Page 19 of Brighter than the Boss
A hand crept around her hip and pulled her back. I looked over her head and saw some asshole grinding up against her from behind. Based on the glazed smile on her face, she didn't seem to mind.
But I did.
Never mind that I'd told her to stay away from me. Never mind that I'd convinced myself I was no good for her.
She was mine. And until we settled what was between us, I didn't want some guy's hands on her. In the back of my mind, I knew I was acting like a caveman. I had no claim to her and no right to keep her from meeting other men, but just a week ago, her tongue had been down my throat, her legs around my waist while she tried to get off against my abs. There was something there between us and I couldn't ignore her any longer.
I'd taken two steps toward the dance floor when the girls, led by Bailey, shuffled in between Sunny and the asshole. He gave Bailey a dirty look, then looked past her to see the faces of the rest of the girls. He threw his hands up and backed away. The group formed around Sunny and bustled her off the dance floor, back to a long table closer to the front of the bar. They grabbed their things and made their way out the door.
Satisfied that she was going home alone, I went to sit back down. Apparently, the guy getting handsy decided he wasn't done with Sunny though. I saw him slam the rest of his drink, toss some bills on the table, and exit out the same door in a hurry. I saw red, knowing it wasn't a coincidence that he was leaving right then.
I pushed my way through the crowd quickly, trying to catch up with the mystery man and make sure he left Sunny alone. Her girls would keep her safe tonight, I knew. Hell, half of them were black belts in Jiu Jitsu. But sometimes a man-to-man conversation was needed to keep a guy from continuing his pursuit. Didn't make it right that a woman's “no” didn't carry as much weight as a man's, but that was simply the way it was.
The guy was just past the parking lot when I caught up to him. He spun around, having heard my footsteps, fists clenched, ready for a fight. What else could you expect out in a dark parking lot outside of a bar late at night?
"Hey, man. I mean no harm." I had my hands raised in a peaceful gesture, hoping to appear nonchalant, even though I was ready for this conversation to go south. "Those girls are friends of mine. Their boyfriends wouldn't appreciate your attention. Best you let that one go, huh?" I saw the girls down the block, making a left at the corner. I hoped they'd keep going and get out of sight quickly.
He screwed up his face and stepped closer. "What the hell? That blonde was into me before her little friends showed up. Why don't you mind your own business and I'll mind mine?"
I shook my head and got ready for the conversation to get physical. "C'mon, man. I can't do that. Like I said, they're friends of mine. You need to back off."
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than he took a swing, an upper cut that forced me to jump back to avoid the blow. That was the invitation I needed to take my frustration out on this douchebag. I swung, connecting with his jaw. He stumbled back and spit off to the side while I shook out my hand.
I wasn't getting any younger and hadn't been in a fist fight in a few years. I'd forgotten how hard they were on your knuckles. As fun as that was to hit him, I hoped he'd back off and we could all go home.
No such luck.
He advanced again, his hands up like he was some kind of amateur boxer. The image was ruined however when he stumbled over his own two feet. I took the opportunity and punched him again, this time dropping him to the pavement. He was staring up at the night sky, mumbling incoherently, but I knew he'd be okay. I'd even pulled the punch. It's not like I'd hit him that hard.
Not one to leave someone like that, I bent down and picked him up, slinging his arm over my shoulder.
"C'mon. Let's call you an Uber and get you home."
He struggled to his feet, accepting defeat and my help without incident. He got his phone out of his pocket and opened up the app. The thumbs were moving but he wasn't getting anything done. I snatched the phone out of his hand.
"Hey!"
"Dude. Calm down. Let me help." I hit a few buttons and spotted a driver just a block away. I handed him back his phone and waited until the car pulled up.
Once he was on his way, I hoofed it down the sidewalk in the direction I'd seen Sunny go fifteen minutes before. Her green Vespa was still in the bar parking lot so she either got a ride home with one of the girls or they were still downtown somewhere. I looked in restaurant windows as I walked, and just about when I was giving up hope, I spotted the squad in a little coffee/hookah lounge.
They were seated around a small table, laughing and drinking coffee. Sunny sat on Sage's lap like they were already the best of friends. You'd never know looking at her that Sage was a millionaire already, with billions waiting for her when her father passed away. Bailey was waiving her arms around in the air and then Sunny tossed her head back and laughed, mouth open, eyes squeezed shut.
She looked so damn happy.
And as I stood outside on the sidewalk in the shadows looking in, I decided that no matter what I felt about her, I couldn't be responsible for darkening her light. I'd thought about it before, but now I was committed to sparing her. I didn't know what this heavy weight on my chest was, but the one thing I knew I could count on was that I'd always do right by my friends. Sunny had come to mean something to me and therefore, I had to leave her alone. My negativity, my past, my bullshit, shouldn't come anywhere near her. For once, I was gonna keep my dick in my pants and be mature about it.
Now if I only I could get my feet to listen and walk away.
9
Sunny
My girls had come through for me like no one ever had before. They let me talk it out about my mom, they'd plied me with drinks and food, they'd let me dance off my negative energy with some guy I'd never seen before for just long enough, and then they'd sat with me while we all sobered up over some strong coffee.
"Goodnight, Sunny!"
"Goodnight, Sage. Goodnight, Shasta. Goodnight, Esa!"
