Chapter 5

Paisley

“Girl, what the hell happened to you?”

I look at London blankly; I don’t know what she wants to hear. “I have no clue. I woke up in a hospital bed. Then I was told that I had collided with some guy and that nobody had any idea I was here.”

That was because I had no identification for anyone to call my next of kin—not that I had a next of kin—and my cell had run out of juice until I got home and put it on to charge.

When I had switched it on, it blew up with messages and voicemails from London calling me a bitch and demanding I stop ignoring her.

I called her to explain. Not even five minutes later, she barged her way through my door, demanding answers.

And here we are now.

“I don’t know what else to say to you. I don’t remember what happened after I left Jeremy.

“No, I have no idea who the guy is. No, I never got to see him at the hospital. Yes, he only came to the hospital that one time.” I huff out, exasperated.

London watches me skeptically, her little brain working a gazillion miles a second. I can see it in her eyes.

“Okay, I just don’t get it,” she finally said.

I throw my arms up in response. What about me? I myself am still trying to piece everything together.

“Haven’t you got a job to go to?” I ask hopefully.

“Yeah! It’s going to be a busy one tonight. Oblivion are back in town for a break or something before they go back on tour. So I’m going to be running off my feet all night.”

I silently do a dance in my head; she’ll lay off all the questioning tonight.

“So… Blake is back in town, then?” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

She raises one hand in front of my face. “Don’t.”

I can’t hide my smile. Those two drive each other crazy, one just as bad as the other. I have no sympathy.

“Actually, you wanna come and be my buffer? I’m begging you. I can’t deal with his hot ass tonight.”

“Hot ass?”

“I mean…well…fuck, the dude has a damn fine ass. It’s a shame the rest of him is nothing but a dog.”

I roll my eyes. She has it so bad for him. I don’t get why she fights it.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I just got out of the hospital.”

“Paisley, please?”

I know I should help her, but I just don’t think I can deal with not knowing what happened for the last few days. My plan was to sit at home and rack my brains until I had answers.

“Please, Pails, I’m begging you to help me out tonight. Plus, Jacob would really appreciate it if we had another set of hands behind the bar. I’ll share my tips with you.”

I have no way out of this. “Fine,” I respond, defeated.

She jumps up and hugs me so hard my body aches.

“Okay, get ready and meet me at King’s in twenty.”

I nod as she runs out of the house.

***

The line outside of King’s presses forward as I walk past.

Tommy and Lee, stationed at the door, push them back and do their best to keep out the trouble-causing riff-raff.

But from the number of torn shirts and leather pants, it looks tonight is going to be rough and there isn’t a thing they can do about it.

“Well, I’ll be danged. If it ain’t Paisley Smith . Didn’t know you’re in town.” Lee licks his lips and looks me up and down.

“How’d you not know?” Tommy slaps Lee on the back of his head. “She was here a week ago.” Tommy rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Sexiest little sex kitten to ever dance on the bar.”

“That was you?” Lee gives me another once over. “I had no idea.”

My skin heats. That must have been a three-tequila night because I didn’t remember it, either. Nor did I remember how I woke up with Tommy next to me.

“I guess it was, but tonight I’m slinging shots with London.”

“Damn girl, you’re looking…edible tonight,” Tommy adds.

I shake my head and plaster on a smile.

“Now, now guys… We’ve all been there and done that. You know me. I don’t like to repeat a ~mistake~,” I say.

They laugh before each one engulfs me in a bear hug.

“Oh, my God, you’re going to snap me in half. Put me down.” I choke out.

Once I’m back on my feet, I place my hands on my hips and give them what I hope is the stink eye. They continue to laugh, all six-foot-tall and six-foot-wide of them. No wonder Jacob hired them.

“Girl, you can’t look mean. Why do you think we call you kitten?”

I shake my head at the pair.

“Go on, get in there. London is waiting for you. She’s been out a handful of times to see if you’re here. I’m guessing you’re late?”

I nod, and they both step aside to let me in.

“Dude, why is she going in? She sucking your dick?”

My head snaps around to a guy waiting to get in. I narrow my eyes and am about to let the piece of shit know exactly who he is talking to.

But Lee grabs me and takes a step toward the guy.

“What if she was? What’s it got to do with you? Another comment like that and you won’t be coming in at all.”

I peek my head around Lee and stick my tongue out at the guy before raising my middle finger and walking into the bar.

The bar is dark and quiet, the calm before the storm. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust. They have moved the tables to line the walls and only the stage is lit by a single spot shining on the instruments waiting to be heard.

I check the cooler. It’s already stocked and ready. The icebox is full, and every kind of liquor known to man sits on the rail.

“London, I’m here,” I shout.

She doesn’t answer, so I stow my jacket in the office and head down the hallway. I stretch my arms over my head and work the kinks out of the muscles that will get me through an eight-hour shift on my feet.

“London?” I call out once more and pop open the storeroom door.

All I wanted was a damn roll of trash bags, but instead, I find—what’s her name…Tara…Tina…something with a “T”—getting her screw on with some tall, dark guy.

I pull the door shut and shake my head. From the sound of things, What’s-Her-Name is having a pretty good time in there. I’m a little jealous.

“London?” I call out as I walk into the dimly lit hallway, fighting some memories that haven’t haunted me in the longest of times.

A sickness tries to engulf me as I relive my heartbreak all over again. Emotions I have hidden for so long terrorize me once more.

I’m not paying attention to where I’m going and bump into someone. I let out a startled scream, and two arms grab me to stop me from falling. I look up and see the bluest of eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I say as my balance returns.

“No worries,” he replies without looking at me.

“Pails?” I turn to my best friend and smile when I see her.

The guy lets go of my arms and heads in the direction I came from without another word or even a glance in my direction.

“You okay?” she asks as she closes the distance.

I nod and follow her to get ready. I rub my arms from the heat that is still there.

Risking a look back, I notice he’s stopped and turned to look at me. I offer him a smile before starting my duties for the night.