“Are you guys hungry?” Noah asked. “I eat here all the time. The food’s not bad, but it’s not great either.”
“We’re good.”
Noah clapped him on the shoulder and lowered his voice. “Doesn’t your friend say anything?”
When Archer turned his head to the left, Krys gave him the evil eye.
Noah leaned forward. “What’s your name? I know we met once, but it’s a fucking blur.”
“Krys Kelso. With a K-R-Y.”
“What? Did you sayKrys Kelso? Are you shitting me? As in Christopher Kelso? Wasn’t he the serial killer I heard about all those years ago?” Then Noah doubled over with laughter.
Krys leaned in tight. “You’re right. I fucking hate the prick. Say the word, and I’ll beat his ass.”
“Cecilia had a good opening day,” Archer said over the music.
Noah’s head lolled back. “I saw it on the cameras. Good for her,” he said begrudgingly.
“She made a lot of money.”
“Maybe now I can stop thinking about those fucking books. I don’t see what people get out of just sitting and reading a bunch of pages on ancient bullshit nobody cares about. You know what I’m saying? People with books are egomaniacs who think they’re better than everyone else. I’m glad I never met her dear old dad. He sounded like a sanctimonious asshole.”
Archer guzzled his beer, wondering how a sweet girl had wound up with a drunkard. Then he remembered how her voice lit up when she talked about how they had met—how Noah had wooedher and showered her with attention. Noah probably didn’t drink back then, or perhaps he’d kept it hidden. For a girl who’d lived a reclusive life, it wouldn’t have been difficult to turn on the charm.
Maybe that’s what gnawed at him. Cecilia was a good girl, and she deserved better.
A woman in tall platforms and little else strutted by, the leash in her hand attached to the collar on a black panther. When the animal stepped ahead of her, she jerked the leash. The large cat roared before rubbing against her and joining her side.
Two ladies walked past.
“Come here, princess.” Noah waved one over and placed a hundred-dollar bill on his crotch. “Show me how much you want it, baby. Work for it.”
The dark woman licked her lips and looked between the men. “Is this a group party?” She got on her knees and stroked his thighs. “I love a party.” As swiftly as she took that money and stuffed it into her pink bra, she straddled him.
Noah smacked her ass as she rocked against him, his face buried in her cleavage. After biting her breast, he growled, “I love me a fucking tiger.” Noah grabbed her ass, his fingertips digging in deep.
Something shifted on the woman’s expression, like he’d taken it further than he should have. If the bouncers were his pals, it would make it easier for him to escape consequences.
“You’re too rough,” she purred in his ear.
He smacked her ass harder. The popping sound made Archer tense.
Too hard.
“Hey, hey,” Archer intervened, reaching in his wallet and pulling out a fifty. “Why don’t you go find our server? We could use another round.” He winked at her with a look ofI will cut off his hand if he does that one more timeand offered her the money.
The lady gripped Noah’s wrists as she drew back, aprofessional but condescending smile painted on her pretty face the whole time. “Why don’t I find Stacy?”
“Stacy’s no fun,” Noah said. “She likes it too much. I need someone who begs me to stop.”
When Archer turned his head, Krys was nowhere to be found.
Turning his attention to a woman strutting by, he asked Noah, “Where are you staying? We’re here for the night.”
Noah finished his beer and set it on a narrow round table. “The hotel next door. It’s pricey, but they’ve got a pool and a gym. I’ll talk to the guy and see if I can get you a deal. I know everyone.” Noah put his arm around Archer. “Stick around, friend. The night is young. I’ll show you what a good time is.”
Archer wokeup the next morning with a splitting headache. Noah’s promises of getting them a discount at the hotel had fallen through, so it cost them a lot of money since Krys wanted a separate room. It wasn’t that Krys didn’t trust Archer; he just didn’t like anyone sleeping near him. Archer wasn’t sure where he’d gone off to last night, only that they’d met up later in the evening. Noah wanted to stay at the club, so they left him.
