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The arcade is huge. Multi-level, lit up in colored lights and crazy carpet, the gaming systems take up the entire first floor and part of the second that can be seen through the loft style setup.
People cheer, games alarm with negative whomps and positive rings, lights flashing as laughter fills the air.
If it were any other reason I was here, I might enjoy myself.
But none of that slows my stride. Right to the entrance that leads to the second floor with only one thing standing in my way.
“No admittance, ma’am.” Built like a brick shit house, a man I’ve deemed as Tiny stands with beefy arms crossed over a thickchest I kinda wanna lick that stretches his black tee tight across his muscles. He’s blocking the door that leads to the stairs and looking down his very crooked nose at me through narrowed eyes like I can be intimidated.
Probably the point.
“Serious?” I scoff as a way to play into the attitude I throw his way. Add in some hand gestures and I see the questions begin to form behind his eyes. “How are you here right now? In my fucking way?”
“I …” His demeanor breaks, arms loosening, eyes darting around for the right answer.
“Do you not know who I am?Pffft.” I roll my eyes and pull out my phone. “Toby is definitely going to hear about this.” I make a show of working my jaw and stabbing at the screen until Tiny breaks.
“My apologies, Miss.” He steps to the side and opens the door, flashing an earpiece wire down the side of his corded neck.
With a flourish, I whip my hair in his face and take the opening.
“Fucking thank you.”
I know with that little walkie hidden on him, I won’t have much time to escape once I cause the scene I’m fully prepared to unleash …
Gotta make it quick.
Act like a roadie. Looking for a known hookup …
And don’t get caught. Because you can’t outrun radios.
Beelining it to the bar, I order a drink that comes quick and without request for payment—for the second time tonight—and smash the thing in one gulp as I try to read the room.
If I were a rock douche, where would I hide?
My eyes land on the far corner where another smaller bar sits, a little more private than this one, surrounded by booths that are filled with skanks and tatted assholes. That’s when Icatch sight of him, Rex motherfucking Thompson, slipping out of a ring of what could barely be classified as ladies and heading my way.
Fucking shit.
I can’t lie and say that some part of me isn’t fucking excited right now to meet the person I’ve idolized to some degree for a long bit of my life.
I hate that part of me right now.
Focusing on retribution, I force myself to recall the night he returned Ari home to us. Distraught and confused, I sat up with my girl until she cried herself to sleep. How much she contemplated calling or texting him and fought herself on it.
Don’t get me wrong, I know we also played a part in this mess of shit that rocked Ari’s world. We put her in that position. But I know what came out of it was a fucking warrior and that beautiful warrior needs avenging.
“How’s it going?” Deep and raspy, Rex settles in the stool next to mine and flags the bartender.
God, he sounds like shit in real life.
I click my tongue and shrug in response as I prop my elbows on the bar and lean back into it. I pretend that my heart isn’t racing to smack this dick back into next week and aim my focus on the crowd around us.
Distance, nonchalance.I repeat to myself.Play coy.
Wouldn’t want to feed that fucking ego.
“Sounds about as good as my night.” I catch sight of him nodding thanks to the bartender who places a drink in his hand. He sounds genuine, which catches me off guard, but sips his amber liquid with a smirk that has me questioning him.
