Page 14 of Wicked Minds
“I need a drink,” I yell into Tara’s ear sometime later. My skin is dampened with sweat, my dress sticking to my back from the heat of so many bodies packed into one space, but I feel lighter than I have in forever. I hadn’t appreciated how much I truly needed this—a carefree night out with people I trust.
Nodding, Tara indicates that she’ll come too, and we tell the others before pushing our way through the crowd toward the bar. When we reach it, we order two bottles of water, and with an acknowledging nod, the bartender goes to grab them.
“See, isn’t this fun,” Tara teases playfully. “Look, you’re actually smiling. I think that’s the first time all week I’ve seen a genuine smile on your face.”
Tara has been an amazing friend since she came over on Christmas Day. She’s constantly checking in on me and has helped me get through the mountain of food someone—Logan, I’m guessing?—had delivered.
I’ve pulled my phone out several times to message him, but ultimately, I decided not to. Distance. That’s what I’m giving myself. It’s what I’m owed… and, shockingly, what the three of them have given me.
A seed of warmth glows inside me at knowing Royce is responsible for that. Whatever he’s done to keep them away, it’sworking, and I’m grateful. I’ve needed that space to clear my head. Not that having a clearer mind has helped me sift through my complicated feelings for each of them… but tonight isn’t the night to dwell on any of that.
Instead, I pull Tara in for a hug, so grateful to have this awesome girl in my corner.
“That’s right,” a leering voice calls in our direction, followed by a wolf whistle. “Get it on!”
Pulling back from Tara, my face scrunches in disgust as I turn to look at the two men who have sidled up beside us. They’re both preppy-looking, wearing expensive shirts and pants and sporting arrogant smirks as they unashamedly roll their eyes over us. “Why don’t you kiss her, gorgeous,” the one nearest the bar says, waggling his eyebrows like a douchebag.
“We don’t kiss for other guys’ amusement,” Tara snaps in an ice-cold tone.
“No need to bite my face off, darlin’. We’re just looking for a good time.”
With a hungry look in his eyes, his buddy tacks on, “And the two of you look like you know how to have a good time.” He does another leering sweep of our bodies that only serves to piss me off.
“Oh, we do,” I say sweetly, “But we’re not interested in having agood timewith either of you.”
“Cold, sweetheart. Cold,” the one closest to me sidles even closer, clearly having zero understanding of personal boundaries. His breath stinks of bitter alcohol, and even though he’s not unattractive looking, his personality is ahugeturn-off. “Why don’t you let me heat you up? Melt some of that ice, yeah?”
It’s a struggle not to roll my eyes at his cheesy lines. Seriously, does that ever work for him?
“Since you didn’t seem to understand us the first time,” Tara chimes in, brimming with hostile aggression and givingoff very obviousdon’t fuck with mevibes, “we said no. We’re not interested.” With a condescending flit of her fingers, she finishes, “Now, why don’t you go be annoying little gnats somewhere else.”
“Hey,” the buddy snaps, instantly riled. “There’s no need to be a bitch.”
“There was no need for you to be a sexist pig,” Tara tosses back. “But you were, and for the record, I am a bitch. Trust-fund kids like you wouldn’t stand a chance in hell in keeping up with us, so cut your losses while you’re behind and go find easier targets.”
Not appearing as though he’s going to take them out, I inwardly sigh as both men square their shoulders and prepare to argue back. However, before either of them can construct a comeback, a different voice enters the conversation, this one deep and authoritative. “You heard the ladies.”
I turn in time to see a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair shaved on the sides and short on top, wearing what looks to be a tailor-made suit of onyx black that only enhances his aura, has materialized behind us. His thick beard exaggerates his ruthless, hard edge, and there’s a meanness about him. A savage brutality that unnerves me.
With a lift of his chin, two men appear out of nowhere and grab the guys who’d been hassling us by the upper arms. As they drag them through the crowd, their protests are quickly drowned out by the thumping bass.
I stare up at the mystery man with wide eyes, ready to thank him for interfering, when Tara beats me to it. “What thefuckare you doing here?”
Ehhh, what?!
I whirl on her with a gasp, shocked to find her outright hostile glare drilling into the stranger. It makes the expression she gave the guys before look like it belonged on a kitten.
The stranger gives Tara a slow once-over. However, it doesn’t look seedy or gross like it did with the guys. This man seems absolutelyravenous.Like he hasn’t had a lick of water in years and has stumbled across the most tempting waterfall.
When his gaze returns to her face, his eyes spark, and his plump lips lift on one side. “Nice to see you again, Tink.”
Tink? Wait, do Tara and this guy know one another?
“Don’t. Call. Me. That,” Tara hisses between clenched teeth.
… Well, I guess that answers that.
“And answer my question.”
