It’s my third day working at the country club, and surprisingly, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. The staff is pretty chill, and I haven’t received too many looks of disgust from the members. I guess everyone with money isn’t as uptight as my dad. My long sleeve, button-up shirt hides my tattoos, but I’ve noticed a few members are inked up. I’m positive one member is from one of my favorite bands, and another chick plays on some reality show my mom is obsessed with.

Tonight is what my boss called the club’s biggest event of the year. I spotted Leonard as soon as he walked in, but he hasn’t said a word to me. He even went to a different bartender to order his drink.

“You the new kid?” a guy asks, joining me behind the bar.

He’s sporting the same uniform as me–a black button-up vest over a white dress shirt, and black pants. I’m the most dressed up I’ve ever been in my life.

That’d be me,” I answer, drying off a glass.

They started me behind the bar, which was perfectly okay with me. I’d rather be serving drinks in the air conditioning than riding around in a golf cart all day in the heat.

The guy slaps me on the back. “Welcome to the lifestyles of the rich, the famous, and the fucking annoying, whiniest motherfuckers you will ever meet in your life. Get ready to please some of the pickiest fucking people in the world.”

His accent is straight-up East Coast style. He’s short and bulky, his chest broad. His hair is black, darker than mine, and gelled down.

“The art of ass kissing is something I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of,” I grumble.

“Just smile and nod, my friend. Some of them are surprisingly cool, and most of the girls aren’t as stuck up as they look.”

I whip my head over to look at him in excitement. Maybe I’ll find another proper girl to help me fuck Addison out of my system. I don’t want to have to resort to Savannah.

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. The daughters of these assholes always want to have a go at the bad boy.” A salacious grin forms on his face. “And don’t get me started with the wives. They’re lonely women who want a younger piece of meat to screw. I mean, their husbands are out cheating, they might as well do the same.”

“Do we get fired for doing that shit? Fraternizing with the members?” I can’t be losing my job over some pussy.

“If you get caught, but that doesn’t hold me back.”

I like this guy.

He holds out his hand. “I’m Mikey.”

I grab his hand and shake it. “Zeth.”

“You working the bar tonight?”

I nod.

“Me, too. Let’s get this fucking party started. I need to make some good tips tonight. My girlfriend caught me cheating, so I need to spend some dough for an apology gift.”

* * *

“Yo Zeth, we’re out of ice. Can you run to the kitchen and grab more?” Mikey asks.

I give him a head nod. “Sure, man.”

The boss was right. It’s a full house tonight for some benefit gala. I’ve been slinging drinks for the past four hours and have lost count of how many vodka sodas and bourbons I’ve poured.

I wipe my hands on a towel, move around the bar, and dodge bodies to make my way through the packed crowd. I grab the bucket and move in slow steps on my way back to the bar.

“Fuck, watch where you’re going, asshole.”

My feet stop when the bucket slams into something … or someone. My attention shoots forward, and Cam is wobbling in front of me. His face is pink, his eyes close to bloodshot, and a glass is gripped in his hand.

He’s drunk off his ass. I didn’t deliberately hit him with the bucket, but I can’t say I’m pissed it happened.

“My bad,” I say, taking a step back. I look over his shoulder in disappointment when I don’t see Addison.

“Yeah, it is your bad. Do your job and stay the fuck out of my way,” he fires back, stumbling a bit.

I tighten my hold on the bucket and bite my tongue. I can’t get fired because of this punk. “Is Addison here?”

I’ve been keeping an eye out for her all night, but haven’t seen her. I’m positive she’s been hiding from me after what I said to Kelton. I’ve texted her a few times the past few days, but she’s ignored me. She also hasn’t been showing up for breakfast.

“No, migraine,” he answers.

I raise a brow.

“She’s at home with a migraine,” he clarifies.

“And you’re here?”

I’ve never had a serious girlfriend, but if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t be hanging out with my douchebag friends while my girlfriend was at home with a fucking headache.

“She doesn’t like to be bothered when she has migraines.” He looks at me with cold eyes. “Oh, and one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Stay the fuck away from my girlfriend, or I’ll kill you.”

I chuckle. “I’d love to see you try, rich boy.”

* * *

The house is quiet when I get home. I slowly walk up the stairs and open a few doors until I find the one I’m looking for. It’s pitch black, but I make out her bed with the help of the hallway light. I feel around on the wall and hear a loud moan of disapproval when I flip the light on.

“Dear God,” Addison cries out. “Shut that light off, or I will murder you.” A blanket is wrapped around her body and head like a tent.

I turn off the light and move into her room, careful not to run into anything. “You really do have a migraine.” I want to kick her boyfriend’s ass even more now for leaving her in this much pain by herself.

“Yes, I really do have a migraine. Why would I lie about that?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe you were trying to avoid me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she mutters. “I wouldn’t miss a charity event because I know a rude asshole who talks behind people’s backs and thinks I’m a bore will be there.”

“About that. It came out wrong.”

“Please stop talking.” I want to turn the light back on and look at her, but I can hear the agony in her voice. “Every time you talk it’s like torture to my head.”

“Fuck, sorry.” I change my voice to a whisper. “Is there anything I can do for you?” I make out her shaking her head. “You’re going to just lay here in the dark?”

“This is how I handle them. I lay here until I fall asleep.”

“And it’s gone when you wake up?”

“Sometimes yes, sometimes no. So, please, leave me alone. I’m not in the mood for you and your jackass attitude right now.”

I turn around and leave. She lets out another groan when I come back a few minutes later and slowly pull the blanket away from her face. I bend down in front of her with a cold washcloth in my hand.

“Uh … what are you doing?” she asks, wincing when I run the cloth along her cheek.

“I Googled what helps with migraines,” I answer.

She lets out a rush of breath when I move the cloth to the other cheek and then to her forehead. She sighs loudly. It’s helping. I can tell by her body starting to relax. I set the cloth on her nightstand and walk around the bed before sitting down next to her.

“Now, what are you doing?” she asks.

I start making myself comfortable. “I’m hanging out in here with you.”

“Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t have anything better to do.”

She turns around on her side to face me. “You’re going to sit here in the dark?”

“Sure am.”

“Prepare to be bored out of your mind,” she grumbles.

I move stray pieces of her hair away from her face and slowly start to massage her scalp.

“Don’t,” she says, trying to pull back, but I don’t let her.

“Relax,” I tell her, going back to massaging her soft strands.

I don’t stop until I notice her body loosen up and her breathing grow heavy. I lean back against her headboard and see her phone on the nightstand. It hasn’t gone off once since I’ve been here. Not one person–her boyfriend, her mom, or her best friend, none of them have even checked on her while she’s been sitting in the dark in fucking pain.

That pisses me off.