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I walk into my suite, needing to get my bag so I can shower, re-wrap my hands, and get the fuck out of here. But all thoughts seize when my eyes fall on purple hair and golden eyes that still haunt my dreams.
My steps stutter before I gain my composure and stride right past her to my bag. Without looking in her direction, I growl, “What the fuck are you doing here, Emerson?”
“Lennox, please…”
Her voice is like a bullet straight to my soul, and my head whips to look at her. “Don’t fucking call me that. Don’t walk in here and act like you belong. You have ten seconds to tell me what you’re doing here.”
I turn toward her fully, body stiff and gaze hard, trying my best not to take in all the little changes I notice about her.
Her slender neck bobs as she swallows hard. My demeanor’s throwing her off. It’s something she’s never directly experienced.
“I’m here for you, Len… Nox. But what I need to talk to you about is going to take more than ten seconds.”
“Nox…the driver is here to take us to Cliff’s,” Leslie says, walking through the door. “Oh, sorry to interrupt.” She eyes Emerson curiously. “Thanks for understanding about his fight day routine. Glad you were able to talk tonight.” Leslie’s eyes shift to me and back to Emerson, most likely feeling the tension in the room. “You coming to the after party? I think Cliff wants you and your team there if possible.”
“Yeah…Emily. You should come,” I say, emphasizing the name she’s going by. “As great as it was catching up with an old friend, I need to shower and get out of here.” Tossing my bag over my shoulder, I place my hand on the small of Leslie’s back, guiding her out of the room. I can feel the anger pouring off Emerson at my dismissive attitude toward her, but what the fuck does she expect?
“See you later, Siren…and nice right jab for a leftie. Whoever taught you that must be one hell of a teacher.”
Two
“So, are we going to address the big-ass elephant in the room…the one who followed us like a black cloud to this party?” Ford asks as he casually leans back, taking another drag from the hookah before passing the hose over to Lottie.
She didn’t technically follow us here…or not yet, at least. But the mood we’re all in from seeing her hasn’t been easy to shake. Especially mine, no matter how hard I try to hide it. My emotions are reeling with turbulence.
“I wonder if Lucian knows she’s in town,” Greyson questions, all our minds racing with thoughts of Emerson.
I shake my head. “No…there’s no way he would let her blindside me like that if he did.” Frankie and Lucian would both normally be here, but they went with Lucian’s girlfriend and her friends to a music festival down in South Carolina for the weekend. Something they’ve had planned for six months. I’m sure Lucian will be just as shocked as I was when he finds out she’s here.
“There has to be an explanation for all of this. Like why show back up all of the sudden?” Lottie questions. The confusion marring her pretty face is clear as day.
“Babygirl, I love you for always trying to see the best in people, but either way, this whole situation is fucked,” my broody best friend, who I can always depend on to be more of an asshole than me, says to his girl.
Greyson turns his attention in my direction and continues. “I mean, I agree, maybe there is more to her leaving, but the way she showed up tonight, knowing you would be there, without a warning in advance... That was fucking shitty.”
I nod, taking a swig of my water before I speak. “Yeah, she has a lot of fucking explaining to do. She tried earlier, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to hear it.” Letting out a ragged breath, I add, “Shit fucked me up. Seeing her… My head is all over the place.” I run my hand through my jet-black hair, the ends still damp from my shower.
I’d never be this honest with anyone besides these three. But the truth is…they already suspect what I’m saying. They know me better than anyone, plus I’m practically radiating a combination of anger and pain into the atmosphere, right along with the flavored tobacco we are puffing on.
Greyson passes me the hookah hose. Pulling on it, I will myself to calm down as I exhale the cloud of smoke.
I rest my head back against the outdoor chair I parked myself in as soon as I was able to get away from Cliff. I promised to have a meeting with him tomorrow before I head back to Richmond Hills, but I couldn’t stand the thought of talking business tonight.
The heaviness of it all weighs down on me like a ton of bricks. I wish I could just forget. Forget every moment, every conversation, every touch. But I refuse to let myself numb the pain again… I almost didn’t make it out of that black hole the last time.
“Remind me why we are smoking this flavored tobacco shit when we could be feeling much better about life right now.” I look up and smirk as Ford pulls a joint out of his pocket. “Tonight calls for The Real Deal Holyfield.”
“Why you holding out on us, Pretty Boy? Light her up.” He gives me that cheesy ass grin of his and I’m just happy weed is all he seems to be fucking with these days.
“Uncle Gunnar hooked me up before he and Rex headed back to town with your mom. Perks of being an official member of the Rebel Knights.” He brushes the shoulders off his leather cut like the dramatic fuck he is.
“Of course he did.” Greyson smiles, shaking his head. His dad and Gunnar are a lot like us… Thick as thieves. Emerson used to be a part of that, but she left it all behind in pursuit of something else…something better.
I can’t helpbut wonder if she found it.
My eyes search for Emerson of their own accord. In the pursuit of mermaid-colored hair, my gaze lands on a head of blonde curls and a pretty smile directed at me as she makes her way over.
Leslie plops down and places a kiss on my neck as she lets out a sigh of relief. “I told Cliff, I’m officially off the clock. He’s been demanding as fuck today.”
