Shattered Love

Chapter 5

Maxten's POV

We boarded the first flight home that we could. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I didn't want to risk seeing any of my family. It had been three days since we got home, and I spent the first day catching up on sleep and after that it was back to my normal routine. Work, workouts, dinner and then bed. I had a pretty boring life. Like now, it was Friday night, and I was sitting in my apartment alone flipping through the television channels. Ian had tried to get me to go out with him and Caleb, but I declined, telling them I had s**t to do, but I didn't.

I got up and grabbed a beer from the fridge and threw the last one I drank in the garbage. I walked back to the living room when I heard my apartment door being thrown open and two sets of boots headed my way. I already knew who it was. I had been in such a funk since we got back. I couldn't get my mind to stop thinking about the girl. Lyla. The way she looked at me the first time we went down into the basement and when we went back. No one should ever have to go through what she did, and I can only imagine what she was feeling in those moments.

"Let's go Maxy Waxy," Ian yelled out. I groaned at the nickname he used. I hated it, and I'm not sure where he came up with it, but I've threatened to kill him several times over it. Apparently, I was going to have to make good on those threats. Sometimes I hated that they lived in the same apartment complex as I did, but it was also nice at times.

I ignored them and went and sat back down on my couch and drank half my beer. "Come on buddy, you've been in a mood since we've gotten back, and we are going to go out and get you out of it."

"Ya we're going to get some drinks, and then we're going to find us some chicks to take home and all will be good," Ian said. This guy was one of the best men I knew when it came to work, but outside of that he was a jackass. We all could be, he was just louder about it. He had no couth about himself.

"I have drinks at home, and I don't bring girls home."

"OK, go to their place, get a hotel, screw her in the parking lot. I really don't care, but let's go," Ian said, and again no couth. The man was also a bit of a w***e. It was going to catch up with him. He was going to either knock someone up or screw the wrong girl.

"Just go get dressed because if I have to hear anymore from him about how badly he needs laid, I might just hire a hooker for him."

"I'm not a fan of hookers. You never know if they are going to give you something or if they are going to take something."

"Please, for the love of God, go get dressed and let's go," Caleb begged.

"Fine, but only to shut you both up," I groaned, knowing they wouldn't leave if I didn't, and I didn't want to hear Ian b***h all night. I chugged down the rest of my beer and went upstairs to my room. I really didn't want to go, but I wasn't left with much of a choice.

I grabbed my favorite boots after I had gotten into jeans and a black t-shirt. I wasn't much on dressing up. I had to do that enough at work. By the time I got back downstairs, Ian was sitting on the couch with his feet up on my coffee table and had a beer in his hands.

"Get your damn feet off my coffee table before you leave dirt prints," I growled at him.

He dragged his feet off the table, leaving a streak across my table. I couldn't handle it and went to the kitchen and grabbed a paper towel and came back wiping it off. Ian was laughing at my neurotic ways, and Caleb was just as irritated as I was, but we had finally managed to get out of the apartment and headed towards our usual nightclub.

As soon as we walked in, we walked up the stairs to our usual table and sat down. I liked it up here because not everyone could come up here, and it was a little quieter than downstairs. It also didn't have the bright flashing lights. A waitress brought over our usual drinks, which tells me that we have been here way too much lately. I grabbed my whiskey and drank half down in one drink. My throat burned, and my eyes watered a little, but it tasted great.

"So, what is your deal?" Caleb asked, since Ian wasn't sitting with us. He was standing at the edge of the balcony that overlooked the entire club. He was scoping out the girls.

"No deal."

"Yes, since we got back from California you've been really quiet, and I don't know, just not yourself."

"No deal." I told him again, and he just nodded, not believing me for a second. This man could read people so easily. It was a trait that I wished I could possess, but it was something that either took years of practice or you were just born being able to do it.

I watched Ian head downstairs and I could tell instantly that he had found something he liked, and it didn't take him long to bring up three girls. I downed the rest of my whiskey and caught the attention of the waitress for more. I watched Caleb as the girls walked into the room with Ian. He was already setting his sights on one of them and, honestly, she didn't stand a chance. None of them really did if one of us wanted them. That was one thing we were good at. Getting women.

"Guys, meet Bridgette," Ian said about the girl that was hanging onto him. "And these are my friends Lexi and Kallie." Bridgette said and Caleb stood up and shook Kallie's hand, making it very clear which one he was interested in. Not that it mattered they were all hot and on any other typical day I would totally be all over Lexi, but all I could think about was Lyla and how she was doing. If she finally got some sleep and is letting her body rest like it needs to.

"So, what do you do for work?" Lexi asked me as she sat down. Bridgette was sitting in Ian's lap, and I gave them ten minutes before they were out of here and Kallie was so close to Caleb that she might as well be sitting in his lap.

"I'm a lawyer," I mumbled, not wanting to talk. Honestly, I didn't want her here, but I wouldn't be rude.

"I could never do that type of work. I don't like speaking in front of people. I'm in business though. I don't love it, but I don't know what else I would do with my life right now. How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-seven," I told her, and she just kept talking. I finally stopped answering her, and it didn't even phase her, she didn't shut up at all. Ian and Bridgette had left the table a while ago and Caleb and Kallie were ready to leave that was for sure. I didn't say a word but got up and left the table. I couldn't do this. I was being rude, and I knew it, but I didn't care.

"Hey, where are you going?" Lexi asked, sounding disappointed.

"Look, you're nice, and you're hot, but I'm not into this tonight. I'm going home, have a nice night," I told her, and walked away from the table. I could hear her gasp as if I had just killed her cat. I could hear Caleb laugh, which then pissed Kallie off, but he couldn't seem to stop. Both girls got up and left, and I paid our tab and by the time I made it out to the car, Caleb was right there with me.

"Home," he asked.

"Yup."

"Those girls were hot but the way she gasped when you told you weren't interested was the funniest shit."

"She was obnoxious. She didn't shut up."

I got in the driver's seat. I shouldn't really be driving, but we were only going a few blocks, so I wasn't worried about it. I just wanted to go home and go to bed. I wasn't in the mood to deal with people at all.

"Want to do something tomorrow?" Caleb asked as we made our way to our apartments.

"No. I want to be left the hell alone for a few days."

He finally got the hint and shut up as well. I felt like a jackass. He was trying to be a good friend, but I was just stuck in my own head about our little trip.