CHAPTER 16
Nighttime became a perfect fairytale. Sleeping tangled up with Kill, the blinds blocking out the rest of the world.
The days weren't as ideal.
Trent refused to talk to me, and the notes on my car were escalating in volume and violence. Without Trent to discuss them with, I suffered alone. But the worst part of my day was work. When we entered Ray’s, Kill acted just as he had before we became exclusive.
As I exited the stage Thursday night after my karaoke performance, Jessie, Amy, Denise, and Ryan pulled me aside. They were annoyed and ready to unleash their wraith.
"What the hell is going on?" Ryan whispered to me as they dragged me toward the breakroom. Jessie, Denise and Amy saddled up next to me so I was surrounded. "Amy told us you and Kill are item now. Why are you two keeping it a secret still?"
A sharp pain stabbed me through the heart, because I honestly didn’t know. Bambi came waltzing in while we were discussing what I should do.
"You don't have to stop talking. I know what you're talking about," she sneered, pulling her already low-cut shirt down further. "Kill just pities you. I don't know why you would think you were different from the other girls. He will never settle down with anyone, especially you."
"If you don't shut up and get out of here, I'm going to cut your fucking hair off after I beat the shit out of you," Ryan said, getting up and stalking toward her. Her combat boots ate up the space between them. The angry gleam in Ryan's eyes was evident. I had a feeling her threat had more to do with Bambi’s brother leaving than it did with me. Matt had broken through her thick walls, and she didn't seem to enjoy it.
Bambi ran out of the room before Ryan reached her.
"Don't listen to her. She's jealous," Amy told me, getting in front of my face so I had to look at her. "Seriously, Faith, don't listen to her. I know you like to self-sabotage, so stop it, now."
"If it’s just her, then why is he acting like they aren't together when they’re in public?" Jessie asked the question that was banging around inside my own head.
"Do you want me to ask him what the hell his problem is?" Amy asked, cracking her tiny knuckles.
Yes,my head screamed. "Not yet. Give me a couple of days to figure it out. If I can't get it out of him, then I'll unleash you on him."
"Okay, but remember I don't hold my tongue very well," Amy said before bouncing out of the breakroom.
Friday night came with droves of thirsty customers. My feet burned from running around trying to keep my tables happy. Exhaustion made my eyelids droop. After Kill fell asleep the night before, I’d stayed up wondering why he was acting so distant when we were together in public.
The boys’ arrival came with Jet’s usual flair. When the bell stopped ringing, Jet sucked in a deep breath. "Hello, ladies. Your dream just came true."
I let out a snort as I set their drinks down before they made it to their table.
Thankfully, because we were so busy, the girls weren’t able to corner me to find out whether I’d confronted Kill yet. I could practically see the foam around their mouths, wanting to find out the reason why.
When the boys made it to the stage, they took the thirsty customers with them. I watched as they drunkenly crowded the dance floor. As much as I was looking forward to the break, dread filled me as the girls descended on me. They stared at me with a glimmer in their eyes that told me I was never going to get out of their interrogation.
Bambi made her way back from the bar, bumping my shoulder as she went. "Sorry," she said, insincerity dripping off the one word.
“So?” they all asked in unison, making me cringe inwardly.
“What?” I asked, trying to play stupid. I was actually impressed by the synchronized eye roll they executed.
“Don’t play dumb with us, young lady,” Ryan said, leaning over the bar so she could unite with the others.
The crowd screamed wildly while the boys intro'd into their first song.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him about it yet,” I said feeling deflated and thinking maybe Bambi wasn’t as stupid as we all thought she was.
“You need to talk to him, sweetie. He's a guy after all, and they're stupid most of the time,” Denise said as she came over and hugged me, her face serious.
“I’ll do it,” Amy declared, bending her neck from side to side, before chomping on a piece of licorice.
“No thanks... I don’t want you to scare him off.”
“I'm a lot stronger than I look,” she responded, punching her fist into her palm as if getting ready for a fight.
