My eyes narrow, and he just grins like the fucking Cheshire Cat, all too pleased with himself and his stupid joke.
"Well," Brigit clears her throat. "If you're alright, I'm gonna go."
Skyler's face crinkles in confusion, "Why wouldn't he be alright?"
"There's a bunch of fucking reporters outside," I grumble. "They were waiting for me."
"Fuck. Your involvement with Mingle wasn't public knowledge. You're a silent partner here. Someone had to have tipped them off," Sky groans. "Ugh, that's gonna ruin everything for tonight. No way anyone is gonna feel safe to come here when the media is crawling on our doorstep."
"I'll draw them out," I volunteer. "They're here for me. If I leave, they will, too."
"You couldn't even speak out there, Cormac," Brigit whispers. “There's no way you'll get past them without the cameras and shouting messing with you again."
I wave my hand, dismissing her concerns, "I'll be fine. I just wasn't expecting them before. Now that I know they're out there, I can ignore them. I'll peel out of the parking lot like a mad man and that'll give them something to fucking write about that doesn't matter."
She hums uncomfortably, "I don't know. You seemed really messed up."
"I'll do it," Sky volunteers. "Give me your shirt and your keys. The turtleneck will hide my lack of bat tat. The sun is starting to go down, I've still got 40 minutes until we open. Brigit and I will walk out and she'll act like I'm you and try to protect me from them. Then I'll sneak back in the side door. You just gotta take over prep work. Wolfy knows what needs to be done still."
My eyes land on Brigit, who's only turned more and more red at the prospect of being alone with Skyler.
But she nods, "It'll be fine. I did what I came here to do. I'll get him to your car and leave just like I was going to do after delivering your jacket."
Just like I was going to do.
Bullshit.
She knew I was going to find some way to trap her, to keepher just long enough to soak up a little bit of her magnificence, or she wouldn't have come here.
Shewantedto see me.
I haven't broken back into her place since we set up the security, and she was feeling a little disappointed that it seems to have worked.
I concede, a plan already forming in my mind on how to fix her disappointment, "Okay."
Stripping out of my shirt, I catch Brigit's gaze landing on my stomach before flitting away, the warmth on her cheeks bleeding into her ears and neck.
Sky and I make the change quickly, and he pulls on my hoodie to hide his face.
Before they can leave, I wrap my arm around Brigit, landing a quick kiss on her temple, "Thanks, Bunny. See you soon."
Then they disappear out the door, the sound of those leeches outside leaking in the door. Her eyes land on me one last time before the door slams shut with my girl and my friend on the other side.
Sky better not give her a hard time.
He's definitely going to.
Fucking hell.
Chapter 19
Chit Chat
BRIGIT
The moment Skyler and I get outside, leaving Cormac behind, the questions and cameras resume their madness.
Shouts of Cormac's name and questions about both his crimes and his life before them surround us as we quickly move down the steps. Skyler has the hoodie pulled up over his head, dramatically covering his face and neck, keeping his gaze on the ground so he doesn't accidentally reveal his true identity.
