“Always and forever,” I muttered.
There was a long pause before he asked what I knew was coming. It’s what everyone always asked.
“What number are you at?”
“Close.” I chose not to reveal the details of my curse. He knew too much as it was.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Good. I’m glad. Maybe then you can settle down. There’s some houses for sale near me.”
I cocked an eyebrow as I turned toward him. “Don’t try to suck me into this weird domestic bliss thing you’ve got going on. Breaking a curse doesn’t mean things suddenly become perfect.”
“Don’t I know that,” he mumbled. Pain washed over his features as he seemed to be recalling the details of his own curse. I heard him take a deep breath as he turned into a parking lot. “But, if we didn’t have them, then we never would have met, eh?”
I agreed with a nod as he pulled into a parking space in the far back. The parking lot was quite full. “We had some good times back in the day.” As we climbed out of his car, I gave him a nod and started toward the movie theater. I was a little surprised at the size.
“We did!” He reached out, pulling me into a side hug. “I miss those days sometimes. We were a force to be reckoned with.” He extended his arm and motioned around us. I laughed and stepped away before he tried to give me a noogie.
“Speak for yourself. I still am.” Adjusting my jacket, I lifted my chin proudly. “You should have seen my last mark.”
We reached the glass doors, and he opened them, motioning for me to go first. I thanked him with a tip of my head, and he followed me in. “You still using the cards?”
“You know I am,” I smirked.
“Which one did he draw?”
“Ten of Swords.”
He made an exaggerated grimace. “Ouch.”
The lobby was empty. Arcade music played lightly from a side room as the smell of butter permeated the air. The place was decorated with faded red carpet and movie posters.
“You want to meet the staff? Great crew, I’ve got here.” He nodded toward the ticket counters, where a chubby guy with large curls and a red vest stood. He smiled wide when he saw his boss.
“Hey, Arsenio! Are you coming to see a show?” The man looked from him to me. I squinted. He was hiring humans?
“No, not tonight. Why are you still here, Jeremy?” Arsenio leaned over the counter and looked around. “Who didn’t come in?” he demanded. My eyes shot to the nervous employee.
“Uh, Scout, sir. She’s on her way. She just called me.”
I watched the man in the suit’s eye twitch as he heard his employee out.
“Scout isn’t here?” His fangs flashed for a split second as his jaw tensed, causing the human’s eyes to go wide and his face pale. “What was her excuse this time?”
The doors burst open as a red and black blur rushed past us. “Sorry—I’m here. Jeremy, you can take off. Thanks again!” A lightly tanned hand waved to us before hurrying through a door, presumably the staff room.
Arsenio slammed his hands on the counter and hurried to follow the girl. I glanced at Jeremy, who simply shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“She’s late a lot.”
“Why doesn’t he fire her then?” I asked, leaning an elbow against the counter. Before Jeremy could answer, the pair came back out of the room, yelling at each other.
“I was watching a movie.” The woman said sarcastically to him as she pulled on a vest and shoved her massive bundle of hair off her shoulder. She had a light but noticeable Hispanic accent. Arsenio blinked. The rage behind his eyes started to build as he pressed his lips together and put his hands on his hips.
“You were watching a movie?”
“That’s right. Is that an issue?” Her ruby lips curved upwards as she continued poking the bear. Time paused as I took in her glorious form. Combat boots, ripped black tights, shorts that covered only what they needed to. Her black shirt was cut off just below her chest, revealing her flat tattooed stomach. The leather jacket that looked to be lined with a cheetah print fabric clashed with everything in such a way that she looked like trouble.
Trouble I wanted very much to be a part of.
