Blaze smirks and nods.“Yeah, Fox and I saw you two at the bowling alley.He wasn’t happy about it.”
“Fox saw us?”I repeat, my stomach twisting.“What did he say?”
“Nothing.But he was pissed.We left.”
Before I can respond, a half-naked waiter drops two colorful drinks on our table.I glance at the bright concoctions, unsure what they are but certain they’ll get you drunk.The waiter flashes us a polite smile before walking away.
“Why do you even come to places like this?”I ask, deflecting.“Are you a sadist or something?”
Blaze laughs, leaning forward.“Not everyone who comes here is into BDSM, you know.”
I roll my eyes.“I just didn’t peg you as the type.”
“I’m not—not really,” he admits.“But this place has its perks.”
I shake my head, exasperated.“Why haven’t you told Fox who you really are?You two are supposed to be best friends.”
Blaze’s smile fades slightly.He looks down at his cigarette, the ember burning low.“How well did he accept you?”
“At first, he was… difficult,” I admit.“But he got better.He’s still an asshole, though.”
Blaze sighs and nods.He picks up one of the drinks and motions to the other.“You should try it.”
“I’m fine,” I reply, my gaze drifting around the club.The men here are impeccably dressed, some in tailored suits, others in leather pants and harnesses.It’s a far cry from the casual clothes Blaze and I are wearing.
“You wanna leave?”Blaze asks, his voice softer now.
I nod.“Yeah.”
“I’ll be back,” he says.He downs his drink in one go, sets the empty glass on the table, and disappears down a dark hallway.
I sit there, alone, the weight of everything sinking in.Blaze’s confession, the kiss, Fox’s reaction—it’s all too much.The thrum of the music and the low murmur of conversations around me fade into the background as I try to make sense of it all.
What am I even doing here?
“What a fine piece of cake.Are you taken?”
I freeze at the sound of the voice—too close for comfort.I turn sharply to see a man standing there in leather pants and no shirt, a drink in his hand, and a predatory grin plastered across his face.
I instinctively lean back.
“Get yourself a new toy, Jax.He’s taken,” Blaze’s voice cuts through the tension.
I whip around to see Blaze standing there, his expression cold and commanding.“Come on,” he says to me, and I waste no time standing up and putting a solid distance between me and this Jax guy.
Following Blaze out of the club, I try not to look around at the other men whose eyes linger on me.Their stares feel heavy and invasive, sending a shiver down my spine.I quicken my pace to keep close to Blaze.
Once we’re outside, the cool night air hits me, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Who the hell was that?”I demand, my voice sharp.“That guy back there—Jax—who the hell was he?”
Blaze glances over his shoulder nonchalantly.“A horny drunk,” he replies, his tone blunt.
I sigh in frustration.“This is insane,” I mutter, shaking my head.
Blaze drives me back to my apartment, the tension in the car thick and oppressive.As we park outside, I glance up at the dark window of my apartment—and the emptiness staring back at me feels louder than ever.No Fox, no loud music, no sarcastic remarks to fill the silence.
I miss him.I shouldn’t, but I do.His absence has settled into my chest like a weight I can’t shake.