Page 77 of Hot Mess Express
He’s all by himself.
Looking like he’s been emotionally beat up left and right.
Eyes half-closed, lips bent into a partial scowl, as he staresme down from across the room, the flashing lights of the club flicking him in and out of existence, the side of his face flashing red, then green, then blue, and back to red again.
If eyes could fuck a person, that’s what he’s doing right now. Fucking me with every flash of the club lights.
There’s no mistaking it anymore. Anthony wants me.
Bad.
But he won’t make a move. If I don’t go over there right now and break whatever spell has a hold of his every muscle, there’s no hope of figuring out what the hot fuck is going on between us.
Just as I take the first step, he bolts from the spot, causing me to stop. I look around, searching for where he went.
Trey gives my shoulder an encouraging pat. “Go after him.”
I glance at Trey, not realizing he was paying attention, too. Of course he was. He always is. “Where would he go?”
“There’s a back area, like a lounge, right by the bathrooms. Go on, Bridge, we’ll be here. But don’t sit on the black leather seats—they’re always sticky.” I give him a nod of thanks and head off, but not before he shouts, “And if you’re gonna take advantage of that totally-separate room at the motel, it’s fine with—!”
I don’t catch the rest, but I got the gist: I’ve got Mommy Trey and Daddy Cody’s blessing to stay over with my new friend in his totally unsupervised motel room.
If I can manage to find him in this dark, crowded place.
The lounge is small and square-shaped with frustratingly dim lighting and several areas to sit. There are tall decorations spread through the room—potted plants, partitions, and all sorts of other items separating the room into smaller gathering areas. For no reason at all, I wonder if this was the kitchen of that hypothetical Chinese restaurant I’m pretending used to be here. I move slowly through the room, eyes gliding from group to group. Some people are just casually chatting with their drinks.One long lavender couch is occupied by two cuddled-up men deep in conversation. I spot a bald guy on his phone who looks to be nearly in tears, perhaps just having gotten his heart broken, who knows.
I stop after circling the room three damned times. Where did he go? Was I wrong and he actually left the club? My foot starts to tap in place as I second-guess myself, frustrated. Every second I stand here, he could be getting further away.
I turn around to head back to the main room.
Only to stop short when Anthony’s scowling face appears in front of mine. “What’re you doin’ here?” he barks at me.
I sigh with relief. “Thought you’d left.”
My reaction seems to surprise him. “You wanted to see me? What’re you doing? Stalking me now?”
“What? I’m not stalking anything. I didn’t know you’d be—” I brush that aside. There’s no point anyway. “Your friend Juniper said you wanted to see me.”
“Well, she lied.”
I snort. “Did she now?”
“Yep.”
“And what’reyoudoing here?” I ask right back. “Looking for some other unsuspecting guy to try stuff out on? You’ve got quite a few choices …”
“Not lookin’ for anything.”
I come in closer. “Sure about that?”
He doesn’t step back. “Yeah,” he says right in my face.
I don’t know what it is that’s got him all riled up and angry at first sight, but something about that scowl on his face is seriously turning me on. “I don’t believe you.”
His upper lip twitches with agitation. “W-Well, you … you can just … just believe my ass as I walk away, then.” And with that, he turns and heads off—and my eyes drop right to his ass on cue.
Just bump his butt and get it outta your system.
