Good morning, Sally,” I sing out when I sit down on the kitchen stool.

She pushes my breakfast in front of me. It’s become a regular thing for us every morning.

“Has Addison been down here yet?” I ask.

I slipped out of her bedroom late last night when I heard the garage door open. I made it to the basement just in time. It was a close call. Who knows what would’ve happened had they found out I was in her room. My dad would’ve shit a brick seeing me in her bed. I would’ve been packing my bags and kicked out on the streets. The bad influence bastard isn’t allowed to touch the princess.

Sally’s face fills with concern. “She hasn’t. She came down with one of them dang migraines last night. That poor girl.”

“Does she get them a lot?”

“About once a month, depending on her stress. They make her miserable, sometimes lasting hours, but I’ve seen them go on for days.”

Shit, that’d suck.

I lean back in my chair, suddenly feeling bad, and hope I’m not the stress that prompted the migraine. “So, she lays in the dark until they go away?”

“She usually catches the symptoms early and takes her medicine before it kicks in all the way. If she doesn’t, then yes, that’s what happens. She’s suffered from them for years.”

I flex my jaw and slam my hand down on the counter. “You know what’s bullshit?”

Sally pinches her brows together but doesn’t say anything.

“No one even came and checked on her last night.” I blow out an aggravated breath. “Not her boyfriend or her mom.”

“That’s not true because you did.” She’s fighting back a smile. “Don’t think I’m as blind as the others around here, boy.”

Fuck, I’ve been busted.

I’m praying she’s the only one who knows. I don’t think she’ll rat me out.

“I noticed all the lights were off, and her car was here. I was only checking to make sure she wasn’t dead up there or something,” I say, impassively.

She lets out a lighthearted laugh. “Oh, I’m sure that’s exactly what you were doing.” She points a finger at me. “You’re a good person. Don’t let your father or anyone else tell you any different. You put off that whole bad boy front, but you care about people. You care about her.”

* * *

I’m gripping the edge of the bar, anger coursing through my veins like ice while I watch Cam from across the room. He’s sitting at a crowded table, and my pulse heightens with disgust when I move my gaze from him to the blonde chick next to him. She’s too close, practically sitting on top of his dick, and she eagerly smiles at him when his hand slips underneath the table.

This asshole really has the balls to flirt with another chick in public. The fuck?

My hands are shaking, and I’m ready to jump over the bar and beat him senseless.

I discreetly take a picture of them with my phone and contemplate whether to send it to Addison. I don’t want to hurt her, but she needs to know her boyfriend is a fucking scumbag. I slip my phone back into my pocket, choosing against it for now. She had a rough night. She doesn’t need to be dealing with his bullshit right now.

“I’ll take a Jack and Coke,” Cam says, walking up to the bar, his friends following him like a shadow.

“ID,” is my only response.

He snorts. “You can’t be serious.”

“ID,” I repeat, trying my best to hold back my anger.

He smacks his palm down on the bar. His friends give him curious looks and wait for his next move.

“Just give me the drink, so you don’t lose your job, you damn convict,” he says with a snarl.

I grip a glass in my hand while trying to talk myself down from smashing it in his face.

“No ID, no alcohol,” Mikey tells him, slapping me on the back and joining my side. “So scram, frat boy.”

“I’m not leaving until you give me what I want,” Cam argues, puffing out his chest, stupidly sizing us up.

“Fuck off,” I tell him

“No, you fuck off,” he fires back, obviously not that creative with his retaliation.

“Listen, asshole, the only time I want my come back is when I’m wiping it off your mom’s chin.”

Cam’s friends roar out in laughter. It takes him a second to get it, and he kicks the front of the bar, his face heated.

“You better apologize for that or you’ll be sorry,” he hisses.

I look past him to the man next in line. “What can I get you?”

Cam flips me off and throws out insults before stomping away. I only shake my head at him while the customer gives me his order.

The customer hands me a tip for his rum and coke, and I grab my phone as soon as he leaves.

Me: Are you coming to the club today?

My phone beeps with a response seconds later.

Addison: Nope. I’m relaxing at home.

Me: Your boyfriend is here.

Addison: I know. He sent me a text insisting I tell you to serve him. If not, he wants me to get you fired.

Me: Fuck that little dick asshole.

Addison: Don’t worry about him.

My phone beeps again.

Addison: And thank you for last night.