Rhodes

Chapter Four Stalking Break

Rhodes

It’s been a few days since my run in with Mila and I’m already craving another fix of her. I don’t know what it is and I’m mad about it, but that minuscule amount of actual anger isn’t enough to keep me away from her when I spot her walking past the gym.

Knowing what I know about her, she’s in no way trying to get my attention — in fact, she was literally hiding behind a desk to avoid me — but that doesn’t stop the voice in my head that reminds me she wants me.

She does, and fuck me, I want her too.

Peeking outside the door, I watch her enter that froyo shop next door and decide I want a snack. The snack I’m craving just happens to be 5’7 with a whole lot of attitude.

The inside looks like a leprechaun puked all over it with pastel rainbows on the walls, but I ignore all of that in favor of the perfect ass on Mila as she places her order. “Pineapple, huh?”

The teenager taking her order looks up at me instantly, but it takes my future wife almost ten seconds to even acknowledge me.

“Go away, giant.”

That’s it, that’s all I get. She doesn’t even turn to face me. Why in the world does her annoyance get me hard?

Still, I refuse to think about my dick’s needs today, because that isn’t why I’m here. I just want to talk. “That’s rude, I just want some froyo.”

“You don’t need to talk to me to get it.” She pays the kid and moves to the pick up counter, still not glancing my way. But I can see her face now, at least the side of it. If I didn’t know any better I’d say she’s trying not to smile.

“Can I get a small pineapple?”

I grin at them cheekily as I feel how much that makes her want to engage, but she doesn’t. The ever-frozen Winters just stares up at the menu like there’s actually something interesting there.

“Thank you.” I drop the change into the plastic tip jar and move to stand behind her, making sure I’m close enough for her to feel me. “You get my message, sweetheart?”

“Yep. I should block you.”

I’m about to give up and leave her alone when she takes a half-step back, just far enough that her back ghosts against my chest. It feels good. In spite of her being a pain in my ass every time we’ve come in contact with each other, she brings a calming energy to my soul I don’t fully understand.

Maybe I just crave the chaos.

“Probably,” I say low enough for only her to hear. “Are you on your lunch break?”

“Just between appointments. Are you on a stalking break?”

“Yup.” I stuff my hands inside my sweatpants pockets and shift so I can feel her body heat more. “I could tell from our message thread that you were missing me, so I thought I’d stalk you and help you out. Feel better, beautiful?”

She snorts, elbowing me gently. “Don’t be charming, it’s annoying.”

“Annoyed is a good look on you, I don’t mind.” They set both of our cups out at the same time, and I reach around her to grab them so I can lead her to a table. “Sit down with me, Mila.”

“Rhodes,” she mutters, but follows me and sits down anyway to snatch her cup back. “I’m not gonna fuck you in the bathroom. If that’s what you want, take your froyo and go back to your gym.”

“I didn’t ask you to go to the bathroom, I told you to sit down so we can eat some pineapple frozen yogurt like normal people. I know you struggle to keep your hands off of me, but I’m not putting out today, woman.”

She rolls her eyes and takes a bite, putting her foot on my seat right between my legs. “I wasn’t asking you to. I’m not interested.”

I have to fight the urge to lean into her boot. “Yet you’re the one that brought it up,” I say teasingly, then move on before she can argue. “Why pineapple? Is it the best one?”

“To me. It should be to everyone, but some people have bad taste.”

I take a small bite, and I’m pretty sure it’s the best froyo I’ve ever had. “I guess you’ve got great taste.”

“Of course I do, especially when it comes to food. Maybe only when it comes to food.” She raises an eyebrow like I’m supposed to read between the lines there. “Yeah. Only food.”

For some reason it makes me grin. “Definitely. I’ve met your ex.”

Mila chokes on the froyo in her mouth. “I still can’t believe you hit him. Thanks for that, by the way. He cheated on me, and when I broke up with him, he stole my laptop and my 65 inch TV. I put sugar in his gas tank after and took a baseball bat to his custom rims, but it never felt like enough.”

Jesus Christ. Why did none of that sound like a red flag? Who even am I right now?

“Well, damn. You’re welcome. Kinda wish I hadn’t held back now. If I told you Shawn recorded it, would you want to watch?”

She hesitates, but nods. “Maybe.”

“It’s not a great video, but he sent it to me.” Pulling my phone out, I open up my text thread with Shawn and slide it over once I find it. I watch her press play with her bottom lip between her teeth, noting every flash in her gorgeous eyes as she watches me punch the man who’s obviously brought nothing but negativity into her life.

“You’re violent,” she laughs, making her cheek pinch her dimple piercing. “Did you break his nose?”

The video is just under a minute long, and when I leave my phone where it is, I don’t miss the twitch in her fingers like she wants to go through it. “Even better, I chipped his front teeth. Like half of each tooth, he looks like a dumbass.”

“He already looked like a dumbass. Anyway, thanks for beating him up,” she says, sliding the phone back to me. “I’d say I’m sorry for giving you his number instead of mine, but I’m not. It worked out better than I expected.”

“Yeah, sounds like it did. And I’m not violent, not unless I have to be. What about you? When’s the last time you’ve kicked someone’s ass?”

She shakes her head. “Not since I was in high school. No one fucks with me anymore and I don’t want to go to jail.”

“Yeah, I got lucky. How’s the salon going?”

Her eyes darken and she moves her foot, cutting off my contact with her. “Fine. I lost a customer because you wouldn’t just leave the other day and I’m pretty sure she took a few others with her, but I’ll bounce back. I always do.”

“Wait, you did? Really?” Instantly I feel like shit about it, because I know how it feels to be a new business. Every customer matters. “Fuck, sorry about that.”

“If you were sorry, you’d have left when I asked you to a dozen times,” she reminds me, standing up and leaving her half-eaten froyo. “I gotta get back. I’ll see you around.”

She leaves before I can stop her, and I release a long, frustrated breath at the fact that I keep fucking this up. My appetite is gone, but I finish both of our frozen treats for us anyway before I head back to Bad Habits with my metaphorical tail tucked between my legs.

Jay must notice my mood, and even though this is all relatively new, I know he knows exactly what has me all fucked in the head the moment he opens his mouth. “What are you doing tonight?”

He looks like he’s up to something, but I answer honestly. “Probably going to jack off alone like always, you?”

“Put those plans on hold because you’re going to Harvey’s with me first. Jack off all you want after — unless you get some.”

Not fucking likely seeing as the only girl I want to fuck won’t even hang out with me long enough to eat a tiny ass frozen yogurt. “I’m good. My dick only wants one person at the moment. He’ll get over it eventually.”

“No, he won’t. I’m living proof that when our dicks pick someone, they don’t even see other chicks. Just how it goes. And it just so happens the one you want might be there.”

Now he’s got my attention. “Might?”

“No, she will. I made sure of it.”

Or more likely, Remi is allowing it. He isn’t fooling anyone. “Why are you helping me all of a sudden?”

“Why are you asking questions? Just say thank you and buy me a drink later.”

He’s a dick, but he’s a dick who has my back, so I’ll take what I can get. “Alright then, guess I’m going to Harvey’s tonight.”

––––––––

I feel better as I exit my browser thread even though I have to rush down to our Uber with Jay yelling at me. “Calm your tits, bro. I was just adding something to our website.”

“Don’t talk about work. No work talk, just drink talk. We’re getting fucked up.”

“No, we’re not. You are,” I say with a chuckle. “The last thing I need is to make an ass out of myself in front of Mila.”

“So cute,” Jagger teases, reaching out to pinch my nose, but I slap his hand away before he can. “Whatever. They’re already there, and I told Rems you took forever with your makeup so it’s your fault we’re late.”

Chuckling, I shrug off his bullshit and listen to the music our driver is playing for us. I can’t remember the last time I heard some Josh Turner, but I can’t help but listen to the lyrics of Your Man and wonder how it feels to be with someone you love so much, just the thought of them turns you on and makes you want to stay home with them as much as possible. I haven’t had many relationships to pull from, but I’ve always been distracted more than anything. No one has ever consumed me or made me want to be around them more than my boys, and honestly I can’t wait to feel a love like that.

If it’s even in the cards for me at all.

“You good?” Jay asks, and when I look around the cab, I see we’re already parked in front of Harvey’s.

“Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go.”

The bar looks the same as it always does: handmade, oak bar top, an old, timeless jukebox next to a small dance floor, and some pool tables off to the right. But what makes this bar special is the owner.

“What’s up, Harvey?” I reach out and take his hand as Jagger rushes off to find the girls, because as much as I want to see Mila, I need a goddamn drink first.

“Not much, just same old, same old.” He grabs a fresh glass for me and sets it down. “The usual? Or do you need something a little stronger tonight?”

“Can I get a shot of José? I need something stronger, but don’t let me take too many. How are Callie and the baby?”

I toss back the shot as soon as it’s poured and slam the glass down, making him chuckle. “They’re good. She’s pregnant again, did I tell you?”

For a guy almost as tall as I am who is covered in tattoos, has a full beard, and looks like he’s constantly ready to murder someone, he’s smiling wider than I think I’ve ever seen.

“No shit?” I can’t help but smile back at him. “That’s great news, congratulations. Do you know what this one is yet? Is Aurora getting a little brother or sister?”

“We don’t know yet. Callie refuses to let the doctors tell us, so I guess we’ll find out when they’re born,” he mutters. Clearly, it’s something he has mixed feelings about. “What’s with the José? Everything okay at Bad Habits?”

“Yeah, it’s still going smoothly. You haven’t been in a while. Getting a gut there, old man.” He’s not, I’m just fucking with him. “It’s not work related, it’s... woman related.”

“I can’t imagine why,” he deadpans, lifting his shirt to show off the solid muscle. “Do you flatter all the women you speak to like this?”

“Not trying to flatter you,” I tease, tapping the shot glass for another. “You’re not my type. You know Mila?”

I glance over to where Jagger is hugging Remi and wonder if Mila had any sort of warning that I’d be here, but judging by her tense jaw and crossed arms, I’m guessing not.

“Yeah, I know her. Real spitfire.”

“You can say that again. I should probably go put my foot in my mouth again so she finds more reasons to hate me. I swear, every time I speak to her, I dig my grave further.”

“That’s because Adrian Marino and Jagger Saint Diaz are your two main influences,” he reminds me. “If you’re going to pick one of my wife’s brothers to emulate, go for Xander, not Adrian. And Jagger... do the opposite of what he did. His results can’t be replicated.”

“They really can’t,” I say with a chuckle, standing up after I take one more shot. “I’m gonna call Xander this week. You’re not wrong about him being the most levelheaded, but Adrian’s got some good ideas. I’ll be back.”

I make my way over to them and brace myself for whatever sassy thing Mila’s about to say, but I’m surprised when she just waves. Remi, on the other hand, crosses her arms and stares me down. “Roscoe.”

“Remington,” I respond a little defensively. “Why the cold welcome? Your last name isn’t Winters.”

Yeah, that wasn’t the right thing to say. Now they’re both looking at me like I’m an asshole.

“I just don’t like it when you play with my friends,” Rem says. “Especially because you’re terrible at it.”

“What am I terrible at exactly?”

Jagger snorts when he realizes what I’m worried she’s referring to, but if either of the girls clock it, they don’t show it.

“She’s saying you’re not as charming as you think,” Mila cuts in. “Now can we stop talking and drink, please?”

“You just called me charming earlier today,” I argue, then reach out to take her hand before she can leave or slap me. “Let me buy you a drink.”

“You owe me one too,” Jagger adds, pulling his girl in by her ass. “You might as well get us all a round and bring ours back here. We’ll hold the table.”

They aren’t sitting at a table, but I take the opening for what it is and tug Mila back to the bar with me.

I’m sure I’ve already started fucking this night up, but when she moves with me, I can’t help but hope she isn’t completely closed off to the idea of letting me get to know her more.

Either way... I’ll take whatever I can get.