I swallow the lump that’s forming in my throat and feel my pulse begin to race. “You mean people like you? Aren’t you here to fight, Theo?”
"I warned you to stay away from me." His hands slip from my waist. The smug expression he was wearing begins to fade as he twists his head to the side and glares at Wes.
“Yeah, well, you’ve said a lot of things before.”
"Clearly I haven’t said enough."
I turn around to walk away, and the first thing I see is Katrina glaring at me. Her sunflower-yellow romper and all-white heels make her look like the perfect summer Barbie doll. I bite my lip. God, does this girl ever have a bad hair day?
Forcing myself to smile, I drop my eyes to the simple T-shirt and shorts I’m wearing, for what I thought was going to be a casual night at the movies. Katrina walks up to Theo’s side and grabs his arm. Her perfectly manicured nails press into his skin as she stands there—her blue eyes like daggers.
As if reading my mind, Theo wraps his hand around Katrina’s waist, and pulls her against his side. I try to look away, but my eyes focus on the action. As if to solidify the action’s intended meaning, he tosses a smile in my direction.
"Look, you seem like a nice girl, so I’m going to try to break it down for you." Katrina wrinkles her brow, her bottom lip pulling to one side. “Go home. Obviously, Theo doesn’t feel like babysitting tonight, and honestly, you’re a little annoying.”
Annoying? What the—
"Katrina," Theo groans a low warning. He drops his arm as if to further show his displeasure with her, when she rolls her eyes. The act itself is so overly dramatic that for a second, I wonder if she were to hold it any longer, would her eyes actually stick to the back of her head.
I shift my stance and cut my eyes over to Luca. I can see the warning signs etched on his face, and I shudder thinking what might happen if my father were to find out where I am again—a thought that irritates me more than anything, because it’s like living on a leash. Before Mason, I never used to care what anyone thought, but now it’s all I seem to be able to do.
Looking up at Katrina’s smug face, my competitive side—the side of me that’s more like the old Brielle than the one I hide behind today—wants to prove that smug face wrong. Why shouldn’t I go? I’m not a child anymore. I can protect myself. And what better way to prove it than by showing them. Here. Tonight.
"Brielle, maybe we should leave.” Luca reaches out to touch my shoulder. "We can still catch the late night showing if we hurry."
Theo's face falls instantly. “Yes. You’d better hurry, Brielle. I know how much you love the previews,” he says dryly, his voice so full of sarcasm I can’t help but laugh. The tattoos in black ink that stretch over the length of his arm flex under the spotlight.
"Nice try, but I’m still coming inside." I smile as sweetly as I can manage. When no one says anything, I skirt around the three of them and head toward the door. "Come on, Luca. Live a lit—"
I make it a step, trying to ignore the eerie sense of déjà vu, before fingers reach out and grasp my arm.
"Hey, get the fuck off of her!"
"Easy, lover boy."
I turn around and shoot Theo a look.
"I said stop grabbing me!"
Theo looks down at his hand, hesitating for another minute, then releases me.
"I’m asking nicely. Please. Leave."
Katrina lets out a long breath. “For fuck’s sake, just let the girl come in. I’m so bored of this. It’s not like she’s going to last very long, anyway.”
I bite my tongue to keep my rude comments to myself, as Theo motions for Katrina to come closer. She does as he asks, and when she’s finally at his side, he leans into her ear and whispers something that elicits her to walk off and head into the bar.
What the. . .?
So, it’s safe for Katrina to go in alone, but not me?
I cross my arms, pointing after her.
"What’s wrong now?" Theo half laughs. His smile is soft, but the anger behind his eyes is still burning.
"Seriously? You even have to ask?" I shrug my shoulders as I look up at the distorted image of someone I once knew. "Who the hell are you? I thought you just said the place isn’t safe, yet you let her go inside. Alone."
"Katrina can handle herself."
“You’re such a hypocrite.” The words tumble from my lips before I can manage to stop myself. “I don’t know how Katrina puts up with you, because I would never want to be with someone like—”
Theo glares aggressively at me. But there’s more to it than that. With one hand, he grasps my wrist, and with the other, he grabs my elbow. He pulls me to him, my arm sliding along his side, until there’s barely any space left between us. I can feel the rise of his chest with every breath he takes.
“Damn it, Brielle! Why are you so insistent on fighting me? I’m just trying to keep you safe so that nothing happens like it did in the. . .” his voice trails off.
“In the past? Is that what you were going to say?”
I feel Theo’s heart beat against my wrist and close my eyes. The steady rhythm is soothing even during all the craziness that’s ensued. I open my eyes, suddenly aware at how everyone around us is staring. The closeness that Theo seems to want feels more intimate by the second.
"You don’t own me, Theo. You don’t get to just show up in my life after five years and start bossing me around. It doesn’t work like that."
“Fine,” he says, stepping back. His hands release me, while I wrap my arms around my waist and hold them there. “Whatever. Just don’t come crying to me when you don’t like what you see.”
Theo hurries to the door, yelling, “Hurry up, then, if you’re coming!”
Luca reaches out and pulls me to his side as we walk to catch up with Theo. "What the hell was that?" he whispers in my ear. But, honestly, his guess is as good as mine.
A short, bald guy, standing just past the entrance, stammers when he sees Theo, who reaches in his pocket and pulls out an invitation of sorts. It’s a small, yellow card, about the size of an index card, which seems to have had its fair share of use.
"They’re with me," he says without hesitation, and we’re immediately waved through.
Inside, the room is flooded with bodies so tightly packed that no matter which way you move, you’re bound to bump into someone. The air is thick inside, a medley of blood, sweat, and dirt. For a bar, this one is definitely unique. Aside from a few tables and booths, most of the space is taken up by a series of stadium-styled seats, which extend up the length of two walls. And sitting dead center in the room is a boxing ring.
We meet up with the others shortly afterward, and together, we go to the table that Wes has waiting for us, close to the ring. I take a seat next to Luca and shift the basket of half-cracked peanut shells further down on the table.
"What can I get you to drink, handsome?" I look up and find a waitress in a corset and short, shorts batting her eyes at Luca.
He smiles back at her, placing his left arm around the back of my chair. "We'll have two draft Dos Equis pints," he says, moving his right hand to touch my knee as he leans toward me.
I look up and nod in agreement.
A smile plays along Luca’s lips. I don't know who the act is more for—the waitress or Theo. But I’m not going to embarrass him by shrugging him off. For all I know, he just wants to shut the girl down politely.
"Got it." The waitress smiles and turns to walk away.
"Oh wait." I cut my eyes over to the rest of the table. "You forgot to get their order."
"Oh, I know what they want."
I press my lips into a line. Right. Of course she does. I forget they’re probably here all the time. I look over to Luca and smile sweetly, suddenly grateful that he’s not the kind of guy who has waitresses know his bar orders wherever he goes. I relax back against my chair and take a breath. So far, this place isn’t that bad.
It’s then I shift my eyes to Theo and Katrina. The agg
ressive look he’s wearing momentarily catches me off guard.
"What?"
"Nothing," Theo says. The corners of his lips curl back into a look that reveals some resemblance of disgust. "Just thinking about how cute you two look together."
I lean forward and adjust myself.
Well, this was going to be a long night, I think to myself, just as my eyes catch sight of the large display hanging over the bar. Its detailed list of names is followed by a series of numbers scaled from one to ten. The four letters marking the top left column are “T. H. E. O.”
What the hell?
"What's that?" I ask just as our drinks arrive. I smile at the waitress and take a sip of my beer.
"Seriously?” Katrina turns her attention to me. “Do you know nothing? That’s the leaderboard, duh! And my baby is undefeated."
Did she really just call him “baby?”
"Theo, my man!" A voice breaks through the dull roar, and I turn toward its owner.
"Mack." Theo smiles back. The two-clasp hands almost immediately. He points to the ring. "Is there going to be a fight tonight, or . . .?"
The slender man with the stark widow’s peak breaks out into a slow chuckle. "Yeah, Tucker and Liam are about to hop in; they've been talking trash all night so it should be a good one." He continues to laugh. "But, hey man, how do you feel about taking on a newcomer tonight? The guy's been throwing around so much shit. Honestly I was happy when I saw you walk in."
I look over at Theo in time to see him cut his eyes at me.
He raises his hand and pushes it through his tousled brown mess of hair, before turning back to the guy and answering him, "Ah, maybe later, man. I’ve got some old friends out with me tonight. We're just here to catch up."
Mack hums like ah.
“Wait, what?” Katrina snaps.
I feel myself relax and let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I’m happy to hear Theo reject the offer. I definitely don’t want to sit around and watch him fight.
"It's all good, man," The guy smiles, giving him a small pat on the back. "I'll just tell him to fuck off."
Theo laughs, turning back toward the table after Mack walks off and back to the bar. But for some reason, I can’t shake the uneasy feeling I get and decide to keep my eyes on Mack. I watch him round the side of the bar, when I see that the "guy" he’d been referring to is none other than the drunk from the bar.
The creep Wes had thrown out last weekend.
Oh, crap.
Mack's lips move as he tells him that it’s not going to happen tonight, and apparently it’s not taken well. He mouths the words “fuck you,” before walking away. Eliciting the creep to turn around and glare in our direction. The moment his eyes meet mine, I look away.
Theo narrows his eyes as if reading my thoughts. "What's wrong?"
"Well—" I feel Luca’s hand reach for mine before I cut my eyes back to the bar. "Oh dear God," I say when I see he’s abandoned his drink and is walking toward us. "Funny story. . ."
Feeling impatient, Theo turns around in time to watch as the guy steps up to the table. His silvery hair is matted down to his head. His brown-black eyes are dilated and on edge. I keep mine fixated on Theo, hoping that he’ll send the guy away before he has the chance to recognize me. Although, in all honesty, by the smell of him, it’s probably fair to say that he’s too drunk to remember much of anything.
"Hey, man," he slurs. His eyes lock on Theo.
Theo sighs and adjusts himself in his seat. His shoulders tense. He looks down at his hand, casually resting atop the table, seeming bored already. "Sorry, do I know you?"
The guy half laughs at Theo's question before taking a step closer. His hand slams down on the table with brute force. "I hear you're the person to beat around here, yet Mack tells me you declined to fight tonight," he states, his breath pushing across the table and burning my nostrils. How the hell is he still standing? He smells like he drank the whole bar.
The room falls silent as two guys step inside the ring. Both of them have their heads craned as they watch for Theo’s reaction. The tension is palpable.
Theo glares at him. "I guess I missed the fucking question."
Oh, no.
As much as he deserves to have his ass kicked, I doubt it would be much of a fair fight. He’s easily two feet shorter than Theo, and probably a good forty pounds lighter.
"Ha! Yeah, so what's up? The legend not all he's hyped up to be? Or are you just not wanting to dirty up your face around these pretty ladies?"
I watch the muscles in Theo’s jaw clench.
"Do it, baby. Fight'em. Kick his drunk ass."
"Yeah, fight me, baby." The guy mocks Katrina.
What the?
I shoot her a look, wondering what the hell it is she’s doing? Who pushes their boyfriend to fight someone?
“Theo . . .” I barely whisper his name. The part of me that still cares for him, begging him not to do it.
"Look, you're obviously drunk," Theo begins, sitting up straight. I watch the muscles along his arm flex as he reaches for his drink. "So, I'm going to give you the chance to walk away before I change my mind."
"I doubt that; I really do." The guy leans into Theo's face. Their noses are so close that they’re practically touching.
I feel the drag of Theo's chair while he throws it back and stands up. "Do you have a death wish, asshole?” He shoves the guy back. The guy stumbles to the table next to us and falls against another guy’s drink.
The situation suddenly feels dangerous, and before I know it, I'm on my feet and standing in front of Theo.
"Please," I say, desperate for him to listen to me as I reach out and take hold of his hand.
I start to relax when I hear his breathing slow as he laces his fingers with mine. And when I hear the guy get back to his feet, I turn and look over my shoulder before taking a tiny step to the side. I don't want to risk him accidentally trying to get to Theo, then missing, and hitting me instead. Theo would kill him. That I was sure of.
"Oh, you're fucking getting in that ring, and I'm kicking your—"
"No. I'm not." Theo shuts him down, then raises his hand to the bouncer and waves him over our way. "But your ass is leaving this bar."
"The hell I am." The guy spits out at Theo as two gorillas of bouncers come barreling through the crowd and grab at his sides.
"Yes. You are."
I turn to shoot Luca a look that says, “What the hell did we get ourselves into?” But then I hear the guy yell, "You!" Twisting around instinctively I immediately regret it. "It is you. The dancer!" he yells.
"Don’t you fucking talk to her!"
"Theo, don’t!"
The guy just laughs. "I knew I'd see you again, Sweet Tits."
Crap. The guy just doesn't know when to shut up.
“That’s it. I’m gonna—"
"No, please. Just ignore him, Theo. He's not worth it." I take the chance to remind him.
He pulls me with him, his body turning to follow the guy as the bouncers lead him through the room.
"Who the hell was that, Brielle?" Theo asks. His eyes dart down to my face for a split second before he snaps them back up again.
"Nobody." I work to keep Theo from trailing after the guy. I cut a quick glance to Wes, who, thankfully, hasn’t ratted me out yet, and bite my lip.
"I'll see you real soon, Sugar Lips,” the guy calls from the entrance. I close my eyes briefly, not sure how much longer I can keep this up. "I'll make sure to give that mouth and ass of yours something better to do next time I see you."
I shut my eyes and keep the pressure on Theo’s chest. "No. No. No. No," I beg him, but I’m losing against his strength. "Theo. Stop. Look at me." Next to the bar I see two doors leading to a patio and begin pulling him toward them.
“Get away from me, Brielle.”
“Not going to happen. Come on. Time for a break, Mister.”
I’m surprised when Theo lets me move him, but I don't waste tim
e trying to understand why. I look over my shoulder atLuca and flash him an apologetic smile. "We'll be right back," I promise as I catch Katrina groaning.
Luca just nods. He clearly doesn't want to put up a fight with Theo, who’s already so on edge. Not that I blame him.
"Hurry back, Bree. I’ll order some food," he calls from behind us, as we disappear out the back door. The silent hum of the change in atmosphere makes my ears ring.
chapter eleven
THEO
We step outside, and I can feel Brielle watching me as I break away and move to a spot near the wall. I can't believe I let her talk me down from fighting that fucking asshole; I never back away from a fight. I lean my back against the cool surface of the concrete and inhale a deep breath.
I'll make sure to give that mouth and ass of yours something better to do next time I see you, that fucker’s voice echoes inside my mind, and I slam my fist into the wall.
"I should have kicked his ass," I say and run my hand through the top of my hair.
"No, you shouldn’t have. The guy has issues, and I don’t see how the two of you fighting, solves any of them."
No, but it would make me feel better.
I toss my eyes down at her and raise my brow. Her full lips pull back into a small smile as I shake my head. Damn it. How the hell can someone so irritating be so damn cute that I have to fight the urge not to smile with her?
"You make me crazy," I tell her before I have the chance to stop myself.
"I could say the same about you."
She comes over to lean against the wall beside me. A strong feeling of déjà vu takes hold of me, and I smile, letting myself succumb to it. I turn to my side and pull her to face me. The two of us probably look like a strange sight together—her innocent appearance and my known reputation. But I couldn't give a fuck. I reach up and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. My hand lingers just a second longer before I drop it to my side.
"I need to know," I say, knowing she’ll understand what I mean.
I watch her roll her eyes and bite her lip. Fuck, if she doesn't cut that shit out . . . so help me. She shakes her head before pushing off the wall and moves just off to the side. My mind is suddenly grateful for the extra space the wall gives us. I need to relax. No. I need to go beat that guy’s ass.
With You: With you, I am who I want to be. Page 8