11 Cutter #2
“No. Not really. To be honest, I think you’re going to have to face the fact that this is the cost of doing business in this field.”
He blows out a sigh. “Unfortunately, you’re probably right. Okay, talk to the security company, but in the meantime start looking for permanent hires. I know how thin you and Javi are spread around here. You deserve a day off now and then.”
“I get Mondays off,” I insist. Though I probably wouldn’t get that if it wasn’t the one day a week the club is closed.
“That’s not enough. For you or for me.”
I can’t hide my shock. Daryl eats and breathes this place. “You know you couldn’t stand being away from here if the club was open.”
“I used to believe that, but now I’m starting to look at things differently. It would be nice, once in a while, to do something besides sit in this office all night fielding calls and spying on everyone.”
“Well, you could take in a show,” I say with a grin.
He shakes his head. “That’s all I do. I watch everything in here.”
It hits me then what he said. Everything?
I searched the video footage of the parking lot the night Aubie was threatened in case we needed it for evidence, though the guy hasn’t come back.
While I was looking, I advanced the recording for any footage of our encounter.
I can see us both talking behind a row of cars, then Aubie disappears for several minutes before popping back into the frame.
From the angle of the camera you can’t tell what’s going on, though I guess if you had an active imagination you might jump to conclusions.
Conclusions that would be accurate.
Did Daryl look at it? The outside feed in his office alternates between the front and back parking lot cameras. My office is the only one with a separate feed for each camera. Still, he could have caught it, and if anyone would have an imagination that would jump to that conclusion, it’s Daryl.
Stop it. I’m just being paranoid. If he’d seen something, he would have mentioned it before now. Right?
“You okay?” he asks me now.
“Sure. Why?”
“I don’t know, you seem distracted this week. Anything going on I should know about? Like maybe someone new in your life?” When I don’t answer, he pushes on. “You never told me. Did you talk to anyone at Selena’s party?”
Oh. That. “I, uh, might have.”
His brow quirks up. “Really? Anyone interesting?”
I can feel myself blush. “Maybe.”
“Okay, now I have to know.”
“What are you, a teenage girl?”
He waves my protest aside. “Come on, man. Bro to bro.”
I roll my eyes. “There’s nothing to know.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re a suspicious fuck,” I grumble.
“Cutter?”
I sigh. “Okay, I might have talked to Selena’s sister.”
He grins. “Evie? That’s great. Evie’s a sweetheart.”
“Funny. She said the same thing about you.”
“She did?” He sits back and strokes his chin. “Well, she has good taste.”
Jesus, I’m surrounded by cocky egomaniacs.
“So did this conversation go anywhere?”
I can see I’m not going to get him to leave this alone. He really is like a dog with a bone. “If you must know, we had brunch last Sunday.”
His eyes widen. “Seriously?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” I snap.
“Not at all. I keep telling you you’re a great guy. Evie’s a lucky girl.”
I snort. “It was just brunch.”
“Brunch can lead to other things.”
“We’re having lunch tomorrow,” I blurt. I don’t know why. It’s not like I want him in my business. And I’m damn sure not bragging. I just feel like telling someone. After how things have gone for me the past few years, this is like a major win.
“Hey buddy,” he says, “I’m proud of you.”
I guess Daryl has earned the right to say that. He knows what bottom looks like for me. But, as usual, he’s jumping to the wrong conclusion.
“We’re not…that is, we’re just friends.”
“Friends is good. Beats sitting home alone, right?”
I offer a reluctant nod. “I do get out, you know.”
“Yeah, you and your bike. A bike can’t keep you warm on a cold night.”
“I told you, we’re just–”
“Friends. Right.”
I bite back a retort. “Don’t tell Selena.” When he arches a brow, I add, “Evie doesn’t want Selena to know her business.”
I might have overstepped my bounds. After all, he is dating the woman, though he doesn’t seem bothered by what I said.
“I can understand that,” he replies. I guess my expression gives my doubt away. “What? You think I’m not aware of how shallow she is? Why do you think I’m with her?”
I consider that for a minute, trying to see things from Daryl’s perspective. “She’s Selena Carrick. Do you need another reason?”
He tsks me. “So little faith. Yeah, she’s hot and she’s got the whole fame game going on which is kind of a turn on. There’s also no danger of her getting serious because the only person she loves is herself.”
I guess I don’t give Daryl enough credit. “You mean like you?” I tease.
“I like to think I’m better than that. I can love other people. I just don’t have the time for it right now. The truth is, Selena is fun and uncomplicated and I’m not bored with her yet.”
“Well, as long as your eyes are open to that,” I conclude.
“Wide open, buddy.”
I’m glad at least one of us has their shit together. Me? It’s like I told Evie, I’m a lost cause.