“Don’t talk to me.” Idiot.
“If I may, the plane will be ready by ten tonight, unless you change your mind…”
I glared at him over my shoulder and kept walking, my mind constantly on her. Maybe some distance is just what I need. Maybe then I can come back to my senses and get her off my damn mind.
I ignored his whistling shit as I made my way down the sidewalk. Any minute now I expect him to call me on my rash behavior, but I didn’t have it in me to care.
I’d stayed for her, but if she wants to act like my
ass don’t exist, why should I bother? Even I knew that shit sounded like a ten year old girl, but again, I didn’t much care.
As I walked I tried drumming up some excitement for what awaited me in Miami, my second favorite city in the states, but it was no use.
Where I was usually upbeat and ready to head to my beach house there and the nightlife that rivals New York’s, this time I just kept seeing almond shaped green eyes, a pert nose and that cute little cupid bow mouth with the soft pink lips that needed no enhancement.
I walked aimlessly down one block and up another before heading back. Tony was there the whole time, but surprisingly heeded my words and kept his trap shut.
I wasn’t sure if that wasn’t more annoying and worrisome. If it weren’t serious, he would’ve stayed on my ass. But the fact that he was leaving me to my own thoughts spoke volumes.
Did he see something new in the way I treated her, the way I’ve reacted to her since the first time?
Of course he did, but what? I would feel like ten kinds of fool if I asked him that shit, though I know of everyone else I could trust his take.
I stood outside the club with my hands shoved in my pockets and looked up at the sky. He came to stand beside me, looking up as I was.
“You sure you want to leave tonight Max? You seem troubled by the decision.”
“Of course I’m sure, why are you asking me that?”
“Oh no reason. Other than I’m your best friend and I know you better than anyone else. If you like her, don’t run brother. You know your instincts better than anyone.”
“Who says I like her?”
“Bruh, if I wasn’t there last night you would’ve broken down the door to Kenny’s place and dragged her out yourself.”
“As long as I’ve known you I’ve never seen you act like that over a female. You went all caveman! If you can tell me honestly that you don’t feel anything for her, I’ll leave it alone…”
“I don’t know what I feel okay. The shit is all fucked up. I don’t know if I see her as a little sister type or someone I want to fuck. What the fuck are you grinning at?”
He stepped back out of the way like he thought I was going to hit him. I just might flatten him to alleviate some of this frustration that was burning a hole in my chest.
“You might want to have a talk with Arlene before you leave. Word is she’s been very interested in your little bird.”
“If she touches her or fucks with her in any way I’ll bury her.”
“Uh-huh, you’re not interested, I can see that clearly now.”
“Don’t think because you’re my brother I won’t knock your ass across the street. What exactly did you hear?” Fucking girl is a nuisance. Now I have to worry about her when I have shit to do on the other side of the damn country.
“It wasn’t much but it was enough to catch my notice. According to Celeste she was trying to get information on your girl. It’s strange because she has nothing to do with the waitresses so it makes me wonder.”
I knew Celeste was his little snitch. He usually sat at the bar picking her for information, getting a feel for the place and what was going on when I wasn’t here. He had one like her in each of my clubs.
I could go back through the tapes if I wanted to know something, but nothing beats having a warm body you can trust to keep their finger on the pulse of what’s going on.
“I kinda knew that she’d do something like that. Let’s wait and see what play she makes if any. I hope by now she knows it’s a bad fucking idea to cross me.”
“Yeah, but if you don’t make your feelings known who’s to stop her or one of the others from doing some shady shit?”
He knows of what he speaks. When I first took over the place there were more than a few of the dancers who’d shown an interest in getting in my bed.