Bryson signs something, and she gives an incredulous huff. Annie picks up my hand and leads me over to her roommate where she retrieves her things.
“Are you guys taking off?” Marley looks from me to Annie.
Annie whips out her phone.We’re going to his place. Don’t expect me home tonight.
Hot damn. I glance behind me as both Baya and Izzy try to contain their insignificant others. This little newsflash isn’t going to go over too well.
Annie follows my gaze and holds up a finger before heading back to them.
I try to follow, but Marley pulls me to her. “You know she loves you, right?” Her eyes fill with concern. Marley is dressed as a belly dancer with her makeup smeared on thick as a paste giving her a dizzying animated quality. “I mean—she mentioned that you’ve talked about your feelings, but she’s my roommate, and I really care about her. Don’t even think of cheating on her, or I’ll knife you.” She says it so cool and matter of fact, I think I misheard.
“I would never hurt Annie. There’s nobody else I want. Cheating isn’t happening.” I’ve only met Marley a few times, but there’s definitely something that’s got her ticking like a bomb. “What’s really going on?”
“Never mind. It’s a me thing. Just got some bad news today, that’s all. Know this, when a girl loves you with all her heart, you owe her that much at least. And if you decide to get involved with someone else—do her the courtesy of getting out of your relationship first. Nobody is holding a gun to your head asking you to lead a double life.” She screams the last few words at me before taking off toward the exit like a hurricane on fire.
What the hell was that about? Is she talking about Olivia?
I try to find Annie, but she and her brothers have disappeared. Great. I wouldn’t put it past her dicey big bros to have paid Marley to chew me out so they could whisk Annie to safety. I’m sure they’ve got her tied to the back of their truck as they speed their way to Mommy’s house. They can’t handle the fact she’s grown into a beautiful woman. I get it. But, at the same time, I don’t.
I thread through the crowd and head for the restroom. A body slams into mine as I make my way inside and pushes me into a stall. Before I know it, a sweater is coming off, and my face is plunged down into the soft cushion of oversized tits. I struggle from the herculean grip this chick’s got on me and pull back hoping to see the face of the girl I love.
Nope, not Annie.
Night Magic
Annie
IspotMarley darting out the door in tears and leave Bryson midsentence to go after her.
The night air is frigid. The moon hangs low and full, glowing like a wafer in the sky—perfect considering it’s Halloween. Speaking of which, Marley has been raving about the holiday for weeks. She even made her own elaborate costume that she spent hours sewing herself. She let me know that as soon as Will came down for the weekend she was going to do a little belly dance for him in private. Those velvet cuffs of hers are still yearning to be broken in. I don’t judge Marley’s need for kink. I just want to slap Will upside the head for not giving it to her. Givingitto her. I frown at the irony.
I flag her down before she crosses the street, and she backtracks.
What’s going on? Are you going to meet with Will?That was stupid. Obviously, she’s upset, but a part of me is hoping these are happy tears and there’s finally an end to her misery. I’ve never seen anyone so love sick before. It’s about as pleasant to watch as oral surgery sans the Novocain.
She shakes her head as she sniffs back tears. The wind pulls her unruly blonde mane back revealing glittering eyes. “He can’t come. He’ll try tomorrow.” Her lips bloat a ruby red as she clicks into her phone.A friend of mine who lives in his building says there might be someone else.
Oh my, God, I’m so sorry.My heart breaks as I type out the rest of my reply.Are you sure? Maybe this friend is just jealous. I think maybe you should hold off until you can speak with him in person.
“Oh, I will.” She clicks into her phone.I’m holding back all of my anger. I’ll deal with the son of a bitch when I see him.Her expression morphs from anger to concern. “Are you really spending the night with Blake?”
I shrug.I want to. We’ll see. If I’m not home, don’t worry. I’ll be by around noon. I’m taking Blake to meet my family tomorrow night.
Marley touches her head as if checking for a fever. “Spending the night—meeting the family? All in one weekend?” She makes a face at the Black Bear. “You should, though, you’re in love.” She leans in and lands a sweet kiss to my cheek before pulling back and typing into her phone.I guess I’ll go troll the Internet for some ‘how to keep your man’ articles—you know, taking one for the team.She digs her pinky into the corner of her eye before continuing.I envy you. Goodnight.
Marley envies me. I marvel as I head back into the bar. I don’t believe there’s been a person in my life that’s ever envied me before. But I am in love. My feet hardly touch the ground as I start in on the search for the man of my dreams. That’s what Blake is. Actually that’s not entirely true. Blake is more than I could have ever dreamed up, and that’s the best part. It’s as if reality blindsided me in the best way possible.
I spot Holt and Bryson standing in the entry with Blake between them.
Oh, for God’s sake. Leave him alone.I sign before plucking him out of their clutches.
“We found him stumbling out of the bathroom with this girl, right here, hanging off him.” Bryson steps back exposing Ms. America—Ms. I’m-going-to-turn-you-into-a -torpedo, Ms. I’m-going-to-dry-hump-your-boyfriend-on-stage Johanna.
Her hair is rumpled. She’s wearing half as much as she was earlier. I lean in a little. Is she in her bra or is that a costume? And why is Laney trying to force water down her throat?
Blake gently lifts my chin. His tender eyes beg me to listen before he ever says a word. “She attacked me in the restroom. She’s drunk out of her mind.” He winces. “She shoved her chest in my face. I swear”—he holds up his hands as if to prove a point, but he doesn’t have to, the disbelief in his eyes says it all—“I had nothing to do with it.”
Johanna gesticulates something to Laney, and a glass of water goes flying.
