Chapter 26
Mia
I was hot and horny, a dangerous combination. Watching the way Derek dealt with the drunks shouldn’t have turned me on, but I couldn’t help it. The moment he arrived on the scene, everyone else seemed to step back and wait for his instructions. He didn’t take any bullshit from anyone. He dominated the space, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. It wasn’t just me he possessed with a simple look or a few well-chosen words. Within minutes the table was back on its legs, the offenders had been frog marched out the door, the overly emotional if not slightly intoxicated woman was silenced, and tonight’s performance was over.
“So…”
I looked at Kenz. She had mischief written all over her face. “If you have something to say, just spit it already!”
She threw her head back and cackled like a hyena. I’d never been so grateful for the horrid Bieber music that was blaring in the club than I was in that moment. “You guys were looking awfully cosy.”
“Your point being?”
“You ready to head out?”
I tried to keep my face neutral, but I don’t think it succeeded. From the moment I’d agreed to Derek’s startling request, I’d been not looking forward to this. Kenz wouldn’t judge me. It wasn’t her style. She knew my history and she knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I wasn’t sure.
“Actually…”
“Yes?”
She knew. The bitch already knew. It was written all over her face. Her eyes were alight with trouble and her smile was slightly evil. The bitch knew, yet she was still going to make me say it. Make me fess up.
“Umm…I was…”
“Yes, Mia? You were going to what?”
I felt the sweat bead on my forehead under her scrutiny. There was nothing I hated more than being put on the spot. “Derek’s asked me to go home with him.”
The smile that consumed Kenz’s face resembled the Joker from theBatmanmovies?wide, crazy, slightly maniacal. It took her a moment to calm herself down; when she did, she wrapped my hands in her own on the table between us.
“Do you want to? Just because he asked doesn’t mean shit, Mia.” Gone was the teasing and taunting, replaced with genuine concern. I found myself nodding softly. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I am. I know it seems…well, it seems fast, but…”
“Mia, stop! You don’t have to explain shit to me. Or anyone else, for that matter! If you’re happy, if you want this, then fuck, I say go for it! I’ll even cover your classes for you tomorrow.”
“You’d do that?” I was honestly shocked. I’d expected a safe sex lecture or Kenz to insist on some weird kind of check-in schedule to make sure I was okay. Instead, she’d told me to go forth and conquer.
“Absolutely! You mightn’t think you’re ready for this, but you are. I have no doubt in my mind. So go, Mia. Be happy.”
I didn’t give her a chance to keep talking. Instead I climbed out of the booth and wrapped my arms around her. Somehow her words and her faith in me managed to silence some of my demons. For the time being, anyway. Even if she didn’t know it and I refused to acknowledge their existence, those demons were there. They always were. Haunting me. Taunting me. Tonight though, tonight I needed them to fuck off and let me be a normal twenty-something woman. Or at the very least, pretend to be.
“Come on. I’ll walk you out.” I pulled Kenz out of the booth, linked my arms through hers, and together we headed towards the exit.
An hour later I was back in the booth, my feet propped up on the seat, my eyes barely open, and I was regretting staying. I was tired and anxious and starting to shake. Sitting there sipping my water, I watched as slowly but surely the club started to empty. As much as he could, Derek stayed close, chatting to me, and whenever he was needed elsewhere, it didn’t escape my notice that one of the other bouncers seemed to hover within reach.
“You ready?”
Derek’s voice shocked me out of my sleepy haze. I hadn’t seen him heading back in my direction, but nevertheless, there he was. Even through my tired, half closed eyes, I couldn’t help but be impressed. “Absolutely!”
“Let’s get out of here then.”
I found my feet, and before I had a chance to object, Derek’s huge hand settled on the lower part of my back, causing a warmth to spread through my body. I hated that I liked it. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t want it. But fuck me, I did.
“Don’t you have to help lock up or something?”
“Not tonight.”
