“You here for Joey?”
“Umm… no. Is he here?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
He glances away, and I follow the direction of his eyes where Joey’s at the other end of the bar, a woman talking to him and leaning in way too close for my comfort. He hasn’t noticed me since his back is to me, but he’s easy for me to spot by the mess of curls on his head and the way he sits. Like he knows what he wants, and no one will change his mind.
“No, I came to see you. And didn’t know how else to get hold of you,” I tell him.
“Okay.” His fingers tap on the bar. “What is it you need?”
“I need to know if you’ve heard anything. I know you have ears there.”
He clicks his tongue. “I haven’t been back since that night,” he informs me.
“Okay, well… I also came here to thank you for what you did.”
“It’s not an issue. Your debt has been paid. Now, if that’s all?” He rises from the stool, his knuckles rapping on the bartop once more. And like that sound caught his attention, Joey’s head turns to look my way. He spots me instantly, his brows pulling together in confusion. The blonde next to him tries to touch his shoulder, but he moves before she can.
“Thank you again,” I say, lifting my water and drinking it all before I stand. I don’t look back as I walk straight up the stairs and smile at the lady behind the desk. “Thank you,” I tell her.
“He saw you?” she asks, surprise in her voice.
“He did.”
Her hands go to her hips, lips pulling down in a frown. “Why?”
I don’t bother answering her—it’s none of her concern. Striding out the door, I pull my coat tighter around me as I check my phone for the time before I hail a cab.
“Why are you here?” I don’t even bother spinning around to look at Joey. Instead, I move closer to the road. “Adora.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you here?” he asks again.
“Just wanted to say thank you to Jake.” I still don’t turn around, keeping my eyes on the road.
“He won’t fuck you.”
What the hell! That makes me furious. I spin on my heel to face him, and he’s directly behind me, so when I turn, my hands have to come up to steady myself so I don’t fall.
“I didn’t come here to fuck him,” I snarl. “And why wouldn’t he? You fuck me.”
“Jake is very particular.” He leans in, and I can smell the whiskey on his breath. “Plus, you are mine.”
“Am I?” I ask, my expression turning indignant. “You told me to leave.”
“We fuck. It’s what we do. It’s how we cemented our relationship in the first place. Or did you forget?”
My head shakes on its own.
This man is such an ass.
“You’re saying we bonded because we fucked?”
“Precisely.” He nods.
“I need to get home.”
“Walk with me,” he says, reaching for my hand and clasping it. Without thinking, I weave my fingers through his.