clever as the devil & twice as pretty

“That’s what I figured. Ouch though. Good thing I finished with my set earlier.”

“Maybe rest it for a day or two. And you know what I mean by resting it.”

“Unfortunately, my life isn’t in the city. It’s here.”

“I love the city, despite being there mostly for annoying shit. But hey, you’re opening a new club?”

“Well, I was talking about it and trying to get some mentors and investors. They wanted me to stay another week to discuss but I gave them all my numbers to contact me by and said I couldn’t afford to basically live here for a month and leave my current club unattended. Plus, I’m looking around for a partner to go in to business with.”

“Thank you. I’ll give you an extra big tip with the next one then.” Cooper grinned as he lifted up the drink and knocked it back all at once. “So you have to handle broken bones all the time? That must suck.”

“Keep the tip, I don’t need it.” Adelaide shrugged and leaned against the bar. “Not continuously, no. But last time it was my boyfriends broken nose. Which in my opinion he kind of deserved but that’s neither here nor there.”

“Two weeks in the city? Tell me you got at least one good night in. At Marlowe’s? Somewhere? That stuff’s too good. Man, I miss it.”

“Sadly for me I didn’t. Being in a board room for 12 hours didn’t really put me in the mood for some New York fun.”

“How romantic… you’ve only been home for an hour and you’re already whipping out the mush.” He teased, fixing at his collar and laughing. “Luckily you’re not easily tempted… or maybe you’re just blind and or suffered a brain injury and have yet to realized you’re way too good for me.” Charlie pointed out, his hands moving to wrap around her waist as he smiled. “Speaking of good for me… I’ve decided to start my own landscaping business on the side of working as a groundskeeper. I signed for a loan from the bank last week, made business cards, and was even hired to clean up the cemetery this past weekend.” 

“Oh so I’m the one being too mushy?” Adelaide rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. “I’m aware that I’m way out of your league. But you must have done something right. Perhaps you drugged me without me knowing and I’m under some weird spell now and feel compelled to stick with you no matter what. A business? And you decided to wait until now to tell me this? Charlie you didn’t need to get a loan, I would have helped you with it.”

“You’d rather sleep with this fossil.” He winked, laughing and popping the collar of his flannel as he did. “He’s definitely going to be a ladies man…. have you seen those green eyes? Plus he’s been spouting like a weed.” Charlie pointed out, teasing at the blonde. “Hopefully he won’t steal you away from me.” He leaned down, pecking at her lips sweetly.

“Exactly. It’s right where I intend to be for the rest of my life.” She laughed and rolled her eyes at his silly gesture. “Probably because he actually gets proper meals now.” She pointed out. “If I was so easily tempted to be stolen away from you it would have happened long ago.”

“It wasn’t so bad… we did skype every night but having you in my arms is 10x better.” He smiled, feeling a bit mushy due to all the drama with his friends. He wanted his girlfriend to know how much he missed her. “She’s really nice.. her name is Julia and she’s this redheaded girl in his math class. Also, he’s convinced he has some chin hair now.” 

“I agree. Obviously I do. I would way rather be here with you than having to try and explain business platforms to fossils in suits who expect me to sleep with them in order to get their support. Wasn’t going to happen. We better hope he doesn’t turn out to be the ladies man that his brother is.”

“I missed you too… how was your trip? I’m happy you’re home… Parker has a girlfriend now and I can’t handle it.”

“Boring and long. Too long. I don’t know why it needed to be stretched out over two weeks but anyways, I’m here now. A girlfriend? Not in my house.”

“And here I thought you were simply just avoiding me.”

“Well you aren’t entirely wrong.”

“Oh? You planning to go away for two weeks on vacation?” 

“Without you? I wouldn’t dream of it. I missed you too much.”

@charlie-jfc

“You weren’t home so I picked the lock.” Ryder explained without making eye contact, stilling searching through the person’s draws. “Have you seen my bra?” she asked finally turning around.

“I--” Adelaide has barely been back in Lanford long enough to take her shoes off and there was already a woman in her home. “Picked my lock? Your bra?” Adelaide asked her, confused.

“You came to the right place then. Tough days and broken bones are my specialty.” Adelaide smiled at him from across the bar that she didn’t normally work behind and poured him a stiff drink. “Here, this one’s on the house considering the day you’ve had.”

“Stepped outside only to slip on ice. Fucking ouch. Is it possible to break your ass? It’s a bone, right?”

“Your tailbone is a bone. I don’t know about ass specifically. Isn’t it just part of the back of your pelvis?”