Page 2 of Mr. Broody

I crinkle my eyes at Aubrie. What kind of place is this?

“Do you all want one?” I look around the group, but no one takes me up on my offer. Even Aubrie second-guesses her impromptu decision and shakes her head. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

I head to the bar and squeeze between two men with swollen beer bellies. Neither gives me a second glance. I like this place. If I didn’t have to keep seeing Falcons memorabilia here, I’d like it even more.

“Falcons fans, huh?” I ask the guy to my right.

He groans.

The red-haired woman, who I guess is also the bartender, waves him off. “We’re all the Chicago teams’ fans.” She points at a small wall that has Chicago Grizzlies and Chicago Colts stuff. It’s not as prevalent as the hockey stuff though. “Are you a Falcons fan?”

The woman pours my whiskey, not bothering to ask me if there’s a brand I prefer. I thought that was why she asked me to come to the bar. Guess not.

“Yeah.” I shrug.

“Well, if you’re here to get with one of them, you might as well leave.” She slides the glass in front of me, and I hand her a twenty. “I love that you’re not one of the seltzer girls, but I know you and your friends are just here hoping to score with one of them tonight.”

I look to my right then left. Even behind me. What is she talking about? I should tell her I’ve already bedded one. Not recently, and not while he played for the Falcons. Rather when he was just a boy who took my virginity in my basement while my mom was three levels up.

“Rubes is protective of the boys,” the grunter next to me says.

“Oh, well, you don’t have to worry about me,” I say, waiting for my change.

She tosses my change on the bar top and moves down the bar, refilling beers, disregarding what I said.

“I’ve never felt so judged so quickly.” I pocket some of my change and leave her tip on the bar.

The guy next to me chuckles. “That’s Ruby for ya. No one gets in that back room without her permission.” He nods toward a closed door at the back of the bar, indicating that’s where the Falcons hang out.

“Well, I’m not interested in getting back there. Although her challenge does make me want to prove her wrong.” I raise my eyebrows and head back to Aubrie’s table.

“Rubes, you better watch that one. She’s feisty,” the guy at the bar says loudly enough for me to hear him.

I don’t bother looking back to see her reaction.

I need to forget the fact that Henry could be behind those doors and remind myself that I don’t want to see him. Not after the way he left the last time we were together with absolutely no explanation. He was cruel and not at all like the Henry I fell in love with when we were kids.

So, I’ll drink my whiskey and hopefully get Aubrie to move the party on to another bar.

Two

Henry

“Bull’s-eye!” Tweetie raises his hands and circles around the room.

“It’s only us, dipshit.” I aim my dart toward the board, hoping to keep my winning streak against him intact.

“I need some witnesses. I’m gonna go grab some girls.”

We’re in the back room of Peeper’s Alley, and no one is allowed in here unless they’re brought in by one of us. Ruby, the owner, makes certain and is usually the one who shoos women out of the bar if they’re looking to bother us. But Tweetie makes her job difficult.

“I don’t want to be your wingman tonight.” I throw my first dart and hit a triple twenty. My second a double sixteen, and my third an eighteen.

“Fuck, get laid once in a while, and maybe I could fucking beat you.” Tweetie steps up for his turn as I mark my score on the board.

“Sorry, I don’t want my dick to fall off like some people.” I grab my beer from the nearby table and bring it to my lips.

I’m not sure if it’s because my teammate Rowan recently fell in love with another teammate’s sister or what, but Jade’s been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve stalked her social media, but she hasn’t posted in a few weeks.

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