Page 6 of Arthur


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“Don’t be offended, Red. I didn’t hire you for your brute strength. I have people for that. You did a good job. I wouldn’t have paid you otherwise.”

CHAPTER TWO

MELI

Maybe I should have told her that actually I do quite like Arthur. He’s all wrong for me. Of course, he is because I always go for the wrong ones. But he’s good looking and strong, and not in a muscle-head, gym addict kind of way, but he’s got that look about him that tells you he can end you in a second and not even break out in a sweat. He’s powerful, and he’d probably protect me from . . . well, I don’t really know what I need protecting from because I’m surrounded by bikers day and night. But despite that, I never feel truly safe.

I watch how Rosey leans into Arthur so she can hear his deep, gravelly voice. It’s the type of voice that makes you shiver right down to your toes. I wonder what they’re talking about. They’re both a little crazy—Rosey in a Harley Quinn kind of way, and Arthur in a deadly silent yet scary kind of way. It’s why, in my eyes, they’re perfectly matched.

Rosey is pulling her moves. The ones she lays on any man she fancies, laughing and flicking her hair. Arthur gives nothing away, not even a smile to show he’s interested. She turns to me. “I need to pee. Be right back.”

I stand awkwardly, feeling Arthur’s eyes on me. “You’re quiet,” he states.

“That’s me, little quiet one.”

He laughs, and my heart stutters in my chest. It’s not often he does it, but he really should. I want to hear him laugh all the time. “How’s things?”

He never asks me that stuff. He flirts, sort of. He isn’t good at it, but that’s just Arthur. I don’t suppose he needs to flirt because women must throw themselves at him all the time. I frown and answer, “Good, I guess.”

“Good, you guess?” he repeats. “Tell me, why haven’t you settled down like your sister?” My heart does that twisty thing again. I hate talking about it because I know Arthur knows what happened. Everyone knows.

“I’m not the settling down type.”

“You don’t want a husband and kids?”

“Nope. I love partying too much.”

He tips his head to one side. “Funny, because you don’t look like you’re having a good time right now.”

I scoff. “Because I’m the third wheel.”

“Does that bother you, Amelia?” The way he says my name makes me breathless. It rolls off his tongue and somehow sounds sexy. I have a sudden urge to hear it whispered close to my ear, to feel his hot breath on my skin.

“What did I miss?” asks Rosey, stepping between us and breaking the spell.

I smile and down my drink. “Absolutely nothing. I was just telling Arthur I’m going to find myself a hot, sexy, rich man, so you guys enjoy yourselves.” I turn and walk off into the crowd.

I’m too hot. I’ve spent the last hour dancing and my feet are beginning to throb. I lean down and snatch my heel off my left foot, then my right, and make my way through the sweaty bodies to find the bathroom.

I take the first door I see and head up the stairs, opening the door at the end and scowling when I’m on the roof space and not in the bathroom. “Fuck,” I mutter. I’m desperate to pee, and the cold air only worsens the urge to go. I glance around and find there’s no one up here, so I take my chances and scoot off to the far corner. Dropping my bag and shoes nearby, I hitch up my skirt and pull down my knickers. Then, I crouch in an unladylike manner and sigh in relief. I shouldn’t have drunk so much.

“Yah know, there’s a great bathroom in this establishment. It has toilets and everything.”

I jump in fright, unable to stop now I’m mid-flow and feeling completely embarrassed that I’ve been caught by the owner. Arthur doesn’t turn away. Instead, he watches as I finish up and pull my knickers back into place.

“I was trying to find the bathroom,” I explain. “I’m so sorry.”

He grins. “If you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go. I’ll have my bar manager check the signs are lit up.” He leans over the wall, resting his arms on it and peering down at the ground below. “Do you ever get intrusive thoughts, Meli?” he asks.

I take it as a sign he doesn’t want me to leave right away, so I join him, looking down at the crowded London street below. “Everyone does.”

“You think?” he asks, tipping his head to the side and looking at me. I nod. “I often sit up here and wonder what it would feel like to throw myself over the edge.”

I half smile. “It’s a long way down.”

“Do you think people change their mind halfway down?”

I nod again. “Probably. The realisation must hit them, but then it’s too late. They can’t claw their way back. I think you have to be brave to kill yourself.” His eyes find me again, waiting for me to continue. “Most people think it’s the coward’s way out, but I think you have to process a lot to come to that decision. I mean, most people plan it, right? They buy the pills or the rope and choose when to do it and where. They sometimes write a note to say goodbye. That takes balls. You know you’re going to end your life and you’re never coming back. It’s a huge decision. Probably one of the biggest.” I pull myself up onto the wall. It’s thick enough to sit on comfortably, but Arthur watches me with caution.

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