Blackout: A Romance Anthology

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  Levi

  “Romeo, oh Romeo.” I roll over and bury my head in the fluffy pillows of my small piece of heaven, trying to ignore the voice disrupting my sleep. “I need details, Romeo, tell me the powers of the lady in red.”

  “You are such a dumb ass,” I mumble the words into my pillow, silently wishing for Kane to disappear.

  “You’re cranky,” he adds just before jumping into the nook and yanking my pillow out from beneath my head. “Did the fair maiden in red dismiss you a second time? Did she leave you stranded with only the dirty thoughts in your mind as company?”

  “Are you done yet?”

  “No.” He doesn’t even take a second to think about it. “I’m hungry and Things 1 and 2 won’t get their lazy asses out of bed.”

  “I already have breakfast plans.”

  “Dude, breakfast is over. It’s a quarter after ten.”

  “What?” I shoot up off the pile of heaven and look around frantically for my phone.

  “What’s the rush, man? You got a hot date or something?” When I don’t answer him, he continues to push. “You do, don’t you?”

  “Fuck!” I look at my phone to see the asshole wasn’t joking. It’s ten eighteen and I told Hallie I would meet her at ten.

  I hurry around the space, yanking open my bag, and digging around for a change of clothes. Grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste, I pause at the small kitchen sink and turn on the water. Brushing my teeth with one hand, I undo my jeans and work them down my legs with the other. All while Kane is watching me with amusement on his face.

  “You like this girl.” Again, I ignore him. “It’s been a long ass time since I’ve seen you like this.”

  He is wrong; I don’t ever remember feeling like this. Like my world has been tilted on its axis. Like my heart and body now only gravitate to one gorgeous woman: Hallie.

  “Let me come along,” He grabs the keycard off the counter and steps around the counter. “I promise I won’t say shit, but you’re already late it seems, and I’ll let you blame it all on me.”

  “I can do that without you tagging along,” I say after I spit in the sink and start to rinse.

  “Yeah, but it will be more believable with me there to confirm it.”

  I don’t answer him, just continue to get dressed right there in the center of the small kitchen.

  “Come on, Levi,” he pleads. “Your brother is a downer, man. He already said he needs to sleep for at least eight hours. Who does that shit in Vegas? And Leo, he’s almost as bad as Linc. I need entertainment before I self-destruct. That can’t be good for any of us. You should already know that.”

  I turn around to face him and notice the desperate look in his eyes.

  “You don’t say a fucking word, not one.” He shakes his head, trying to hide his grin. “No smartass remarks, no lingering glances. You somehow find your gentleman card and use it. Nothing vulgar or rude. You sit there and act as if you’ve got some brains.”

  Again, he nods, agreeing to everything without hesitation.

  “Fine,” answer, already knowing that by the time breakfast is over, I’ll be ready to kill him. Dane is almost as bad at Zara. Neither one of them know boundaries.

  I hurry from the Loft, not even taking the time to tell him to join me. I was hoping he’d not notice, but there was no such luck. The sounds of his feet shuffling down the hall toward the elevator and him saying, “Wait up,” grate on my nerves.

  When the elevator arrives in the main lobby, I move even faster toward the Terrace and pause in the doorway, hoping like hell that Hallie is still here somewhere.

  It’s not her I notice first, but the purple streaks in Zara’s hair that gain my attention.

  Hallie has her back to me as I approach. Robyn’s eyes widen and she taps on Zara’s shoulder just as I step up behind Hallie’s chair and lean over to press a kiss to her cheek.

  He body jerks in reaction before looking back at me, then a slow smile begins to cover her lips. “I thought you were still passed out or you were simply deciding to ditch me.”

  “Believe me when I say that number two is not an option.”

  Hallie seems pleased with my comment. Looking over my shoulder, she must notice Kane, who I couldn’t seem to lose. “Do you still want to join or …” Not finishing the question, she waits to see what I’ll say next.

  I look around, noticing the table next to us has a spare chair, and ask the young couple if I can borrow it. They stop lingering on one another long enough to tell me yes and I don’t hesitate to place it as close as possible to Hallie’s side.

  “How about you, big guy?” Robyn looks up and Kane. “You plan on joining us or standing guard all morning?”

  “Only if you sit on my lap while I eat,” he challenges her.

  “Oh honey, you have that wrong. In order to eat, she needs to sit on your f—.” Hallie reaches out and covers Zara’s mouth, only to have her bite her hand and then laugh as she yanks it away.

  By now, Kane is completely in his zone. They just poked the perverted bear in him.

  “I think maybe I might need a little instruction on this matter. What do you both say we sneak away and you can teach me exactly what you mean?” He positions himself between the chairs of Zara and Robyn. “I’m man enough to admit that you two could probably break me, but I love the challenge. You can use me all you want, ladies.”

  The three of them banter back and forth and I apologize to Hallie for bringing him. He didn’t even last three minutes before he being vulgar, but in his defense, Robyn and Zara did start it.

  I notice the cardigan-wearing woman from last night who is now sitting at a table with a guy, both wearing clothes that don’t seem to fit the Vegas scene. She looks like hell as she holds her head and slowly sips on a water in front of her. In between drinks, she nibbles on a piece of dry toast and her nose wrinkles in disgust as she chews then swallows.

  “She isn’t feeling so great this morning,” Hallie whispers as she leans in so close that I feel her hair brush my arm. “She was up all night begging for God to just take her out of her misery. It was the greatest thing ever, and, yes, we did video it all in order to torture her with it later.”

  My facial expression must register my surprise as I look to Hallie and she laughs.

  “Please.” She laughs, pointing to the woman. “She has been a pain in our asses since we left Chicago, even before that. Have you ever had a friend that takes it upon herself to ensure that you are doing everything exactly they it should be, almost to the point of annoyance?”

  “I have a brother that does that, and, yes, it can get annoying at times,” I tell her.

  “Lucy has checklists for everything,” she whispers. Again, I love how close she has moved in toward me. Her hand is wrapped around my bicep, her chest leaning in too. It is perfect.

  “So when she goes a little wild, you better bet we’re going to get proof so the next time she decides to criticize one of us, we can remind her that she’s not as straight-arrowed as she puts on. All it takes is tequila and she’s taking off her shirt and dancing in a room full of elderly people.”

  I find myself confused as I look over at the woman and then back to Hallie.

  “It happened a long time ago, but still …” She waves me off and again I laugh. I find that I’ve been doing that a lot since we ran in to one another last night. It feels amazing.

  When the waiter comes back to the table, both Kane and I put in an order and I sit back watching the ladies, and, of course, Kane, go back and forth. Form one topic to the next, it is pure entertainment. I am able to learn quite a bit about the person Hallie has become just by seeing her with her friends.

  She is fun, a jokester even. I learn that she and Zara are roommates and have been since their second year of college. I also find out that she went to college for a degree in teaching, and, honestly, it doesn’t surprise me. She always had a knack for helping others find better ways to strive. She did for me, managing to make me wa
nt to learn, which was odd at the time.

  “So, ladies …” Kane says while he lounges back in his chair and stretches his arms over the backs of Zara and Robyns’ chairs. “What are our plans for today?”

  “Our?” Robyn challenges him.

  “Babe, come on,” he utters while moving forward, leaning into her space where she does nothing to stop him. “You know you want to keep me around.” When he licks his lower lip, and I watch the way her gaze follows his movements, I instantly regret bringing him along.

  CHAPTER 9

  Hallie

  We stand and I take in a slow calming breath when I feel Levi place his hand on the small of my back. That touch alone seems so intimate, mixing with the way he continues to watch me and smile during our entertaining breakfast.

  I do my best to remain calm and not to show a reaction, but on the inside, I’m dancing around like crazy.

  “You can all go enjoy the city or whatever,” Lucy mumbles as she stands and takes a step back. “I’m going back to bed.” Without even waiting for any of use to say goodbye, she is gone and I try to hold back my laughter when she bumps into a pillar that apparently she didn’t see. The best part is when she mutters, “Excuse me,” without looking up and continues to move on.

  “She is a wreck,” Kane adds with a shake of his head.

  “You four can go enjoy the afternoon,” Zara states, not giving me the chance to ask her why before she continues. “Jax gets a lunch break soon and I told him I would meet him.”

  “Told him when? You passed out last night before he left.”

  Holding up her phone, she gives it a little shake. “We’ve been texting all morning. I woke up to a message first thing this morning. He wanted to make sure I was okay and told me to meet him.”

  “Oh he told you.” Who is this woman and what has she done with my challenging and dominate best friend?

  “Don’t be an ass,” she tells me. “He’s a sweet guy, but has that edge too. And I’m curious what else he can do with that tongue of his besides kiss me like a rock star. Looking at him, you would never guess it, but I can almost guarantee that man knows how to make a girl forget her name with his tongue alone.”

  I feel Levi’s body shake with laughter, abasing my back, making me remember that we aren’t alone.

  “And before you ask,” Zara continues while I plead with my eyes when I see her looking over my shoulder at Levi, “we heard about your tongue for twenty minutes straight this morning.” Then she looks at me. “You’ll have to tell me later if he does that flip with his tongue that he did last night in other places too.”

  And if that wasn’t bad enough, she looks down at my crotch and bites her lip.

  Oh. My. Humiliation.

  “You’re such a bitch,” I say quietly, and she smiles bright. Grabbing her bag, she tosses it over her shoulder and does a little wiggle with her hips as she walks away.

  “About my tongue—” Levi whispers near my ear with a chuckle and my body tenses involuntarily.

  “Hey!” I glance back at Zara and know by the look on her face that she is feeling extra feisty, which can’t be good. “Do you think thirty minutes is enough time for a man to make a woman scream and leave her breathless?”

  “It’s more than enough time if he knows what he’s doing,” Levi’s friend confirms with confidence. “I can do that in five, maybe even three.”

  She offers him a nod, just before giving an air high-five, and I’m not sure if it’s meant for Kane or Robyn. From the looks of it, Robyn may just be able to find out if Kane’s words are true.

  ***

  “Are you sure about this?” I ask as I look at that buggy. Instantly, my mind goes to the place where I am rolling and thrown to my death, unable to stop it all from taking place. “I’m just saying, I can sit this one out. I have my phone and Angry Birds. I’m good with that.”

  Robyn is so ready that she is already geared up, strapped in, and bouncing in her seat, waiting for them to say go. Kane sits at her side, just as excited, and Levi tightens the strap on my helmet, slouching enough to look me in the eyes. “Trust me, you’re gonna love this.”

  “Not likely,” I mumble as he heads to the passenger side of the dune buggy and helps me climb inside.

  “We are gonna kick their asses,” he assures me. “If we let them win this, they’ll gloat and we can’t have that. I can’t have that, because Kane is already a pain in my ass and doesn’t need more ammo.”

  I nod, because what the hell else am I gonna do?

  How did I even let them convince me that a mini Baja Chase was a good idea? It was three to one, so I really had no one on my side.

  Once Levi is inside and buckled in himself, he looks over at me and reaches out for my hand. When he shakes his head, I wonder for a second what he’s thinking. Only I don’t get the time to ask when the horn blows loudly and he hits the gas.

  We’re off, the buggy bouncing from the sand dunes beneath, and I grip the bars tighter, closing my eyes.

  I can hear Levi laughing beside me over the rev of the engine and it’s impossible not to smile too. For hours we race through the sand, the two guys continuously taunting one another to prove they are better than the other. I warm up to the ride, eventually opening my eyes and even laughing myself when Levi manages to beat Robyn and Kane over and over.

  To see the frustration in Kane and even Robyn makes me laugh uncontrollably.

  When the ride comes to an end and we are called back in, I relax back against the seat and look over at Levi. He was right: I did love it.

  Slowing to a stop, I climb out of the buggy with the help of a guy who is waiting for us. Levi hurries around the buggy, taking my hand from his, and I laugh when I notice the annoyed look on his face toward the man. Talk about a boost of confidence to know he’s gotten a little jealous.

  Removing our helmets, we pass them off and Levi reaches out, hooking me around the waist. Pulling me in close, he smiles at me. “Fun?”

  “Yes,” I agree and his smile grows wider.

  Cupping my face in his hands, he presses his lips to mine, something I didn’t expect but greatly want.

  Someone whistles from somewhere around us, and I know it’s Kane. Robyn says something I can’t quite hear clearly, but I couldn’t care less. Fisting Levi’s shirt, I lean into his body more.

  By the time he pulls back, my vision is a little hazy and my lips still tingle.

  “I can’t say this enough, Hallie, but I’m glad we ran in to each other,” Levi says with his forehead resting to mine.

  “Me too.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Levi

  We take a cab back to our hotel. For the first time since we left close to four hours ago, we are all so quiet. The only sounds are from the radio the taxi driver plays low and other cars blowing their horns on occasion. The day was fun and I can still picture Hallie’s face the surprise in her eyes when I hit the gas on the buggy the first time. She was scared but that fear quickly shifted to one of pure joy.

  Now we’re all exhausted.

  Hallie has her head resting on my shoulder and my arm is securely wrapped around her, holding her close. The act feels natural, which should be surprising, considering we’ve only reconnected less than twenty-four hours ago. After Kami cheated and I ended things with her, I told myself I was done with relationships. They weren’t worth the hassle and frustrations that come along with them. I allowed myself to believe that I didn’t need the affection of a woman. The occasional flings were enough for me.

  Until Hallie.

  Hallie has thrown my one-and-done, bang-and-bolt hook-ups out the window. I no longer need the flings when forever with Hallie promises to look pretty damn good.

  “Did I wear you out?” I smile with my lips pressed to her hair when I hear her sigh.

  “It was fun,” she replies, followed by a yawn as she lifts her hand in attempt to hide it. “But now I need a little nap before dinner.”

  A nap sounds good, as l
ong as my nap can be with her. I can’t seem to get over how comfortable I feel with Hallie. How perfectly we fit together. As if fate somehow brought her to me. It has been years since we’ve seen one another, and I believed us to be friends at one time, though she thought differently. I’ve always enjoyed spending time with her; and now that we’ve reconnected as more than friends, this time together is everything.

  “Dinner and dancing—” Robyn interrupts and Hallie yawns a yes before they share this high five thing without actually touching hands. “Oh and drinks,” Robyn adds.

  “Again,” Hallie whines, which makes me chuckle.

  “We are in Vegas,” Robyn counters, as if that is reason enough. “Next week, we’ll be back home, being forced to be adults. So for now, we drink and dance and drink.”

  “You said drink twice,” Hallie informs her.

  “That is because drinking is a crucial part of everything else, Hallie,” Robyn asserts. “It is the stepping stone to all that follows.” Okay, I’ll admit that Robyn is fun. She has this I don’t give a shit, carefree way about her.

  Kane and I sit in silence as the two of them go back and forth amongst themselves—as if he and I are not even here—until we arrive at the hotel.

  I climb out of the cab after handing more than enough money to the driver to cover the tab. I pause near Hallie’s side and again she yawns. “I’m such a lightweight.”

  “You can say that again,” Robyn taunts her before bumping her hip against Hallie’s, making her stumble a little before hurrying inside.

  “I really need to get new friends, Hallie says with a chuckle.” Her body leans into mine when I place my hands on her hips.

  Stepping in even closer, I make her lips mine, offering her a quick but hungry kiss. It’s something I can’t seem to stop myself from doing. “Do you mind if me and the guys join you ladies tonight?”

  “I was hoping you would.” There isn’t even a moment of hesitation in her response. “We have reservations at five that we can just change to a party of eight instead of four.” We remain standing where we are, neither of us actually wanting to say goodbye.