Chapter 21
Rayne
It’s been a month since I gave myself the permission to be free, to love, to live, two weeks since Christmas, and one week since the concert. Vaughn and I have gotten into a routine. He stops into the restaurant and eats lunch before going next door to work. He and my dad have really gotten along well, shooting the shit with each other daily. After the restaurant closes, I head next door and either hang out with Vaughn until his next appointment comes or just say hi if he’s tattooing.
Depending on the day, we sleep at each other’s places. I have a drawer in his apartment, and he has one in mine. I got sick of smelling like a man, and going to work smelling like sweet pea embarrassed him, so we now have our own bath stuff at the other one’s place too.
I’m waiting for him right now in the vestibule of Complexity. He dropped me off, since it’s snowing and I’m wearing a short skirt with knee-high boots.
Kenny and Brad are hanging with me, and I give them another warning. “Now seriously, don’t give him shit for being here again.” I scold them.
“I can’t promise anything,” Brad says.
Kenny snickers, and I roll my eyes at them. I’d been trying to get Vaughn to come back here with me, but he usually works Friday nights late and wasn’t really keen on going back to a gay club. He said the only reason he did it last time was for the engagement party.
I want to dance with him again. We haven’t gone out much, and when we do, it’s usually just to dinner and maybe a movie. I’ve truly enjoyed spending time with him alone, and I like that when I have gone to the club without him, he worries but still gives me my space.
“Damn.” Vaughn comes in and stomps some snow off his black boots. “It’s like fifteen below.”
“What’s the matter; forget what a Wisconsin winter feels like?” Brad jokes.
“I did, actually.” He puts his hand on the small of my back, and we follow Brad and Kenny inside.
I’ve learned a lot about Vaughn the past four weeks. When he confessed at the concert that he used to have to steal food, I didn’t even know what to say. What do you say to that? Sorry? I haven’t brought it up again, and neither has he, but I’m hoping with more time, he’ll let me in even more.
I’ve also learned that his parents aren’t in his life, and when he turned eighteen, he moved down to Tennessee with a friend. He was there for almost eight years before he moved back here in the spring and now is experiencing his first winter since he’s been back.
I have discovered he is amazingly sweet without even knowing it. I mean, I knew that from the start, but he surprises me more every day. He works his ass off and lives well within his means. I feel so guilty for wearing such an expensive necklace. I don’t want him to think he has to spend money on me. Right now, it’s not my place, but when things progress, because they will, and we eventually move in together, we’re going to have to have the money talk. But not tonight. Tonight, I’m dancing!
Brad pushes through the door, and flashing strobe lights and head pounding bass immediately surround us. “What do you want to drink?” Vaughn asks me as I slide into a booth.
“Long Island.”
He and Brad walk to the bar while Kenny catches me up on the wedding plans.
“We decided we’re going with the old brewery for both the ceremony and the reception.”
I’m relieved; finding a venue they both agreed on was like pulling teeth. “Oh, good. That’ll be nice. Did you get your deposit back on the gazebo?”
“Only half, but that’s okay. It was worth losing the money to know we had options this close.”
“Yeah. I’m sure. Are you getting excited?”
“Yes. I can’t wait. Only a couple of weeks away!”
“Yay!” I clap like a little schoolgirl, barely able to obtain my excitement. Kenny shakes his head as he tries to stifle a laugh.
He leans in closer, and the wrinkles around his eyes fade slightly. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
I reach out and grab his hands, which are resting on top of the table. “Me too.”
The guys get back with our drinks and Vaughn sits next to me, resting his arm on the back of the booth.
“You didn’t get anything?” I ask after I take a sip of my drink.
His fingers play with my hair, and he shakes his head. “Gotta be good to drive you home.”
“I can drive if you want to drink.”
“It’s all good. Have fun.”
I lean up and kiss his cheek. The four of us chat for about a half an hour before Kenny and I dance. I’d wanted to dance with Vaughn, but Brad was actually the one who insisted because he’s not a fan of dancing. But when I look back at them, their heads are lowered, and Brad is saying something to Vaughn as he nods his head.
“What are they talking about?”
Kenny turns so his back is to them. “I think Wyatt is stirring shit up again. Brad ran into him at the gym and got in his face. I wasn’t there, and Brad only gave me vague details, but I’m guessing there’s more.”
“That sucks. Let me know if you need anything from me, okay?”
He grabs my arm and twirls me before pulling me back against his chest. “Last thing I want is for you to get involved with him.” He slides his hands down the side of my hips. “Let’s see how long it takes for your man to break.”
After about a song and a half, Vaughn comes over and cuts in. We dance and laugh and make out in the middle of the crowded room. It might as well just be the two of us, though, because I don’t even notice my surroundings anymore.
I take a bathroom break and realize it’s almost one in the morning. I don’t have to work tomorrow, but Vaughn does, so when I get out, I tell him I’m ready to go.
“You sure? We can stay until last call.”
“I’m sure.” If I don’t get us going, he’d stay forever just because he thought it’d make me happy.
The three of us stand in the vestibule again while Vaughn gets his truck. When he pulls up, he gets out and opens my door for me then helps me inside. The heat is already on, and I rub my hands together in front of the heater.
“Dammit, it’s so fucking cold.” Vaughn slams his door and cranks the heat up.
“Why did you come back to this ice bucket?”
Without missing a beat, he says, “To find you.”
Damn one-liners. “I’m glad you did.”
“Me too, baby.” His chilled fingers trace the side of my face.
I turn my head and kiss his finger. “I love you.”
He smiles and cups my chin before gently kissing me. I sit back, and he carefully drives us back to his place since it’s closer. Even though it stopped snowing a couple of hours ago, the roads are really slick, and neither one of us wants to be driving longer than we have to.
After he parks in his space, he walks around to get me, using both of his hands to steady me on the ice, and then unlocks the door leading to the stairs. He hands me the key that opens the door to his place. “I’m just going to throw some more salt down real quick.”
“Okay.”
I hear the door slam and rush up to his warm apartment. I get the key in and turn the lock. Before I even get the door pushed open all the way, deja vu strikes, but this time instead of an arm around my throat, it’s a knife. I swallow, and the blade presses even tighter against my skin.
I don’t even try to fight. Vaughn will be right up. I keep telling myself that over and over in my head in order to stay calm.
“If you know what’s good for your man, you’ll leave that pretty little mouth of yours closed.”
My attention momentarily strays from the fact a knife is to my throat and moves to the man whose words are sending a chill down my spine. He remains seated on Vaughn’s couch; his pale skin and thin frame remind me of someone fighting a terminal illness. The only thing that makes me realize he’s not sick—well, physically, at least—is because his bright blue eyes are sparkling with evil.
He doesn’t say anything else, and I don’t move a millimeter. He flicks a toothpick around in his mouth, and when footsteps pound up the stairs, I suck in a breath as a drip of blood slides down my neck.
“I don’t want you tippin’ off my old pal that he’s got visitors and then him doing something stupid.” He smirks. “Just hang in there. I’m not gonna hurt you unless you ask.”