Page 204 of Challenge Me

With a nod, I returned to the bar. Tommy came out of the bathroom and eyed Aiden again, so I shot him a glare.

“Hey,” I said, offering Aiden a smile.

“Hi.”

“Why don’t you let us get you a hotel? We could catch up tomorrow when there’s more time.”

His eyes went to the pool table, then fell to the floor. “Us, huh?”

I made sure my easygoing expression didn’t falter. “So, what do you say?”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

He rubbed his hands up and down his arms. I wondered if he was cold.

Stepping closer, I lowered my voice. “Let me help.”

His eyes found mine, and he narrowed them. “Help?”

“We’ve walked the same roads, man. There’s no point trying to hide, and I know that you know that.”

“I’m gonna go.”

“Aiden, what are you taking?”

He shook his head. “I just—I thought—I thought you’d want to see me. You were the only person who ever . . . Never mind.”

My chest squeezed. “I did want to see you. But . . . I honestly don’t know why you’re here.”

Aiden blinked rapidly. “Right. Me either.” His gaze landed on my left hand, which rested on the counter. “Congratulations, then.”

Before I could say more, he spun toward the door.

“Hey, Aiden, wait.”

He was gone too quickly, and I exhaled, scrubbing a hand over my face.

“What’d you do to the poor guy?” Kai asked.

“I don’t have a fucking clue.”

Oli rushed to the window. “Uh . . . Remi?”

Outside, the headlights of Amir’s Maserati lit up as the engine turned over. The car pulled away, and Amir raced out the door with a shout. I looked at the counter where the keys had been, but of course, they were missing. When I turned to Tommy, he appeared more pissed than I felt.

“Little shit,” he barked. “I knew he was no good.”

“Then how’d you let him steal the keys? You’re literally security.”

“Security has to piss sometimes, too, especially when you’re giving me these damn sugary drinks all night.” He shoved his mojito glass away with extra attitude.

Dropping into a crouch, I gripped my hair at the roots. Even I, master of expecting the worst, hadn’t expected this day to go south so sharply.

I lifted my gaze and blinked a few times. “What the hell?” I reached under the counter, praying to the gods above and below that I was somehow wrong. “Oh, gods. No, no, no, no.”

“What is it?” one of the guys asked.