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I blink at him. “Are you insinuating something?” I ask, not at all liking his tone.
He shrugs. “Just stating facts.”
“Maybe you don’t know Luke as well as you think you do.”
He narrows his gaze. “I’ve known him since the day he was born.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Ed?”
“Just be sure you’re ready for his lifestyle.”
“Thanks for the tip,” I plaster on a fake smile as I attempt to temper my anger. I know he’s important to Luke, but I don’t appreciate his attempt to scare me away.
He starts to say something, but he’s cut off. “May I cut in?” Brody asks.
I sigh in relief as Ed gives me a curt nod and steps away. “You good?” Brody asks as we dance.
“Yea. I think he was trying to tell me Luke would cheat on me."
Brody frowns. “I never liked that grumpy asshole. Luke only puts up with him because he was close with his dad. Don’t take it personally.”
I try to relax and nod. “Thanks.”
“And don’t worry about Luke. Mr. Boy Scout would never do that,” he says with a grin.
“Thank you Brody. You’re a good friend to Luke.”
He smirks. “I try, despite what he might tell you.”
I chuckle and the song ends. We join Luke at the table and he pulls my chair out for me again. Luke and Tank return to their conversation, and I chat with Brody for a while. Turns out, although he’s a professional athlete at the top of his game, he’s a pretty normal guy. We laugh and make fun of Luke, and he tells me a few stories of them growing up together.
Tank and Luke join our conversation after a while, then Tank asks me to dance. I laugh as he spins me around after making a joke at his expense about making me do all the work. I don’t mind at all though. The drinks have been flowing and I’m feeling great. After our second song, I’m forced to excuse myself to the restroom.
I meet Mark’s eyes and mouth ‘bathroom’. He nods and makes his way towards me. I continue through the doors into the lobby. A few people mill about. The door creaks open behind me and glance back and smile at Mark. He waits for me at the doors since they face the women’s restroom.
I push through the entrance and walk down a short hall and turn a corner to find the stalls. There’s a door on the other side of the restroom that looks like an employee’s entrance. The bathroom is empty, so I head into the nearest stall. While I’m drying my hands, the employee door opens behind me and I look up to find Scotty smirking at me in the mirror. I gasp and whirl to face him.
My drunken brain goes on high alert as I stare at the man. “Don’t worry, Little Peach. I’m not here to hurt you. You can relax,” he says. He’s wearing a white dress shirt and black tie like the other servers. His hair is in a neat bun, accentuating his sharp features that add to the cruel cast of his face.
“What do you want?” I ask, taking a side step towards the hallway.
“Just to talk.” I take another step and he moves in, crowding my space. I flinch when my back hits the cold tile wall.
“Back-" I start to shout but he muffles the sound as his hand covers my mouth.
He smirks, and a chill flitters down my spine. “If you scream I can’t guarantee Mark’s safety."
My nostrils flare as I stare at him in horror. Is he bluffing?
He drops his hand from my mouth, but I can't risk Mark getting hurt so stay quiet. “Did Luke tell you about our history in Vegas? That he knocked up the woman he married then abandoned her?”
I glare at him. “You’re lying.”
He chuckles and rests his hand on the tile next to my head and leans into me. He brings his other hand up, running the back of his fingers down my cheek. I flinch at the contact, but he ignores it.
“He tries to pretend he’s some hero. But he’s the villain in this story. I’d think twice before aligning myself with him. He’s only going to hurt you.”
“Right. And you’re so concerned with my well being."
