Learning to Forgive (The Learning Series) by R.D. Cole

wrist and forearm, and I take in every millimeter of skin. Her softness is amazing and something I’ve never noticed before in any female.
    I turn my body to face her and tighten my hold just enough to make her eyes flinch. “Not until you learn some manners and bring me my beer nicely.” I look in her eyes that stand out against her pale skin and red hair, wondering what the hell I’m doing? I have no fucking clue, but I can’t seem to control my temper around this chick. She tries to give me her meanest look, but she doesn’t scare me. She might act like a bitch, but I’m sure it’s a front. I’m also sure she’s an attention hog needing everyone’s eyes on her like most of these girls. She’ll probably blame her anger on daddy issues.
    “Don’t take it personally, but I don’t do nice.”
    “Well, that’s a shame. You’d be downright pretty if you occasionally smiled.” What the hell was that?
    She’s just as surprised by my comment because her eyes widen, and she stops pulling and looks at me questionably. After a minute of the awkward stare down, she finally speaks. “You want me to be nice and happy? Then give me my brother’s bike back.”
    Now it’s my turn to be caught off guard, but I’m an expert when it comes to not letting my feelings show. Her words about the bike have one thought surfacing in my mind. This can’t be the sister Ben spoke about. She’s not timid or shy… or sweet looking. But as I search her face, I see it. The similarity is small, but it’s there.
    “What the fuck are you looking at?” While lost in thought, my grip must have loosened because she yanks her arm free and rubs her wrist. “Jesus! You’re the one who needs to learn some damn manners.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about The Demon here. He’s as mean as they come.” Ryan, who I forgot about, scoots around me and stands by Red. “Now me, baby, I’ll be whatever you want. Polite, sweet, kinky… Let me take you out after your shift tonight. I’ll show you how nice I can be.” He wags his brow and gives his best smirk.
    Red tilts her head while narrowing her eyes at him. “I’d rather bath in a gonorrhea-infested hobo’s urine. So fuck off .” She takes her tray and shoves past Ryan while my lips form a smirk that can’t be helped.
    He turns my way, looking like a two-year-old, and she just took his favorite toy. And I guess she did, because pussy is his favorite thing to play with besides his drums. My smile slowly builds into a laugh as I watch his face. I haven’t laughed in years, it seems, and it actually feels pretty damn good. Different, but good. Along with the laughter, I feel relief that she wasn’t affected by his charm.
    Ryan now watches me inquisitively. “What?” I wipe my smile away and down half my beer.
    “You know, I’ve known you for almost two years now, and I’ve never heard you laugh. Not once. And I’m funny as hell. But this chick comes along, and now you're smiling like a fucking Disney character. What the hell is wrong with this town? First Cory starts dating some fuckin’ yee-haw, David keeps fucking moping around, and you’re fucking laughing?” He runs his fingers through his hair while shaking his head. “And to top it off, a chick turned me down. What. The. Fuck.”
    As he continues to vent, my mind goes toward Ben. He always wanted to play in Lyrical Obsessions, and man, he had some serious talent. But he couldn’t stop using. I offered to pay for his ass to go to rehab, but he always refused, saying he was going to get clean on his own because he couldn’t leave his sister. But that’s a song that has been worn out over and over again with addicts. This is the last time. After this bag is gone, I’m done . I know because I’ve been there, and it took some major shit for me to stop. And by major, I mean life changing.
    It’s apparent not even his sister was enough to get him to put down the pipe and needles because he overdosed almost a year ago.