Page 51 of The Rogues

“I know. But we were nineteen. We were dumb.”

“And they let you in? That wasn’t your first clue that something shady was going on?”

She exaggerates her shrug, her shoulder moving high with her hands held high. “No, apparently not! Luckily, we were terrible gamblers. We only owed a few hundred bucks, but we got out of there asap.”

“It’s only funny because it didn’t turn out terrible,” I point out.

She laughs. “It’s even funnier because we had to dissuade Cleo and Nicola from going a few weeks later. They also thought it was a normal arcade.”

I choke on my beer, and she cackles at my reaction. “Wow, you all fell for it.”

“We shouldn’t have. We’re from New York.”

“I bet that was a really fun time though. Being in L.A. for the first time, experiencing it together.”

She nods, a somber expression taking over her face. “It might be one of the best times of my life. It was my first true taste of freedom, and having it with my favorite people in the world was… memorable.” She flattens her lips, thinking. “Sometimes I wish we could go back there. Back to before we got signed and everything became so complicated.”

“It was simpler?” I ask.

“Yeah, and we were closer. I feel like our crazy lives have torn a wedge between us.” She shakes her head. “I know I shouldn’t complain. We’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and we are being respected for our work. That’s amazing all on its own. I mean, it was the goal after all.”

Her head hangs lower, and everything inside me can’t stand to see the anguish that I find in her features. I scoot my stool closer and meet her gaze.

“You deserve to feel however you want to feel. Just because our job seems perfect on the outside doesn’t mean things can’t be crumbling on the inside.”

“Have you felt the same way?” she asks with widened eyes. “I thought you guys were living the dream.”

“We are,” I reassure. “But there are so many rules and stipulations and people to take orders from. It feels so stifling sometimes.”

“Are you talking about Cy and Jamie?” She leans forward and lowers her volume. My chest expands at her kindness and her patience, and I nod.

“None of us had to hide who we were growing up. Cyrus is the only one who is used to this, used to taking orders and being a polished version of himself. He takes the brunt of it for us, without us even asking him to. I feel like it’s ingrained in him sometimes.” I take another sip of my beer and return my gaze to hers. “It’s not the same. I know things are going on for you and your friends, complicated things. But I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to pretend everything is dandy with me. I know things can be rubbish sometimes, and you don’t have to hide it. Or feel bad about it.”

That earns me a soft smile. “Wow. I thought you were the unserious one. Always looking for a laugh.”

“I am, but…” I pause, my words halting as I ponder what I was about to say. Josie sees the hesitation on my face, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“But what, Malaki?”

Her eyes are so green that I feel like I could get lost in them. I swallow, the sound rough before I huff out a sigh.

“I want to be your rock, Josie. Anytime you need it, I’ll be there to help you get back up. No matter the circumstances.”

Something flashes in those dark-green irises, something knowing and real. I don’t expect it, but when she grabs my hand and squeezes, my alpha hums low in my chest, a soft vibration starting up. It’s so low that it goes unheard, but I feel it, sitting there like a reminder. A promise.

She lets me pay for our tab—reluctantly—before we head outside to leave. While we stand waiting for our driver, a tension lingers that wasn’t there before. Like all the fun has dissipated and now she is left with all the thoughts that our date distracted her from.

I take a small step closer and take her hand, my alpha urging me to offer any amount of comfort that I can.

“This was amazing.” She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

I chuckle. “Sorry, Bubbles, but it doesn’t feel like I fulfilled my part of the deal. You still look burdened.”

“No, it’s not that. I… I just feel bad that we could have been doing this the whole time and it’s because of me that we weren’t.” She looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “I’m sorry, Malaki. I’m sorry that I pushed you guys away. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

My chest opens up, a swoosh of something miraculous taking over my body. “Did you just say you were sorry?”

She nods.