The Hipster Chronicles Read online

  “I’ll take good care of her,” he promised.

  “Good.” She nodded curtly and then turned to walk away, but not before she left us with an invitation and some wise advice. “Have fun, you two. I’ll see you at my Labor Day party in a few weeks. And don’t forget to swallow his oysters and let him eat your cupcake.”

  LABOR DAY WEEKEND in Alabama was stars and stripes, cold beer, and hot dogs. While I still shared the same American soil here in Brooklyn, things were mighty different when it came to celebrating the end of summer and the working class man. Sure, it resembled the same patriotic feel, only citified. Almost everyone wore some form of red, white, and blue—be it an item of clothing or hair dyed to match our country’s colors, but the aura was a far cry from this country boy’s norm and I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it.

  What I didn’t hate was watching Marley work a room, bless her pretty little heart. My girl was hosting this shindig on the rooftop of the tattoo parlor. I was thoroughly impressed with the effort she’d thrown into the party, pulling out all the bells and whistles when it came to hiring friends for entertainment and decorating to the nines.

  A live band Milo knew through his musician connections was set up at the far end of the wide space, tuning guitars and adjusting drum heights. Marley’d rented furniture to stage the area so it felt more like an intimate afternoon in someone’s home rather than an outdoor barbeque. It reminded me a lot of Flask & Folly because of the Edison bulbs and cozy couches, but the bar adjacent to the band seemed to be the focal point of the event. Large wooden barrels served as a base for a long copper slab. Three bartenders manned the top shelf liquor that lined two massive bookshelves behind them. My go-to, however, would be the kegs delivered locally from Interboro Spirits & Ale. Marley and I had been there twice this summer; it was there that I abandoned the basic Bud and became a fan of their Super Bad Pale Ale.

  Every day I became more acquainted with my new surroundings, and every day I felt more at home. I owed much of that to Marley and her eclectic group of friends. We’d spent a lot of time together since that first night she took me home and rocked my world. And I wasn’t letting go any time soon. I planned to make our time together more frequent as the heat of the summer cooled down to welcome my first fall in the city. We didn’t talk much about it, but I thought today might be as good a time as any to let her know how I felt about her. If only she weren’t so damn busy mingling and playing hostess.

  I caught her in a cloud of smoke with Milo, his girl Emmy, and a barista dude she was friends with. The pungent smell of reefer wafted through the warm air, inviting me to join them. I walked closer with our beers in hand and nudged Marley with my hip.

  “Want some?” she asked, releasing the aromatic smoke through her nose.

  I handed her the beer and shook my head, leaning in to kiss her cheek. She nuzzled into my shoulder and kissed me back, accepting that I was high on life and didn’t need an extra push.

  I wasn’t opposed to trying it, but I hadn’t ever felt the urge. Back home it was readily accessible but not as openly flaunted. Here, if you didn’t smoke the good stuff, you’ best not consider yourself a hipster. Marley hated when I referred to her as that, especially when I was catching up with Mama or my sisters over the phone, but there was no denying it. In fact, it was one of the things I liked most about her. We were different in so many ways, yet as connected as a couple who’d been dating for years. Southern charm and bohemian appeal was an unusual mix, but it worked for us. What ain’t broke don’t need fixin’.

  “Darlin’, can I steal you away for a few minutes?” Milo and Emmy were necking like teenagers, and the barista guy—pretty sure his name was Ezra—had just excused himself to greet a new arrival. She was pretty and petite in a floral dress, with thick bangs and dark red lips. Her outfit would easily camouflage the tiny thing from the rest of the crowd, but there was something about her that stood out—an interesting, old-fashioned quality. By the looks of things, however, she was shy as they came, and Ezra would have to walk her into the party one baby step at a time.

  Lacing her hand with mine, Marley pulled me down onto a nearby couch. Once seated, she crossed her leg over mine and staked her claim. “You can steal me away for more than a few minutes. In fact . . .” Her eyes darted around the rooftop, looking for what, I didn’t know. “Wanna sneak into the bathroom for a quickie?”

  A rumble of laughter burst out of me and I clapped my hand on her knee. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that offer, there’ll be plenty of time for that later.”

  “How much later?” She licked her lips, her hooded lids and slow, fluid movements adding to how sexy she looked.

  It took grave control not to sweep her up and toss her over my shoulder, but I was nothing if not a gentleman. Most of the time. “You keep looking at me like that and later’s gonna be now, but I need you to focus for a minute. You think you can do that?” By the way her hands grappled for purchase on my T-shirt, I wasn’t so sure. Luckily, she caught sight of her brother eyeing us and thought better of getting frisky.

  “I’m all ears. Speak to me and make sure you over-enunciate that drawl.”

  I laughed again, my head falling back against the couch. We were as different as day and night, but drawn together by an unwavering curiosity and a smokin’ hot passion. I rubbed my thumb over the top of her hand and she flipped it over so I could trace the lines of her palm. “I’ve been meanin’ to ask you something. For a while now.” I was sure of what I wanted to say, but uncertain how she’d react. We’d only been together a few months. We only recently had the I’m not seeing anyone else, are you? chat. Things were perfect and I didn’t want to screw it up, but I did want to take it a step further. I knew her life, her friends, her family, and her environment. I wanted her to know mine, too. I had a hankering that I needed to feed and there was only one way to do it.

  “What is it, Jasper?” She straightened her posture and fixed attentive eyes on mine. “Is everything okay?”

  I hated that I gave her reason to worry so I reached out to caress her face with a reassuring show of my affection. “It’s more than okay, darlin’. Don’t you think so?”

  She smiled and nodded feverishly. “I do. I really do. I’ve been so happy and I’m usually anything but at the end of summer. I get this weird feeling—like a back to school sensation or something—but not this year. It has to be because of you. Us. I feel like things are just getting started, not coming to an end. Do you feel the same?” She rarely showed vulnerability, but when she did it was sweeter than Mama’s prize winning apple pie.

  “Oh, you betcha. This is just the beginnin’. And that’s why I wanted to tell you, well—why I wanted to ask you—”

  “Wait!” she interrupted, clapping her hand over my mouth. “Before you do something stupid—you’re not doing something stupid, right?”

  I shook my head and chuckled into her hand. Her eyes gauged mine and I guessed she was set at ease by the way I gazed back because she dropped her hand from my mouth. I brought her fingertips back to my lips and kissed each one. God, she made my heart do silly things inside my chest. I’d never felt like this about anyone before. Time to let her know. “You don’t think it’s stupid that I love you and I want you to come back to Alabama with me in a few weeks, do you?” I cocked a grin in anticipation of a girlish squeal, but should’ve known better. There was nothing about my Marley that was predictable or overly frilly. Two more things on the list of things I loved about this city slicker.

  “Did you just—did someone lace this weed?” she shouted to no one in particular. When her question went unanswered save for apathetic shrugs and a few thumbs up, she shook her head in disbelief. “There’s no way I’m hearing right.”

  “You heard right, darlin’, and I know you’re not that stoned, but if you need me to repeat myself, it’ll be my pleasure.”

  Her eyes sparkled with the reflection of an orange and pink sunset. It was a spectacular night and I was sha
ring it with a spectacular woman. I imagined there’d be many more sunsets in our future, both here and back home. “I said, I love you, Marley. I had a mind to tell you a while ago, but I didn’t wanna look too eager,” I chuckled.

  “You love me? You love me?”

  “Yeah, baby. Why’s that so hard to believe?”

  “Because . . . Well, we’re so different.”

  “One of the reasons I’m so drawn to you. I always thought of it as a good thing. Don’t you?”

  “I do. God, do I, but . . .”

  But? Maybe I’d been wrong to assume she felt the same. Maybe I was being too hasty. But this party was not the place to hash it out so I interrupted her before she could continue.

  “I get it. It’s too soon. Forget I said anything for now.” I released the grip on her hand and ran my fingers through my hair.

  “Jasper,” she huffed. “Let me . . . I—”

  PAULINA SPOTTED MARLEY and Jasper talking on a couch in the center of the roof. After setting down the cupcakes she’d baked, we weaved through scattered groups of guests to greet her friend. I followed closely behind because, well, I was her plus one and didn’t really know anyone here.

  “Whoa, slow down. They’re not going anywhere.” I laughed at her childlike enthusiasm. Everything she did was done with fervor. There was no half-assing it with Paulina, and I’d grown to admire that gusto in the last few weeks.

  “Hey, guys!” she sang, plopping next to Marley on the couch.

  “What’s up,” I chimed in, extending a fist to Jasper. He gave me a bro-like pound and nodded his head in salute. Jasper was a cool dude. The four of us had hung out the week before at Skinny Dennis—a honky-tonk bar at Metropolitan and Berry—and while it wasn’t a place I could imagine myself frequenting, the company was great so we had a good time.

  “Oh! Hey, you two.” Marley cleared her throat and shot up from her seat. She brought Paulina in a for a hug and winked at me over her shoulder.

  Jasper remained seated, his eyes never leaving Marley. His jaw ticked as his finger circled the rim of his plastic cup. I sensed tension, but what did I know? I was a newbie to this group—even more so than the newbilly over there—so I played dumb and offered to grab us a few drinks from the bar.

  “Nah, I’m good for now, but thanks.” Jasper raised his cup and took a swig, and then his eyes darted to the table in front of him. “I’m actually in the mood to get a little dazed and confused.” His hand flew to an unlit joint hanging out of a makeshift ashtray. Without much thought, he blazed up and took a long toke, choking up a cloud of smoke. I’m starting to get a complex. What’s with everyone choking in my presence?

  Marley spun around at the sound of her boyfriend’s coughing fit. “Jasper! What are you doing?”

  Both Paulina and I suppressed the laughter threatening to burst at the sight of Jasper’s failed attempt to inhale. Other than the obvious that this had to be his first time burning wood, I didn’t see the problem. More than half of everyone at this party was doing the same thing. But again, I was a newbie and this was none of my business. I preferred to watch on in amusement alongside my adorable lady friend.

  “Relaaaax, Miss Marley.” He crooned, taking another hit, this one less climactic.

  “I am relaxed.” She sat down next to him. “It’s you I’m worried about. Does this have anything to do with—”

  “Why don’t we go get a drink?” I turned away from their whispered conversation to face Paulina.

  “I think that’s a good idea.”

  When we were far enough away from whatever the hell was going on with them, Paulina tucked her hand in mine and leaned her head against my shoulder. “What do you suppose that was all about?”

  “I have no idea. Everything seemed kosher last week. Maybe it’s just a lovers’ spat; maybe it’s the beginning of the end. One can never tell.”

  “Well, isn’t that a charming outlook on love.” Her hand fell from mine and rested atop the bar.

  “I’m sorry,” I offered, flagging down the bartender. We ordered our drinks and then I swiveled to look at my beautiful date. “It kinda just flew from my mouth without thinking. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “That’s usually when people tend to speak the truth.” She tapped her fingernails against the copper-top without making eye contact.

  I didn’t mean to shed my pessimism so freely, but every now and then I allowed my insecurities about Zoe to creep up and get the better of me. Paulina didn’t deserve that, though. She was sweet, uncomplicated, innocent. She’d been a breath of fresh air since we met. Oftentimes I forgot all about my past when I was with her. Thing was, no matter how often those times were, it had only been a few months since I had my heart torn out and stomped on. I imagined it would take a lot longer to fully forget the hurt and not be such a cynic when it came to love, but all of this was too heavy for the here and now. I needed to recapture our carefree vibe. Quick.

  “You know when else people tend to speak the truth? When they’re stoned. Wanna go back to Marley and Jasper and see what secrets they spill?”

  She giggled and glanced over her shoulder toward the couch, but my line of vision stayed put. She was too pretty to look away from. In fact, she was captivating. I wouldn’t be surprised if every sucker in this room was green with envy. She was here with me. In the present. That was all that mattered, and I’d keep reminding myself of that until it stuck.

  “Do you know anyone else here?” I asked, wondering how many of the men eyeing my date were actual threats.

  She quickly scanned the space, but then shrugged. “Some familiar faces, but not really. You?”

  “Not a one. But that’s cool. I like meeting new people; it’s good for business. Wanna mingle?”

  “Sure. Gotta get someone to like those oysters.” She winked as the bartender delivered our drinks. We simultaneously sipped our cocktails, swallowing any discomfort and chasing it with the alcohol.

  The band was jamming out to an acoustic rendition of The Weeknd’s “I Feel It Coming.” I swayed my hips and led Paulina by the hand past a now kissing Marley and Jasper to where people had gathered to dance. Placing our drinks on a nearby table, I took hold of her hands and pulled her into an embrace.

  It was a perfect fit, her small body pressed against mine, her head resting in the crook of my neck. I breathed her in, the scent of lavender shampoo and sweet sugar cookies. Whether she knew it or not, she brought her work home with her and wore it like a perfume. It was a pleasant aroma I associated with the bakery, which no longer held a feeling of dread, but rather one of possibility. I kissed the top of her head as I spun her around, realizing that was an intimate gesture, but letting the moment take me away.

  The singer’s voice was sultry and the jazzy melody soothed me into a contented trance. I hummed along, the lyrics speaking for me in ways I wish I could, but knew I shouldn’t. “I’d sing it to you, but I don’t have the best voice.” Or the balls to tell you this is exactly what I feel right now.

  “That’s okay. I’m enjoying this just the way it is.”

  “Yes. Me, too.”

  I said no more because there wasn’t a need for more. I didn’t want my mind to wander anywhere else. I didn’t want to think about Zoe and the past or Paulina and the future. I wanted to think about Zander and the present, this party, this night. I tried to block out everything else. I let the music guide me, danced to the rhythm, shut off the outside world. That lasted the entire length of the soulful song, but ended abruptly with a tap on my shoulder.

  I knew who it was before I saw her. I knew because Paulina’s sun-kissed complexion turned pale and her mouth dropped open. I knew because I could sense her presence anywhere—she’d been mine for almost six years and I was only now getting semi-adjusted to her absence. My arms dropped to my sides, as did Paulina’s. I craned my neck and my eyes met hers—the eyes of the woman who’d turned my world upside down with no explanation.

  “Zoe? What are you doing here?�
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  She appraised me with a smile—a smile that once did witchcraft to my heart, but now made it sink in my chest. “That’s a fancy way to greet your fiancé, don’t you think, love?”

  Fiancé? Love? Was she kidding? Didn’t matter. I’d deal with that after I dealt with poor, innocent, awe-struck Paulina. “Li—” I turned to her but she was no longer there. “Where the hell—” I’d only had my eyes off her for a split second. How’d she get away so quickly? I searched the rooftop with roving eyes but came up short.

  “She’s over there.” Zoe smirked, pointing to the exit that lead to the stairwell. Where Paulina stood dumbstruck, face-to-face with a tall bearded and tattooed man.

  From across the roof, I could tell I wasn’t the only one who felt he’d just seen a ghost.

  “OH, SHIT! I’M sorry. I didn’t mean to . . . Paulina, is that you?”

  In my haste to rejoin the party without making it obvious that Emmy and I had snuck away to have the best fuck-in-five ever, I rushed back upstairs and collided with a woman in her own hurried state. I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was still hazy, my limbs still slack—that orgasm deserved at least a ten-minute recovery, but that was not an option. Marley would be looking for us and Emmy’s friend Jane texted her that she was here. Emmy was freshening up in the ladies’ room and sent me back up here as tribute. As much as I wanted to go for another round in the bathroom or ditch the party to bury myself inside of Emmy’s pussy for as long as she would allow, our flashbang would have to suffice. For now.

  Time stood still as I stared into the eyes of a long forgotten memory. Okay, that made me sound like a dick. I hadn’t exactly forgotten about Paulina—she was once my sister’s best friend, a girl I’d known for a good part of our childhood. But our never-spoken-about-again hookup took place years ago, when we were kids. Really drunk kids. I knew she was crushing hard on me back then. And I knew it was a dick move not to call her afterwards to explain that while I enjoyed our short-lived moment, it would be our last. Back then, I was a cocky, careless clown. I had no idea what I wanted for myself, let alone another human being. But I did know Paulina was the kind of girl who deserved a faithful, doting boyfriend. Two things I was not at that point in time. Two things I was only now learning to be. I did her a favor. She should thank me, but based on the way she was currently eyeing me—she didn’t see it that way.