Rum & Coke

by Kimberly Knight

  “Like a real date.”

  She thought for a moment as we stared at each other and then she finally agreed. “Okay. I would love to.”

  “Great. Have fun tomorrow night. The boys and I are going to get Paul fucked up.”

  She laughed. “I can only imagine all of you drunk. I didn’t get to see that.”

  “You’re lucky you didn’t get to see that.” I chuckled.

  “I bet I’ll see you drunk at the wedding.”

  “Yeah, I bet you will too.”

  Now, I was getting ready for a night at the arena with my boys so I could stalk the girl I had feelings for. All so I could make sure her boss was on his best fucking behavior because I didn’t like that she was going out with him. Which meant I needed to figure my shit out with S&R and maybe take that break Gabe suggested.

  Of course, that needed to be after my date with Shelby on Sunday.

  When Vinny dropped me off after the range, Melony and I went shopping. I wasn’t exactly sure how fancy to get for the fight because when I googled it, some celebrities dressed in thousand dollar dresses and some people wore simple cocktail dresses. Others wore jeans and a T-shirt, but I assumed the T-shirts cost at least a hundred bucks—not the kind found at Target. Plus, it seemed it was only the men who dressed down.

  “Do you think it’s weird that Sebastian asked me to go with him to the fight?” I asked, looking at the dresses in the department store.

  “No, I’ve actually known a few girls who’ve gone.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Who?”

  “Well, Sommer for starters.”

  I glared at her. “Seriously?”

  “What?”

  “Sommer gives him sexual favors. Do you think that’s what he wants from me?”

  Melony shrugged. “I don’t know, but like I told you before, you don’t need to do anything you don’t want to.”

  “Well.” I grinned. “I would never, but especially now that Vinny asked me on a date.”

  “Shut up!” she shrieked. “When?”

  “To one of the S&R guys’ wedding.”

  “The one you stripped for?”

  I shook my head. “No, the one who hired me to strip.”

  “Wait. Two escorts are engaged?”

  “Apparently.”

  “So, there’s hope for you and Vinny then? Maybe he’ll quit for you.”

  “We definitely need to talk about it.”

  “Finally. This whole ‘you don’t know what the hell you two are’ thing is confusing me.”

  “Me, too,” I admitted.

  When Vinny asked me to be his date—a real date—I wanted to ask him again what we were, but Sophia was sitting in my living room, and I didn’t think it was the time. So, I was going to talk to him at the wedding—hopefully. I had to. It was time to go after the person who made me smile. Made me laugh. The man who was good with Colton and cared enough about me to walk me to my door each time, and who set-up a training at the shooting range. Even though I didn’t choose a gun, just the experience of having shot a gun was enough to put me at ease. If it came down to it, I wouldn’t hesitate with my pepper spray.

  To get ready for the night, I curled my hair and pinned the left side back with a bobby pin to give it more of a styled look. While shopping, I came across a dark navy, A-line dress with a deep V-neck and pockets, and I couldn’t resist it. I fell in love with it instantly, and my silver heels went with it perfectly.

  Sebastian had told me to meet him at Red Diamond, and then we would take a limo to the arena. I was okay with him not picking me up because the entire situation was still weird to me. I just kept telling myself it was an extra thousand dollars and I didn’t have to get naked. I could easily do that. When I pulled into the parking lot at Red Diamond, Galen was manning the door. “Wow, Scarlett. You look amazing tonight.”

  “Thank you,” I replied. At the mention of my stage name, I wondered if I would need to be Scarlett or Tessa tonight. Scarlett was a man-eater in a sense, and Tessa was the girl next door. What did Sebastian need me to be in front of his friends? “I’m going to that boxing thing with Mr. Delarosa.”

  “Ah,” he groaned. “You’re lucky. There’s a lot of hype about the fight. I bet on Campbell. He’s the underdog.”

  “Is that who I should go for?” I’d never been to a boxing match before. The guys at work talked about them all the time because it was a big thing in Vegas. Apparently, they happened often, and it was a big deal when two popular men or women had a match. I knew nothing when it came to boxing.

  He grinned. “If you want.”

  I heard a car pull into the lot, and I turned, seeing a black limo pull in. “My ride is here.”

  Galen whistled. “You’re riding in style.”

  “Looks like it.”

  The car pulled up, and Galen opened the door. “Have a good night.”

  “Thank you,” I replied and slid inside onto the black leather seat. He shut the door, and I turned my gaze to the front. Sebastian sat across from me in a black suit with a red button-down shirt and black tie. “Hi,” I greeted him with a smile.

  Sebastian handed me a flute of champagne, his gaze lowering to my chest briefly. Scarlett then? “Love the dress, Tessa.” Okay, Tessa then?

  “Thank you, and thank you for the money for it.”

  “It only seemed appropriate since I invited you to come. Have you ever been to a fight night before?”

  I took a sip of the bubbly wine. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Well.” He grinned. “Your first time is going to be amazing since we have ringside seats.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” I assumed it would be fun and exciting to be ringside. I would kill to be in the front row behind home plate or even front row near the dugout at a baseball game, and I supposed ringside was the equivalent for people who loved boxing. “What am I supposed to do tonight?”

  He arched his brow as he studied me. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you said I wouldn’t need to strip, so I’m not exactly sure what I’m being hired to do.”

  “You’re to sit by my side and watch a fight.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it.”

  “Am I Tessa or Scarlett?”

  “Who do you want to be?”

  I thought for a moment because I wasn’t sure. I was only Scarlett at Red Diamond and when I worked bachelor parties, but I was with my boss now. Deciding I was going to stick with Scarlett for stripping, I answered, “Tessa.”

  Sebastian smiled, and it calmed me. “I like Tessa better.”

  I smiled in return. “Thank you.”

  We sipped our champagne as the driver drove us toward the arena. I had yet to go to anything at the T-Mobile Arena though there had been several concerts I’d wanted to attend. We pulled up to the oval building, and I looked out the window at a digital sign advertising the fight between Williams and Campbell.

  “Who are you rooting for?” I asked.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  I blinked. “Really?”

  “I don’t come to the fights because I like the fighters.”

  “Then why do you come?” The driver opened the door and extended his hand. I took it and slid out of the car. Sebastian followed.

  “I come for business.”

  “To find girls?”

  “Not exactly. Red Diamond isn’t my only business.”

  “Really? I had no idea.”

  “I’m a man who loves money, and I do what I need to do to get it.”

  I had no idea what that meant, nor did I care. I was only here to sit with him and get my thousand dollars.

  A man in a black suit with a white shirt stepped behind us, and I turned slightly to look over my shoulder at him. He nodded once. “Who’s that?” I whispered.

  “That is Mateo, my bodyguard.”

  “You have a bodyguard?”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know abo
ut me. For one, I always have to get nachos when I come to a fight.” Sebastian winked at me and then hooked his arm with mine. We took a few steps until I stopped. He looked down at me. “What is it? You don’t like nachos?”

  I snorted. “No, I love nachos, but I just need to know what you don’t want me to say. I’m not sure what you meant the other night, and I don’t want to say something I shouldn’t if someone does speak to me.”

  “Do you seriously not know what I’m talking about?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  The wind blew, and he brushed a piece of my hair behind my ear. Something that Vinny had done too. Something I only wanted Vinny to do. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”

  “What if I do say something?”

  “Tessa, I’ve been watching you for a while, and I can tell that you’re not one to gossip. Sommer doesn’t know you saw us in my office, and that’s what I like about you.”

  Sommer now knew I saw them. I didn’t ask any more questions because I just wanted to get my money and not stir up anything. It was bad enough Sommer and I had gotten into a fight the other day and I’d called her out on the BJ. That wasn’t like me at all.

  “You’re right. I don’t gossip.” Except with Melony, but I kept that to myself.

  “Good. Now, we’re going to go in, sit with some of my friends, and watch a bloody fight. Are you ready?”

  I nodded. “Yep.”

  After we got nachos and beer—something I never thought I’d see my put-together boss eating or drinking—we walked down to our seats. It was amazing to be so close. As I looked at and listened to those around us, I realized there had already been a few matches, but not the title fight. Sebastian chatted with his friends, to whom he didn’t introduce me when we’d arrived, and it was clear I was here just to be arm candy. The other women seemed to be in the same boat because they too were sitting silently while their dates chatted with Sebastian.

  “Do you come to these often?” I asked the redhead sitting next to me after I’d taken my last sip of beer. I didn’t know her name because there had been no introductions between any of us.

  The girl turned her head to look at me, and then looked up at her gray-haired date. The guys were in their own conversation and not paying attention to us. “We’re not supposed to talk,” she hissed.

  I pulled back. “What? Why?”

  “Shh. You’re going to get me in trouble,” she whispered.

  I opened my mouth to respond but didn’t. Instead, I looked up at the group of guys, wondering what she meant by getting in trouble. Did he hit her? Get mad at her and yell? Was this why Sebastian invited me to come with him? Did the other girls from Red Diamond talk and get the girls in trouble? Why did women stay with men who were abusive? Money? Fear? Because they had kids? I knew that if it were me, I would take Colton and run far away.

  That thought made me think about Vinny and his group of friends. Gabe, Autumn, and Paul taught classes for self-defense. Somehow, I needed to get this chick their info, but then I didn’t want her date to see it, and I couldn’t talk to her again because she didn’t want me to talk to her. I felt horrible for her, and as I leaned forward to get a look at the other girl, my gaze landed on the familiar brown eyes that made me smile.

  Vinny smirked at me and then winked as he walked my way. I grinned and stood, but then stopped from running toward him and throwing myself into his arms since I was supposed to be on a date with Sebastian. My eyes widened, and I looked to Sebastian and then to Vinny. Vinny’s eyebrows furrowed and then, as though he’d understood the look on my face, he stopped, said something to Paul, and then motioned with his head for me to come to them.

  I stepped next to Sebastian. When he stopped talking and looked down at me, I said, “I’m going to use the restroom before the fight starts.”

  “Sure.” He smiled. “Should be starting soon, so hurry back.”

  “I will.” I took a few steps forward and felt as though someone was following me. I turned to see that it was Mateo. “You don’t need to come.”

  With a straight face, he replied, “Boss’s orders.”

  I scrunched my eyebrows. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  I wasn’t sure why Sebastian would think that I needed an escort to the restroom. Was it because I’d told him about my stalker the other night? Was he just making sure I didn’t get lost? I followed Vinny’s group of guys up a few stairs and into a lower level where there were concessions and a bunch of people standing around chatting. I stopped walking just before the group of guys. “I see some friends. Are you supposed to report back to the boss?”

  He balked. “No.”

  “Okay, good.”

  I went to Vinny and finally got the hug I was craving. “Having fun?” he asked.

  I smiled up at him. “Well, I was fed nachos and beer, so I’d say that’s a good start.”

  “You didn’t go to dinner?”

  I shook my head. “With my boss?”

  “With your date.”

  “I don’t think it’s really like what you do.”

  “It better not be.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing. You remember all the guys?”

  “Yes.” I smiled, remembering that I’d met them the night of Gabe’s bachelor party, and gave all of them a hug. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “Bachelor party for this guy.” Nick slapped Paul on the back.

  My gaze moved to Vinny. “Well, isn’t that a coincidence that you’d have it here?”

  He grinned. “Ain’t it?”

  I shook my head as I laughed. Vinny hadn’t mentioned that they were coming to the fight when I told him I was, but then we didn’t know until the range that Paul was getting married this coming Saturday. Had Vinny talked the guys into coming so he could keep tabs on me?

  “How’d you find me anyway?” I asked.

  “Not a lot of people sit ringside. You were easy to spot.”

  “How’d you know I was sitting there?”

  He shrugged. “Lucky guess.”

  “Where are you guys sitting?”

  “On the opposite side and up a few rows. Ringside was sold out.”

  “Oh.” I looked at the other guys, and they were all chatting amongst themselves. “I better get back. Sebastian told me to hurry because the fight is starting soon.”

  “Dinner tomorrow at your place for winning the bet?” Vinny asked.

  “Steak and lobster?” I beamed.

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “That’s what I want.”

  He smiled. “I’ll be at your place at five.”

  “Okay.” I hugged him once more and took a step away, but then stopped and turned back toward him. “Just so you know, the Dodgers are only allowed on my TV when they play the Giants.”

  Vinny grabbed his chest as though he was having a heart attack or that I’d wounded him. “That shit will change one day. Might not be tomorrow night, but it will.”

  I laughed and started to walk away, calling over my shoulder. “In your dreams.”

  The fight went eight rounds. I didn’t know if that was long or not, but in the end, Campbell did win. The arena seemed to be torn with the win because when he knocked out Williams, there were gasps, groans, and cheers, plus, a lot of shouted cuss words. It was fun to watch, but also kinda scary. How did these guys do it? I’d hate to have a job where I got punched in the face, suffered broken bones, or whatever. That was not my idea of fun. It also wasn’t fun because I sat there and didn’t talk to anyone. During the fight, Sebastian only talked to his friends. I had no idea why he’d invited me or wanted to pay me a grand to sit by his side.

  “How was your first fight?” Sebastian asked as the limo drove us toward Red Diamond. He was again sitting across from me.

  I shrugged. “It was okay.”

  “Didn’t have fun?”

  “Well, you’d said that your friends would try
to flirt with me and get into my pants. They didn’t even utter a word to me.”

  “Because I warned them not to.”

  “To not flirt with me or not to talk to me?”

  “Both.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged as though it was nothing. “Because I can.”

  “The women didn’t even speak with me,” I informed him.

  Sebastian leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “My friends and I are all about business. They probably instructed their women to not speak because when you spend more than one night with us, you’re bound to find out things. We don’t like people talking, Tessa. When people talk, it can ruin our business.”

  “They own strip clubs too?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Like I told you earlier, that’s not my only business.”

  “What else do you do?”

  He leaned back against the black leather seat. “That’s a story for another day, Tessa Baby.”

  Tessa Baby? What the hell? “Well, I still don’t understand why the girls and I couldn’t have talked about our dresses, our shoes, or hell, even their names.”

  “Everyone has their own rules. You’re lucky I let you go to the restroom.”

  I blinked. “Lucky you let me go to the restroom? I can go to the restroom when I feel like it. And plus, you sent me with a bodyguard.”

  “Didn’t want you to get lost.”

  I snorted. “I wouldn’t have gotten lost. The seats are numbered.”

  “That may be true, but it was easier if I sent Mateo with you. One can never be too careful.”

  The limo pulled into the parking lot of Red Diamond. “Well, thank you for inviting me.”

  Sebastian pulled out a small wad of bills and handed it to me. “Thank you for coming. What are you doing next Sunday?”

  I balked. “Um, I’m actually working. I have a wedding to go to on Saturday, and I was going to work a few hours to maybe make up for the lost money.” Fridays and Saturdays were the best days to make money, but I wasn’t going to miss Paul’s wedding. Everyone loved weddings, and I felt as though I was part of Vinny’s group of friends now that I’d hung out with them for a few hours.

  “I’m having a party at my house on Sunday. I’d like for you to be there.”