With or without her I would bring our childhood dream to life. This place would be turned into an oasis of ocean.

  “Gage? You here bro?” Dylan’s voice carried in through the open door.

  “Inside.”

  I closed my eyes and heard Dylan’s heavy footsteps getting closer.

  “Why the hell you layin’ on the floor like a two year old? Shit, are you drunk already? It’s barely noon asswipe.” His voice raising with anger.

  Dylan may be five years younger than me but these days he was just as big as I was with a go-to-hell attitude and a no filter mouth. The kid was badass, even if he was my little brother. He had been by my side since Jenna walked away from me. He had sat and listened to me night after night. He had watched me go through woman after woman. He had watched me drink my weight in alcohol. He was a pain in the ass but I was thankful my brother had been around.

  Keeping my eyes shut I tilted my head in the direction I heard Dylan’s voice coming from. “Chill. I’m just thinking,” I said.

  “About…” Dylan trailed off.

  “The bar.” I opened my eyes and sat up, leaning back on my arms.

  I could see Dylan visibly relax as he took a few steps toward me. “This place is pretty kickass. I’m proud of you.”

  My brother has told me a lot and said many things to me but he has never told me he was proud.

  “Thanks, man,” I said, a little shocked.

  Dylan grabbed two chairs from a table off to the side of the dance floor and brought them to where I was sitting on the floor. “Get your ass up and sit in a damn chair.”

  Using the chair, I pushed myself off the floor and fell back into the cheap wooden chair.

  Note to self: order comfortable chairs for this place.

  “I know you have always wanted to own this place and play in the NFL. You worked your ass off and you are the top quarterback in the league. Now you can add business owner on top of that. Pretty damn good for only being twenty three.”

  Shrugging I said, “I guess. It would be better if I had someone to share it with. This being alone shit is for the birds.”

  “Man, she’s gone. She’s happy. When will you realize that? Sitting around being depressed and feeling sorry for yourself is doing nothing.” My brother slapped my shoulder and continued, “If I was in your shoes I would be living it up and embracing the lifestyle you have. You’re only twenty three and sitting on top of the world. It’s not your time to settle down and be a family man yet. Maybe in ten years but not now. One day you will find that girl that will make you realize Jenna wasn’t –holding his hands up he air quoted- “the one” you thought she was. There is a girl out there for you, relax. You have plenty of time to find her. Until then have fun trying them out.” Dylan stood from his chair and shoved it back across the floor before walking out the door.

  I wish I could believe him. I wish he was right. But, he wasn’t. There wasn’t another girl out there for me. Jenna was the one, my only. No other girl could ever compare to her. Why even try? My life had become one night after another of drinking too much and waking up to another girl I wouldn’t remember the following night.

  Yeah, I’m on top of the fuckin’ world.

  “You’re really going to paint the walls dark grey? Won’t that make it dark in here?” My mom asked, her face scrunched up.

  Exhaling loudly, I said, “Yes, mom. But, you will see very little of the wall.” I held up a round blue light and placed it on the wall. “These will be coming down the wall. I have blue and green lights and these moss ball looking things to put sporadically on the wall. Don’t worry mom. It will look good. Jenna and I have had this planned out since we were twelve.”

  Pursing her lips my mom slowly nodded. “If you say so. It sounds like it’s going to be a hot mess. Maybe you should take some advice from your mom. You and Jenna were just little kids when you had all these plans. Maybe you should change it up. You need to stop letting her have so much control.”

  How the…? How did my mom just turn this into some damn therapy session?

  Speaking through clenched teeth I said in staccato, “Mom. I’m. Doing. This. Not. You.” Grabbing the dark grey paint I walked to the opposite wall. “This has been the plan for over ten years and that’s how it will be.”

  Tapping her stiletto covered foot my mom huffed. “Fine then. Do what you want, this is your place. But, when it comes out looking ridiculous don’t come asking me for help.”

  My mom and I had never had a great relationship and I didn’t expect her to love this idea but she could at least respect it. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask for anything. And you’re right this is my place. Key word being, my. I will do what I want and if you don’t like it then don’t come. This is something I planned out with someone I love and I plan on carrying that out. I want her to walk in here and see that I never forgot what we planned. So, if you would excuse me I have painting to do.”

  Yanking her purse off the chair she turned and stomped away. “I wish you the best on this place, I really do. But, Gage, I think you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons. It won’t make her come back to you.” My mom pushed the door open and walked out.

  I wasn’t doing this for the wrong reasons. I was doing this because it had been my dream since I was little. I knew I wouldn’t get Jenna back. She told me herself she didn’t love me like I love her. Maybe one day, eventually I would accept that. Until then I would throw myself into my bar and football.

  I spent all day painting all the walls grey. When I was just about finished Dylan came walking in.

  Grabbing a paint brush he asked, “Need some help?”

  Shaking my head I said, “Nah. Almost finished. What do you think?”

  Dylan stepped back, looking around he said, “It’s dark but I like it. You’re still putting those light on the wall, right? I think that will look badass. Especially when you add in those moss ball do-dads.”

  Pointing to the boxes stacked in the corner I said, “Yep. Just have to paint the ceiling silver then I can hang the lights on the walls. I found the hanging glass beads for the ceiling. Once I replace the normal lights with the light blue once it will look like water is hanging from the ceiling.”

  “Your ideas sound crazy but I think I like them.” Dylan dropped his paint brush on a chair and grabbed the silver paint. “Got a ladder here or should I just use a chair?”

  “In the kitchen.”

  We spent the night in comfortable silence painting. It was nice having my brother by my side. For the first time in a long time I didn’t feel so alone.

  “So you’re putting saltwater aquariums on the floor. How does that work? Doesn’t that require a filter?” Dylan stood staring at the large rectangular glass aquarium on the floor.

  “It will all be under the floor. Since the building is on stilts I can do a lot more with very little demo needed. I always wanted aquariums in the wall but then I thought of this idea. They would serve more than one purpose. Great conversation starter, could be used as a table, and easy decoration.”

  The place was coming together. The walls were painted with the lights and moss on them. The ceiling was silver and the small glass beads were hanging from it. Dylan and I had the light gray leather benches in place and screwed down. We had spent the morning putting the metallic tiles on the wall and setting up the tall bar tables.

  With only one week left before opening night I was feeling the stress. I still had so much to do. I never expected Dylan to step in and help me like he has.

  Shrugging Dylan said, “It will be unique. Never seen an aquarium on the floor before.”

  “I want this place to
feel like an ocean oasis. I had to have fish, somehow. After we get these all setup I have a guy from Saltwater Sandy’s coming out to get the water and fish setup. He said after he got everything going it would be simple to take care of.”

  Dylan was starting to bend over when he suddenly stood straight and said, “Shit! What about the staff? You have been so busy getting the place ready you forgot about hiring people.”

  I tried to hide my laugh when I said, “Got it covered. I hired a manager right after I got back from New York. She has been filling positions the past few weeks. I met with her the other day and all that’s left is two bartending positions. She said she had a few applications to look at and would hopefully have those spots filled by this weekend. Don’t worry little brother, I have thought of everything.”

  Dylan laughed. “You really are superman, aren’t you?”

  “Not quite. Now let’s get this finished. We still have a lot to do. Including naming this place.”

  Smirking, he said, “Well…I have been thinking about that. What do you think about Wet Spot?”

  I was still half bent over when I busted out laughing. “You know what? I think I like it. Sounds sexual.”

  “Uh huh.” Dylan helped me carry the last aquarium across the floor and sit it in place.

  “Wet Spot. That’s the name. While the guy from Saltwater Sandy’s is here I’m going to drive over to the tee shirt printing place and have them make up shirts for the staff. I was thinking black shirts with silver writing. Think that would look good?”

  Squinting his eyes a little Dylan was silent for a minute before saying, “As long as the girls have tight shirts I couldn’t give two shits what they look like.”

  Rolling my eyes I said, “Simmer down. I’m going to call the guy to come out with the fish then run across town. While I’m gone will you set the barstools along the bar and bar tables? Then tonight we can set the silver tables by the benches.”

  “Yep. Go call fish man and get your shirts ordered. I can setup a few stools.”

  By the time I returned to my bar Dylan had the stools in place and had a few of his buddies helping him set the silver tables up.

  “Gage Goddamn Tucker.” Dylan’s best friend, Hunter came walking across the bar.

  “Hunter Shithead Landry.” I smiled as he came in for a hug.

  “Your joint is looking sharp.” Hunter stepped back and looked at the now working aquarium.

  “Thanks. I couldn’t have done all this without Dylan. Who knew my fuckoff brother could work so hard,” I joked.

  Dylan flipped me off before lifting a table with another friend. After they sat it on the floor Dylan said, “You going to stand there and gawk or is your ass going to help?”

  “I figured you little ladies could use the extra workout. I have some other shit to do.”

  As I made my way down the hall to my office I heard Dylan say, “Suck dick, brother.”

  I spent an hour arranging my office. Grabbing a box labeled pictures I opened it. Sitting on top was a picture of Jenna and me from my NFL draft. She had her arms wrapped around me and to anyone she looked happy, but I could see the emptiness in her eyes. She tried to be happy for me. She tried to love me. But, she couldn’t. The diamond on her finger caught my eye. She had her hand placed on my chest. Seeing this picture had my chest burning. I sat it to the side and grabbed the next picture. It was a picture of Evie and me. She was curled up in my lap, both of us asleep. That could be my life. I could have had Evie curled up with me every night if I hadn’t talked to Larkin. Why did I have to be the bigger person and give him a chance? I knew Jenna was in love with him. Of course she would choose him. I made my own bed and now I had to sleep in it. Alone.

  I went through the last few boxes and ordered pizza before I walked back to the main room. I found Dylan and his friends setting the silver ice buckets on the tables with the white candles.

  “Damn.”

  All the boys stopped what they were doing and looked at me. Hunter asked, “Everything ok?”

  Looking around I said, “I guess I just had an ‘oh shit this is real’ moment. It is looking just like I had imagined.”

  Dylan smiled. “You’ve busted your ass bro, you deserve it.”

  “I guess.” I shrugged it off and went on, “I ordered pizza for everyone. Should be here in about a half an hour.”

  “Knock knock. We brought the party.” I turned to see girl after girl walking through the door. There was a few guys who followed them in.

  Who the hell were they?

  Turning back I looked at Dylan who lifted a shoulder. “We worked hard. We wanted a little fun.”

  “You are so lucky I’m not a prick. And, they are fuckin’ hot.”

  The girl who walked in first went straight to Hunter and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Hunter had a huge smile on his face when he said, “Hey baby. I missed you.”

  Damn kid was eighteen and I was jealous of him. Fucker.

  Looking back I saw Jenna’s little sister standing off to the side with another girl. Mac couldn’t take her eyes off of Dylan. She had grown into a beautiful girl, looking so much like Jenna.

  I looked over at Dylan and saw him talking to one of his friends but his eyes kept wondering to Mac. Those two had been playing games with each other since junior high. I wish one of them would just grow a pair and tell the other how they felt.

  Damn kids these days.

  What the fuck? Was I sixty? Damn kids these days, really?

  Shaking my head I walked over to Dylan. “Time you dickup and talk to Mac. You two have been driving each other crazy for years.”

  Dylan looked over at Mac who was talking to her friend, her head thrown back in laughter. “I’ve tried. She said she doesn’t want a relationship. She’s focused on getting into college. I tried telling her I wasn’t looking for anything serious. Just friends with benefits sorta thing. She got pissed and hasn’t talked to me since.”

  “Well no fuck. Why the hell would you tell her that? Even if you were thinking it, you keep that shit to yourself.”

  “At least I was honest.”

  Snorting I said, “Yeah. That worked out real well for you, didn’t it?”

  Both Dylan and I were looking at Mac when her eyes flashed in our direction. Her cheeks instantly turned pink and she ducked her head.

  “She’s a virgin.”

  Choking on my saliva I coughed out, “How the hell do you know that?”

  Dylan spoke as if I should already know the answer. “Girls in school are sluts. Mac isn’t like that. Many of us have tried and we all got turned down. I mean, I guess that’s cool. I couldn’t do it but whatever.”

  “Good for her. Maybe you could learn something.”

  Dylan laughed. “Nope. I like the pussy too much. But mark my words, I will fuck her one day. And, I will be her first.”

  “You are one fucked up guy, Dyl.”

  “Gage, this is Melody. My girlfriend’s older sister.” Hunter motioned to my side before turning and strutting away.

  To my left was a gorgeous auburn haired girl. “What’s up?” I lifted my chin and gave her a smile.

  “Hunter told me you play football.”

  Sonuva bitch. She wasn’t very bright. Perfect. Just what I needed. Another brainless piece of ass. I’m sure that’s all she wanted so she could run off and tell her friends she slept with me.

  “Yep.”

  Dylan clapped my shoulder, “I’m going to go grab sodas from the kitchen. You have fun with this one.”

  Tipping my head I smirked, “Thanks, cock jockey.”

  “He also said you liked the ladies.” She ran her hand over my arm.

  “Yep.”

  “Well you’re in luck. I’m a lady.”

  I was used to girls being easy and throwing themselves at me but shit, she was a whole new breed. This girl was pathetic.

  What the hell. I needed something to stick my dick in to clear my head. It had been weeks since
I had gotten any ass. Here was my chance. She was more than willing. Pretty sure if I told her to bend over right here in the middle of everyone, she would.

  “No shit.” I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. I could take her to my office. No. She was more the bathroom quickie. “Follow me.”

  I started walking toward the bathrooms and heard her heels clinking on the floor behind me. Fuckin’ knew it.

  Pushing open the ladies bathroom door I let her walk in before shutting it and locking it.

  “Pull your dress up and bend over,” I ordered as I undid my khaki shorts.

  She giggled. Even her giggle was annoying. “Oh, Gage. I want you to fuck me. I want it hard. Play with my titties.” She pulled the front of her strapless dress down, revealing full tits. She reached up and rubbed her nipples to hard points.

  Bitch was crazy.

  “I don’t do touchy feely shit. I said pull your dress up and bend over. I just want to fuck. I get off then you can tell all your friends you fucked me. We both get what we want.

  She yanked the top of her dress up and pouted. “Fine.” Turning around she lifted the back of her dress and bent over, grabbing the counter.

  I pulled a condom from my wallet and slid it on before sliding into her and letting the world fade away. Forgetting all my worries and pain.

  4

  Cobie

  Pulling my rental car into the packed parking lot I found a parking spot. Looking into the mirror on the visor I ran another coat of pink lip gloss over my lips and used my fingers to run through my hair.

  Stepping out of the car I could hear music coming from inside the building, but what really had my attention was the gorgeous sun setting on the ocean. Jenna wasn’t kidding when she said Gage’s bar was on the beach. Running my hands down my light purple halter dress I took a deep breath and walked up the steps to the doors going into the bar. I stopped just inside the door when I saw a few people I recognized from Jenna and Larkin’s wedding.