Kline returns then, beers in hand. He slows slightly when he sees we’ve gained some company, his eyes flicking between the girls before handing me my drink and sliding back into his seat.
Grasping for a safer subject, Raelynn turns to face Kline, her lips curled into a smile that was doing little to mask her embarrassment. “How are you doing, Kline?” she asks him as he pushes the lime into his beer with his thumb. Beer fizzles out the top, coating his thumb, and he pulls it out and sucks it off.
“Could be better. You?”
“Honestly, not bad.”
“That’s good. How about you ladies?” He turns his attention to Raelynn’s friends. Khloe leans against the table, giving him an exaggerated once-over.
“Having the time of my life, baby,” she purrs, her eyes shamelessly undressing Kline now. Raelynn groans quietly, covering her face with one hand as I chuckle behind the rim of my beer.
Kline chuckles, lifting his beer. “That’s good to hear,” he says, taking a slow drink, his gaze locked on Khloe the entire time.
“You here to sing?” he asks as he sets the bottle down, the glass clinking softly against the table.
“Mmhmm,” Khloe hums. “We’ve already sung a few, but—” She leans across the table, elbows resting against the marble as her chest presses forward. The blue bikini top beneath her pink crocheted layer does little to hold her breasts in; they are barely hanging on, the curve of her nipples teasing the edge of the thin fabric. Kline’s eyes drop, just for a second too long. His grip tightens around the bottle until his knuckles pale, and he subtly shifts in his seat.
“—I can always sing another just for you, baby,” Khloe finishes, voice low and dripping with suggestion, punctuating it with a slow, sultry wink.
Kline nods, eyes never leaving Khloe’s chest as he lifts the bottle and drains the rest like it’s water. Two heavy gulps, and it’s gone. The glass hits the table with a sharpclack, louder than it should be in the charged silence between them.
That was my cue.
The last thing I need tonight is to witness my partner pop a boner for a girl barely old enough to legally drink. I watch his eyes trail after her as she gives him one last wink, her glossy lips curling in mischief before she spins on her heel and follows her friends back to their table.
Kline doesn’t even try to hide it; he stands up and stalks after her like a dog in heat, his eyes glued to the way her ass sways with each step. And with the way those frayed shorts barely covered her, he didn’t have to use much imagination.
I glance over at Raelynn.
She’s watching the scene unfold with thinly veiled discomfort. Her arms are loosely crossed, and her lips are slightly pursed like she is trying to decide whether to laugh or cringe.
I lean toward her, raising my voice enough for her to hear over the tone-deaf, drunk singing and indistinct chatter. “Want to get some air?”
She meets my eyes, her expression softening immediately. There’s a flicker of relief in her gaze, like she’s been waiting for an out and wasn’t sure how to ask for it.
“Yeah,” she murmurs with a slight nod.
She doesn’t hesitate, just spins around and heads straight for the back exit. I follow close behind, tossing one last glance at Kline, who’s now seated with his back toward me and Khloe in his lap. I pray he doesn’t do something he’ll regret.
The door creaks as it swings open, and we step into the cool embrace of the desert night.
Out here, everything feels quieter. The door shuts behind us with a solidthunk, sealing off the noise and the heat. The air is dry and crisp, tinged with the faint scent of cigarette smoke and asphalt. Somewhere nearby, a car engine hums in the distance, blending with the soft chirping of crickets hidden in the brush. The contrast to the suffocating bar is instant and welcome.
Raelynn drifts over to a worn bench just off to the side of the building and sits, exhaling like she’s been holding her breath all night. I lean against the wall near the door, folding my arms across my chest as I watch her toe at the dirt with her wedge, grinding a cigarette butt into the gravel.
“Is she always like that?” I ask after a beat.
Raelynn sighs, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips. “Not always. Just when she’s drunk and finds someone she thinks is hot.”
She lets out a soft laugh and tilts her head slightly to the side, eyes glinting beneath the dim light above the door. “Honestly, she probably would’ve made a move onyouif she didn’t think something was going on between us.”
I glance at her as she continues to grind more butts into the ground. “Why would she think that?” I ask, a hint of amusement lacing my voice.
Raelynn lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine with an unreadable look. There’s a beat of silence. Tension crackles in the air between us, subtle but unmistakable. She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth like she’s holding something back.
I don’t stop myself. I have only known this girl for two fucking weeks, and already she was invading every single thought of mine.
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m crossing the space between us and dragging her to her feet, caging her body against the door with my hands pressed on either side of her head. Her breath catches. A combination of fear and lust radiates off her.
