Starting Over.

#8 Guys night.

Damon’s POV. 

“Dude, stop stalling and place your bet.” I said annoyed at Blake, he always stalls when we are playing poker. 

“I was just asking if you knew if Malia would be coming.” Blake answered.

“To answer your question, I guess she will be here at some point, seeing as she is kind of staying here at the moment.” I said trying to sound like it didn’t get to me that he asked about her. 

“It’s a shame she has a boyfriend.” Blake sighed. 

“Not anymore.” I catch myself saying before I thought it through.. I don’t need him to know she’s not taken anymore. 

“What?! You are telling me that she’s single and ready to mingle??.” Blake almost yelled out excited.. I felt like tearing him a new one, when Matt interrupted.

“Can we get back to the game, and please?” I was thankful for the change of subject. 

“Yes, let’s get on with it.” I nodded in agreement. This poker night is a monthly thing we do, junk food, snacks, beers and poker, a real guys night. Usually Theo is here too, but he was home for the weekend, so tonight it was just me, Matt and Blake.

We’ve been playing poker for an hour now, Matt winning almost every time like always.

“And I’m out.” Blake said having no chips left to play for. “I’m gonna order the pizzas.” He added getting up and walking away. 

“So how are you really with Malia being here?” Matt asked out of the blue. I didn’t really want to talk about it, to be completely honest I’m kind of confused about the whole thing.. she comes back after 5 years of not seeing her at all, and when I saw her again I feel like I’ve somehow missed her, she looks damn good, better if that’s even possible, she has a boyfriend, then she doesn’t have a boyfriend, then we have mind blowing s*x! I have no clue what to think about it. One thing is for sure, I’m not gonna reject if the opportunity of s*x with her comes again. 

“Fine Dude. So are we just going to the bar again tonight?” I asked in return trying to stay clear of the Malia subject. 

“Can’t we go to a club for once instead?” Blake said coming back through. “Food’s on its way.” He added. 

“A club is fine by me.” I answered shrugging, not really caring where we go as long as I can keep on drinking. 

“If we go to a club, I have to invite Roxy.. you guys know she will kill me if we go to a club and don’t invite her, the whole getting her dance on thing.” Matt said with an eye roll, but his smile gave him away. He was happy to invite her.

“Damn you are whipped.” I chuckled. “But sure, call her.” I added. 

“Ask her to bring some hot friends.” Blake added to the conversation. Making both me and Matt to laugh.

“The friends she has that would be willing to sleep with you, already has. And they are not coming around for round two.” Matt said laughing his ass off, causing a big pout on Blake’s face. 

The door phone rings, that will be the food. 

“...then she came in naked with a freaking snake around her neck. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.” Blake said telling us about his latest conquest. 

“Where the hell do you meet these girls?” Matt asked shaking his head at yet another crazy hookup story from one of his single friends. Just as Blake was starting to answer, the front door opened. 

“Oh hey guys.” I heard Malia saying from the door. All of us saying hi back, Blake staring at her, like he could just eat her. “Well I’m gonna go grab something to eat from the kitchen and take it to Theo’s room, don’t mind me, I’ll get out of your hair.” She said starting to walk away. I didn’t say anything, cause I didn’t really want her joining us when Blake are looking at her like that, and no I’m not jealous, just think it’s annoying. 

“Don’t be silly Malia, we have plenty of food here for you too, come join us.” Matt said gesturing to the pizzas on the table. Gee thanks mate... 

“If you are sure I’m not ruining anything for you guys, that pizza does look really good right now.” She said with a giggle. Blake making a fast move to make room for her on the seat next to his, tapping the space with the palm of his hand, I have to get a grip on myself before I do something stupid, I just ... Matt drags me out of my own head.

“Roxy just texted, she’s down to go clubbing.” He said putting his phone back in his pocket. 

“Great.” I answered and before I could say anything else.

“You should totally come with us to the club.” Blake said to Malia. 

“Well, I don’t know...” Malia said looking at me for some sort of permission. “I don’t wanna ruin your guys night.” She added.

“You are not ruining anything, Roxy is also coming, I know she’ll be happy to see you again.. it’ll be fun, ain’t that right man?” Matt said looking at me, now all eyes were on me, waiting for my answer. 

“Sure, you should come out with us, it’ll be fun.” I said not wanting to go against any of the others, and also I don’t want to hurt her either, and it’s not like I don’t want her to come with us. I really don’t know why this is bothering me this way... 

“... See you guys in a hour or so.” I yelled down the hall before closing the door, we decided to meet at the club, Matt going home to get Roxy, and Blake said something about dancing shoes?? I think? I stopped listening at some point. 

“Damon you ok?” I heard Malia say from behind me. “Huh?” Was all I mustered to get out. 

“You been standing with door close for a couple of minutes there, seeming like you are not really here?” She answered with a little giggle. Guess I zoned out for a second. 

“I’m fine.” I said turning towards her. And before I could say anything else she interrupted me.

“No you’re not.. You are acting totally awkward. I’m sorry maybe I shouldn’t have turned to you for comfort last night and well this morning.. no actually I’m not sorry, it was some really good s*x! And I needed that, it made me feel so much better about .. yeah well everything.. but I guess that’s not totally fair for you.. I just thought that if anyone could handle some casual hook up that would be you.. hell the day I arrived here you came home from a hook up, and after the night at the bar you went with that other chick.” She said looking kind of? Disappointed maybe?? She turned the leave but I caught her wrist and turned her around to face me. 

“Hey look, I’m sorry OK? I didn’t mean to act all awkward around you..” I sighed, taking in a breath to continue.

“To be honest I didn’t know if anything could just be casual between us, ever since I saw you again a couple of days ago I’ve been on edge.. I left you five years ago without even saying goodbye, and I know you had feelings for me and I sure as hell know that I had some for you.. I acted like a total jackass back then and now I don’t know what to say or do.. I haven’t really changed when it comes to women, I still don’t do relationships, I enjoy being my own man, doing what I want to do.. and you deserve better than that.” I looked at her waiting for her response, I kind of thought that she would be mad or something but she just seems to be thinking. It took a couple of seconds for her to reply.

“Do you regret last night?” She asked.

“No, no not at all! Last night and this morning was awesome. But..” she cut me off again.

“No buts.. listen Damon, we’re both single and also adults.. we are not kids anymore that don’t really know what they are doing. I was fully aware of my actions last night, and I regret nothing. Actually I wouldn’t at all protest to that happening again, we have great s*x and from what I remember we also did back in the days.. I’m not looking for a relationship of any sort, I just got out of one for Pete’s sake. So if you want to start acting normal and let me decide what I deserve, then let’s go out and have a fun carefree night at the club.. I’ll go change now, excuse me.” She said turning on her heel going to Theo’s room.. 

Maybe she’s right. Maybe it is possible for us to start over? To forget what happened 5 years ago, get to know each other as who we are now, with a clean slate. To be friends and with any luck maybe friends who sometimes f**k, I sure wouldn’t mind tappin’ that ass again..