Page 12 of Prettiest Little Thief
“I’m sure it would piss Lucas off.” Fox tapped his chin.
“Even better.” I felt a sick sort of satisfaction with the knowledge that Lucas would be peeved if I left his place. It made me smile, and I couldn’t wait to get under his skin even further.
***
Evie met me at Marty’s sometime after the sun had set. Even though it was cold out, I made sure to dress my best. A short, black, sequined skirt, with a white chiffon tank and knee-high black boots. To stay warm, I wore my thick, zip-up parka until we passed through the front doors and the heat of the bar melted into my skin.
“Damn, girl. You are looking so fine for being in a car accident just a few days ago,” Evie said as she kissed both of my cheeks and wrapped me in a hug. I winced at the contact.
Evie was the definition of a spicy Latina. Gorgeous, long brown hair fell down to her waist, bright brown eyes, a pert nose, and a set of plump lips graced her pretty face. Her curves were hugged by a skin-tight bodycon black dress and silver high heels to boot. The eyes of the men in the bar all wandered over her. But her bite was worse than her bark.
Fox followed closely behind me, and the three of us took a seat at an available table.
“Are you going to introduce me to your shadow?” Evie asked.
“Right. Sorry. Evie, this is Fox. Fox, this is Evie.” Evie stuck out her hand to shake his, but when he gripped her hand, he brought it to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
My eyes about bugged out of my head at the forwardness of him. I expected Evie to bite his head off, but she didn’t. Instead, she smiled.
“Pleasure,” Fox said as he released her hand and gave her a seductive stare.
“Believe me, the pleasure isallmine.” Evie muttered something in Spanish and started fanning herself.
“You said you haven’t been able to get ahold of Frankie?” I started.
“No, I’ve called him multiple times. It just goes to voicemail.” The server came to our table, and Evie ordered us a round of shots and a round of vodka cranberry.
“I don’t know if I should be drinking. I’m the guard, after all,” Fox said.
“Suit yourself.” Evie shrugged and turned her attention back to me. “Frankie hasn’t reached out to you?”
I shook my head. “No, he left me there, stuck in the car.”
Her eyes widened, nostrils flaring. “That asshole.” Our shots and drinks were placed on the table in front of us. Evie threw her shot back without a chaser and licked her lips. Fox, all the while, watched every movement.
Good lord, these two were going to be banging before I knew it.
“I’m not sure what to do about him.” I took the lime off my glass and downed the liquor. It burned my throat, and my face contorted. To lessen the terrible taste, I bit into the lime and sucked. Chills still managed to work through my body and caused me to shiver.
“Drop his ass, amore. He’s never been a true friend,” Evie replied.
“I’ve known him forever. I guess it just hurts to think of losing the person I’ve grown up with.” I shrugged. The warmth of the alcohol spread through my belly, but it didn’t numb the ache in my heart at the thought of losing Frankie. He’d left me, and I was hella angry, but I always held a soft spot for him because of our history.
Evie gripped my hand, and her stare softened as she realized the inner battle I was having. “It’s okay to grieve the loss of a friendship. Some people aren’t meant to stick with us forever. No matter how long we’ve known them.” She squeezed my fingers.
“I agree,” Fox chimed in. “If he were a true friend, he would’ve gone down with you trying to pull you from the wreckage.”
Taking a sip of my drink, my gaze landed on Fox. “How long have you known Lucas?”
“We met as teens in prep school. So, about fifteen years.” Fox tapped his fingers against the polished wood of the table.
“Has he always been so…” The word I wanted to use wasn’t coming to mind.
“Ostentatious?” Fox finished my sentence, and I snorted a laugh.
“Yes. But no. He’s got a stick up his ass, that’s for sure.”
“He isn’t always that way. He has a personality, believe it or not. You just rub him the wrong way.”
