o you already text him?”
“Perhaps.”
“Girl, you love the danger, don’t you?” Mallory mumbles between the lick of salt and the shot of tequila.Yes, I went to another bar.
“There’s something about him, Mal.” I watch as she sucks the lime and puckers her face. We are three shots deep when I realize I haven’t checked my phone for a reply.
As I pull my phone out of my purse, she continues, “Let me get this straight, Ava. Damien broke up with you. You fall into a bar-jumping rabbit hole claiming that you’re ‘fine.’ In said rabbit hole, you meet an even more dangerous man than the heir to Black Venom. But you don’t just leave it at that…” She keeps talking, but Rocco’s name is bannered across my screen.
ROCCO - 2 Unread Messages
ROCCO:
I didn’t think you were going to text me, doll.
I’m not your typical kind of man with a typical lifestyle…
ME:
I know who you are.
He never asks me how. He never questions my intentions with him. This situation reeks of danger and I’m about to suffocate.
Rocco:
I know this is forward, but I want to take you somewhere tomorrow.
You’ll be coming to my club first and I’ll send a car to pick you up around 8.
Me:
I’ll see you then.
“Or you don’t have to listen to me.” Mallory rolls her eyes, taking a big sip of her bottled water. “Why are you smirking at your phone like that? You’re creeping out the bartender.”
I take a deep breath and I spill the beans. “I’m going out with Rocco tomorrow night.”
Mallory’s perfectly glossed lips part slowly and her eyes widen. “Where are you going?” she asks calmly. The old Ava would’ve thought nothing of her reaction. But I’ve been through some shit and I know an agenda when I see one.
“Why would I tell you?” I snap more than I should’ve. I know my girls have my best interest at heart. But I’m feeling heartless lately. I’m feeling like I need a long, hard fuck.
“I was just going to ask if you want to hang before you go.”
I decide that I should probably shoot some liquid courage before I go out with this big, bad stranger and I agree. I shoot Rocco a text telling him that I’ll be at the club anyway with my friend and a car won’t be necessary.
The next day rolls around. Uneventfully, I might add.I nurse a tiny tequila hangover and grab a bite with Lilac, neglecting to tell her any information about my trip to the bar with Mallory and my mysterious plans with Rocco.
“Bitch, you look hot. Now, would you get in the car?” Mallory screams through her opened car window before I open the passenger door and slide in.
I’ve second-guessed my outfit seven times tonight. I finally decided on my hair down in beach waves, a cute white tank, a black bralette that accentuates my boobs, and a short black skirt.
During the 10-minute ride, she glances at me twice out of the corner of her eye.
“What’s up? Do I have lipstick on my teeth?”
“No. I’m just making sure you want to go through with this.” She sounds hesitant.
“Go through with what, Mal? It’s a harmless date.”
