I tucked my phone back into my pocket and stood to my feet. I started tidying up the glasses and empty bottles, taking them to the kitchen and dumping them in the garbage bin. I knew where everything was, so I pulled down a glass and opened the fridge, trying to find something non-alcoholic to take the edge off, but I’m shit out of luck when I only find Redbulls. I grabbed one anyway and cracked it open.
“Guys! I think I’m finally ready, I know, I know, but perfection takes time,” I heard coming from the lounge. I rounded the kitchen cupboards, can pressed to my mouth and eyebrows quirked. I didn’t really give a shit if she had fucked Bishop. He was still mine and there was no way I was going down without a fight. Her eyes flew to mine. “What the fuck!”
I waved, and then lowered the can so she could see my grin. “Nice to see you again, too, and I totally disagree, that’s not perfection. That’s…” I tilted my head. “Fake.”
“Fuck you,” she spat, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “And who the fuck invited you?”
“Down, girl,” Bishop chuckled, walking down the stairs throwing a shirt over his head. He had changed his faded jeans to darker ones and had military boots on his feet now. He had also lost the cap, his hair now in its normal style, scruffily clean on the top of his head. His eyes came to me. “You really coming in that?” He was still drunk, I could see it in the way his eyes beamed with crazy. “Some of your shit is still upstairs.”
Khales was wearing a short leather skirt that made it almost painful to witness, and an equally leather crop top. He hair was straight, coming down to her hip bones and her makeup was heavy everywhere. I internally shriveled a little, feeling way too underdressed. And considering Bishop had raised this subject twice now, I figured I better go up and see what he’s got. He sat on the sofa, picked up a rolled dollar bill, snorted a line, and then cleared his nose and handed the bill to Khales, who took it with a grin while sitting beside him.
Fuck. I really, really, wish Tatum was with me right now. Walking upstairs to his bedroom, there were three things that I noticed instantly.
1 – His bed was ruffled with pillows and blankets were thrown around everywhere.
2 – There were two sets of towels on the floor, with a pile of girl’s clothes beside it.
And 3 – The makeup that was scattered all over his dresser.
The floor started to sink below my weight as my vision faded in and out. You can do this. You were kissing, rubbing up on two guys earlier. It’s fine. My guilt subsided a little. Now I was sort of glad I had something on him because he obviously had something on me. I looked at the leather headboard to his bed, noticing scratch marks indented in the leather and lipstick smeared on the sheets.
Fuck this.
I felt the last string I had snap inside my head and I went straight for the walk-in closet but found nothing. I wanted sexy. Just as I was diving through the last of my clothes in there, a little red lace bra crop top caught my attention. It was Tatum’s “skanky” top. The breasts were covered by lace, and the thin spaghetti straps trailed over my back, crisscrossed and then connected to a thin strap that had lace slightly dripping off it. It was sexy, hot, and totally something I would never wear, but fuck it. I threw my innocent top off, tossing it in Khales’ pile of clothes and squeezed into the little bra. My jeans were tight enough, I knew I didn’t them, so I fluffed up my long dark hair and went for the makeup. I caked it on, full on contouring (because I watched Tatum), and dark eyeliner. I lined my lips and then filled them in with dark burgundy that made my green eyes pop. “Shit!” I backtracked as I was on my way out, grabbing a pair of silver spaghetti heels and slipping them on. Thankfully, the heel wasn’t high, so I should be safe, and hopefully, I didn’t start drinking.
I headed back downstairs, checking my phone with my hair falling in waves over my shoulders when I started bobbing my head to the song that was playing. It was “Devil’s Night” from D12, and it reminded me of Halloween night in the woods…
I hit the bottom of the stairs and tucked my phone back into my pocket. “Ok, I’m ready to go,” I announced, looking up because aside from the song, everyone was silent.
Bishop’s eyes were on my chest and then came to my face. “I think I regret that.”
Khales flicked her hair over her shoulder, and Justin grinned from behind his glass.
They started walking out except Bishop, he was still staring at me. He took a swig out of that fucking bottle again.
“Bishop, can we talk?”
He snorted. “Now you wanna talk?”
I winced.
He shook his head, snatching the baggy from the table and shoving it into his pocket. “Get in the car, Madison.” I followed him out into the cool night, goosebumps instantly assaulted my flesh.
I grumbled. “I need a drink.”
His arm went back, handing me the bottle. “Trust me, Kitty, you will need it for tonight.”
I thought about it for a few seconds and then took it, wrapping my lips around the rim and my mind briefly drifted off to how Bishop’s mouth was in this very spot not so long ago. I could still feel the wetness from his lips. Creep, much?
I handed it back to him. “Thanks.” There was a stretch limo waiting for us, and I watched as Khales disappeared inside, but just as we reached the door, he stopped in front of me and turned to face me.
“Why?”
Shit. “I was hurt.”
“So you wanted to hurt me?” he urged, his head tilting. Then he stepped closer to me, wrapped his hands in my hair and yanked my head back so my face was there for the taking. We probably looked like a messed up couple bordering on domestic violence, but whatever. His lips smashed down onto mine and his tongue invaded my mouth. His lips worked over mine harshly, and then he pulled back, his teeth catching on my bottom lip, biting down. The metallic tang of blood hit my throat. “I don’t get hurt, Kitty, and I don’t get even. I get cold.” Then he grinned, and let go of my hair, my scalp now throbbing from the pain. “And you mean shit to me now. Get in the fucking car.”
Tears prickled the corner of my eyes, but I shoved past him and got inside the limo. He chuckled as he slid in beside me. “Get mad, Kitty, you know how that gets my dick hard. Only you won’t be the one soothing it tonight.” Then he shoved the bottle into my chest. “So as I said, drink. You’ll need it.” I took it, ignoring whatever bullshit Khales and Justin were talking with Bishop about, and drank. I didn’t take too much, because I didn’t want to get too messy too fast, but at the same time, I wanted to forget him. This was us, though. It had always been messy. It used to be beautiful, but now it’s more chaotic. It’s a storm that won’t stop and a tsunami that keeps rolling, but I’m addicted. I’m chasing the storm, regardless of the danger.
Bishop leaned back in the seat and looked at me. “Why you acting hurt? Now you can have any of the Kings you want.”
I ignored him because he’s drunk.
He laughed. “Good thing, since they’re all meeting up with us soon, and your friend Tatum will be there, so don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried, Bishop.” I was talking shit right now, but I wouldn’t let Khales have the satisfaction of witnessing how Bishop and I could be. I took another sip, and then Justin leaned forward and handed me the rolled-up bill. I looked at it and then looked at the little table in between us. Reaching for it, Bishop pushed my hand away. “No.”
I gritted my teeth. Okay, I wasn’t really going to snort a line, I was actually going to throw it out the window, but whatever. I huffed and waited it out until the car finally came to a stop outside a club. There was a massive line out the front that ranged from young college people to middle-aged people, to even older moms who obviously needed the break. Just saying, they should always get let into clubs before anyone else. Putting up with little kids has to like, I don’t know, offer some sort of advantage. Free wine and first priority into clubs.
Bishop opened the door and climbed out. I followed, and then saw he was already making his way to the bouncers. He started talking to them and then pointed toward us before walking through the front doors. I walked toward them, thinking he had probably locked me out, but they unhooked the little gate and let me through. I pushed through the doors and loud music instantly blared. The familiar smell of sweat and alcohol staining the air. There were dancers up in cages above us and the bar was one huge circle in the middle. I headed straight to the circle, deciding he could look after himself, and right now, I just wanted to forget about tonight. I’d talk with him tomorrow—hopefully—or not—Jesus, I was so confused. I banged on the bar. “Hey!”
The bartender came to me. He was quirkily dressed with leather bangles, blue hair, and two hoops in his ear. “What can I get ya, sweetheart?”
He wasn’t going to ID me? Score.
“Something strong, please.”
He smirked. “I know just the poison.” I shot it back and ordered another as well as a vodka lime and soda and opened my phone. Tatum had texted me.
I’m here at this club. U here yet?
I got a little giddy.
I’m near the bar. Come alone.
“Boo!” Tatum grabbed my back and I turned to her, smiling. “Hey!” I pulled her into a hug and almost lost it right then and there.
“Are you okay?” she asked into my ear, and I shook my head.
“I don’t think so.” She leaned back and threw up her fingers after pointing to my drinks, gesturing how she wanted what I was having.
“I saw Bishop!” she yelled into my ear.
I just smiled.
She leaned into my ear again. “He was with a chick! Shall I kick her ass?”
I laughed. “It’s Khales! Don’t worry about her, and she’s mine…”
“I thought Khales was a brunette?” I thought over what she said, but then shrugged. Oh well. She leaned into me again. “Don’t look, but they’re all up in the VIP area above us, that you have access to as well.”
I shrugged again, sucking down my drink. This put a whole new meaning to fuck my life. I started to sway on my feet now, and I grabbed Tatum’s arm, dragging her onto the dance floor. “Closer” by Chainsmokers started playing and we started bumping and grinding on the dance floor. Whatever this night brought, I just hoped that something would come from Bishop and I. A few songs later, we headed back to the bar and got more drinks. My phone vibrated in my back pocket, so I pulled it out, and my heart fluttered when I saw Bishop’s name.
Come here.
I read it, ignoring the way my cheeks heated. God. How can I hate someone and love them, and want to kill them, and need to fuck them, all at the same time? It’s Bishop voodoo.
No
Ha! That showed him. Oh no, I was really drunk. I giggled. Suddenly, the severity of the entire situation meant nothing.
Laughing, I turned to face Tatum. “Dude! We nee—” I was upside down, swung over a set of thick shoulders as my hair fell down and I was face first with a glorious ass.
“Bishop!” I growled, but he continued to take me upstairs to the VIP area. He threw me onto the sofa and then sat next to me, a cigarette sticking out the side of his mouth and picked up his drink, blowing out the smoke. “What were you saying?” he casually asked the blonde, who was looking between the two of us nervously.
I brushed my hair out of my face and shoved him. “Fuck you!”
“Ignore her, she loves it.” He winked at the blonde and sat back, perching his foot on the table in the middle. I dragged my eyes around the boys and saw all the Kings, except Nate and Brantley.
“Where are Brantley and Nate?” I drilled Bishop, trying hard not to make eye contact with Hunter and Jase. In fact, everything was rather tense. Everyone was watching Bishop like he was Tony Montana and about to shoot up this club. Maybe I need to try a new tactic. He was obviously a lot more angry about this whole thing than I imagined. He hadn’t completely lost his cool with me, but he was off.
“Bishop,” I whispered, just as Tatum came to us. Her eyes found Khales and Justin, and her eyebrow went up.
“What the fuck are you doing here, bitch?”
My girl was feisty as fuck.
I laughed. “Sic ‘em, girl…” Then went back to more pressing issues, leaving Tatum and Khales to argue, but silently praying Khales threw a punch so I could smack her one. Just once. Maybe twice. I needed water.
Bishop ignored me, smiling at the blonde girl, but his jaw tensed and the vein on the side of his neck pulsed. He was mad as shit, so mad that he was masking it with all of this bullshit. I looked up at Jase who was already staring at me. He shook his head, gazing at Bishop worried.
I did this.
Closing my eyes, I opened them and then lowered my voice. “Bishop?” My hands went to his thigh and he stiffened. That was like swallowing a harsh pill. “Can we go for a walk?”
It was as though all the Kings were watching our exchange. This was my fault, so I had to somehow fix it. Bishop’s smile dropped. “Leave,” he said to the blonde, who was so quick out of her seat I barely saw it happen. He turned his head toward me. “Pretty sure we talked about this.”
“Pretty sure we fucking didn’t,” I snapped back, my eyes piercing his in a challenge. He stood up, grabbed my hand, and then started dragging me out of the club.