Page 8 of Existential

“We aren’t a fuckin’ hotel.”

I slide my gaze down this burly guy to his vest and read the stitched badges: “1%”, “G.F.O.D.”, “13”, a skull and crossbones, and most importantly, “President”.

Well, that last one explains a lot.

“I’ll honestly be gone within the hour. I won’t cause any trouble.”

“You already have.” He leans a shoulder against the doorframe, crossing his legs at the shin as he kicks out a heavy boot.

I frown, and then readjust my focus to the slip of a woman who stands behind this guy’s right shoulder—the girl from out front. Great, just what I need, somebody running to daddy when they’re upset. Oh, poor wee princess. I scowl at the bitch, and turn to Digits.

“If you can show me the way to the shower, I’ll be fifteen minutes tops and then I’ll be gone. You can see me out if you want to be sure I’ve left empty handed.”

“Yeah,” Princess bitches, “show her the shower, Digits. Give her a guided tour.”

“Stay out of it, Heather.” He pinches his brow as the man mountain in front of me sighs.

“Meeting in thirty,” the president announces over my head. “Make sure she’s gone by then.”

He scowls down at me, his nostrils flaring, and then does the strangest thing of all. His hand lifts, and I still my breath as he reaches out and tips my chin up with two fingers, twisting my face left and right, before dropping it with a “hmph”.

His dis-satisfaction hurts me for reasons I can’t explain. The guy’s been nothing but rude, but for some reason I wanted this ruggedly handsome man to approve of me. He simply commands that kind of challenge of wanting to be enough to make such a hard ass impressed.

Heather drags a dramatic finger across her throat and marches toward the back of the house. I can’t hold back anymore—I stick my tongue out at her retreating form and garner a chuckle from Digits as well as a curious raised eyebrow from their president.

“What?” I say with a half-hearted smile. “I was invited here by your guy, it’s not as though I even knew she existed, so why would I have come here to piss on her territory? She’s got nothing to worry about.”

“Doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re here for,” the man mountain grumbles. “She’d hate you simply because you’re female.”

“Great, just great.” One of those types. I swing my tote around in front of me and turn to Digits. “I’m ready for my shower now.”

Sooner I get it done, sooner I can get the fuck outta here.

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