Lipstick Problem

ELYSSIA

The bar bustled, people clinking their glasses and bantering. Their voices drowned out the jazz music playing in the background, while I stayed in my station pouring drinks, glass after glass.

Friday nights at Fitzy bar were always so vibrant, especially after a game. I watched over the counter as a group of football players waltzed into the bar, shouting at the top of their lungs.

This was my life every Friday night. At least for the past few weeks. I picked up a bottle and shook it, before pulling the cork free. Swiftly, I poured it into the glasses, as foam gushed out of it.

“This is my specialty,” I said, wearing a broad smile. One of the members winked, sliding the bill across the table.

Yes, my shift was the absolute best. I was always left with larger tips, even if that meant I had to suck up to them, or smile so sweetly, they thought I was flirting.

The guy stayed back while the others took their seat at the corner. His dirty blonde hair dazzled in the multi coloured lighting, a smirk plastered over his face. One glance was enough to know that this guy was built like a fucking tank.

“Busy week?” I initiated the conversation, snatching up a rag then wiping it across the counter.

“Mm-hm” he said, nodding. His large hand curled over the glass, and he raised it to his lips taking a large gulp.

“We are in the finals, and I guess we need the rest. Next week would be even busier,” he said amidst the drink.

I nodded like I understood whatever he was saying. He seemed to notice, because he cracked up. “Elyssia was it?”

“Yes— do you want more?” I asked, pointing to the empty glass. “Yes, please.”

I got to work. This time, I didn’t do any magic trick, I just uncorked it and poured straight into the cup.

“You’re a regular, you can call me Ellie,” I said, batting my lashes (not like I did in that demon sent party).

Dame laughed, taking up the glass, and gulping the drink down.

Yeah, bro was thicker than a fucking beast.

Someone from his team called, waving at him to join them. “Those men whoring bastards,” he joked under his breath, winking at me, before rejoining his teammates.

Dame and I were friends. Or maybe acquaintance was the best word. We only met at this bar where he drank on weekends, and had little to no conversation while I poured him drinks. Sometimes he came with his team, sometimes he didn’t. Either way, he was chill, and totally the nerdy type (in secret).

As I stood, drowned in my thoughts, a hand ran across my cheek, smearing something over it.

Immediately I raised my head, regret poured down on me, drenching me in it.

My worst nightmare.

He stared down at me, lips spread sinisterly. My eyes darkened in an instant.

“Asher,” I muttered, wiping off whatever he rubbed on my face. He raised a brow, licking those sexy-as-hell lips. My frown deepened, but before I could lash at him, my eyes dropped to a girl.

She was cuddled up close to him, caked up face, a perfectly layered bob that dangled just above her shoulders. She was almost… pocket sized. That was a joke, but seriously, her features could turn a heterosexual girl like me on.

But if there was anything that was turned on by her, it quickly switched off when she opened her mouth, and spat out the most unintelligible thing I’d ever heard.

“Get us a drink, and be quick,” she lashed, holding him close like he was some kind of life force.

Quick mental note: Asher Lumen dated dimwits.

I glared at her, my hands shaking from wanting to smack, not just her, but Asher. They took their orders and I began mixing, watching them from the corner of my eyes. She was all over him, either yapping about hockey or trying to enter into him with how close she stood.

“Be quick!”

If only I didn’t need this job…

As they left for a seat, Asher turned his head around, waving the lipstick. He winked, licking those lips again.

My insides turned, and a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I looked away, focusing on serving other guests. What was he doing here anyway? The hockey team usually stayed together, except Liam and well… Him. But apart from living together, they always spent nights with each other. Like tonight, after a big game.

Before I got a job here, the team spent their Friday nights here, away from the football team, of course. But I had begged, and literally crawled just so Liam could introduce them to a new bar. He did.

Then why was this guy here?

It would’ve been a coincidence, but he had my lipstick with him, except he carried it around in his pocket like a sick little freak.

I got back to work, but couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that someone was watching me. The smouldering gaze burned through my temples, steady and unmoving. I emptied a glass, shoving ice into the cup, before handing it over to the customer with my usual smile.

I wanted to look up. I knew where this gaze was coming from and to hell, I was sure he could see how uncomfortable it made me. Yet, he watched.

Gathering up courage, I raised my eyes to see Asher sitting a few meters away. The glint in his eyes was unnerving as if he found me amusing. I made an ugly face at him, but he only gave a half ass smile.

The rude girl who sat on his lap whispered something in his ears, then burst out laughing, hands slapping his rock solid chest.

‘Rock solid? Ellie, watch your tongue!’ I scolded myself, but that died immediately.

Asher lifted the girl's chin, his lips melting in hers. Her hands instinctively flew to his shoulders, her hips rocking back and forth over his thighs.

My mouth watered, and I averted my gaze, breaking contact with him. His eyes were still on me. I could feel it travelling over my body, then resting on my face.

I wanted to scream. To go over there and yell at him to leave me alone. I wanted to finish that off with an uppercut that'll send them flying out the bar.

I didn't do any of that. Instead, I wiped the counter while another worker continued serving. My cheeks were visibly red, and only the thought of him kissing someone else caused my heart to beat at an unusual rate. I clenched my fist, gripping the rag as I wiped some more.

No, this wasn't jealousy. People most times mistook it for jealousy.

The only thing I felt for him was pure, repulsive anger — yes, that was the best explanation for why my chest tightened when he licked those lips.

There was no lie, he was Greek god handsome, but he fumbled with anything that had a pussy.

A fucking man whore.

“You know him?” Someone asked, and I snapped back to reality. I turned to see my coworker, Amira. A dusky skin girl with coral eyes and the whitest pair of teeth. She wore Fulani braids that ran down her sleek waist.

I answered grumpily. “He's a total jerk.”

Amira sucked in her cheeks, staring wide eyed at them. It was tempting not to see what they were up to.

Another instant regret. It looked like she was about to burst into a loud moan as she rode him faster.

That… dampened my mood.

“Hey…” Amira glanced back at me, then added. “You can leave, I'll tell Marcus you came down with a fever.”

I never thought I'd need that favour. I nodded, muttered a thanks, then sprinted out of that place. Maybe telling Liam would make him keep to himself. At the same time, they were a team… they were barely holding up as it was.

***

I walked down the street, clutching my bag tightly. The streetlights flickered while I cut across entering another, more narrow road.

Thoughts kept playing in my head, loud enough to make my ears bleed. I could picture his groan while she collapsed on his chest, her hips moving in motion.

Why did that make my stomach twist? Bile rose to my throat and I sucked it in hating myself for even thinking about him.

I should've focused on my surroundings, because a hand grabbed me, pinning me to the wall. My back landed with a thud, eyes clamped shut.

Hot gasp breathed down against my skin.

A peculiar scent of candy seeped into my nostrils.

That was enough to know who this was.

“Elyssia,” he whispered. His coarse tone sent heat coursing through my body, stopping between my thighs. I clasped my legs, rubbing them against each other.

I hated this bodily attraction. It disgusted me, and so did Asher.

Garnering courage from spite, I raised my head, staring right into those stormy eyes.

I scowled. “Do you have a problem with me?”