Page 3 of How to Lose at Love

“Ok. Well, time for me to go. Embry hang in there. It seems like you are doing so well. You have my number, and likely everyone's on the team. Call if you need anything.”

Gentry glared at Dari as she passed him, “Ok, well, try Duke first, apparently.” Dari smiled, waved, and was out the door.

“I didn't know you worked on motorcycles,” Duke said, twisting the bar stool so she faced him as he leaned down to nuzzle her neck.

Embry sighed, tilting her head to give him more room, “I have a garage of sorts at my storage unit.”

“Why haven't we been there yet?” he unbuttoned the shirt she had borrowed from him, opened the front closure bra she preferred because of her cast. His mouth covered her right breast, his hand her left, his free hand at the small of her back, pulling her closer.

Her knees latched around his hips, “because of this,” she moaned. He grabbed her off the bar stool and lips fused to hers, walked blindly into the bedroom as she shucked her shirt and bra.

22

TREY

Trey’s phone started ringing just after midnight with Kesha’s Tik Tok. He grabbed the phone from the nightstand without disturbing Arianna laying against him. “Tara,” his voice rough from sleep. “This better be good.”

“J—”

Trey launched up, feet hitting the ground, “Where are you?” Arianna sat up, the sheets dropping to her waist. Both were naked. He moved around the room grabbing up his clothes, pulling them on as he continued talking with Tara.

“I’m scared.”

He nodded, “Where are you! ... Ok, stay there. I’ll be there shortly. I’m serious, don’t move.” Trey hung up and sent a text message next.

Arianna started to get out of bed to get dressed. “No, baby,” he said coming around the bed as he buttoned his jeans. “I’m sorry I woke you, go back to bed. I’ll call you later.”

“Is everything ok?”

“No, but it will be.” He leaned down, kissed her, adding, “and there’s nothing for you to do.”

Trey gotto the bar Tara said she was stuck at. Cowboy and Hammer pulled up right behind him. “What’s going on?” Cowboy asked first, “I was snuggled in tight with?—”

“So was I,” Trey cut him off. “I got a call from Tara. She’s in the bathroom. She’s scared.” The two teammates nodded, and they headed toward the entrance.

Cowboy and Hammer moved around the bar, settling for the best viewpoints. Trey went directly to the bathroom. He motioned to keep an eye on the couple of guys sitting at a table he passed. Trey knocked as he entered the women’s bathroom, “Tara?” A couple of girls at the sinks spun toward the door. They sized up Trey and smiled at each other. “Tara?”

One of the girls at the sink pointed at the last stall, “There’s someone in there.”

Without turning his back on the sinks, he moved to the last stall, “open the door, Tara.” Trey’s eyes widened when he saw Tara sitting on the floor, skimpy clothes askew, makeup running, grip marks on her arms. “What happened?” he settled onto the floor across from her. With their knees up, their feet still touched. “I went out with him. He was exciting. Then it started getting scary, he’s dangerous. He wanted more…”

Trey took a deep breath, “I need you to be extremely specific with me, Tara. Did he rape you?” The look of disgust on his sister’s face said no, “No. He wanted to have sex for sure, but I’m in here and his balls probably need ice.”

He exhaled gratefully. “Did he put those marks on you?” he motioned at her arms. Tara nodded. “Tara, I’m not playing. Did he touch you?”

“John, I called you, remember!”

Trey took a deep breath, “I’m sorry, hon. Let’s get you out of here.” Trey pulled his sister up on her feet, when she freaked about her make-up reminded her to simply wash it off. He pulledhis overshirt off and let her put it on, leaving him in a tight white t-shirt as they stepped out of the bathroom.

Immediately upon seeing her, the guy from the school stood up from the table. He blindly approached Tara, trying a sly grin. Trey lifted his hand in warning, “I’d let her go.”

“What’s up, dude. You don’t know anything. She’s with me.” Pulling a knife handle out of the front of his pants he looked at Trey menacingly, “And if I was you, I’d mind my own business.”

Trey pushed Tara behind him, grabbed the punk’s shirt and as he lifted him off the ground, took the knife from the kid’s pants, and slammed him down on the nearest table. Hammer and Cowboy converged. Cowboy to cover Tara and Trey. Hammer to cover the table the kid had stood up from. Trey looked down at the kid, laid on his back on a table, “We’re leaving. If I hear you even exhaled in her direction I will be back. And before you say anything that’ll piss me off, I promise that if I have to see you again you may never be found.” The kid finally looked around, seeing the three men.

The bartender watched the three men quietly. Hammer was the last one out the door, keeping his eyes on the room as three others left. Their eyes met briefly as the door shut between them.

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