Page 50

Kian went back to watching the screen. “No popcorn. There’s nothing to see here.”
I slumped my shoulders. “Boo. That was just getting interesting. But speaking of popcorn. I have a shift at Psychos that finishes at eleven. There’s a movie marathon showing at the Saint View Theater. Starts at eleven-thirty.”
Kian was suddenly interested. “They’re showing The Crow, right? And Interview with the Vampire? I wanted to go, but my truck is off the road.”
“If you drop me at work in my car and pick me up, we can go straight after.” I could have gone alone, but I’d just promised Fang I’d let them take care of me. Walking around after dark in Saint View wasn’t always the smartest idea. Saint View was home, but calling it a rough neighborhood was an understatement.
“It’s a deal. You starting soon? I’ll get my shoes and drop you off.”
“Perfect. Thanks.” I glanced over at Vaughn, mentally reliving the attraction that had spilled over between us at the pool. Then the way he’d made sure I was satisfied, even when I wouldn’t let him touch me. I could cut the guy some slack. “Vaughn, do you want to come, too—”
Vaughn opened his mouth to answer.
Kian cut him off before he could get out a sound. “No. He doesn’t. He’s busy.”
Vaughn abruptly shut his mouth and nodded. “You two go. Have fun. I’ve got some stuff to take care of.”
He stood stiffly and walked away.
I watched him leave through the den doors and waited until he was out of earshot before I shot Kian a look. “That was mean.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, well, so was him abandoning me when I was in a coma, hurt and confused, and in desperate need of a friend. So was him leaving for ten years while he ran off and married some woman he didn’t even like. So was him jerking away like I’d burned him when all I did was touch his damn hand and ask if he was okay. The nice guy finished last, Little Demon. I’m sick of being the nice guy.”
I couldn’t argue with any of that. He was one-hundred-percent entitled to those feelings. Vaughn had fucked up. And Kian had paid the price. “Do you need a hug?”
He stared up at me. “You don’t strike me as a hugger.”
“I’m totally not. But Fang is, and I think he’s rubbing off on me. I even hugged Vaughn.”
“What was that like?”
“Awkward at first. Kinda nice after.”
He nodded wistfully, and I wondered if he’d had a similar experience. But before I could ask, he pushed to his feet and strode to the doorway.
“Where’s your keys. I’ll drive you to work.”
I guess that was a no to the hug.
* * *
Kian walked into Psychos ten minutes before closing time and immediately picked up a cleaning cloth and spray and got to work wiping down tables. I was the only one left in the bar, though Nash was in back in his office, despite my assurances I was fine closing up alone.
“This place is probably going to really hurt your OCD,” I warned him. “No matter how much you clean, it’s still a dive bar. The other side where we throw the parties is much nicer.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You offering to show me where you hold sex parties?”
I winked at him. “If you play your cards right on this getting-to-know-you thing, maybe.”
He rubbed at a sticky spot where someone had spilled a beer earlier. “Is that what we’re doing tonight? Getting to know each other so you can get in my pants?”
I tossed my dishcloth at him. “You wish. Leave that. It’s clean enough.”
He frowned. “Your cleaning standards disturb me.”
“That’s kinda how I feel when you’re vacuuming at five in the morning.”
He scowled. “Well, if you and Vaughn would just take your shoes off at the door…” He looked over at the sound of my laughter and dropped his cleaning spray onto the table. “Oh, you’re making fun of me, huh? You want that ride to the movies or not?”