Page 18 of Game Changer (Hidden Attractions #2)

Maya

Maddie So . . . do you have something to tell me?

Maya About what?

Maddie A little birdie told me you and my brother almost had a make-out sesh

Maya Is that little birdie your horny boyfriend who thinks every interaction with a woman should result in a “make-out sesh”? I hate that term, by the way

Maddie Deflecting with anger. Yep. Something definitely happened

Maya If there was something for you to know, you’d know. Trust me. And tell your little birdie to stay in his nest from now on!

Maya Also, I miss you. Sorry for being a bitch. It’s my time of the month

Maddie I miss you more. On the plus side, at least it’ll be over before your birthday next week. Who wants to party with a tampon?

~

Friday nights at Happy Endings are always busy.

It’s a college town, so it’s unsurprising that it’s packed in here.

Music blares all around me, and I have to lean into every booth to hear their drink orders.

It’s rare people order food here, because it’s only frozen garbage, but at the last call around midnight, lots of orders pile in from drunk people who aren’t thinking clearly.

Stray pieces of hair are stuck to my forehead from sweat.

Putting my hair up in a ponytail did nothing to erase the humidity flooding in from the outdoors.

It’s still eighty degrees out tonight, and since it’s practically a mosh pit in here, it’s useless to try and stay cool.

I gave up on looking cute an hour after my shift started.

I’m approaching the bartender to slide him another order when I spot Tabi beside me, dressed in uniform. “What are you doing here?” I ask.

She heaves a sigh. “I had to pick up Friday nights. It’s complicated.

My baby daddy is an actual piece of shit.

Claims to want to see his daughter but is ready to give her back after the first night.

I had to leave early from work again because of him, so now I’m working the night shift to improve my attendance.

This is the third time it’s happened in the past month. ”

“Damn. That sucks, Tabi. I’m sorry.”

The bartender delivers her drinks and she shrugs. “It is what it is. I can’t change it, you know? When you have a kid, you don’t have time to dwell on how shitty it is. You just find a way to make it better and do it.”

“That’s true, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have people empathize with you. Lean on those you have in your circle, you know?”

She scoffs. “You’d be the first one to offer. Well, aside from my dad, but he doesn’t count. All my friends are off doing college things. As soon as I had a baby, they wanted nothing to do with me.”

“Well, I’ll gladly be part of your circle if you let me,” I say. “I happen to love kids.”

A genuine smile falls onto her face. “Thanks, Maya. I needed to hear that tonight. It’s been a rough few days.”

“Anytime, I—” A tap on my shoulder interrupts me. When I turn around, a tall, muscular man is smirking at me in a creepy-ass way. I can tell by his outfit that he’s part of a frat—dockers, loafers, and a polo that’s a size too small. “Can I help you?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he shouts over the music. “My friend thinks you’re hot. I told him I’d ask you for your number.” He points behind him to a group of guys in almost identical outfits. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time I’ve been hit on since I started working here, and it won’t be the last either.

“I don’t date where I work,” I reply with a smile.

“Oh, come on. He’s really into you. Give him a chance.” His hand lands on my elbow. “I’ll introduce you.”

“I’m working.” My voice carries more grit to it now, but the drunken idiot doesn’t get the hint.

He’s swaying where he stands, his eyes dropping to my cleavage, which is exposed by the tight-ass tank top.

I’m not exactly a fan of the uniform here, but I’ll put up with it for the good tips it brings.

“Just let—”

Tabi steps up to the guy and props one hand on her hip. She snaps her fingers at him with the other like he’s a dog and says, “Did you not hear her the first time? Need your ears checked? Go back to your trust fund table or I’ll call security.”

My jaw drops, but I snap it shut when the man rolls his eyes but does as he’s told. Not that I can blame him. With her fiery red hair and right arm covered by a full sleeve of tattoos, I wouldn’t mess with her either. She’s the kind of woman to walk a man on a leash and have him thank her for it.

When he returns to his friends, the bartender passes me the shots my table ordered. “You need to be more firm,” Tabi says. “Don’t let these idiots walk all over you. That’s what Doug is for.” She glances over her shoulder at where the hefty security guard stands at the entrance.

“Trust me, I have no problems putting douchebags in their place, but this is also where I work, and I have to be professional, so . . .”

“The owner doesn’t give a shit about professionalism when it comes to our safety. When we say no, and they don’t listen? All bets are off. Now, let’s finish this last hour and go the fuck home, yeah?”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “ Please . My feet are killing me.”

~

After our shifts are over, Tabi and I finish wiping down the tables and flipping the chairs. It’s close to three in the morning, and honestly? All I want to do is go to sleep. My plans tomorrow include lying in bed for the entire day.

Knocks on the door make us jump, but when Tabi squints out the glass windows, she heaves an annoyed sigh and flips the lock. “What the fuck are you doing here, Mark?”

He ignores her and strides into the empty bar, irritation rolling off of him in thick waves. “Your dad mentioned you were picking up the night shift. You don’t work nights.”

“So? I do now.”

“Is this because of Andrew ?”

“What if it is? You aren’t my father, Mark. You don’t control what I do.” She plops the towel she was holding onto her shoulder. “What are you even doing here? It’s three in the morning.”

“I set an alarm so I could drive you home.”

My heart flutters for her, but Tabi doesn’t seem to be swooning like me. Instead, she throws her head back and laughs. “You’ve got to be kidding. I drove here! I’ll be just fine getting home.”

His nostrils flare in irritation. “You don’t know what creeps could be lingering outside of here at night. It’s not safe. Especially when you two are the only ones here. What would you do if—” He stops midsentence when his eyes drop to the Taser Tabi’s now holding against his stomach.

“I can handle myself,” she says sweetly—like she isn’t holding a weapon that could bring him down in seconds. “Take your big, doofus self out of this bar. I don’t need your protection. Never have, never will.”

“ Tabi —”

“Or would you rather I pepper spray you? Pocketknife, maybe? Your choice. The options are endless.” She holds up her key ring, which houses an abundance of different threats, for emphasis.

I make a mental note to buy some form of protection.

I walk home at night, and although nothing has ever happened, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t.

Mark’s jaw ticks. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re stubborn as hell?”

She smiles brightly, as if his insult is actually a compliment, and wiggles her fingers for him to leave. “All the time. Bye, Mark.”

When the door slams shut behind him, she twists the lock again and says, “Sorry about him. He’s so fucking extra.”

“I think it was really sweet. He seems into you.”

Her nose wrinkles in disgust. “ Mark? God, no. He just likes to feel useful with his hulk-like body. Showing up to drive me home was for him, not for me.”

“Didn’t seem that way.”

“Trust me,” she says. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? You need to clarify that statement.”

She sighs like this is her thousandth time telling this story.

“My dad took him in when he was a freshman in high school. At the time, Mark didn’t have anyone to raise him, so my dad made our home a place Mark could call his own.

It was sweet of him, but . . .” She shakes her head.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t need Mark acting like my knight in shining armor. Or any man, for that matter.”

I shrug as we head down the hallway to the office. “All I’m saying is I wish a man would show up to make sure I got home okay. It’s thoughtful.”

“Oh god. Don’t tell me you’re into the romantic, sappy shit.”

Is it so wrong to want to be treated like a princess?

Love notes, outlandish displays of affection, gifts for no reason.

Some girls say they aren’t like other girls , but me?

I’m a cookie cutter for what some people define as a cliché woman.

I love Starbucks. Makeup and designer bags call to the depths of my soul.

I’m obsessed with the color pink and think rom-coms are the greatest thing to ever exist. I’m naive when it comes to self-protection.

And sue me if a man showing up to take someone home has my knees buckling in response.

“Let’s just say Lifetime movies are my favorite pastime. Still want me in your circle?”

Tabi grabs her purse off the desk. “I’ll deal with it. You don’t have a car, right?”

“No. It’s only a ten-minute walk to the dorm, though. I’ll be fine.”

With a roll of her eyes, she flings an arm over my shoulder as we walk to the exit. “You’re in luck tonight. I’ll be the man of your dreams and drive you home.”

It’s only when Tabi starts her car that I have a chance to look at my phone. I have three unread text messages, all from the same person.

Ethan Hey, do you need a ride home? I just thought I’d offer since you don’t have a car. It’s dark outside, and I don’t feel comfortable with you walking home alone

Ethan Not that you’re mine or anything to look after. I’d feel that way about any woman walking home alone downtown

Ethan Please ignore the previous texts. Just let me know when you make it back safely

I’m smiling like a downright idiot on the way back to the dorm, and it’s at this moment that I realize my dream man has always existed. Ethan Davis is the one for me, and with every sweet gesture, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.