There goes my movie night.
Nearly midnight,the party in Rapture is in full swing with no signs of slowing down. Turns out, a movie night isn't what I needed. This was. Loud music, slinging drinks and other peoples chatter is the perfect remedy to the solitude I thought I craved earlier. Dropping a few dirty glasses in the sink, I return back to my corner, and pause when I see the person on the other side. He flashes his straight, pearly whites at me, blue eyes glittering with excitement.
“Hey kiddo!” The familiar voice shouts over the music.
“Andy! What are you doing here?” It’s the first time I feel like I’ve smiled all week, and warmth spreads in my chest. My adoptive cousin lifts a shoulder. He’s the son of Melissa’s brother, and the only person that was actually kind to me after they brought me to their home.
“Some of the guys from work have been trying to get me to come here since this place opened. Tonight I finally gave in. I’m glad I did though, I haven’t seen you in so long,” he sighs. “Your mom’s pissed at you again I hear?”
“Number one, that wench is not my mother. Number two, I don’t care,” I tell him. He laughs, shaking his head then giving me a wink.
“She can eat shit for all I care. All of ‘em can. That event was just another one of their bullshit PR stunts anyway. It was boring as hell. You didn't miss anything.” Andy has never liked his own family. They’re miserable people who treat their children like shit. It’s how he and I bonded.
“Anyway,” he says before tossing back the rest of his beer. “I was on my way out the door and saw you, so I had to stop and say hey. Miss you, kiddo. Let’s hang out soon.”
“Definitely. Text me when you have free time.” I smile. He places his bottle down on the counter as a new hoard of people surround him. He gives me a wave and exits the club.
Even though I dreaded coming in for a shift, I’m glad I did. Andy became my rock, my safe place and my best friend when we were teenagers. He was hurt by my decision to try and cut myself off from the Steele family when I turned eighteen, but he understood why. Not that I’ve ever been able to completely go no contact with them. Melissa will never allow it. Only when she’s beneath the dirt will I ever be free of them.
We’ve stayed in touch through texts and social media, but we’ve always worked opposite shifts. He’s not a partier by any means, so it just meant getting together was even harder given I’ve been bartending since I turned twenty-one.
Looking over my shoulder, Cole stands at the end of the bar watching me with pinched eyebrows. Facing him straight on, I pin him down with a glare. He moves toward me, and I throw my hands on my hips.
“Who the hell was that?” Cole asks.
“I don’t know, just a customer,” I lie. “Why?”
“Seems like someone you know, judging by the smile on your face.”
“Nope. Just a nice guy. I have to play nice, Cole, remember? I don't get tips if I’m a bitch to the customers,” I explain dryly. I like Cole, but he works with Karson and I don't need himknowing about my cousin. If nothing else, to keep Andy from becoming a target for his menacing behavior. He’s too good for that.
Cole watches me cautiously for any hint of deception.
“Alright.” He nods, satisfied with my answer, then turns to go back to his post.
The last few hours of the night fly by. It was the busiest it’s been in a while, and my feet demand that I get off of them. We shut Rapture down, and I make my way to the elevator to the parking garage, ready to climb into bed.
Reaching out, I go to push the button as the elevator dings, and I hold my breath. I knew it was too good to be true. He finally figured out I was here, and decided to meet me at the threshold of freedom once again. The doors open, and a pang of disappointment hits as a couple laughs, arms wrapped around one another as they push past me. I step inside, press the button for my level and lean against the wall.
I was certain it was going to be Karson. I should feel relieved it wasn’t, but I’m pissed off now. Why no texts or calls? Why was he not looming in his booth tonight like he always does? And worst of all…whyam I bothered by it?
Exiting the elevator, I storm toward my car. I shouldn’t be mad he’s done the exact thing I’ve begged him to do for over a year–leave me alone. But I am, and it only adds fuel to the anger I feel. Angry at him. Angry at myself for caring that he’s disappeared.
My steps begin to slow as I come up to my row, the hairs on the back of my neck rising, and it’s not because of the chilly morning air. Someone’s watching me.
My shoulders sag, my head drops, and I let out a harsh breath. I don’t even have time to figure out why I was feeling disappointed before, or why I feel relief now, before he comes and fucks my mind up even more.
Whirling around, I see him leaning against a pillar two parking spaces behind me. He flashes an amused grin, and my stomach flips.
“Hey, doll.”
Shit.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“What are you doing here, Ashlynn?”Tilting my head slightly, I notice the blue of her eyes isn’t quite as bright tonight. Duller. Darker. It makes me wonder what the hell got to her today. She drops her bag on the ground, flinging her arms out to her side like she’s about to square up with the devil, shooting me an exhausted glare.
“What do you want from me, Karson? Huh?” Her voice bounces off the concrete structure. “I was working obviously. Something you would know if you hadn’t gone ghost the last two days.”
