Page 11 of French 75
Max cocks his head to the side, pointing at himself as he mouthshimbo.After a second, he recovers and gives me a wide smile. “Awesome, little dude! When do I start?”
“How does right now work?” I’m already pushing Butch out the corner booth. “Rhys and Everest are on a date night, so it’s just going to be you and me. But don’t worry, we don’t get too crowded on Tuesdays.”
“Tonight?” He looks down at himself, surveying his elegant looking suit. “Aren’t I a bit overdressed?”
“He has to fill out paperwork and shit, Skylar,” Butch says in a groan and rolls his eyes. Then he’s jutting his chin at the stairs. “You start tomorrow. Go see the boss and tell him you’re hired. When he asks, say I sent you.”
“Okay!” Max shouts, rushing toward the stairs. He stops abruptly, however, and turns. “Um, what’s this dude’s name?”
“Davis,” Butch mutters, shaking his head. “And don’t call himdude.”
“Alright, bro! Sounds good!”
As Max races up the stairs, he fumbles on the top step, and Butch gives me a withering glare. “Davis is going to eat him alive.”
With a shrug, I hop out of the booth, pushing Butch toward the front of the club. “You go do your work and let me worry about Bambi.”
“Bambi’s right,” he mutters, heading to the front door to get everything set up.
I make my way behind the bar, ready to start my start-of-shift chores, when the back door swings open. Immediately, my heart races as Cassius walks in. He stayed at the boxing gym late last night, so I didn’t see him before I went to bed. Call me insanely codependent, but I need to know every breath he takes.
I leave the back of the bar and rush to him. Barreling into his body, I knock the wind out of him, and we both tumble into the side of the stage. His eyes widen, then soften when he notices it’s me. Immediately, I climb my way up his ridiculously tall body.
“Skylar,” he snaps, but he’s chuckling under his fake annoyance. “What are you doing?”
I wrap my arms around his neck and tighten my legs around his waist. “I missed you. You were out late last night.”
He scoffs lightly but pats the back of my head. Repositioning us so he’s leaning against the stage, he places his hands under my ass to hold me steady. “Sorry about that. Just was hanging out with the guys at the gym.”
I nod, knowing that already, but I still pout. “Do you think we could ever hang out all together?”
“Oh?” He raises his eyebrows and smirks. “Is someone feeling a bit neglected?”
Snorting, I turn my head to the side, playing his question off. “No.”
“Mmm, I think someone is lying,” he teases, kneading my ass soothingly. “What did you want last night, sunshine?”
I try to stay aloof, but fuck me, it’s hard. Burying my face against his chest, I sigh. “Cuddles.” I rest my chin on his chest and frown when I take a closer look at his eye. “Is that a bruise?”
He chews on the inside of his cheek and nods. “Yeah, one of the guys got a good one in.”
I trap my bottom lip between my teeth. I know this new hobby of his makes him happy, but I can’t lie and say I don’t hate the fact that he’s enjoying getting hurt. The only thing thatcomforts me is that he’s training with a bunch of other athletes. I don’t know why he chose fighting instead of, I don’t know, crocheting or something, but if he’s doing it safely, I suppose I can’t say shit.
I walk my fingers up his neck until they’re hovering over his lips. As I look up at him through my lashes, I hope I’m not crying. Fuck, I’m such a baby. “So, no more gym this week, right?”
He nods. “I don’t have to. Why?”
“I told you. I miss you,” I whisper, knowing my vulnerability is safe with him. “I need you, Cassy. I don’t like being apart.”
It’s like it physically hurts. I want to spend all my time with him. When he’s not around, everything is just a bit dimmer. I crave his company like a drug, itching for more, reeling when it’s gone, blissful after a hit.
“Aw, sunshine,” he coos, placing his lips right beside my ear. “I’ll cut back a bit. How about you and I watch a movie tonight after work and just hang out?”
I brighten at that. “Please?”
“Of course.” He pulls back so he can smile.
“Oh, yes! Let’s do that! That sounds perfect!”
