Page 61 of Wrecked By a Devil

“Okay, this is me,” She points to the motorbike parked just a few steps from where we’re standing. “It was nice talking to you. Give me a call when you’re free to grab that coffee.”

“I will,” I nod. “And I’ll send you the notes as soon as I get home tonight.”

“Sounds perfect.” With that, we say our goodbyes.

My phone starts ringing

“Hey!” Mia says. “Is your class over?”

“I’m in the parking lot already. Are you here?”

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling, Riles,” Mia never calls me Riles unless she’s trying to get on my good side because she either needs something, or knows that whatever she’s about to say might upset me. “I’m really, really sorry, but I can’t make it today. Can we reschedule?”

“Did something happen?” After what she witnessed two nights ago, I wouldn’t blame her.

“Not really,” She pauses for a moment and then adds. “I’m with Cohen right now.”

“Oh…”

“You’re mad, aren’t you?” She sighs.

“No,” I respond before she can say anything else. “I was just really looking forward to hanging out and celebrating with you. But don’t worry, we can reschedule.”

“I know, Riles,” Mia continues and I can hear in her voice that she’s very sorry for bailing on me today. “I just… I don’t know how to explain what’s happening to me with Cohen.”

“Maybe with words?” I joke to ease the tension.

“Yeah, like that’s so easy,” Mia laughs. “I think that I might be in love with him, Riley,” I still haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her about his behavior and I don’t know what to say. I want her to be happy more than anything, but my gut feeling about Cohen hasn’t changed.

“I have to admit I’m a little surprised,” I respond. “But I just want you to be happy, Mia.”

“I appreciate that, Riles,” her voice softens. “So you’re not mad at me for not making it today?”

“Of course not,” I sigh, unable to shake the uneasy feeling about this whole situation. And I meant what I said, which makes me feel like a terrible friend for not jumping on one foot right now after hearing she might be in love. “Take care, Mia. I’ll see you tonight at work.”

“You, too,” she says, cheerfully. “See ya tonight.”

I still have a few hours until I need to go to work, but I decide to head there right away and see Ezekiel. We still haven’t talked since the accident yesterday at his place, and I’m looking forward to seeing him. Besides, I think I should tell him how I feel about Cohen.

Not even an hour later, I walk through the Eden’s staff entrance. The club is still closed, and only a handful of employees are inside getting things ready before the doors open. I head straight to the dressing room where the familiar scent of hairspray, perfume and makeup welcomes me. I change into my robe right away, pull out my makeup bag, and begin laying out everything I’ll need for tonight’s shift.

“You’re here early,” Jade, one of the dancers I’ve barely gotten a chance to interact with until now, looks up from her station. She’s been dancing at the Eden longer than almost anyone else, carrying herself with the kind of confidence that makes the six-inch heels she wears feel effortless. “Couldn’t stay away.”

“I guess you can say that,” I smile politely, wondering why she is early. But I don’t ask.

“Whatever’s running through your head, don’t take it on stage with you,” she reaches for a lipstick tube, twisting it open. “People come here to forget their problems for a couple of hours. They don’t want to see ours when we’re out there.”

“How do you know something’s on my mind?”

“Please,” she tilts her head, her lips spreading into a gorgeous smile. “I’ve been doing this long enough to smell a distraction from a mile away.”

“That makes sense,” I sigh, pulling out my foundation and getting ready to apply it. “How do you deal with something like that when you’re distracted?”

“I don’t,” She explains. “I just leave the problem in this room, go out there and make my money, then I come back and pick up the problem when the shift ends. It gets easier with practice.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I nod and smile politely, even if I’m not sure I’m capable of separating my thoughts that neatly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”