“Shit, man.” He grabs the pillow from me, throwing it to the other couch when I don’t respond. “You need to blow some steam, bad. Why don’t you try to find someone outside of the club? Take a break from there for a little while. I can’t believe I’m even going to suggest this, but maybe you need an actual relationship to rid your memory of this chick.”
“You know I don’t roll like that.” I haven’t had a girlfriend in years, and I don’t hook up outside of the club. I sit up, taking a deep breath, trying to rid myself of my mood.
“You’d be speaking a different tune if you saw this little hottie in my night class.”
“Cole, you know you can’t fuck your students. Besides, what are they? Barely eighteen?”
“Not this one, man. She’s twenty-eight and smoking hot. She’s into me, too. Hasn’t even tried to hide it.”
“Just don’t get yourself into trouble, again. You’re lucky you didn’t get nailed for that undergrad a few years ago.”
“Hey, how was I supposed to know she was only seventeen? There should be a law that says you can’t enter college until you’re at least legal. That’s just false advertising.”
I shake my head at his antics. The guy’s a manwhore and tries to get at everything that walks. I take advantage at the club, but in everyday life, he’s on his own.
“Shut up already about which girl you’re going to bang next.”
“But where’s the fun in that?”
“Just get out,” I huff.
“Whatever, Carter. Get your shit in gear. It’s pathetic seeing you like this over some chick.”
He walks out of my apartment, and I don’t take his advice. Instead, I hit the arrow again on my stereo, playingFalling Inside the Blackon repeat until I get a text from work because I’m the doctor on call.
* * *
Idebated even going tonight, especially after the shit with Cole today. The need for a release won me over, though. My chest tightens at the thought when I pull my mask over my face and walk down the alley heading toward Club Bridge.
Cole is already here, and when I walk to the bar, he approaches, reaching his hand out in our handshake greeting, saying, “We all good?”
I nod, not in the mood for any talking tonight, and he reads me correctly, knowing I get like this sometimes, and turns to order a drink.
I look at the door as a girl with a mask unlike anything else here, covering more of her face than normal, walks in. Her sexy lingerie shows off her tight little body, and the boy short panties hug her ass perfectly, leaving just the right amount hanging out, piquing my interest.
I hit Cole’s back to get his attention, tilting my head in her direction before cocking it to the side, showing my interest without having to say a word.
Cole steals a glance before turning back to me and nodding his silentI’m on itcommunication. To both of our surprise, she heads in our direction, and Cole never leaves my side.
“Hi, boys,” the mystery woman says as she puts her hand on Cole’s chest. She’s definitely not shy, which is a plus.
“Hey, sexy,” Cole responds while wrapping his arm around her waist. “I’m Maverick. You look like you want to play tonight.”
“Maverick?” she teases. “And who’s this? Goose?” She points at me.
I let out a sharp laugh, always teasing him about his name, but he loved that damn movie and wouldn’t dare change it for anything…no matter how much he’s mocked.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he taunts back.
“Um, no, don’t you remember? He dies in the end.”
“Why would you care who dies or not? Isn’t that the reason you’re here, to not care who we really are and what really happens to us?” She tilts her head, letting his reasoning set in, but he continues before she can respond, “You’re new here, aren’t you?”
She nods while squeezing between us to get the bartender’s attention. “A Dirty Shirley, please.”
Cole smirks. “That sounds fitting. Are you a dirty girl?”
“Oh, please. Did you really just ask me that?” She looks in my direction. “You gonna let this guy do all the talking? Because he’s not doing so well. Maybe it’s time you step in.”
