Page 67 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

Blake and Falin clap along with the rest of the crowd, but I’m still seeing red. That fucking pirate is hollering behind me, yelling obscenities.

“Our first performer is the lovely Mistress of Shadows with her act, The Vampire’s Embrace.” Skeletor leaves the stage and the lights blink then turn to a low blood red hue.

Images are projected onto the canvas walls, creeping shadows and flickering lights while a haunting melody begins to play. A gorgeous woman with thick flowing black hair, wearing a long gothic dress, not unlike what Blake has on, glides across the stage. She moves in slow, hypnotic motions, swaying her hips and drifting her arms in come hither gestures.

“Holy shit, she’s hot,” Blake whispers, squeezing my hand. I can’t help but smile.

“Not as hot as you,” I say, resting our entwined hands on her thigh.

As the music builds her movements follow. She crawls along the floor, stalking her prey, and removes a layer of skirt.

“Taaaake it offff baaabyyyy!” the pirate yells, before whistling with two fingers in his mouth.

“What a fucking tool,” Falin says, loud enough that the couple to our left snickers.

The show continues, the dancer unbothered. But I’m fucking seething. Pricks like him shouldn’t share space with people like Blake. The dancer leaps and lands in a seductive split, tossing her hair for added effect. The music rises to a crescendo and she pulls a bewildered man from the front row, placing him in a wooden chair on the middle of the stage. She dances around him, toying with him, pretending to bite his arm before backing away. Removing another layer, now in nothing but a corset and panties, she glides to him and as the music ends she bites his neck seductively, pulling back to show herself covered in blood.

The crowd roars; even I clap. But I’m distracted by the pirate, grabbing onto the head of the person in front of him and using them as leverage to stand. I watch him sway through the row, toward the exit.

Without another thought, I lean in to Blake. “I’m going to go grab some more drinks. Be right back.”

She nods and focuses her gaze ahead, clapping as the skeleton man enters the stage. I make my way out of our row slowly, not drawing attention to myself. I know I should leave it alone. He’s nothing but a drunk asshole who doesn’t deserve my time or energy, but I’m wound so tightly, my skin prickling for the release that only comes from violence.

With my fists clenched at my side, I shuffle by a few patrons, heading outside, my eyes trained on one figure alone. I see him, heading to the food and drink area and the tingle of anticipation rises in my chest. Keeping close behind him, I get in line at the small booth selling booze. It’s nothing more than two costumed young women behind a few folding tables, with coolers and canteens filled with cider.

“Neeeed a whis… key... dub-ble. An’ a beeeer... none a’ that im-por-ted shiiiit. Gimme... gimme a Coorsss.” The two womenmake eyes at each other and one of them, dressed as a sexy witch, speaks.

“Sir, I’m going to need to get our manager. We’re not allowed to overserve here. Please step to the side and we’ll be with you in a moment.” She gestures to the person in front of me but the pirate isn’t having it.

“T’ fuuuck izz thisss shiiiit!! I’m a payin’ cuss-tomer an’ I wan’ my god... goddamn driiiink!” He leaks spittle from the corner of his lips and bangs his fist on the table. The women step back, one of them making a call on her phone.

I’ve had enough. With my sweetest smile, I cut in line and speak to the witch. “Hey, I’ll take care of him. So sorry about that. He’s my uncle, not all there in the head. Can I get a beer and I’ll keep him out of your hair all night?” I pull out a few twenties and lay them on the table. “For your trouble.”

She nods, glancing back at the pirate, who’s uttering curses and stumbling around, before handing me a can of Bud. I thank her and step beside the pirate. “T’ fuuuck you wan’? Ohhh… it’s luvvver boyyy… where’sss yer preeetty girlfrienddd?”

I sling an arm around his shoulder and show him the beer. “Look what I got you. You want this beer?” He grabs for it, but I tsk at him. “Come on over here, let’s find a nice quiet place to cool off.”

I lead him away from the booths, toward the darkened part of the fairgrounds, using the beer as a lure. Once we’re far enough away that the noise of the show and the hushed voices of the patrons outside fade away, I crack the can and hand it to him. I grab a smoke out of my pocket and light one up, taking a long drag.

“Got ‘nother?” he asks, pointing to my cigarette.

I hold it in front of him. “You want a smoke?” I ask, slowly enunciating each word. The pressure in my chest is ready to erupt, I can’t hold back anymore. When I look at him I see hisleering gaze all over Blake. I hear the wet, sloppy kissing sounds he made while looking at her.

I reach into my pocket like I’m grabbing my smokes but pull out my switchblade. I move faster than he can comprehend in his drunken state, jamming my knife into the front of his hand and through his can of beer. He opens his mouth to scream but I cover it with my free hand, my cigarette burning close to his nostril. “Listen closely, you piece of shit. You’re going to leave this place, go to whatever shithole you call home, and take a good hard look at your life. If I find out you’re disrespecting women again, I’ll show up when you least expect it, and next time, I won’t be so forgiving.”

His gurgled moans slip through the cracks of my fingers as I yank my blade out. Blood spills from his wound mixed with beer from the leaking can. I release my hand and he immediately squeals, wrapping his injured hand with the other. “Shiiit... you... you fuckin’ stabbed meee. Heeeelp! Heeelp!”

He gives me no choice; what a dumb fuck. I push my cigarette against his uninjured hand, putting it out before knocking him upside the head with the handle of my blade. He goes down easily, face in the dirt where he belongs.

My shoulders relax instantly but my limbs vibrate with released adrenaline. I need to get back to Blake and Falin. They’ve already been alone for too long. With one last look at him, I pop a mint into my mouth and head back to the tent.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

BLAKE

I haveto hand it to Falin, she picked a winner this time. “That was incredible,” I tell Damon, lowering my voice to add, “I’m super turned on.”

“Yeah? Let’s get out of here and take care of that.” He circles my waist and pulls me in close. “Where’s Falin?”

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