Page 15 of Forgotten Comeback (Parisi Family #5)

Chapter

Fourteen

Gavin

I scored extra tickets to the party I’m bartending. Why don’t you drop by after your shift?

Bubbles appear, my little fish Mia, eager to take the bait.

I’d love to!

More bubbles.

Taylor and Kat are tagging along, if that’s okay.

Why does a certain redhead always fuck up my plans?

Of course. The more the merrier.

And if I want you all to myself???

“Hey, get me a beer,” a guy calls to my back.

Ignoring the asshole, I go to reply something flirty, but my fingers aren’t cooperating. I’ve got Mia right where I want her…except I don’t want her.

And here we go again, with Taylor fucking up my head.

“Hello?” The guy shouts.

I pocket my phone and turn around, making a point of helping someone else at the other end of the bar.

Nearly twenty minutes pass before Taylor, Mia, and Kat make their way into the bar; not that I’m keeping track or anything. I flash a smirk at Taylor, who ignores me completely.

“Hey, Gavin. Thanks for scoring us tickets,” Mia says, and I snap my attention to her.

“I’ll snag us a table,” Taylor quietly tells Mia and Kat. Refusing to look at me, she walks off.

Well, that’s no fun.

“Two cosmopolitans,” Mia says.

I get busy mixing her drinks, sliding them over. “On the house.”

“Thanks.” Mia looks like she wants to say more, but she carries the drinks to her girlfriend.

“Gavin. I didn’t know we ran in the same circles,” Kat comments, having watched the interaction from a stool.

Tearing my attention away from Taylor—who’s doing a hell of a job ignoring my existence—I smile. “Small world. What can I get the heartbreaker Katerina to drink?”

“Whatever the shameless flirt thinks will get me feeling good in a hurry,” she retorts.

I whistle. “Long Island ice tea, but I can’t do that to you in good conscience.”

“Don’t let your conscience guide my buzz,” she tells me.

I laugh. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I grab a cocktail shaker, hitting it with ice and a hangover-inducing mixture of spirits before giving it a shake.

“You working any more poker parties at Ace’s Wild?” Kat asks.

“Why? You miss seeing my pretty face?” I glance at Taylor, who’s deep in conversation with Mia. Something niggles in my chest; an unfamiliar sensation. I top off Kat’s drink with a splash of soda before sliding it over.

She takes a sip, making a face. “Would I be able to see your face after I finish this drink?”

“You were duly warned.” I chuckle. “I’m bartending at a poker party next weekend. You want me to see if they need another dealer?” Or two? Because if Kat’s there, then that means Taylor will be there, and apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment.

“Maybe. Gimme the deets. Whose party?” Kat asks.

“Have you met Inferno?”

She shakes her head. “The man who runs these parties?”

“Yeah. He’s a part owner of Ace’s Wild,” I tell her. “Inferno operates this party scene. Pays in cash; everything under the table.”

“Sounds right up my alley. Let me give you my number to pass along to him,” she suggests.

I slide over a cocktail napkin and pen, and Kat writes down her number.

Taylor locks eyes with me from across the bar. Knew I’d get her attention. I flash a mega-watt smile at Kat as I accept the napkin. “I don’t have his number, but now I have yours,” I lie.

She clicks her tongue. “Dirty.”

I’m called to the other end of the bar, and Kat excuses herself as I get back to work. “Can I get an espresso martini?” A rather obnoxious drunk man shouts.

I tell him in a bored tone, “No.”

“Why not?”

Like a game show model, I hold up my hand to the display shelf. “Options.”

“Get me a margarita.”

“No.”

“Why the fuck not?”

Again, I hold up my hand to the display shelf. “Options.”

“You’re telling me you can’t make a margarita?”

I grab the tequila bottle, pouring a shot. Sliding it over with a wedge of lime and the salt shaker, I say, “There’s your margarita.”

“Asshole,” the man sputters, walking away.

“My, it’s difficult to get good service these days,” Taylor says with laughter in her voice.

“Care for a Margarita?” I slide the shot in front of her.

She crinkles her nose. “No thanks. I’d rather not spend the night with my head on the toilet seat.”

“Planning on spending the night with your head between your girlfriend’s legs? Too bad she won’t return the favor,” I can’t help but take a jab.

Her jade eyes rage. “And this is why I said we wouldn’t touch each other; I don’t have time for obsessed fuckboys.”

I smirk, leaning over the bar. “Still afraid you’re going to fall in love with me, huh, man-eater. Too bad there’s no risk of that with you and Mia.”

“On second thought, I’ll take that Margarita.” She grabs the shot glass, flinging the tequila in my face before shoving away from the bar.

Cursing, I grab a towel and wipe the alcohol from my eyes, now stinging like a motherfucker. I toss it on the bar, turning around so my dick can calm down.

A rage boner. That’s a new one, even for me.

Getting my shit under control, I return to slinging booze to obnoxious drunkards. A flash of red catches the corner of my eyes. Taylor and Mia are on the dance floor, grinding against each other. Mia’s no good for her, and I don’t get why someone as smart as Taylor doesn’t see that….

Why do you even care?

Again, good fucking question.

Kat joins the duo, and I make my way across the dance floor. Trying to get under Taylor’s skin—I mean Mia’s—I grab Kat by the hips and dance with her.

Taylor’s eyes land on my hand grasping her friend’s waist, but before I can poke the bear further, I’m sucker-punched out of nowhere.

My head snaps back, and I straighten in time to watch Kat being led away by a man in a ghost mask.

“Oh my God!” Mia squeals. “Are you okay?”

I stand on my toes, trying to see where they went, but I’ve lost them in the crowd. “Yeah. Who the hell was that?” Because I plan on returning the favor.

“That must be Kat’s new mystery man,” Taylor says. “I’m going to find her, just to make sure she’s okay.”

Mia nods, and Taylor hurries out of the bar.

“You need ice.” Mia touches my swelling cheek.

“This way.” I grab her hand, leading her to the back.

Mia fetches an ice pack from the freezer, holding it to my cheek. “I’m so sorry. That was crazy,” she says.

“Occupational hazard of being a bartender. I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of crazy shit.”

“True, but none made me as crazy as watching you flirt with Kat,” she admits.

An unfamiliar sensation coils in my stomach like a snake. Reminding myself I don’t owe Taylor anything, I flash a panty-melting smile. “Missing my dick, Mia?”

She pouts. “Maybe.”

“Have you talked to your cousin about me?” Subtleties are over; it’s time to strike.

Mia nods. “Sal’s willing to meet you tomorrow night at the boardwalk, behind the Diamond Casino at nine o’clock. But I could always make him change his mind…”

I toss the ice pack and spin Mia around, pinning her against the wall.

The long game. The long game. The long game.

“Then let me help you make up yours.”

Taylor

Unable to find Kat, I return to the bar and make my way through the crowd, but now, I can’t find Mia.

Or Gavin.

My stomach churns with unease as I sneak through the bar to the back. I round the corner, stopping short.

Gavin’s going to town fucking Mia from behind, her hands braced against the wall.

A strangled sound escapes my lips, and their heads snap in my direction.

“Hey, Taylor. Come join us,” Mia says, her face flush with pleasure.

Gavin doesn’t have the good sense to stop thrusting, continuing to rail Mia. “Yeah, Taylor. Come join us. Mia can eat your pussy while I fuck her,” he says with a knowing look.

Angry tears threaten to fall as I storm out, shoving my way through the crowd.

Gavin warned me he could see my KO being telegraphed, but that’s only because he was the one delivering the punch.