Page 61 of Scarred Hearts

I could still feel everyone’s eyes on us without even looking at them. I sensed their stares through my peripheral vision as I turned to Dario, ignoring the shocked expression on Tyler’s face. “Ready?”

I took his hand in mine, leading him to Room 3, and gave him a lap dance that I knew he’d forget tomorrow. Despite the cloud of alcohol surrounding him, I tried to maintain a professional demeanor, but he passed out twice while I performed. It was a first for me, but it ended up being for the best. I didn’t want to deal with any potential drama between Tyler and myself.

After my dance, I looked for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I hesitated to ask anyone about him, unsure if my actions had caused issues with him and his family. There was a strict rule against any public displays of affection in front of customers, and while everyone usually followed it, I was still the new girl and didn’t want to risk getting in trouble. However, I would accept whatever consequences came my way because it was worth it to let Tyler know we were okay.

The rest of the night went by uneventfully. Dario and his friends were respectful, and Luke and Jade kept an eye on me during my performance in the Blue Lounge. But when I danced on the main stage, there was still no sign of Tyler. Part of me wanted to text him, but I didn’t want to potentially upset him if I was the reason he’d left. We’d already played enough mind games.

The sound of my phone vibrating across the nightstand jolted me awake.

Hello?

Hey, buzz me up, Kirsten chirped like an annoying bird as the sun rises.

What? I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, looking around my room in confusion.

Buzz me up. I need to talk to you, she repeated in that same chirpy tone.

Um, I slid to the side of the bed and stood, one sec.

I hung up and found a pair of short, rose gold satin shorts and a white, crop tank top. I pushed the button on the wall to buzz her into the building, then made my way downstairs to wait for her. A few minutes later, I heard the elevator ding, and opened the front door.

She breezed past me without even a hello, turning back toward me with an unwavering expression on her face.

I lifted a finger. “Don’t speak until I’ve have my coffee.”

Playfully huffing, she followed me into the kitchen, plopping down on a barstool and groaning, “Make me one too.”

I grabbed two matching white mugs from the cabinet.

“Can I talk, yet?”

I held up a finger. “No talking until I’ve had my coffee.”

I shook my head and placed her mug under the coffee maker. As it began to brew, I inhaled the inviting aroma and listened to the calming gurgle of the coffee pot. Shuffling over to the refrigerator, I grabbed the cream and set it in front of her, along with a bowl of sugar and a small spoon.

“Gia—”

“Shhh.” I glared at her, picking up her cup and replacing it with mine, starting a new pod of coffee. She grumbled as I placed her drink in front of her.

After my own cup was finished, I took a much-needed sip of the black coffee, savoring the taste. Letting out a contented sigh, I declared, “Okay.”

“No cream or sugar?” she asked.

“Not today,” I replied.

She wrinkled her nose. “Ew, savage.”

“Whatever, go on,” I urged.

“Right,” she said, shifting on her stool. “Declan asked me to be his girlfriend.” She brought the coffee to her lips and smiled behind the rim.

“Shut up!”

“Dead serious.” She grinned wide. “That’s why I looked weird last night the few times we crossed paths. But we were both so busy, I didn’t have time to pull you aside to tell you.”

“It wasn’t just you being weird,” I admitted, finally voicing my thoughts out loud. “I was avoiding Tyler all night.”

“Wait,” she paused mid-drink, “what happened between you two?”

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