“Ten minutes.” He shouted.
She cocked her brow. “Thank you,Father Time,but I have a phone, so I’m well aware.”
When her gaze glanced past Barry and she shifted to the left, Addison waved and started toward the end of the bar.
“Hey.” Ava said.
“Hi. I know we keep running into each other in the back, but I never introduced myself. I’m…”
“Addison. I know.” She snickered.
“Oh, I guess Barry mentioned I was working the bar.”
She scoffed. “Barry doesn’t tell me shit unless it’s to complain. Mandee, one of the dancers, told me your name. A new girl doesn’t start working here and fly under the radar without being the talk of the dressing room. Especially when they look like you.”
Aw, that’s sweet.
Ava leaned on the bar, lowering her voice. “Everyone was real happy to hear you’re working the bar and not the stage. They hate new competition.”
Addison laughed and held up her hand. “Trust me, no one wants to see me dance.”
Ava arched her brow. “I don’t know about that. Cross seemed real interested the other night.”
“Yeah, well, that’s” —she waved her hand, playing it off— “nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing.” Ava paused. “Between you and me? The guys from the club come in a lot. There’s some that enjoy the company of the girls. Cross isn’t one of them. And believe me, they try to get his attention.”
“Really?”
Ava nodded.
“Jesus fucking Christ. I don’t pay you two to talk.”
Ava rolled her eyes and winked. “See you later, Addison.”
“Bye.”
She watched Ava disappear behind the curtain then quickly busied herself, avoiding Barry’s glare. With very few customers, her mind once again wandered to Cross. He didn’t enjoy the entertainment at the strip club? That was the opposite of how “keg girl” had described him. But then again, Addison saw her go in his room with her own eyes.
One and done, Addy!
****
Cross lifted his mug, took a sip of his coffee, and stared at his house. Progress had been made, but it was slow.
It was strange to think in a few months, he’d have his own house. It would be a first for Cross. He’d lived his whole life in apartments with his father. They’d moved a lot. Some would say it was for work, and they wouldn’t be wrong. However, it wasn’t about changing jobs. It was for safety. His father had worked almost his entire life for Inez. Cross was second generation in the Underground. Once he turned eighteen, he’d thought he would follow in his father’s footsteps. Inez had other plans. Now he had almost twenty-two years in the MC.
“How’s it going?”
“Alright.” Cross glanced to his left.
Cue stood next to him. In a few short months, they’d be neighbors. It was fine by Cross. They’d grown closer in the last couple years. Cue was younger but an old soul.
“Saw Addison at the party the other night.”
Yeah, I know.When Cue asked Cleo about her whereabouts, he assumed his brother had seen her leaving his room. That subject was not up for discussion. Nor would he be a repeat offender. Addison had made the decision to leave after he’d told her he’d find her. It was obvious she regretted her choice to sleep with him.
Cross continued to stare at the house. “Yeah?”
