by Cecy Robson
“Are you serious?” Noelle asked, taking another look at Candy Lynn.
“Why? Are you volunteering?”
“Sam,” Dee snapped. “You take pig to a whole new level.”
“Each shot girl makes twenty an hour plus tips.”
Eight hands shot up.
“That’s what I thought,” Sam said. “Come on, let’s fill in the next few shifts.”
The eight enthusiastic waitresses followed Sam to his office; two more thought about it before chasing after the group. Dee watched them leave, her expression torn. “Don’t, Dee. I’ll give you some money for Glori,” Noelle told her.
Dee pursed her lips and reached for her apron and bucket. She’d volunteered for restroom duty again tonight. Shaz, her ex, had stopped giving her child support and she was taking him to court for it. In the meantime, she was on her own. “Don’t worry, Noelle,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I still have my pride.”
Mateo knelt beside me before I could start on my booths, folding one hand over a knee. Since I remained sitting, we were almost at eye level. I now had a good excuse to stare and maybe swoon a tiny bit. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey.”
“Can you go out after work? A few of us are hitting a diner.”
I bit my bottom lip, frustrated I had to tell him no, again. “I can’t. I have to study all weekend. I have a quiz on Monday.”
Mateo stared down at the floor. “I guess then you’re out for Saturday after closing.”
“Why, what’s going on?”
“A party at Ant’s.”
Two more opportunities to hang out with him. Two more times I had to say no. Pretty soon he’d stop calling. “Mateo, I wish I could. I just can’t blow off any of the quizzes. They count a lot, and anything less than an eighty-three is considered failing.”
He shrugged with one shoulder. “No biggie. I’ll see you around.”
That’s what he said. But I heard the “goodbye” in his voice. I clasped his arm when he tried to stand. “Wait―what about Sunday?”
“What about it?”
I inched closer so he’d see that I was serious about spending time with him. “Will you call me after you wake up? I should be done studying by then.”
His steely hazel irises analyzed me. Maybe it was my imagination, but he didn’t seem to believe me. “All right,” he said. “Do you want to stop by my place?”
My finger traced the ink of his Power tat. “I really do.”
He looked down at my hand on his forearm before meeting my gaze. “You know, I was starting to think you were telling me to walk.”
“That’s the last thing I want, Mateo,” I told him truthfully.
“Yeah, me too, Evie.” He rose, pausing before stepping away. “By the way, thanks.”
“For what?”
“Not volunteering to be a shot girl.”
He fired me a wink before collecting his crew to discuss the plan for the night―who would take point where, how many bouncers would man the door, and the chain of command they needed to follow from now on. Even Officer Pete paid close attention. Mateo was a solid, smart leader. And I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Chapter Nine
Mateo walked me to my car Saturday night, just as he had Friday night. And just as on Friday, he gave me one hell of a kiss good night. Maybe our talk on Friday was what we both needed, a little assurance that things hadn’t died between us. “A couch would be really handy right now,” he murmured behind my ear, nibbling on my neck.
I moaned and my lids fluttered as he kissed the base of my neck. The last thing I wanted was for him to stop. I loved his lips and how they worked to tease my skin.
My fingers linked around his neck. I kissed him hard, encouraging him to press his body against mine. The door handle to my Cherokee pushed into my back. It hurt. And I couldn’t care less. My only worry was maintaining enough control so I wouldn’t grind against him. As it was, Mateo’s clutch to my waist intensified and I felt his hips twitch ever so slightly.
The tips of my breasts pricked in response. I moaned again, this time more desperately, when Mateo’s tongue flicked against mine. The urge to slide downward seemed to overpower me, but it didn’t last. He pulled away, rather abruptly, breathing hard. “Let’s…”
His voice trailed off as he worked to control his rapid breathing. What was he going to say? “Let’s have sex”? If so, it scared me, but not enough that I was certain I’d say no.
“We’d better stop,” he said.
“Oh.” I couldn’t tell if he sensed my disappointment. But I certainly felt the full brunt of it. The area wasn’t completely private, but since it was around the corner from the club, we were hidden from the Main Line and shadowed in darkness. A few of the staff loitered nearby. I doubted they could see us from where I heard them talking. So then why did he want to stop, exactly?
Mateo played with the edge of my white dress shirt beneath the long cardigan I’d worn to work. I searched his somber face, hoping for an explanation for his sudden withdrawal. “I’ll see you later, okay?” he said.
I gripped the collar of his shirt, hesitant to let go. “Will you still call me tomorrow when you wake up?”
His smile washed me with relief. “You know I will, baby.”
I was back to “baby” status. I’d never realized how much I’d like that word. And how much I needed to hear it just then.
Mateo gave me one last kiss, staying put until my ride sputtered and squeaked out of the lot and onto the Main Line. I grinned when I caught a glimpse of his laughing at my car’s hairy fit. Maybe my Cherokee hated being away from Mateo’s hands as much as I did.
Shit. I so didn’t want to leave him. As it was, my body continued to feel the pressure of his weight although he no longer pushed against me. It was odd, and pretty damn awesome, the way Mateo affected me. And although I tried not to, I couldn’t help but compare him and Donovan.
Donovan. I remember making noise with him when we had sex, but more because it was expected. I also remember my hands and mouth taking him in, but again, that had been expected of me, too.
“Expected”…that was a hell of a way to describe sex with someone I thought I loved and planned to spend my life with. But looking back, that’s how it had felt, even though I hadn’t cared to admit it until now. He hadn’t turned me on. Not once. Sex with Donovan had never felt good.
My jaw popped open. I’d never admitted that before either.
The sudden insight chilled me, and frightened me although I couldn’t grasp why. I cranked the heat. It didn’t help. I didn’t realize how hard I was breathing until I tasted the awful exhaust against my tongue.
Before my panic could overtake me, I hit the radio and started singing loud and off-key to a Kelly Clarkson song. That totally helped. So did the next few songs that followed. I sighed, grateful that my batshit-crazy antics worked to help me settle, and to stir the memory of my ride home with Noelle and Mateo.
That was the first time he’d kissed me.
I shut my engine off when I parked in my driveway and paused, smiling. Mateo. Hmmm. Now, he was a different story. He had the goods to make me hot. It was hard to keep my mouth shut when he nibbled and touched…and we hadn’t even seen each other naked. Yet.
I stopped with my hand on the door handle. Mateo. Naked. Fuck. I groaned with just the thought of what he might look like sprawled across my couch again, but this time minus his clothes.
I hurried into my house only to find Lourdes and her girlfriend getting right to it on the very same couch.
“Oh, Jesus, sorry!” I clasped my hand over my eyes, crashing into the doorframe when I tried to rush into my room.
“Evelyn, what are you doing here?”
“Ouch―I live here!”
There was some fumbling and swearing in Spanish before Lourdes came in through my bedroom door. “Mira, that’s not what I mean. Didn’t you get the email?”
“It’s Saturday night. Why the hell―”
Her evil grin cut me off. “The department has some sort of emergency meeting with the president and the first-year nursing students―something about quizzes being stolen from the staff office. Anyway, classes are canceled for the second-year nursing students on Monday―all of them.”
I froze. “You can’t be serious.”
“Check your email, nena!”
I threw my purse on the floor and scanned through my iPhone. One email from our department president canceling classes. Just like Lourdes said. A day off. A day I could potentially share with Mateo.
“Lourdes!” her girlfriend screamed from the living room.
“Woman, just wait in my room!” She shook my shoulder. “Evelyn, you can actually have a life tonight. Go be with Mateo. This is your chance, nena!”
“I’m not sure where he is,” I mumbled, still in shock.
“Then text him, damn it.”
She shut the door in my face and returned to her pissy and impatient girlfriend. I yanked off my clothes, standing naked in my room as I stared at the phone. The last thing I wanted was to not be wanted. What if he’d already asked someone else? Or what if he was already making out with some other girl? Shit. Could freaking Candy Lynn be there, too?
“Just text him, Evelyn!” Lourdes screamed from her room.
My pseudo-mama knew me too well.
I sent Mateo a text. Instead of texting back, he called. “You can come?”
“My classes are canceled on Monday. I have time now.” I hopped impatiently. “Is that okay?”
He swore. “It is, but I just had a few shots.”
“With who?” My mind immediately went to friggin’ Shot Girl.
“With Ant. I’m at his place.” He paused and I could almost picture him smiling. “Why? Who’d you think?”
“Never mind.”
He laughed anyway. “Look, I can’t drive yet. But I want you with me. I’ll text you the address.” He paused again. “Then if you want, you can take us back to my place after.”
If we’d done a face-to-face, he wouldn’t have missed my blush or hanging mouth. I couldn’t stop the blush, but I shut my mouth just enough to speak. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I’m coming. Is it far?”
“No. We’re in Newtown Square.”
—
I pulled into the large parking lot squared off by blocks of three-story brick condos. Most apartment lights were on. Music and laughter blared from all sides. I guessed we didn’t have to worry about waking the neighbors.
I stared back at my text and then up at the condos, trying to figure out where Building D ended and Building E began. I jumped in my seat when someone banged on my driver’s-side window like there was a fire. “Evelyn?”
Noelle, carrying a giant red cup and already looking like she’d had a few shots, stood with Big Chris. He nodded, a giant keg strapped to his back. “Hey.”
“Are you here to see Mateo?” Noelle asked, screaming.
“Ah, yes,” I answered more quietly.
“He’s over there!” She pointed across the way. “I said, he’s over there!”
“I heard you.” I waved. “Go ahead. I’ll follow.”
I drove behind her and Big Chris, parking in the empty space where Chris pointed. He waited for me, still carrying the keg on his back like it was a backpack. “We’re running low on beer” was all he said.
He and Noelle still wore their Club Excess gear. In my attempt to look nice for Mateo, I’d slipped on skinny jeans, black boots, and a sheer white tunic with a lacy camisole underneath. The silver hoop earrings Lourdes’s grandmother had given me when I graduated high school flicked against my loose hair as I tried to keep up with Big Chris.
It helped when Noelle fell up the steps and he had to haul her to her feet. “What the hell?” she asked, sounding like the steps had tripped her on purpose.
Big Chris helped her balance without losing hold of the keg and without a word. That was Chris, strong, quiet, and always looking out for us. I swear he could’ve crushed that keg with his fingers, and yet he was extremely gentle as he led Noelle to the second floor.
The crowd loitering with giant red cups cheered upon seeing Big Chris. “Hello, ladies,” a few men called as I walked and Noelle staggered by.
“Hello!” Noelle screamed at them, making them flinch. She turned to me and motioned ahead with her cup, spilling more of her beer. “Second door.”
Big Chris went in through the first door, holding tight to Noelle. I continued ahead where she had motioned, hoping girlfriend hadn’t steered me wrong. House music was blasting its way through the open door.
“Hey, Barbie. Want me to be your Ken tonight?”
Seriously? Did everyone equate blonde with Barbie?
I ignored the guy leering at me and walked into wall-to-wall people, stopping short in front of a very large chest. The big guy with the big chest smiled down at me. He started to say something, but I didn’t wait around to hear it.
I zigzagged through the bodies and was ready to walk right back out when I caught sight of Mateo. He sat on the couch playing some kind of zombie apocalypse video game. My tense shoulders relaxed. I snaked my way to him and bumped his knee with my leg. “Hey,” I said, breathless from the stress of finding him.
His curved back straightened and his eyes widened as he took me in. “Jamie, take over.” He tossed his remote. The guy on the opposite couch caught it and resumed the zombie ass-kicking. Mateo shocked me by immediately pulling me onto his lap. His hand passed across my belly to grip my hip. “I thought you were going to text me when you got here so I could meet you?”
“I ran into Noelle and Big Chris outside.”
Noelle appeared and poked his shoulder. “Hey, Teo. Evelyn’s here looking for you.”
He smirked. “Thanks, Hawkeye.”
I scanned the room, well aware of the murmurs despite the loud music, and of the eyes looking our way. People were staring at and talking about me and Mateo. Some were staff from Excess. Most I didn’t know at all.
Thankfully, Ant appeared with two large red cups, his voice booming. “What’s the matter wichya? Ain’t you ever seen a brown brother with a white girl? Racist muthafuckers.” Everyone laughed, his humor and his overly exaggerated street tone easing the strain and throwing the party back in full swing. He grinned at me and passed me and Mateo the cups. “Hey, girl. Good to see you out.”
I smiled, my gratitude obviously for more than just the beer. “Thanks, Ant.”
“Hold this for me, will you, babe?” Teo passed me his cup and reached for his wallet, handing Ant a couple of twenties.
Ant laughed and tucked the money into his pocket. “Damn, Teo. You really think your little Evie is going to drink that much?”
Teo reached for his cup. “She can if she wants.”
“Oh, then it’s for you.” Ant’s face hardened and he jerked his chin my way defensively. “You trying to get my boy drunk and take advantage of him?”
“That’s the plan,” I answered.
Ant threw his head back, laughing, when Mateo choked on his beer. Of course as tough as I tried to sound, I couldn’t stop the blush burning its way across my face.
Ant hung out with us until some hoochie dragged him away to dance, leaving me and Mateo together.
Mateo wasn’t shy about holding me or whispering close enough to tickle my ear. “I wish you would’ve texted me. I don’t like you walking in without me.”
“I didn’t expect such a crowd.” No one seemed particularly dangerous―not like at the fight club―but it was hard not initially finding someone I knew.
“No one’s going to hurt you here,” he assured me, giving my earring a little flick. “Especially now that they know you’re with me.”
His words made me feel secure and protected. They also gave me confidence I didn’t have before. The tips of my fingers skimmed the back of his neck as I held his gaze. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I don’t want some asshole thinking he has a chance with you tonight.” He kissed me then. Absolutely not giving a damn who saw us.
And I liked it.
—
The first beer went right through me. I left Mateo’s lap to find the closest bathroom. This time, people were better about giving me space and no guy dared to hit on me. That didn’t mean I was left alone. The minute I exited the bathroom, Dee and Noelle were waiting for me, cups in hand, smiles wide.
Dee’s tongue flicked her incisor. “What’s up with you and Teo, Evelyn?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I told them truthfully. “We’re, like, just starting to hang out.”
Big Chris passed with a high school lunch tray packed with Jell-O shots. Dee snagged one. Noelle grabbed two and offered me one. “Maybe you’ll know after this?”
We toasted each other and downed them. They were smooth, a little too smooth. My stomach warmed. “Whoa.”
“Well?” Dee asked impatiently.
“I really don’t know. I like him. He’s…good to me.”
The girls stopped smiling and nodded like they understood. “Yeah. He’s good people,” Dee agreed.
“And you’re not a skank,” Noelle added.
I laughed. “Does he date a lot of skanks?”
I meant it as a joke. So I didn’t appreciate their nods or the all-too-knowing glances they exchanged. “I don’t know about dates. But he’s left with a few, now and then,” Dee said. She motioned toward the patio, where Mateo stood with Ant and a couple of other people. “Case in point.”
A brunette with lots of hair and a little waist leaned into Mateo, linking her arms around his neck and trying to pull him down to her.
Every part of me bristled. I’d only been gone five goddamn minutes. “What the hell?”
Mateo easily uncoiled her hands and said something I couldn’t hear. He turned away from her and resumed his talk with Ant. Except the slut didn’t leave. She stood there, her hips swaying to OneRepublic as she looked up at Teo.
My blood boiled. I was trying to get a grip when Dee said, “CFM.”
“Pfff.” Noelle tossed back her beer. “Total CFM.”
“What?”
Noelle pointed with the same finger that held her big red cup. “She’s giving Teo ‘come fuck me’ eyes.”