“I promised you a movie date.”
I follow him down to his motorcycle and hope my helmet doesn’t completely flatten my hair. Celia gave me some products and tips. I’m learning how to be a little girly for my guy.
We ride through town to the local cinema. I haven’t been to the movies since I was a little kid. I think. Two other motorcycles pull up on either side of us as I’m climbing off Lunatic’s Harley. One belongs to Hero and I don’t know who the other guy is.
Not until he takes off his helmet.
My stomach drops to my feet at the sight of Tyrant. I’ve managed to avoid him since I’ve been back. I was bound to run into him at some point. I wasn’t expecting it to happen tonight. He’s got some chick with him that eyes me up and down like she needs to approve of me. When I see the hungry way she’s looking at my guy, it clicks. She must be one of the women he fucked when I was in Lonerock. I can’t be mad at him for it. We weren’t together and we’ve not really put a label on what we are. I straighten my spine and pour my energy into pretending Tyrant doesn’t exist.
All six of us get our tickets. The guys get in line for our snacks and drinks while Layla drags Ophelia and me to the bathroom. I know a mean girl when I see one, and she’s definitely going to be a problem.
Ophelia goes into a stall, leaving me with this chick. She touches up her lipstick in the mirror. “Props to you, girl. I hear you’ve managed to lock Lunatic down.” She smirks. “He’s a damn good lay. Don’t you think?” My cheeks redden at her crudeness. “You have fucked him, right? God, the way he eats pussy.” She moans. “You ever tire of him? You can send him back my way.”
I ball my fist at my side and count to five.
She looks at me and laughs before sauntering out.
A toilet flushes, and Ophelia exits the stall to wash her hands. “Ignore her. She’s just jealous.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Trust me. She just wants a reaction. Bitches like that thrive on attention. Let her smother.”
Ophelia loops her arm through mine, and together we trail Layla down the dark, carpeted hallway to the theater where the guys are waiting for us.
Lunatic stands off to the side holding my soda and a monster tub of popcorn. He gives me my drink and puts a hand on my lower back, drawing me closer. The way Layla eyes his hand and then stares daggers at me makes my skin buzz. I force a flirty smile and tiptoe up to kiss his cheek, making sure the salty bitch sees it.
I expect her to scowl or huff, but instead she smiles, all teeth. “Hope the movie isn’t too scary for you, Daisy.” The way she says it makes my stomach sour, but Lunatic squeezes my waist. I can’t help but wonder what Tyrant or Lunatic may have told her about me.
“C’mon, Babygirl. Let’s find our seats.”
I ignore the look she gives him as she saunters past us. He doesn’t seem to pay her any mind, which makes me feel better.
The opening credits are a blur. I’m too aware of Lunatic’s hand on my thigh, his thumb tracing lazy circles over the dark denim. He holds the popcorn in his lap. The way we’re seated is Tyrant, Layla, Lunatic, me, then Ophelia, and Hero. I go to put my hand in the popcorn bucket and find Layla’s hand in it. She smiles sickly sweet at me when I shoot her a dirty look. “Oops. Reflex. I’m right-handed.”
Lunatic gives her a cross look, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he puts the bucket in my lap and brings my left hand to his lap, linking his fingers with mine. The movie’s nothing special. It’s loud with lots of gore. There’s zero romance, but I letmyself relax by resting my head on his shoulder and pretending nobody in the world exists except us.
His arm wraps around the back of my neck, thumb tracing lazy circles over my skin. I can’t focus on the screen. Every nerve is tuned to his touch. The way my body heats whenever he touches me has my skin on fire. All I want is to get him alone, to see if tonight he’ll finally cross the invisible line I drew between us and fuck me.
Layla keeps glancing over at us, but I don’t give her an opportunity to interrupt us. I shrink into him at every kill scene, hiding my eyes in his neck, giving him soft kisses there and behind his ear.
The closing credits roll, and we file out.
“Are you guys coming to the clubhouse?” Tyrant questions and I can’t help but wonder if he has some ulterior motive in asking.
I haven’t been back there since I moved into my apartment. “I work in the morning,” I mumble as Lunatic says, “maybe for a minute.”
Layla smirks at me, and I get a terrible feeling about this.
“We don’t have to go if you aren’t up for it,” Lunatic tells me, handing me my helmet.
“It’s fine. I want to see Gwynee anyway,” I lie. I need to get this over with. Part of healing is being able to face the past.
Chapter Fifteen
I left Daisy at the bar with Ophelia and Hero. I drank too much fucking soda at the movies.
I get into the bathroom and unzip my jeans at the urinal when soft hands come around me and grab my dick. “God, I’ve missed you,” Layla purrs in my ear. I glance down, seeing her red fingernails.
