Page 67 of Obey

“He’s not here. I’m not sure if he’ll be in tonight or not.”

My heart sinks a little. It’s probably for the best, even if it doesn’t feel like it. I should leave the sweatshirt with this woman and leave.

“If you want, you can sit with my friends and I for bit in case he comes in.”

I shouldn’t.

A quick scan of the place tells me this is not my kind of space. The few people who are here are wearing things I wouldn’t know where to shop for, or how to put on. But this woman is so warm and friendly, and yes there’s an element of desperation to see the man who broke my heart after only two days, so why the heck not?

“Okay.”

She guides me over to the bar where two women are standing talking to the bartender. “I’m Mackenzie. Most people call me Kenzie. And these are my besties Paige and Addison. We’re all she/her.” She gestures to the bartender. “This is Nyx.”

Nyx reaches a hand across the bar. “They-them. Nice to meet you.”

We all exchange handshakes. “I’m Talia.” I self-consciously touch my chest. “I stopped by to drop something off. I won’t be staying long.”

Nyx shrugs her shoulder like it’s no big deal. Shoot. Their shoulder. I don’t know any non-binary people, and I’m suddenly afraid to open my mouth in case I offend her. Them. Double shoot.

It’s not hard, Talia. Figure it out.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’m driving, so I shouldn’t. Thanks, though.”

They smile at me. “It’s a non-alcoholic bar. We don’t serve alcohol before play, it messes with consent. But we have a non-alcoholic range of drinks, beer, wine...”

That’s a pretty darn good point. Alcohol and sex could get incredibly messy. I like the responsible nature of not letting people dull their inhibitions with substances before going down into the dungeon.

“Oh. In that case, I’ll take a glass of white wine please.”

Nyx nods and walks away from us, slinging a towel over their shoulder.

“Talia’s here to see Jagger.”

Three sets of eyes burn the side of my face with their curiosity before I even turn to face them.

“Is that so?” The redhead—Addison, I think Kenzie said her name was—leans toward me.

The other lady shakes her head. “In the few years I’ve known Jagger, I’ve never known a girl to come looking for him.” Her voice is so coated in wonder it makes me giggle.

“I’m returning something of his back.”

They all exchange looks that tell me they know that’s not the only reason I’m here.

“Let’s move over there.” Kenzie gestures to a table a few feet away that doesn’t require a ladder for me to get onto the chairs like the bar stools would have done.

Nyx hands me my wine and turns their attention to the next customer.

It takes twenty minutes after we settle at our new table, and a second round of non-alcoholic drinks before these three women know everything about me. They know the entire story of Jagger and I, well, aside from the dirty pieces. They know the Harry Chronicles, and Kenzie in particular seems sympathetic to my parental issues.

She’s patting my forearm as I tell them my woes.

I end on a giant sigh. “So I’m pathetically here to give him back his shirt, and a piece of my mind.” I shrug. “Or I was. Now, I’m going to have to leave it with y’all to give back to him.”

Kenzie shakes her head. “You’re more than welcome to stay here. Even if you’re not appropriately dressed. I mean, if you want to go down into The Dungeon, you’ll have to find something to change into, but up here you’re okay. Right?” She turns to the girls who nod.

“Absolutely.” Paige circles the rim of her glass with her finger. “And if you ever want to explore your kinks.” She pauses to wink at me. “Archer is a relatively new dominant who’s finding his feet around here. If you want a safe place to play, we can hook you up.”

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