Page 45 of Underground Prince

“You’re goddamned hot,” he said. He swigged his beer.

“Have you seen me in My Little Pony?” I asked him. “I think I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“You can sparkle my balls.”

“Chivalry.” I blew him a kiss. “Don’t ever change.”

I rested my elbows on the bar and felt the guy maybe squeeze my ass. I wished I could, right at the exact time as he was passing behind me, lift my boot up between his legs and ram my heel…

“What’ll you have?”

“Beer,” I said, smiling sweetly at the bartender. “Whatever pale ale you have.”

“Do I know you from somewhere?” he asked as he returned with a pint, yelling over the music.

“Thanks. I was here a few days ago. With—”

“Sax’s girl! Yeah, I remember. Except the hair. You did something with it.”

“Put a rainbow in.”

“Right.” He nodded. “Suits you.”

He could’ve been sarcastic, but I was too concerned with the phrase “Sax’s girl,” and whether or not I hated it. “Is he here?”

“Who?” He busied himself pouring another draft.

“Sax.”

“Oh! Nah, not today.”

What was that I felt? I looked down at my stomach for verification. Disappointment?

A bubble of sourness popped through, but it was more an irritating gurgle than the acid of frustration. Why come here, then, if not to see him? What was there to gain, heading for his bar, standing around like a loser and pretending I wasn’t here to see him? Was it all to prove something to Noah? Verily? Or was it just to go against myself?

“Your magic hair looks better without the sour look on your face,” the bartender said as he bent in front of me to fish ice out of a bucket and into a glass.

“I’m going for irony,” I said and took a good, healthy glug of my beer.

I leaned back against the wood, scanning the scene, mostly college guys and a few regulars strewn throughout. The billiards table was crowded, and I noticed a girl about my age who was taking names with her pool cue. I watched her for a while, noting her mannerisms—head up, shoulders back when talking with the men around her. Regal smile as she bent down, sultry, and aimed her cue.

Onto my second beer, I figured I’d finish it off and then leave, maybe even get ahead on my “studies.” If Theo couldn’t teach me the game, the Internet sure as hell could. The alcohol had left a pleasant buzz, the kind that made me want to be productive and not be standing here…waiting.

“Don’t sweat, sweetheart. Your Prince Charming is right behind you.”

The bartender had my head lifting up.

He made a spinning motion with his finger, and I followed it and came almost nose to chest with Theo.

“Hello to you, too.” One side of his lips lifted, his version of a smile.

“What are you…” I cleared my throat. “I mean, what are you doing here?”

“I’d ask you the same question.” He lifted a finger to the bartender before turning his attention back to me.

“Honestly? I don’t know.” I stared into my beer. “It’s been a weird day.”

There was a brush against my cheek, soft as silk, that sent shivers down my neck. “I see that.” Theo wove a piece of my hair between his fingers. “So you came here to end your day. To see me.”

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