Grey: Secret Of The Grey Wolf

CHLOE

I got rejected by another publishing company and the best thing I do is go to the bar to get drunk. I don't do this, most times I just go to my apartment and I begin to weep but today I'm at the bar drinking my sorrows away.

"Josh!" I yell the bartender's name, at least I think that's his name. Even though it's not his name it's not in his job description to say it isn't all he has to do is serve me alcohol.

He runs in my direction. He's cute but he's not my type, maybe it's because he sounds like Justin Bieber, and I hate Justin Bieber.

He has blond hair, blue eyes, and nice lips but his voice? Ew.

I shake my empty glass on his face.

"Another vodka please," I yell at the top of my voice, I have to because the music in this club is loud as hell. He gets the same bottle of vodka as if the bottle was preserved for me. He pours it into my glass and I smile at him not because I'm being flirty but because he's a great bartender. I drink from it and I feel less shitty than I was three hours ago when they rejected my work.

"Your story is too bland." The old man said, I felt like strangling the life out of him but I couldn't do that because I didn't want to get a bad reputation.

So instead of throwing tantrums, I went to the club and I had a few drinks, okay I had a lot of drinks. I also feel like dancing, but I also don't want to. I rest my head on the table and I spot a man by the right staring at me, he raises his glass and he has that stupid smirk on his face. He probably wants to have sex with me, not tonight douche.

He's not my type in any way, he's bald, has a lot of body hair and his beard looks dirty. I won't be surprised if he has a body odor as well, I hope he doesn't come near me.

He gestures for Josh to attend to him. This is the part where he buys me a drink and I'm right because Josh the handsome guy who sounds like Justin Bieber drops a glass of martini in front of me I raise my head and I look at him. He has such beautiful blue eyes, maybe I should forget about the fact that he sounds like Justin and just have sex with him, with his mouth shut, of course, I don't want it to look like I'm having sex with Justin Bieber and not him.

I nod at the Justin Bieber wannabe, as a way of thanking him then I look at the man, and I smile at him. I don't want to be rude but I also don't want this man's company right now. I had a shitty day and I just want to be left alone, is that too hard to ask? He gets up from his stool and walks toward me. What the heck? Why is he coming right here? I don't care about the martini anymore I just want to go home.

"Hey, beautiful." He says, his breath reeks of alcohol. I bet mine does too but you don't see me approaching anyone. Yes, I know I'm beautiful I'm a beautiful blonde that every man would love to bang. But still! Jesus, men and their dumb needs.

"Hey," I say quietly faking a smile. I hope he catches up to my discomfort and goes away.

"A beautiful girl like you shouldn't be all alone at a club you know. Don't you need company?" No, I do not need company and I didn't ask for it either I just want to go home now. And that's what I tell him.

"Oh come on!" He yells, THIS MAN'S BREATH STINKS! He walks closer to me and I immediately grab my pink bag with pages of my rejected book in it.

"I really need to go." I walk away from him but he grabs my hand. I think I'm a little bit sober now. I struggle to get him to leave me alone and when he doesn't budge I decide to make a scene. Before I scream a man's voice cuts me off.

"Hey!" He yells. I turn to meet the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. He's so beautiful even more beautiful than Josh and he doesn't sound like Bieber. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and I can see his muscles right now. He's wearing a black shirt and sweat pants with sneakers. Man, is that a bulge I'm seeing, or am I just drunk?

He looks my age, or older. Not that I should care about his age though.

The creepy man is still holding me, so I improvise.

"Sweetie! You came to get me." I say in a sing-song voice trying hard to make it look believable and voila it works. The creepy guy with bad breath and body hair leaves me alone. I move closer to the guy and I feel safer with him already.

"Sorry." The man says. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend."

"Even if she didn't have a boyfriend you wouldn't have left her?" The handsome guy asks, it sounds more like a demand than a question. He also smells fresh too. I love it, I love him. Woah! Maybe I should calm down, I mean I just met the guy.

The man doesn't answer so the handsome stranger scoffs he takes my hand and we head out away from the loud music, alcohol, and creepy-ass men. The breeze slaps me on the face and I become sober immediately. Geez, I don't remember the last time I got drunk.

Oh, I do, it was freshman year of college and I accidentally got drunk at a party and I ended up having sex with my roommate's hot boyfriend. My roommate found out and she didn't talk to me for a whole year.

I was also labeled as a slut on campus people forgot about my mistake immediately Freshman year came to an end. I still regret doing that to her. I wonder how she's doing, I wonder if this hot man likes me. I sure am not gonna tell him about what I did to my roommate at all. He'd think I'm a slut as well, and I won't blame him.

"Do you have a ride or can I take you home?" He asks.

"Mmh? Oh yeah, yeah you can take me home, you can take me anywhere." I stop talking. Oh no, I'm still a little bit drunk he giggles he found that funny and not crazy. Hmm, interesting.

"Come on, I'll show you where my car is." I follow him to a black BMW and my mouth almost drops. A serial killer can't have fancy cars, right? He opens the door to the front seat for me and I blush and I get in. Serial killers also aren't gentlemen. I don't know! I don't watch serial killer documentaries on Netflix I'm a romance kind of girl, I love romance but I can't provide a nice groundbreaking romance novel to get published.

Ugh! You know what, I'm not giving up I'm going to keep my head up high and I'm going to write another book one they'll love. I can't give up now, I won't give up.

The hunk is in the car and he closes the door then he faces me.

"Are you sober enough to direct me to your house?" He asks and I nod, all I want to do is kiss him, that's what I want to do right now. He starts the car and then we drive off. I turn to face the window and I spot that creepy man staring at us. Gee, weird much?

I don't want to think about what would have happened if this handsome man didn't come to my rescue. Why am I being dramatic? Nothing would have happened. I would have made a scene and people would have chased that man away.

Or, I would have kicked him on his balls, which gets men falling to their knees.

I'm home, we're by the tall building and we're just sitting in the car, quiet. I'm looking at the building but I don't know what he's looking at, is he looking at me perhaps?

"I live upstairs," I say without looking at him.

"You want me to help you up?"

Hmm, a tall handsome stranger escorting me to my apartment. Is that a good idea? Will Ms. Minnie my next-door neighbor make googly eyes at him? Of course, she will, let's just pray she won't come out of her house that's if her stupid cat doesn't go missing.

"Sure," I say, then he gets out of the car. I'm about to open the door but he opens it for me. Jesus, how'd he get here so fast? I walk out of the car and he shuts the door. I awkwardly stand close to him. How can a man be this beautiful? I've never seen anything like it, he's like a mythical creature. I've had my fair share of crushes but they were all douchebags. I also had a boyfriend in my junior year of high school and he didn't really like me all he wanted to do was have sex with me because I was one of the hottest girls in school. Dumbass.

We're by the door of my apartment and I'm bringing out my keys. I'm dressed in a pink floral blouse, a black suit, pants, and high heels. I dressed formally today just to be rejected. I need to get that rejection off my mind and woman up. A lot of famous authors got rejected at first. Why should I be an exception? It's pretty normal for my work to get rejected.

I'm staring at the brown welcome home mat as I turn the lock. I'm doing it slowly so he doesn't leave, I also walk into my apartment slowly and I turn to him. He has that cute smile on his face. He looks like a model, if he is I would like to go to his IG account and stalk him, or better what if he's a pornstar? Then I'll have to get his name and Google it, just to be sure.

"Thank you," I say to him.

"It was not a problem." He says and we stare at each other for a long time. God, he's so beautiful, does he think the same way about me too? I hope so.

"Alright, goodnight." He's about to leave but then I have a nasty idea.

"Wait!" I yell and he turns around to face me. I don't know what else to say but. "stay." I place my hand on him, and he looks at it and looks back at me. I hope he doesn't think I'm crazy.

NATHAN

When I saw her walk out of that building I knew I had to know her. I've never wanted anyone this way in my life, she had my full attention and she didn't even try to. She looked sad, disappointed, and hopeless. She's a writer so I assumed her work got rejected so when she got out of the building I followed her to see what she'd do next.

No, I'm not a stalker. I just saw a beautiful blonde girl with glassy blue eyes and decided to follow her. I guess that's the definition of stalking, but still, I couldn't help myself she was just so beautiful to ignore.

When I saw her drinking in the bar I knew that the rejection hit her hard. I watched as she sorrowfully took a vodka so quickly. She looked like she hadn't had alcohol in years, if she became drunk she would forget that she even went to the person that was supposed to publish her work. I wanted to go console her, I wanted to tell her that being rejected was normal. I'm not a writer but I know a lot of successful writers got rejected in their time.

But then I saw a man forcing himself on her, then I swooped in, the swift way in which she was able to get him to leave her alone by telling him I was her boyfriend was genius, it proved she didn't need my help. She could handle herself.

While we were in the car I wanted to know what she was thinking, she kept on looking out the window I thought after this I wouldn't see her again. But then she told me to stay in her home. I was surprised, I didn't expect that at all.

Now I'm in her living room waiting for her to get out of the bathroom, then after she tells me she's okay I'll leave. Her home is cute, there are quotes of great authors pasted on her wall, books are everywhere and her laptop is filled with stickers of BTS and one of Britney Spears. Her couch is old and brown but comfortable, her TV is medium-sized but manageable. She lives all alone in this tiny apartment, I bet she's content. Maybe she dreams about having a mansion but she's okay with what she has now.

She's hardworking too because I can see pages and pages of her work. The work that has been rejected for the past month? I don't know.

I spot a small frame on a stool next to the couch. It's of her in a red graduation gown and what looks like her mom is standing next to her, I mean they look alike. The same blonde hair and blue eyes. She looks happy and successful here. I smile at her smile, so beautiful, her beauty is so well crafted it makes me want to howl.

I shake my head and I immediately drop the picture frame on the stool where I found it. I also stand up.

I can't be doing this, she's human and I'm a man who shapeshifts into a wolf when the full moon is out. I can't be with a human, it's against the law of nature and the pack won't like it.

I could have easily said I would have sex with her and never see her again, but that's not the case with this girl. She's different, she's not just a girl one would have sex with and just leave. She's the kind of girl I would want to know more about. The kind of girl I would love to go on dates with and cuddle with. But I can't do that to my pack or her. She doesn't deserve a monster as a boyfriend.

I have to get out of here. But then I hear her closing the tap and opening the bathroom door, she's coming. I have super hearing so I know.

She's walking toward me wearing a pink robe and her blonde hair is wet, she's not wearing any flip flops she's barefoot and her legs are so smooth and not hairy. Wait till she sees me in wolf form, she will never invite me to her home again.

"Hey." She says and she just stands there smiling at me. Who knew a smile could take one into another universe? Her smile is like an addictive drug more addictive than any of the drugs people take. Maybe I'm being dramatic. She smells good too, she doesn't smell like alcohol anymore. I didn't even care about the stench of alcohol on her, she's just so beautiful.

"Hey," I say then I sigh. "You okay?"

She nods and I nod I hesitate before I walk around her so I can leave. She stops me by grabbing my arm gently. The first time she did that when we were by the door I was awestruck. I didn't expect her to tell me to stay in her home, I'm a stranger and she trusts me.

What's up with this chick? I don't understand why she wants me around her. I'm a monster, maybe I should make it clear by flashing my eyes. That golden brown color that all werewolves have.

"I'm sorry but I really have to-" she interrupts me by kissing me. God, her lips are so soft. She stops and she looks at me in shock those blue eyes staring at me.

Oh, fuck it. I kiss her back, we're rubbing our lips against each other, we're using tongue now. Oh wow, that escalated fast.

I stop and then I look at her robe, I don't have to ask her if I should take it off because she does it herself. She's fully naked, she may be a writer but her body is like that of a model, her breasts are round and perfect. Almost as if she did plastic surgery, but I know she didn't. I hope.

I notice that I'm staring too hard when she giggles.

"Sorry," I mutter then I take off my clothes. I'm fully naked as well and we continue kissing. Her hands are placed on my stomach mine are on her boobs. Never have I enjoyed a french kiss so much in my life.

Chloe

The hot stranger takes me to the bedroom and we continue kissing. Damn, this guy is hot. Six packed abs, hot shoulders, sexy arms, sexy legs, and a nice ass. It's as if God took his precious time to create him. He looks so perfect.

He uses his teeth to tear off the condom wrap he got from the pocket of his sweatpants. Does he just carry that around? How many girls has he slept with? Maybe he hasn't slept with any girl and I'm just reaching here.

I don't think he's a virgin either, because how can a virgin be good at this? You can watch porn countlessly as a virgin and still not be a pro at sex if it's your first time.

He puts his perfectly sized dick inside of me and I immediately start moaning.

"Am I hurting you?" He asks, he's concerned. I shake my head. Even if it was painful I would want to feel the pain. The last time I had sex was last month and that was with my downstairs neighbor's son who came to visit from college. He was twenty-one btw. Twenty-one and bad at sex, Jesus he kept on pulling my hair and he kept on biting my vagina with his teeth, I didn't want to have sex after him.

Now, this guy comes along and makes me believe in sex again, I don't even want to have sex with anyone else if it's not him. I love that he's showering me with kisses while his penis is in me I won't mind him removing the condom I want to be the mother of his kids. I want to be his forever.

Never have I moaned this much, the last time I moaned so loudly was when I had sex with my roommate's boyfriend. Yes, I'm going to hell and so is my roommate's boyfriend for not being faithful to her. It takes two to tango.

I don't want him to stop anything, the kisses, the sex nothing. I want him here with me, forever.

I wake up to the sound of my phone, it's ringing and I immediately grab it and pick it up. I've been vigilant when it comes to my phone, I keep thinking it's Mr. Moe and he wants to accept my work. A girl can dream.

My blurry vision disappears and I roll my eyes immediately after I see who's calling. Ugh, my mother. What does she want? I hope Mr. Hot guy won't think I'm still a little girl who needs her mommy every time and I also hope he won't think I'm rude for rolling my eyes at her call.

I turn to the side to see if I'll spot a hot naked guy lying close to me but he's not there, I look around my room, he's not in the room at all.

Maybe he's in the kitchen, I'm going to check but first I have to answer this woman's call.

"Yes, mom," I say and I'll have to admit that sounded rude.

"Good morning to you too Chloe." I roll my eyes again I put her on loudspeaker so I can put on my robe. And I've got to admit I did sound a little rude. I know exactly why she's calling. "Anyway, I'm calling to know if they accepted your work." I knew it, she won't be the first one to call I know my cousin Rene's gonna call so she'd ask me the same damn question my mom's asking me.

"No mom." I look around the living room for him, he's not here so I go to the kitchen he's not here either. "I got rejected for the eighth time now." I move away from the kitchen and I knock on the bathroom doors before I open them, still nothing. Face it, Chloe, he's gone. "I'm just not that good of a writer."

"Oh honey, don't say that you are good you just need times like these. I bet once you become the best-selling author you're gonna look back at every rejection and you'll see how it pushed you to be the best." Marjorie Fint might be annoying but she's still my mom, and like most supportive moms she always knows what to say. She's been there for me since I came out of her womb.

When my dad died it was like the whole world came crumbling down. I was fourteen, in my freshman year of high school. I was in for the school's talent show at my high school, Sherman Lawn High. I was giving a poetry piece. I came second but that was nothing compared to the news I heard after. My dad had died of a heart attack. I couldn't understand what the doctor was saying all I knew was my dad was gone, forever.

Rest in peace Andrew Fint.

My Dad was always supportive of me, I remember when he got me my first book Wizard Of Oz. I was seven years old then and from there I knew I wanted to be a writer. I was so lost in their world that immediately after I finished reading the book I almost forgot that I lived in the real world. A world where witches don't melt, and where hot guys have sex with you and then disappear when he finds out the girl he had sex with is a failure.

I don't know if that's the reason he left but I'm sure he had a feeling that I'm a bad writer. Well, I'm not a bad writer my work isn't good enough or in Mr. Moe's words, my work is bland.

"And why are you still in Dallas? I thought your dream has always been to go to New York." I roll my eyes a lot when it comes to my mom, best believe I rolled my eyes when she said that. But still, she's right I have always wanted to go to New York. But I don't know what's keeping me here. "If you're not ready that's fine just don't be afraid to chase your dreams okay?"

"Yeah mom, I know." Could it be fear? Am I scared of New York? How am I scared of the place I've wanted to run to ever since I was ten? There's nothing special about Dallas so I don't know what I'm still doing here.

"You know maybe-"

"Mom, you know what I have work I'll talk to you later." If I let her talk she won't stop so I'll be the one to stop her. My mom talks a lot honestly.

"Okay, honey I'll talk to you later, make sure you-" I hang up. I sigh, I go into my bedroom and I jump on my bed. I'm thinking about the amazing sex I had with that stranger. I don't even know his name and I didn't get his number, it's almost like we never met like I imagined it. Wait, did I imagine it? I know I was drunk but not that drunk.

I shouldn't even be thinking about a boy I met last night, I should be thinking of perfecting my work you know, make it less "bland"

I just have to get out of bed to do it.

NATHAN

It was really hard for me to leave her, she looked so beautiful while she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her. Now she's going to think I used her for sex and ran away, ever since I left her house I haven't been able to get her out of my head. I don't understand why I feel this way all of a sudden. She floods my brain without even trying to and every time I think about that dammed smile, I smile, I blush and I think of times when she's next to me with that wide beautiful smile on her face as she greets me good morning.

Right now I'm drawing her beautiful face on my sketchpad, her face is unforgettable I don't know if I can go by each day without wanting to see her again, without wanting to talk to her again. I stop drawing and I sigh, I look around my room and at the bookshelf, she has read so many books that I've read. I don't know why I'm keeping that in mind considering I'm the one that decided to leave without saying goodbye.

The last relationship I was in wasn't fulfilling, I thought I was in love with her turned out I just loved the idea of us, something I wished I had. It was hard to break things off with Katherine but I had to do it for her sake and mine. I saw an opportunity at love and I ran away from it. I don't know how the pack expects us not to fall in love with humans there's a reason why we decided to mingle around them in the first place.

We wolves have been living in the woods for centuries away from the humans it wasn't until werewolf hunters began to raid our home that we decided to live amongst the humans so it'll be hard for them to find us.

We still live close to the woods though, we can't be turning into beasts in town and be walking around the streets like we're not gonna get shot or taken to the zoo.

Right now I'm in the house I grew up in, I just came to Texas to spend time with my parents and my brother for a few days then I leave. Maybe if I leave I'll forget about her, if that's even possible.

Katherine and I were like a power couple back at Princeton. Everyone loved our relationship because little did people know that we weren't really in love with each other, did we love each other? Yes, but we were not in love at least I wasn't.

Katherine took the breakup hard though. We broke up in the summer after junior year of college she hadn't spoken or looked at me since then. The easy-going and party-loving Katherine was gone and was replaced by a heartbroken girl who didn't believe in love anymore. I really broke her heart huh.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear a knock on the door. The person opens without me saying they can come in and I knew it was already, my little brother, Tyrone he doesn't wait for anyone to invite him in he just invites himself in. Right now he's wearing a grey hoodie, grey sweatpants, and flip flops, his red hair is what makes him, him, we used to call him Archie but without the charm to attract girls. He's handsome though, who could say no to those beautiful brown eyes of his?

Tyrone has never had a girlfriend. We even asked him if he was even attracted to girls he said he was. We told him if he wasn't attracted to girls he should just say so and he still insisted that he was. He was telling the truth because when he was sixteen he had a crush on Penny Lockhart, she was pretty, Tye thought so but she didn't think he was pretty. It was so hard to watch my brother turn around in disappointment after confessing his love for her when she turned him down.

I and his friends tried cheering him up but he didn't want it. The thing with him is that he bottles up his feelings, he acts like he doesn't need anyone's help or sympathy, I would like to know what he's thinking.

Now that he has a nice haircut and he's muscular all the girls in our pack (even the human ones) want to date him but he keeps rejecting them, he hasn't looked at any of the hot girls at all, not even Blair Stone whom his mates think is hot. Oh well, I guess not all straight guys want to date girls all the time.

"I knew you weren't going to wait for me to tell you to come in." I throw a pillow at him and he catches it. Ugh, werewolf reflexes. I miss the days when werewolf puberty hadn't hit him, it was easy for me to bully him and he not doing anything about it.

"You know me so well." He says and puts on a sarcastic grin. "Mom wants you to come down for breakfast." He's looking at the drawing I did of the lady I had sex with last night, I just wish I knew her name at least.

Hmm, I just got a crazy idea maybe I should go ask that bartender. It seemed like they knew each other, but would he even tell me her name. He'd assume that I'm a creep.

"Woah, who's this?" He asks while admiring the beautiful drawing.

"Uh, a model."

"She's pretty, what are you in love with her or something?"

"Shut up," I say getting up and shoving him aside. I walk ahead and he leaves the sketchpad and he follows me.

My Dad is the alpha of the pack, and no that's not the reason why he has a big house, he just has a good job that pays well. My Dad has been the alpha since he was nineteen and when his parents died he had to take full responsibility. Wolf hunters were what killed them, those bastards and their vendetta against us.

My Dad wanted me to be the alpha but I chose college over leadership, Tye did that too. And luckily our dad isn't like those insisting fathers who force their kids to do what they want. My dad has always encouraged us to do what our hearts desired, one of the reasons why I love him is because he's understanding just like my mom.

My parents are perfect for each other, my parents have always made me believe in love, seeing them together all the time gives me so much hope, I'm sure they would want me to be happy, with a werewolf, not a human. That's one thing my parents won't support me for, dating a human or even marrying a human is taboo. A law against nature, they say. That's unless you decide to turn the human into a werewolf, that method isn't necessarily accepted by all conservatives who frown upon turning humans into werewolves.

"Good morning guys." I interrupt my mom, she and dad were having a conversation, they're always talking to each other and they also gossip like they're teenagers.

"Oh, good morning honey." My mom, Melissa Carmello is beaming at me, she's on light make-up, Tyrone got his red hair from her, although I look more like her, I got my brown hair from my dad and Tye looks like the younger version of him. My parents have been married for twenty-six years and they've been stronger than ever. This is something I wish to have someday, their relationship is beautiful and hopeful I never did worry they were going to get a divorce. Looking at them is like looking at what happens to the couple that ended up together in a romantic movie after the movie ends.

"There's our boy." My dad, Gerald Carmello says as he puts coffee in his favorite mug mom got for him which says world's greatest dad. "What did you do last night?"

Not having sex with a human that's what.

I sit next to him and Tyrone joins us.

"Uh, nothing much just went to a bar to have a few drinks then I came home." I put toast bread in my mouth and I avoid their eyes, I catch my brother staring at me, he can see through my bullshit. I look away from him and now I'm looking at the ceiling.

"Oh, honey I'm so happy you came to spend time with us," Mom says and she's smiling at me. "Tye here has been keeping us company, I think he's getting tired of us."

"I don't think that's possible mom." Tyrone puts that fake smile of his on his face and I roll my eyes and shake my head.

"It's not too late to want to take over being alpha of the pack, " dad says to both of us and we both look at each other.

Tyrone and I weren't born leaders we both know this. I'm an artist with a gallery back in California and Tye is a dance instructor who teaches amateurs how to dance. I kinda wish he'd use his talent to branch higher but he doesn't want that, he's not ready for that I suppose.

"Naa," I say.

"We're good, dad."

"Okay." He raises his hands. "The offer still stands."

"How's your gallery, Nathan?" Mom asks then I watch her put bacon in her mouth, we wolves love meat.

"It's doing fine. People come in they see what they like and they pay for it. They've bought my paintings mostly which is flattering and I'm just happy I have a job at least."

I really am, a celebrity even bought one of my work, I was so happy and excited. I still don't know who the celebrity is could be George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Angelina Jolie. I never knew all I know is that a celebrity's agent walked into my gallery and got one of my best pieces. A painting of a wolf and a girl. Hollywood does love werewolves even though the unrealistic depiction of werewolves in Twilight is laughable and bizarre.

You know what, I'm going to see her again. I can't continue to kill myself just because I have an animal inside of me. She doesn't have to know that, it's not like we're going to get married or anything. I'll try my best to see her again I can't leave Texas without seeing that beautiful angel. But I have to be productive.

Ugh! Can't believe I have to hide this from Tyrone. I can hide this from my parents but not him. Tye and I tell each other everything. We've been doing that since we were puppies, well I'm the one who spills my secrets out, each time I have to force Tye to open up sometimes. This is something I have to keep from him because I know he won't approve of it either.

CHLOE

I'm at Monet's, a restaurant. I come here every day except Fridays to Sundays to meet up with other writers. They've been so positive and helpful really. I met them at the beginning of the year when I came to get a cup of coffee, my paperwork fell out of my bag and a woman in her early thirties helped me pick it up.

"Thanks," I told her, I was a little bit embarrassed because all I could think about was her thinking that I was careless. She was pretty, black short hair, caramel skin, nice full lips, and her eyelashes were long, natural and her eyes made her look even more beautiful. It was like I was looking at one of the models from America's Next Top Model.

"Woah, you're a writer too." She said and she had that wide smile on, her perfectly white teeth almost blinded my eyes.

"Yeah, I'm guessing you're a writer."

"Yep, fantasy."

"Romance." We shook hands and then she paused.

"Wait, did we just introduce each other based on the genre we write and not our actual names?" We both giggled.

"Yes. That wasn't weird at all." She laughed.

"I like you already, let's start this again. I'm Cindy Bellman."

"Chloe Fint." We shook hands and we both laughed again. It was like I found a friend, someone I could relate to. We both wrote in different genres but we were still writers and I loved it when the writing community supported each other.

"Hey, there's a writers club that's being held here every day except the weekends, would you like to join? We talk about the perks of being a writer and the joys of being a writer and we also talk about our favorite books and authors. We start at twelve pm." I didn't know that a writing club was what I wanted, I didn't think I'd have the time to write and be at a restaurant for three hours every day. But I wanted to give it a try, and she was very convincing all she had to do was shine her perfect teeth and I'd be all hers.

"Okay, yeah I'd love to join."

"Really?" She clasped her hands in excitement. "Oh, the others will be thrilled to have you, let's exchange numbers so we'll be able to keep in touch." A start of a new friendship. I wasn't good at making friends because I was always focused on my work and I loved being alone. Being alone with a good book and alcohol or caffeine is the best feeling in the world, probably better than sex.

The next day I walked into Monet's and I met a group of ladies who were fine as hell. I was relieved to see there were no men here, at least if there was going to be a man he should be gay and we all agreed to that.

We were six. Cindy Bellman, Aisha Mohammed, Drew Finch, Jessica Boston, Lexi Hale, and me. We were just six beautiful ladies who loved to talk about our favorite books and rant about how JK Rowling is a bitch for her transphobic tweets. Sometimes we'd just go out to have some fun. We weren't just a book club we were a sisterhood.

Lexi's mystery thriller novel will be out next month and I'm so happy for her, there's no room for jealousy or spite because as women who moan over hot fictional characters like Christian Grey we can not bash each other all we have is love for each other.

Jessica's science fiction novel is in the publishing stage. I was so happy for her when she told me that they accepted her work. Of course, her work got rejected four times and she didn't stop, maybe I should have learned a few things from her instead of going to a club to drink and having sex with a stranger, I regret all that.

Layla Abrams joined us last month. She said she couldn't look at the Harry Potter books the same way because of JK's insensitive tweets. She sold her books to a little girl who didn't know what it meant to be transphobic or just a plain bigot.

She just joined us but it already feels like she was here from the beginning.

I spot my girls, and they're laughing loudly I smile and turn to look at them, they're at our usual table, and there's a man with them. Hmm, maybe Cindy knows him.

"The usual," I tell Daphne, the person behind the registrar. She knows what I and my group of friends love. I love coffee with lots of sugar and cream. My mom has always told me to stop taking lots of sugar but I never listen, I'm a sweet tooth it's something she should know by now.

"Thank you." I tip her and I collect my coffee and head toward the girls. The guy they're laughing with is cute.

He has dark hair, his eyes look green, they are green. He has brown skin and I love his smile it's nice. He dresses nice too.

He's wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black pants, and blue sneakers. He looks like a lady's man. That's why my girls are laughing like maniacs.

"Hey, guys," I say and they stop laughing when they see me. Well, Aisha is still laughing.

"Oh hey." They say in unison.

"Chloe let me introduce you to our newest member Christian Joshua," Cindy says what the fuck did she just say to me?

"Hey." He gets up, "nice to meet you." We shake hands and I'm putting on a fake smile. This can't be happening, a man, in our club?

"Nice to meet you too." I hope they don't notice how I'm screaming inside. Why is this man in our club and why is he smiling at me like I want him here.

This man better be gay.

CHLOE

He's not gay. A gay man will never talk about having three girlfriends in high school. I'm just sitting down and watching as he takes my girlfriends to comedy lane. We haven't talked about me being rejected again, I guess it's a good thing it's been hard for me to even think about it. It's better for me to watch this clown act like an idiot than for me to bring up my failure.

"Hey, Chloe." He calls me and I put on my best fake smile, the fake smile that can convince you that I like you. "Who's your favorite comedy actor?" My girls are looking at me and they look brainwashed. I turn to face Chris who has that genuine smile on his face, his smile looks more real than mine. I also don't know why he's asking this question, what does this have to do with our club? Sure we talk about movies and music but he's not supposed to know that, he just joined us.

"Uh, Chris Rock?" I say and he snaps his finger.

"I love that guy." He's still looking at me and I want him to look away so I can remove this fake smile and roll my eyes but since he doesn't want to look away I'm going to bring up something else.

"So Chris, have you written any books?" I take a sip from my coffee.

"Oh I don't write books I'm a journalist." I feel like wiping that wide smile off his fucking face.

"Oh wow." Oh God, I think Cindy notices that my voice is fake cause she's looking at me like I'm crazy. Well, I hope she does notice because I can't believe this. It's not that I hate all men I just needed to hang around with women so we can rant about how wrong Mr. Moe was for rejecting my work. Now there's a man here who's going to tell me the same old thing. Rejection is redirection.

A man who's going to try to justify all the nasty things his brothers have done to vulnerable girls.

Maybe I should stop thinking about this, there's no rule that says men aren't allowed. He looks nice either way.

"Yeah." He says. "I'm trying to get a job at ABC News I have my job application ready and stuff. You guys wish me luck."

"Good luck." They all echo and they're smiling like maniacs I don't even know why Aisha is blushing, she has a handsome and sexy fiance she doesn't need this guy to make her blush. Although, maybe he's able to make her blush because he isn't white. I did hear her say she will never find white guys attractive. At least she's crushing on someone who looks like he won't leave a woman after they've had sex.

"Okay, okay an hour has gone and since Chris is new, let's hear him talk about his favorite books, the best book to movie adaptations, and his favorite authors."

Great another opportunity to open that mouth of his and now I have to listen for the next two hours. Monet's has always been my comfort spot beside my home but now it's not. Maybe I'm being too dramatic and I should give this guy a chance.

After hearing him say he loved reading high school romance novels I was taken away, a man admitting that he likes romance novels? That's amazing. Now I'm all ears, I love a man who's not afraid to speak his truth. Why didn't I have sex with him instead?

We're done with the club and I've got to say, I misjudged Mr. Joshua and I shouldn't have. He's not just a male he's a male feminist. He disagrees with almost everything his toxic male friends have done. Technically they're not his friends but still.

I also told everyone that I got rejected again and their focus was on me, Christian also gave an advice.

"Just look at the things that your publisher doesn't like and don't change them, just make them stronger and better." He said and I was happy and grateful he said that because all I've been hearing is rejection is redirection. And I got tired of hearing that shit.

The girls are talking to each other, and I'm about to join them when Christian stops me to talk. Does he always smile a lot? Even when I put on a fake smile my mouth hurts, smiling is hard. This man was someone whom I wanted to disappear, now I kinda like that he's here. I also realize that he's cute as hell, maybe I too should forget about white guys and start spending time with men like Christian who have pink lips and smooth brown skin, I wonder what his lips feel like.

And I need to slap myself for thinking that way.

"Hey." He says.

"Hey," I reply, he smells like breath mint and flowers. A man who smells good turns me on. That guy I had sex with also smelt good. And I should stop thinking about that guy and start thinking about how I'm going to perfect my work, I shouldn't be thinking about guys at all.

"I just wanted to tell you you've got this, don't let some old fart tell you you can't do anything." He sounds so confident, we just met and he already believes in me. I'm here blushing like an idiot. What the fuck is wrong with me sometimes? "Wait, the guy is old right?" He asks and we giggle.

I nod "yes, yes he is."

"They always are." He says.

"Yeah whatsup with that?" We laugh again and I try my best not to blush again but too late. I'm sorry but it's quite impossible not to blush in front of this fine specimen of a man. Now I get why the girls were all giggly and shit. Everything about this guy is neat, his clothes, his nicely cut fade. Everything.

"Anyway, I've gotta go. Have to see if they've accepted the job offer or not."

"I hope you get the job." Uh oh, I've got my flirty voice on. The voice I used to seduce my roommate's boyfriend into having sex with me, the voice I used on that bartender to get more drinks, the voice that creepy man must have heard and that made him think about wanting to talk to me, and the voice I used on that hot guy last night now I'm using it on this bookworm, who knew male bookworms were hot?

"Alright, see you around." I wave and he goes out the door. He didn't even ask for my number. That proves it, he doesn't like me like that.

The girls want to go to the club to have fun but I decline, I want to go home and just work, I don't have the strength for fun at the moment.

"Are you sure hun?" Cindy asks. "It's gonna be just us girls no hot, I mean no Christian. . . " We all laugh. "You guys know what I mean."

"Yeah and Aisha is it too late to break up with your fiance?" Lexi jokes and Aisha giggles.

"Nope. He's just as handsome as Mr. Christian." She says confidently.

"Is that so."

"Yep."

"If you say so."

I shake my head and I'm smiling.

These girls are messed up.

"Okay if that's what you want," Cindy says then hugs me, the girls do the same and we say bye to each other and go our separate ways.

I turn around and I bump into someone, my bag falls to the ground.

"I'm so sorry." We both say and he gets my bag and hands it over to me. I can't believe it, it's him the guy I had sex with last night. He looks at me like he's seeing a ghost. Ugh! I feel like slapping his handsome face right now.

"You again," I say then I fold my arms, I honestly didn't want to see this clown again, well maybe I did want to see him tell him how disgusting it was to leave without saying anything. The universe has allowed me to call this fool out on his rudeness and I'm not gonna waste the opportunity despite how handsome or hot he is.