Scowling at him, I shake my head. “You know they’re two different people, right?”
“Please, Cora, please, I’ll do whatever you want. Let me go, please.” Just for extra emphasis, the idiot drops to his knees.
“What the fuck are you doing, dumbass?” Rhett’s voice cuts through the lobby of the shop. His client is next to him and looks just as confused.
“Here, let me help you, Logan.” I take his card and go over post-care with him, just to solidify what Rhett has no doubt already talked about.
I try to ignore the guys while wishing him a good night. I turn around and find the three of them staring at me.
“No.” Folding my arms over my chest, I give them what I hope is a serious expression. “Not happening. Girls’ night means girls only. None of you are girls.”
“I dunno,” Rhett chimes in. “Kash could maybe go for one. After all, he’s got the pecs and the bun.”
Seth bites back a laugh as Rhett tries unsuccessfully to ruffle Kash’s hair.
“Do not touch my hair. Or my pecs for that matter.” He crosses both arms over his chest. “I feel so objectified.”
“You are absolutely ridiculous, and you’re not going.”
“I wonder what Atlas would say,” Rhett muses.
“Why would Atlas have an opinion?”
“Oh, that’s cute, Care Bear,” Kash jokes. Pulling me under his arm, he says, “Let me tell you a secret.” He leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Atlas?—”
“Do you want to explain what thefuckyou’re doing, Kash?”
Quickly dropping his arm and stepping back, Kash moves away, allowing me to turn around and face Atlas. He looks pissed. His dark hair is free of its usual beanie, leaving a few stray pieces to fall across his forehead. His dark eyes are laser-focused on Kash, who is now standing beside Seth.
“Hey, I thought you left.” Cringing when his eyes focus on me, I continue, “Kash is just being Kash.”
The front of the shop is quiet. So quiet I can hear the hands on the clock moving around the circle. Each click of a second passing is louder than a car crash.
No one pays attention when the door opens or the bell chimes until a new voice asks, “So… what’s going on in here?”
Everyone’s heads whip toward the door, and I almost sigh in relief to find Mila and Mara standing there. Mila’s light hair is slightly curled, falling around her shoulders, while Mara has her signature snake nose ring, high ponytail, and permanent scowl.
“I’m in love,” Kash whispers, staring between my friends.
Mila looks confused, and Mara seems irritated.
Mila’s light eyes find mine. “Are we still going out, or did you change your mind? I know we’re a bit early, sorry.”
Mara says nothing. She simply stares at Rhett, who is looking at her just as intently.Weird.
“Wait. What’s going on?” Atlas grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. “Are you leaving?”
His stare is heavy, and he stands so close that I can smell his cologne. It’s a combination of woodsy and citrus scents, almost like being at the beach. I lean in and can’t help but inhale his scent.
The smile that breaks out across his face stops my heart. I almost don’t care that he caught me smelling him. He’s so handsome when he smiles. His dark eyes look lighter when he stares at me like he is. It contrasts with the dark tattoos that cover chunks of his body. There’s a warmth to him; I can feel it.
“It’s girls’ night!” Kash shouts. “We’re all going out, bitches!”
“I don’t think you were invited,” Mila reminds him. “Pretty sure you have a penis, pretty boy. That automatically gets you uninvited.”
“But it’s such a nice penis,” Kash drawls.
Tuning the rest of them out as they squabble, Atlas searches my eyes.
