32. Nik #2
“That’s right. Mine.” With that, he fucks me hard and fast, sending me right over the edge before coming with a groan.
The next night, I fill in for one of the weekend bartenders for the first time. I’ve worked really hard on my bartending skills, but weekends here are supposed to be pretty crazy, so I’m a little nervous.
I’m washing glasses about an hour into my shift when shouting and whistling grabs my attention. As I turn around, I can’t help but smile. Shane, Gabe, JT, and a handful of other club members stroll toward me making an absolute scene.
“What the fuck?” I laugh.
“We’re here to celebrate,” Gabe says, clapping as he sits at the bar.
“Celebrate what?”
“Your big night!” Shane says, grinning like a damn idiot.
I roll my eyes. I’ve never been fond of a lot of attention, but I don’t know, it’s kind of nice to have their support. It makes me feel like I matter to someone.
“What are you drinking?”
They all rattle off their orders, and Shane eye-fucks me while I make them. You’d think I was in something special the way he looks at me, instead of just a pair of light wash jeans and a white tank top.
I slide his drink to him, look straight into his eyes, and say, “You’re staring.”
He grins, takes a sip, and replies, “I’m always staring.”
“Don’t distract the bartender! She’s fucking busy!” Gabe shouts, shoving Shane’s shoulder.
When I turn around to start on another drink, Shane says, “Shut the fuck up.”
I’m still pissed at Gabe for what he did to Ash, but he’s so likable. It’s actually really annoying because it’s hard to be mean to him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still horrible to him most of the time, but it takes a significant amount of effort.
The three of them are fun to watch, though. Apart, they’re men, but together they’re boys.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart,” JT says.
I turn around to wink at him.
“Hey, fucker. Don’t call her sweetheart! I will beat the ever-loving shit out of you,” Shane bites out.
“Yeah, okay,” JT says sarcastically. “You couldn’t kick my ass if I had one hand tied behind my back.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Jesus, JT.” Gabe groans. “Not with him. He’ll fucking take you up on it.”
Shane can’t back down from a fight. Not even when he knows he’ll lose, and he will lose against JT. Not to say Shane’s not a good fighter. JT’s just better.
“If you lay a hand on him in my bar, I’ll throw all of you idiots out,” I warn, wiping the bar in front of them.
“Your bar, huh? Boys, our baby’s all grown up!” Gabe jokes.
“Shut up, Gabe.” I roll my eyes.
When the boys are still drinking around midnight and things start to pick up, I’m about to tell Shane it’s time for them to go just as JT speaks up.
“Let’s get out of here. Nik’s got work to do.”
He stands from the bar and throws a wad of cash down, winking at me. Shane stops in front of me on his way out and leans over, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me toward him. Then, his mouth meets mine, and he kisses me hard.
When he pulls back, I say, “Thank you.”
“Anything for our favorite bartender.” He smiles. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“So, how’s the new job?” Katie asks, taking baby Ryker from JT before he heads back through their house to the kitchen for beers.
“Good.” I grin, trying to look anywhere but at the squirming baby in her arms.
Scarlett waddles up to me and holds out a stacking cup.
“Thank you.” I grin, taking it from her as a lump forms in my throat.
“At least you get to work with Kara now! She’s a hoot!”
My heart pounds in my ears. “Yeah. It’s fun.”
“We’ll have to come in one night when we actually get a sitter. It’s pretty well impossible to leave him for any amount of time just yet.”
I fake a smile. “I bet.”
JT hands Shane a Coors before moving to sit on the arm of the couch behind her, and gestures to Ryker. “You want one?”
“Fuck no!” Shane scoffs. “I don’t know what possesses you to keep having them. All they do is shit and cry.”
My stomach squeezes and Katie shoots him a shitty look. I can tell she wants to say something to him, probably about the bullshit that’s gone on over the last few months, but she doesn’t.
Ryker fusses, and my chest grows tighter. As he wails, it’s so loud, piercing my ears. Heat races up my neck.
Pulling my collar, I try to fan myself, but I feel like I’m suffocating. He keeps crying and the room starts spinning.
“Hey.” Shane lays a hand on my knee. “Nikki, are you alright?”
I try to swallow, but my mouth is as dry as the desert, so I nod and choke out, “Yeah. I just need some air.”
I jump up and dart out of the living room, hearing Katie say, “Take him for a minute.”
Flinging open the front door, I rush out and lean over the porch railing before throwing up my lunch. I gasp and heave but manage to hold back tears.
A soothing hand rubs circles on my back. When the heaving slows, I stand up and wipe my mouth before turning to look at Katie.
The stinging starts in my eyes when she doesn’t say a word but just wraps her arms around me.
Without letting go of me, she cracks the door open and yells, “Nik must have eaten something bad! I’m gonna give her a ride home so you two can hang out.”
“Oh! That’s okay. I can take her,” Shane calls out, his voice getting closer like he’s moving toward the door.
“No. It’s fine! I got her.” Katie closes the door quickly. “Come on. Let’s go.”