SIX
WHEN I see Arrow waiting for me after class, I try to hide my smile.
My day is suddenly looking up.
“Pull the short straw again?” I ask as I walk up to him, grinning.
The look he gives me lets me know he’s not impressed. “Rake’s on a run, wanted me to pick you up.”
“Where did he go?” I ask, wondering why he hadn’t said anything.
“Club business,” Arrow grunts back, then rubs his beard.
Fuck, he’s hot.
His eyes snap to mine and narrow. It’s then I realize that I said that out loud.
Holy shit.
“I mean, fuck, it’s hot,” I blurt, clearing my throat.
It isn’t really that hot, so I sound even more stupid.
I look down so he doesn’t see my flushed cheeks. The last thing I need is for him to know the extent of my attraction to him, so divulging shit like that is not something I need to be doing.
“You’re pretty hot yourself, Anna,” he replies. Was that amusement I can hear in his tone?
I look up and, yes, his eyes are dancing with it. I decide to play it off with a shrug. “What? You’re a good-looking man. Is it a crime to admire the wrapping?”
“Fuck,” he whispers quietly.
“What?”
“Be easier if you weren’t attracted to me.”
My eyebrows raise. “Why is that?”
A muscle tics in his jaw. “I think you’re really something, Anna. But people I care about get hurt. If you’re smart, you will hide what I can so easily see in your eyes because it makes me tempted to take what you’re offering.”
I look down.
I do want him.
I don’t know what he saw in my eyes, but I can only imagine. I wish my eyes weren’t so expressive.
My phone vibrates, so I pull it out of my pocket, glad for something to do.
“Who’s messaging you?” he asks.
My head snaps up. “A friend.”
It was Damien, wanting to meet up to study.
“This friend have a cock? ’Cause then we got a problem,” he rasps, grinning and showing off his straight white teeth.
“So what, I’m not allowed any male friends? Never mind, don’t even answer that because I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” I snap, shaking my head in astonishment. “Give you men an inch, I tell you what.”
“You done?” he asks, obviously sick of me rambling on. “Besides, pretty sure it’s meant to be the man giving you inch by inch.”
Did he just make a sexual innuendo?
“For now,” I say, wanting to have the last word. “And I wouldn’t know about any inches because I’ve been having a dry spell for quite a while now.”
“How long?” he asks, watching me intently.
“Long enough.”
“Hmmmm,” he replies, then clears his throat.
“I’ll be picking you up tonight as well, after your shift,” he says when I don’t speak.
He reaches out his big hand and I pass him my bag. “I don’t remember telling anyone about my job.”
His brown eyes search mine. “Rake is fuckin’ confused as to why you got yourself a job when he gave you a shitload of money that should last you all fuckin’ year.”
“I don’t want his money, I want to make my own money.”
It was as simple as that.
“Stubborn.”
My lips tighten. “I’m not lazy. I can work to support myself. Only a lazy woman is impressed with wealth, while hardworking women can go out there and get money themselves.”
Arrow shakes his head. “Your brother wants to help you; cut him some slack. Christ, you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to him, and it’s nice knowing the money is there if I ever get in a bad spot.”
“Did you tell Rake that?”
“Of course I did,” I reply, frowning. “It was a generous thing to do.”
“It was very generous. Rake is a good man.”
I nod. “I know; trust me, I know. I’d do anything for him too. I’m just hoping he will give me a little more freedom.”
He shrugs, like it doesn’t bother him either way. “Take it up with him. Let’s get moving.”
I don’t move a muscle.
“What?” he barks.
“You don’t have to be so rude. A please wouldn’t go astray, you know,” I grumble, stepping toward his bike.
“Anna, just get your little ass on my bike. I have to make a stop on the way and I’m already late, so stop fucking around,” he says quietly, then turns his back to me.
“I want to make a stop too,” I say.
“We don’t have time.”
“We do,” I say. “It will only take an hour max.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Better be fuckin’ important.”
“What the hell is your problem exactly? I think I prefer your silence and your grunts to your being an asshole,” I snap.
I grab my bag from his hand and hitch it over my shoulder. “Go where you need to go; I’ll take the bus home.”
Without another look at him, I turn and head toward the bus stop. It’s no big deal to me, I have no problem taking the bus. I take three steps before his hand clamps down on my bicep and pulls me to a stop. “Rake wanted me to take you home, so I’m taking you home.”
“Don’t bother.”
“No arguing.”
“I’ll just tell Rake you took me home, so consider yourself absolved from babysitting duty.”
He grits his teeth. “We could have been halfway by now. Stop wasting time and stop being so stubborn. Remember, I’m picking you up tonight.”
“Reid can drop me home.”
“I said I’ll be there to pick you up, Anna. Stop arguing for the sake of it,” he grits out.
“I just don’t see the point—”
“Anna,” he says in warning.
“Fine,” I snap, pulling my arm out of his hold and stepping to his bike. He hands me a helmet in silence, puts his own on, and gets on the bike. He has my messenger bag across his back, holding it for me, which I think is kind of cute. Too bad he’s being a jerk right now. I slide on behind him, my hands finding the bottom of his cut and holding on. I lean forward against his warm body, until I realize what I’m doing and purposely lean back. The last thing I need is to get close to this man. When we come to a stop at a house, Arrow gets off the bike and I do the same.
“Wait here,” he tells me, then walks to the front door. I look around the middle-class neighborhood, trying and failing not to be curious about what Arrow is doing here. When a pretty brunette opens the front door and welcomes him inside, I get my answer. I don’t expect it to hurt so much, but it does. He brought me with him to see his fucking girlfriend? Am I meant to just stand here while he does whatever with her? I grit my teeth and look away from the house. Pulling out my phone, I’m about to call Lana to come pick me up when I hear him behind me.
“Let’s go,” he says, nodding toward his bike.
That was . . . quick.
I avoid his gaze and get on his bike once more.
“Where to now, Anna?”
“The zoo.”
He turns his body to look at me. “The fuck?”
“I need to go to the zoo. It’s important.”
He sighs. “Right.”
He turns around, and I hide my grin. I don’t actually have to go to the zoo today. I just want to share something that’s a part of me with Arrow.
When we arrive, we walk side by side to the entrance. Arrow looks menacing in all black, his leather cut garnering more than a few stares. He ignores everyone, instead looking down at me.
“This is what you want to do with your life?”
My lips twitch. “Something like that.”
“Hi, Anna,” Beth calls out. She’s working as cashier, collecting tickets.
“Hey, Beth, how are you?” I say as we walk by.
Her eyes go to Arrow and widen. “Um. G-good. You here for more observations?”
I nod. She lets me and Arrow through.
Pulling Arrow by his T-shirt, I lead him to my favorite enclosure.
“You brought me here to see a giant turtle?” he asks, staring down at Dave.
“He’s a Galápagos tortoise,” I say. “They can live to be over a hundred years old. I don’t know why, but this is my favorite spot in the zoo.”
I look at Arrow to see him studying me, grinning. “Christ, you should see the way your face lights up talking about a damn turtle.”
“Tortoise,” I correct.
He chuckles. “Tortoise. Right. What else can you tell me about him?”
I beam.
He is going to be here for longer than an hour.
* * *
I wish I could say I was surprised when they walked into Knox’s Tavern at midnight, but I wasn’t. Even though I’d argued, saying I could get a ride home, Arrow, Irish, Tracker, and Vinnie take a seat at the bar and stare at me expectantly. I glance at Reid, who raises an eyebrow at me. I told you so. Arrow doesn’t miss our exchange, and his eyes narrow on me, then dart from me to Reid. After spending two hours with me at the zoo, I thought Arrow might let his guard down around me permanently, but by the look of his shuttered gaze, I can almost feel the wall he’s put up since our outing. He’d been funny, attentive, and curious today. I found him to be a good listener too. We’d had fun and enjoyed each other’s company. At least I’d enjoyed his.
When I look at Reid, I find him still watching me. I glance at Arrow, and I can almost see the moment when he comes to the conclusion that I must be fucking Reid. I look away from him and scan the faces of the other men.
“There’s a million other bars you could be in right now,” I say to them, wiping my hands on a tea towel.
Tracker smiles widely, blue eyes sparkling. “And miss this great customer service? Hell, no. I’ll have a beer, Anna Bell.”
He has his blond hair tied back in a way that I can’t help but find attractive. “Loving the man bun by the way,” I tell him.
He smirks. “I thought you would.”
I’d been going on about a certain sexy model who rocks a beard and a man bun. And tattoos.
Hot!
“What would the rest of you like?” I ask, feeling Arrow’s eyes on me.
“Whiskey,” Arrow says as he turns from me and glances around the bar. Irish and Vinnie order beers as well. I’ve met Irish once or twice, but I’ve never really had a conversation with him. He’s a good-looking man, with dark hair and eyes and scars that only add to his appeal. I get the beers first, then pour Arrow his whiskey and slide the glass over to him.
“Put it on our tab,” Arrow says, then clears his throat. “Please.”
My eyes flare. Did he just say please? Because of our conversation this afternoon? I nod and flash him a small smile before heading to the opposite side of the bar to serve other customers. I see Reid chatting with Arrow, the two of them laughing about something. When everyone is served, I walk to the tables and collect the glasses, piling as many as I can without dropping them. I carry them to the back, almost running into Tag, another guy who works here.
“Need some help?” he asks, eyeing the huge stack.
“No, I’ve got this. But thanks,” I reply, smiling up at him. “You can man the bar though.”
He smiles crookedly. “Already giving out orders, hmmmm?”
“What? Trust me, you haven’t seen me take control yet.” I smirk, giving him a wink for good measure.
He laughs loudly, shakes his head, and walks to the bar. I stack the glasses next to the sink, then tidy up the station before returning out front. I watch as Arrow sips his drink, his gaze never leaving me.
“Slow day at the office?” I ask, leaning my elbows down in the bar.
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “Have to babysit you, so thought I might as well have a drink while I do it.”
My smile drops. “You don’t have to babysit me, you only have to pick me up. Two hours from now, might I add. And where’s Rake?”
“Out,” he replies. “I told you he’s on a run.”
“On a run with who?” I ask, watching as Arrow licks some whiskey off his full, firm lips.
My mouth suddenly feels parched.
I turn to Tracker, much safer territory. “Want another beer?”
“Yes, please,” he replies, sliding his empty bottle to me. “Where’s Lana tonight?”
“On a date,” I reply, not looking up.
“With who?” he asks quietly. “I didn’t know she was seeing anyone.”
I reach down to the fridge and pull out another beer before I answer. “She wasn’t. Now she is.”
She wasn’t, not really. Some guy asked her out and she was forcing herself to go, determined to forget Tracker—but he didn’t need to know that.
A group of women walk in, about six of them. Only two are beautiful, but I see the men around me staring at all of them. Must be the cheerleader effect in action. Irish calls two women over—the good-looking ones, of course—and one instantly sits on his lap, the other on Vinnie’s. I look to Arrow and raise a brow, wondering when he is going to get his man-whore on like the rest of them. When Tracker pulls a middling blonde onto his lap, I judge him.
Hard.
“Tracker—”
“Not your business, Anna,” Arrow cuts in. I snap my mouth shut and glare at Arrow, but still can’t ignore what Tracker’s doing. I don’t even like Allie—you could actually say I hated her—but if you don’t want a woman, or a man, you end it with them. You don’t cheat. There’s no honor or loyalty in cheating. Just don’t be with that person if you’re not happy—it’s as simple as that. I’ve been cheated on before, and it hurts. There’s a moment, if only for an instant, when you wonder what you didn’t have that the cheater felt the need to seek elsewhere. I had that moment. Then, when my self-respect kicked in seconds later, I realized it wasn’t my fault but his. I wasn’t the one being disloyal for whatever reason; I’m more honest than that.
I walk away from Tracker and his new friend, who is now straddling him, and stand at the opposite side of the bar. If Tracker ever mans up, dumps Allie, and goes after Lana, there is no way in hell I’m going to be on his side when I see him acting like this. I get drinks for a few rowdy women out for a divorce party, then grit my teeth as I watch the divorcée herself strut over to Arrow after a few shots of liquid courage. I lean back on the bar, cross my arms over my chest, and watch the show.
I need to remind myself that Arrow is not and never will be the man for me.