Forrest

Chapter 6 When it Rains, it Pours

MEGAN

I feel like a dumb.novelbin

WHAT WAS I thinking? Perhaps, I wasn’t thinking at all. I knew him of being distant, cynical, andcautious, and I was thankful he even joined me for breakfast. The way he looked at me, he probablyhad a lot of questions he wanted to pop, but he chose to keep them all to himself.

Forrest didn’t only intrigue me, but his stares, his charisma, his aura told me something that I couldtrust him, that we somehow understood each other, and that he could keep me safe, but safe fromwhat? From whom? When I should be worried about myself, the way how I acted lately—these wholefiascoes I’d created in the first place.

I looked down at the left side of my abdomen again as Milo rubbed the topical anesthesia. I can doit. There was no turning back, I would get this tattoo no matter what.

I lied down and bit my lip, preparing myself for the pain. I hated needle, but this was one way of facingone of my own fears.

“Relax. This won’t hurt much,” Milo said.

“You’re a terrible liar,” I replied nervously.

He chuckled. “This won’t take long. And I know you’d love it.”

“Just do it.” Then the soft buzzed followed. I jerked at the first hit of the needle into my skin. For afraction of moments, I felt I just freed from my cage—I felt wild. It still hurt though, but it wasn’t closer tothe pain I inflicted. I closed my eyes as they stung with unshed tears.

“He’s a good guy, you know.”

My eyes flew open to his words. “Who are you talking about?”

“Forrest. He may not talk too much, but trust me, he has a huge heart.”

“How do you know him?”

“His Uncle Alan took me in, taught me how to tattoo when he found out I know how to draw.”

“I see.”

“Forrest is a man of a few words. The type of person who acts than talk. He’s a little rough around theedges, but the best guy I’ve ever known.”

“I started to get that. It was my first time to share a meal with him though. We met a few times onweekends with our friends, but we never talked. You should have seen his reaction at the diner.”

He laughed. “Oh, I can imagine, Megan.”

“Sometimes he scared me, intimidated me, and intrigued me at the same time. For a long time, Iwanted to know him better. I just don’t have a gut. I feel like something is holding us back.”

“He doesn’t share too much. Just don’t push him. Let him open up when he feels like to open-up, butbelieve me, I trust him with all my life.”

I wished I could trust him too, but I doubted if he would trust me in return.

“Milo?” I froze at Forrest’s deep voice behind the door followed by a soft knock.

“I have a customer.”

“Is Megan with you?” I bit my lip harder as he mentioned my name. It was like warm honey pouringdown my skin, running down my abdomen, sipping through my thighs—not now. I shook away those

naughty thoughts.

“You’re disturbing us, man. We’re busy.” I could feel the amusement in Milo’s voice.

“Just fucking answer me.” His angry voice wracked me. “Is she in there?”

“Oh, shit! He’s pissed. That’s his different variations of fuck off.” Milo laughed softly. “Come in, man, butyou might not gonna like what you—”

The door swung open and hit the wall, making me startled. I couldn’t find a word to say. It just, my heartwas in galloped. My skin tingled everywhere. I liked and hated this feeling at the same time. Hispresence made the room smaller for the three of us.

I never felt ashamed of myself being half-naked, but with Forrest around, my insecurities got over me,and all I wanted was to ball and cover myself.

“Relax. Believe when I say he’s the ambassador of goodwill.”

With my eyes closed, I could feel the burning stare Forrest was throwing to me. So I answerednonchalantly, “Maybe the anesthesia is wearing off.”

“You’re tense. Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be done before you even realized.”

The chair screeched in front of me. And I didn’t have to open my eyes to see who was in there. I couldeven smell him in a distance.

“I thought you left,” he stated, almost a whisper.

“I thought you too.” I swallowed hard.

“I was with Alan. Why do you wanna get a tattoo?”

“Why did you?” I opened an eye, and I found him staring at me, and I couldn’t just look away. It felt likehe was pulling me into his world the longer I stare at him. Instead of getting scared, it was weird that Iliked it and wanted more. “I like the design you got on your arms.”

He blinked instead of answering and looked at Milo.

“I feel like I should go over my fear. I’m scared of needle.”

“Why now?”

“I thought Milo is the best.”

Milo chuckled. “I did most of his tattoos, especially the one—”

Forrest cleared his throat or more likely groaned, cutting off Milo.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”

His gaze shifted to me for good seconds, and I never broke it until he did so. He crossed his strongtattooed arms over his broad chest, throwing Milo a chilly stare. I wondered what was on his mind rightnow. I wished I was like my mom who could read people’s behavior and emotions. I wanted to breakthrough his outer layer on why it seemed like the world was always weighing on his shoulder.

“Shouldn’t you be at work?”

His question had my gut twisted. “I was fired.”

“Why?” Milo asked.

“A little privacy, Milo.”

“Sorry, man,” Milo muttered.

“My ex-boss was a shameless piece of an ass. He misread me and thought I wanted to bang withanyone has a dick.”

Forrest groaned when Milo laughed. “Filter, Megan.”

I rolled my eyes. My smile was self-deprecating. “Why? Doesn’t everyone look at me like a slut?”

His head snapped at me with a glare. “For god’s sake, woman. What’s gotten into your head?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know me, Forrest. You probably thought—”

“Thought what?” he bellowed.

“Hey, calm down, man,” Milo interjected. “I need to concentrate. Her tat has tiny details, and I can’t dothat of you are snarling over there.”

Forrest huffed before he jerked to stand up and storm out of the room, leaving only a loud bang as heslammed the door shut behind him.

“Damn, that was cold.”

“Great,” I muttered bitterly. “We won’t talk to me again. Ever.”

“He has huge respect over women, Megan. Don’t be too hard on yourself. He’ll get over it andapologize. Just have a little faith for him.” The buzzing stopped.

“Is it done?”

“Yes. Let me put a clean bandage. You just have to keep it clean and dry. I will give you an antibacterialcream. And don’t scratch it, okay?”

“Thanks.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“If it’s about Forrest. Don’t bother.” I stood up from the bed and fixed my shirt.

“Nope. It’s about the date on your tat.”

“Don’t be nosy.”

“Fine. Nice to meet you, Megan.” He extended his hand for a handshake.

I shook it and smiled. “Me, too, Milo.”

“Let me walk you out to your car.” He led me the way outside the shop toward where I parked my car.“You have my number. If you feel to get another tat, just give me a ring.”

As soon as Milo left, disappointment swept over me. I checked my phone. I still didn’t have a messagefrom anyone.

My life had turned to a complete black and white.

***

I woke up from the constant ringing of my doorbell. That couldn’t be Camila, Bianca or Blaine. When Ichecked the clock, it was past eight at night and they were all busy with their family. Well, normalpeople could still be awake at this time, but not me. I’d nowhere to go, no one to talk to, so I decided tosleep all day since I already sent my resumes to all the companies who posted online for job hiring.

Yawning, I dragged my sleepy ass toward the door when the doorbell rang again. “Jeez! Just a minute!”

My sleepiness was thrown out of the window the moment I saw who had the gut to be on my doorstep.

“You’re not lost, are you?” I grabbed the two boxes of pizza before he could offer. I opened the top boxand picked a slice. “My favorite. Thanks.” I took a huge bite and walked to the couch.

I placed the boxes on the coffee table, but I was still alone. When I turned around Forrest was still onthe same spot, seemingly surprised.

I shook my head and smiled. “You’re not a vampire that needs an invitation before you can enter myhouse, are you? And I am certainly not a witch, Forrest.” I gestured my hand. “Come in, please?”

“I have no idea what are you talking about.” Of course, you don’t, you gorgy! He sauntered inside,wandered his magnificent eyes around.

“See something that meets your taste? I am sure your apartment doesn’t look like this. Have a seat. Letme get us something to drink.” I strode toward the kitchen and grabbed two soda from the fridge andtwo bottled water.

When I came back, he was already sitting on the sofa, his jacket was already folded on the armrest.“Milo forgot to give you your cream.”

“Oh, yeah.” He might have done it on purpose. ”I was tired to go to the pharmacy.” Or most likely, Idrained all my strength thinking of what did I do wrong when you just bolted out of the tattoo shop,dumb.

He fished out from his jacket pocket and offered the small box for me.

“Thanks. You don’t have to do that. I am sure you don’t go to your customers when they forgot to—”

“No, I don’t.” Oh, wow! That was fast. Good job, Forrest. Honesty is certainly the best policy.

“And certainly not bringing two boxes of pizza on their door, right?” I put on a faux innocent look.

I swore his eyes glittered, but he remained stoic as he stared at me in silence, jaw clenched as if hewas trying hard not to talk.

“Do you want me to take a plate for you?”

“No.” He took a slice of pizza and ate silently.

The room turned dead silent. All I could hear were our breathing and the rustling of our movements aswe ate our dinner. And I suddenly didn’t know what to say or act. The fact that Forrest was in the livingroom of my freaking apartment was still a shock to me.

I wasn’t ready for this sudden turn of events. It was beyond my expectation that one night he wouldcome knocking on my door, bringing pizza, and sharing his dinner with me because we were not close.What was this? A huge question popped in my head that I wished I knew the answer.

He opened a soda and placed it in front of me, then he opened and sipped the other. He took anotherslice before he could eat it, he stopped and gave me a quizzical look. Of course, I was staring at him allover again. I wouldn’t get tired of it.

I gave him a terse smile. “Thanks for the pizza. Let me guess, this gesture is a peace offering.”

“We didn’t fight, did we? But I was an asshole this morning.”

“Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.”

After I cleaned up the table, Forrest remained in his seat, and I was scared that he might leave rightaway. Since he was already here, I wasn’t ready for him to leave.

“Can we watch a movie?”I smiled impishly. “I mean if you’re not busy.”

“I’m off today.”

“And you don’t have anywhere to go?”

“No.”

I sat back and turned the TV on. “Great. What do you wanna watch?”

“Whatever you want.”

“You don’t mind watching Rom-com or chick-flicks with me?” I raised a brow, and he just shrugged.

“Great.” I felt a little too excited and patted the empty space beside me. I knew it wasn’t a good idea,but I knew Forrest had strong self-control than mine. And I am not his type. Yeah, it was written on thestone a long time ago.

I wasn’t expecting that he would sit beside me though, but again he surprised me, and he was evensitting closer next to me that our skin would touch if we moved a little bit. I chose a romantic comedy onNetflix based on the best-selling novel.

“Would you mind if I ask?”

If I have a boyfriend? I cleared my throat. Get a grip, Megan. ”Shoot.”

“How did you meet your friends?” Wow, that’s odd!

“I met them during our sophomore in college. I was a part-time cashier in a supermarket near thecampus. This douchebag walked in as if he owned the entire city. I saw Bianca flinched. Cam was withher at that time. I’ve known his rep on the campus because I slept with him. I found out Bianca was oneof his victims. So, I stole his phone and posted his—”

“Don’t continue.”

“Why?” I stared at him and he seemed pissed.

“Whatever you did, he deserved it.”

“That’s my man.”