“I’m not going to be gone long,” I promise, stepping into her and palming her cheeks with both hands. “My nephews will be just fine without me for a few days. I’ll leave you my key. If they want to come over and play X-Box, bring them. My house is your house. You know that.”
“You’re sure about this?”
Am I?
I release a sigh that feels like it’s lived inside of me for twenty long years.“Yeah. I need to look him in the eye when I force him to explain himself. Then I’ll sign his precious papers and leave. Easy breezy.”
10
Demi
“Hey, Demi,” Jake calls from the bar. “What’ll it be?”
Popping up on my tiptoes, I lean over the bar. “Diet Coke, please. I’m supposed to help Hayes with his class tonight, and he practically made me sign in blood, promising I wouldn’t drink when I help him.”
“I’m not surprised,” he laughs. “The boss doesn’t fuck around when it comes to safety. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t even have a bar at all if it were up to him.”
I’m starting to think a lot of things wouldn’t happen if it were up to Hayes. While I, unfortunately, can’t stop thinking about the night we had together, he’s been nothing but distant since we agreed I’d work for him at the club, helping with his classes. Class after class, I’ve been here… ready to help, however I can, and all I get is a spot at the back of the class, with some dumbass explanation that I need to learn the basics first.
He’s got another class tonight and I’m about ready to let Jake pour me a drink, since the chances that I’ll actually have to perform are slim-to-none.
“Demiiiiiii!” Her voice registers well above the music billowing through the bar speakers, well before I see her face. Within seconds, a tight slap lands–hard–against my right ass cheek.
I flip around on my barstool and regard the crazy woman that has become a close friend. “Hi, Wrinley,” I chuckle as I greet her. There is literally no one like this woman. I happen to know Gravity has a strict dress code, yet every time I see her here, she’s wearing what I would call the exact opposite. Today, it looks like an oversized sweater and way too short jean shorts. Interesting choice. My eyebrows shoot up as I take her in. “Love the outfit.”
“Right?” she chirps, plopping down on the stool next to me. “Ari is watching the girls for me tonight. I needed something comfortable but also something that would force my husband to charge down here and punish me. He loves these shorts, but he’s forbidden me more than once from wearing them to the club.”
I shake my head and laugh, yet again. “You two are something else. More power to you, though. Axel scares the shit out of me.”
“Don’t let him scare you. He’s just a big teddy bear under the guise of a very dark cloud.”Somehow, I doubt that.“Jake, can I have that dirty virgin drink I love so much?”
Jake slides a glass of water to her, without fanfare. “You know I can’t do that Wrinley.”
“Fuck. It was worth a try,” she pouts, her back slouching just a little at his denial, then turns back to face me. “So, what are you up to, looking likethat?”
I look down at my clothes, confused. I’m in a cropped white t-shirt and red boy short panties. It’s giving ‘basic bitch’. Club appropriate, but nothing special. “This… is nothing. I was supposed to help Hayes with his class, but I’ve been benched… Again.”
“Wait,” her brow pops up in question. “I didn’t know he needed help with his classes.”
“I’m starting to think he doesn’t and it was just an excuse to give me a free club membership.”
She stares at me for too long, before she speaks. “Well, I say if you want him, you should just go take what you want. Fuck him and his classes.”
“Oh no, we’re not… I don’t…” I make an exaggerated attempt at shaking my head to drive my point home that Hayes and I arejustfriends.Despite the lingering thread of want taking up residence in the back of my brain.
“You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I’m the last person to judge.” She leans in close and finishes her thought with a barely there whisper. “Plus, Hayes is hot as fuck. You could do way worse. Oh shit, here comes my husband. Don’t tell him I said that last part. Hoes before bros.”
“Wrinley, I’m a lesbian,” I correct her. “Hayes and I are just friends.”
Her mouth opens in surprise as tattooed arms wrap around her waist and hoist her into the air. She lets out a surprised and protesting screech.
“Pardon us,” Axel mumbles, followed by a tight slap against her ass. “My wife has to answer for her indiscretions.”
As he carries her away, she tips her head up and shouts, “Don’t be afraid to take what you want, girl.” Then they’re gone.
I lean forward and bang my forehead–a little too hard–against the bar with a huff.
“She’s not wrong, you know.” I peer at Jake in my periphery and watch him refill my Diet Coke with his trusty soda gun. “Hayes is a great guy, but he’s… wound a little tight. His world revolves around safety and rules and order. He does, however, listen to logic and reasoning. Approach him with facts he can’t refuse and I bet he’ll give you what you want.”
