The bell above the door rings and I look over to see another group of girls coming in. I recognize one. She’s the girl who was at Rainer’s bar the other night when I first went in there. She’s really pretty, with strawberry-blond hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. There are three other girls with her—one has really dark hair and dark eyes, another is tiny and blond, and one has crazy purple streaks in her hair.
I smile at them and the girl I met the other night smiles at me, giving me a wave. “Oh hey!” she calls, nearing closer. “I saw you the other night.”
I nod, smiling. “Yeah, sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“It’s Belle. These are my friends Pippa, Santana and Jaylah.”
I wave at them, and they all smile.
“I’m Mali. What brings you girls in here?”
“We heard the coffee was good.” Belle grins.
I wave to an empty booth. “Take a seat. We’ll see if that’s a true statement.”
They all smile and sit down, and I pull out my notepad to take their orders.
“So what were you doing at Rainer’s bar?” Belle asks, browsing the menu. “Do you know him?”
I look up, unable to answer as she’s caught me off-guard. The blond girl, who she introduced as Pippa, pipes up. “Oh, you know Rainer?”
My eyes flick to hers. “Ah, kind of. Sorry, do you all know him?”
“He’s my best friend.” Pippa smiles, and it feels as if someone has slapped me across the face.
He got a new best friend.
A new one.
And he forgot about me.
That hurts so much.
“Oh,” I say, forcing a smile but I’m sure my lip quivers. “That’s great. I don’t know him well. I ah, we ah . . .”
Belle’s eyes widen as she clicks. “Oh,” she says, nodding.
Pippa narrows her eyes, almost as if she doesn’t like the idea, but she doesn’t say anything.
“So you say he’s your best friend,” I say to her. “How long have you been friends?”
Her face grows a little troubled—kind of the way Rainer’s did the other night. “A long time.”
Not that long.
“That’s good. I’m glad. He’s a good guy.”
She smiles again. She really is sweet—you can see it written all over her. It’s as if she could never be nasty. She’s the complete opposite to me. “Yeah,” she says. “He really is.”
“Hey, we’re going to my husband’s club tonight. You should come with? Rainer and him are fighting,” Belle pipes up.
Fighting? Rainer fights?
“Rainer fights?” I ask.
“He does, but don’t worry, it’s really great to watch,” Santana adds.
“Yeah,” Pippa says. “It’s fun. You should come.”
Jaylah and Belle nod.
“But you don’t know me,” I point out.
“Well, we can get to know you,” Belle encourages. “What do you say?”
“Okay.” I smile. “I’m in.”
If these girls know Rainer, I might just have a chance of figuring out what the hell has happened to him.
And I just bet Pippa has something to do with it – don’t ask me why but there’s something in her eyes that matches Rainer’s and I think she just might now his story.
If I’m lucky.
~*~*~*~
The music pounds out the doors to the club called House Of Obsidian. It’s a massive place, with a line-up a mile long at the front entrance. A big black deck can be seen off to the side and it’s crowded to the point where I don’t know how anymore people can get on there. Belle tugs my hand and I focus back on walking through the entrance. We didn’t have to line up, because her husband, Max, owns the club.
When we step inside, I gasp at the sheer size of the space. It’s huge, and modern and sleek. The colors are very sharp, blacks and whites, with splashes of silver. It looks amazing.
I follow the girls up to the bar, and a pretty blond girl serves us before others. We get a round of cosmos, and then Belle leans over and tells me we’re going to watch the fight.
We push through the crowd, drinks in hand, and I fidget in my short, red dress. I borrowed it from Mimi, who said I had to wear it. She would have joined us, but she had to work. I paired it with the heels I borrowed from my sister, Eva, and left my hair down in thick curls. I put a light sprinkling of makeup on, but honestly, the dress is enough of an invitation. God, it feels so short, and so tight. I tug the hem as we reach a door that leads down to what I’m guessing is a basement.
“Come on, down here,” Belle yells, and we all follow her down.
It’s a basement all right, the biggest damned basement I’ve ever seen. It opens up to a massive room that contains one hell of a fighting ring. People are pounding their feet and roaring at the base of it, chanting and encouraging the fighters to come out. I keep hold of Belle’s hand as she leads us towards a locker room.
Belle pushes the door open and we enter. I hear the sounds of male laughter and I recognize one of those voices as belonging to Rainer. I shift behind Belle a little, because this could look a great deal like I’m stalking him. I never thought of that and now I’m nervous. I think I’ll need to act surprised, or he’s probably going to think I’m nutty.
“Hey baby,” I hear a masculine voice say.
“Hey handsome,” Belle says and a big set of arms curl around her waist.
“You brought your friends,” he says.
I step back near Jaylah and Santana, and the other girl I met tonight, named Ash. Pippa rushes forward and my heart twists in my chest as she throws herself into Rainer’s arms. “Hey beautiful,” he says, and it’s so gentle, so kind. I’m not entirely sure I can handle this. I’m glad she’s his friend, but God, I was never prepared for this hurt.
“Hey Rainer,” she says, her voice soft and cute. “It’s been a while. How are you?”
“Good, you?”
I stay back, feeling like a fish out of water.
“We brought our new friend Mali along,” Belle says to her husband, who I can now see fully.
He’s gorgeous. He’s big and broad, with a face very similar to Rainer’s, only his is far more rugged. He’s got scarring, a slightly crooked nose, and shorter dark hair, but his eyes are the same shade of brown that tricks you into thinking they’re black. He doesn’t have as many tattoos as Rainer, but he’s extremely good looking.
“This is my husband, Max.” Belle smiles. “Max, this is Mali.”
I step forward and stretch out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
He shakes my hand and flashes me a grin. “You too.”
I avoid looking to Rainer, but I don’t miss the fact that he’s stopped talking.
“Mali,” he says and I flick my eyes to him.
“Oh, hey Rainer.”
Yeah, that sounded real convincing.
He studies me, and it’s taking everything inside me not to stare at his bare, broad chest. I want to study the tattoos there; I just want to reach over and curl myself around him. Instead, I hold his gaze, focusing on his big, brown eyes.
“Didn’t know you knew the girls.”
“I met them the other night,” I say casually. “They invited me. Sorry, I didn’t realize it was a problem.”
His eyes skitter down to my short dress. “It’s not,” he says.
I shiver. Then I fidget and look towards Max. “It’s a really nice club you have here.”
He stares at Rainer, then at me, and grins. “Yeah, it is.”
I smile and sip my drink nervously.
“When does the fight start?” Ash asks.
“In about fifteen minutes. You girls have time for another drink,” Max says.
“I’ll get some more. You girls coming?” Belle asks.
“Sure,” I squeak.
“Actually,” Rainer says, standing so I can see his big, beautiful body, “can I have a word, Mali?”
He wants a word. With me? Why?
“Sure,” I say.
“I’ll get you a drink.” Belle nods, grinning at both of us.
Pippa watches us curiously, and the other girls try to give me subtle thumbs up that aren’t so subtle. Good God. Rainer walks towards the back of the lockers and into a small office-like space. I step in and he closes the door behind me.
“Please don’t ask if I came here with them to see you, because I didn’t. I didn’t even know they knew you and—”
He spins around and studies me. “I didn’t think that.”
“Right,” I say, looking at my hands. “So why are we in here?”
He studies me. “I was a dick the other night.”
I stare at him, shocked. “No you weren’t.”
“I fuckin’ was, Mali. I fucked you and pretty much threw you out of my car.”
I shrug. “No offence, Rainer, but I thought that was what we agreed.”
He narrows his eyes. “You’re seriously okay with it?”
No. Absolutely not.
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Most chicks just . . . they don’t . . . I get constant phone calls and they follow me everywhere. It’s usually not worth the hassle.”
I shrug. “I’m not most chicks. I want friends, I like being fucked—it’s simple. Are you willing to give me those things, Rainer?”
I’m such a liar. A horrible liar.
He studies me and I start to fidget. “I don’t have many friends.”
I smile broadly. “Well, then there’s always room for one more.”
“Situations like these . . . they go bad. Don’t you know that?”
“They only go bad when someone falls in love. Believe me when I say that won’t happen.”
Because I’m already in love. I’ve been in love since I was just seventeen.
“People always say that,” he points out, rubbing his chin.
“You’re right, they do. Look, Rainer, we had fun, and I’m more than happy to keep it that way.” Liar. Liar. Liar. “But we have the same friends, so we’re going to run into each other. I’m always up for new friends.”
His eyes meet mine. “Yeah, I guess I am too.”
“Then it’s sorted.”
His eyes narrow and he seems to become transfixed with my face, enough that I turn away. “I’d swear I’ve seen your face before.”
I swallow and shrug stiffly. “Maybe I just look like someone you know.”
He seems to snap out of it. “Probably. I don’t remember much about my childhood.”
He doesn’t? That’s odd.
“How come? Did you have an accident or something?”
He looks away. “Or something.”
My curiously is nagging at me, but I let it go.
“Rainer, time to fight,” Max calls.
“Right,” Rainer mutters. “Well, I’ll catch you later.”
“I’ll be the one in the red, if you decide on making friends.” I wink at him and turn, walking out. “Good luck, Rainer.”
My heart aches, but I stride out with my shoulders back.
I’ll be strong, even if it kills me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THEN – MALI
“So what do you like to do, Emily?” Jack asks as we drink our sodas and nibble on fries.
“Honestly, I don’t get much time to do anything these days. I’m so busy with school and study that it seems I never get time to enjoy life.” I smile.
He grins. Gosh, he’s so handsome. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
“What do you do for fun?”
He leans close. “Can you keep a secret?”
I beam. “Absolutely.”
“I paint.”
My eyes widen. “You do? What do you paint?”
“Mostly landscape, but I love it.”
“That’s impressive,” I say, nodding my approval. “How long have you been doing it?”
“Since I was seven, but most people don’t know. It would kill my reputation.”
I frown. “I don’t see why. I think it’s really amazing.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, well, my jock friends wouldn’t think so.”
“Who cares what they think.” I shrug, sipping my drink.
He laughs. “If only life were so simple.”
“Right?”
He takes a bite of his burger and his eyes scan over my face. “So you’re friends with Rainer, yeah?”
I blink in surprise. “Ah, sure, yeah.”
“I didn’t think someone like him had many friends.”
“Someone like him?”
He puts a hand up. “Not in a bad way,” he says quickly. “I just mean he seems so . . . difficult to get along with.”
“He can be, but we get along. I can’t really explain why.”
“Have you been friends long?”
So many questions. Strange.
“About four years now. Do you know him?”
He shrugs. “I used to. Not now.”
“He’s a good guy.”
His eyes flash but he seems to force a smile. “Sure, of course. Do you live near him or something? I see you ride to school with him.”
I have no idea why he wants to know so much about Rainer, but it’s interesting that Rainer has a problem with him, and he seems to have a lot of questions about Rainer.
“Yeah, he lives two doors down. It’s how we became friends.”
He nods. “Awesome,” he pauses as we finish our food. “Do you want to go?”
“Sure.” I smile, standing.
We take a long walk on the beach before he drives me home. My house is lit up like the fourth of July. That’s one of my mom’s quirks. She likes to have everything bright and out there, so everyone who drives by can see how rich she is. Honestly, it’s horrible, and sleeping at night can prove to be difficult.
“Your house is really cool,” Jack says, staring at it.
“Oh, thanks.”
I glance down to Rainer’s small two-story house, which I can see clearly from mine. I notice him standing out the front with a group of people. It seems he’s having a party. He does that a lot when his dad is out. I have no idea where he is this time, but he’s obviously not at home. Jack follows my eyes and his seem to darken when he sees Rainer, who has Missy tucked into his side.
My chest does that strange thing again.
“He’s having a party.” Jack grunts.
I shrug but my chest burns with hurt. Rainer didn’t tell me he was having a party. I don’t know why that bothers me, but it does. Still, I keep it casual, like it doesn’t bother me. Because it shouldn’t, right?
“He does that a lot,” I mumble, “Do you want to come in?”
“Sure.”
We get out of the car, and I don’t miss Rainer’s eyes following us as we walk up the path. I give him a lame wave that he doesn’t return. He’s glaring at me. It’s probably the dress I borrowed off Eva—well, the dress I borrowed for the night. When we reach my front door, I use my key to unlock it. The television is blaring from the living area, but otherwise I don’t see anyone around.
Mom doesn’t care who we bring home, so long as her house looks pristine. Dad is always working, and honestly, I sometimes forget what he looks like. My sister goes in and out whenever she wants, usually coming home later than me, but I have no idea if she’s here right now or not.
“Your house is awesome,” Jack says, staring around. “Holy shit, it’s huge.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, walking through the massive living area that’s decked out with the most expensive furniture. “Do you want to go to my room?”
His eyes grow a little lusty, and he nods. He takes my hand, and my skin prickles as I walk up the winding staircase to my room. Just as we reach the door, Eva pops her head out to yell at me about something, because that’s all she knows how to do, but she stops when she sees Jack. His eyes widen, as they always do when men see my sister.
She’s gorgeous. Long blond hair, legs to the s
ky, big breasts, full lips and sultry blue eyes. I’ve not met a man who doesn’t think she’s the best thing since sliced bread. Except Rainer. He can’t stand her and she feels the same way about him. The two fight like cat and dog, constantly.
I run my hand over my neck as if I’m slitting my throat, letting her know not to open her big mouth and embarrass me. Her eyes widen.
“Ah,” she says, “I was just checking if you were home. Carry on.”
That’s probably the least bitchy thing she’s ever said to me. I tug Jack’s hand and he looks back to me and we both disappear into my room. I turn on the light and then lock the door.
Jack stares around, and I know he’s impressed. My room is huge. I have my own king bed, bathroom and toilet, plus a lounge because there’s room for it. Not to mention my massive television that I never watch.
“Holy shit, is this all yours?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
I sit on the edge of my bed and watch as he studies my room. When he’s done, he turns and smiles at me. Walking over, he flops down beside me and we sit in silence for a while.
“So, thanks for tonight,” I say.
He turns to me. “Emily, is it too forward for me to ask if I can kiss you?”
My eyes widen, because that’s the most straightforward thing anyone has ever said to me. I expected lame conversation, awkward silences and him rushing out the door. That seemed more likely to happen. But no, he wants to kiss me. Jack wants to kiss me. I don’t even know how to react to that. I mean, of course I want him to kiss me.
“Ah, no, not at all.” I swallow. “You can. I mean, sure, yes, sure.”
Oh God, now I’m repeating myself.
He smiles and reaches over, cupping my cheek in his hand. I shiver, because it feels amazing. He leans forward and the moment seems to hang on forever. My breath hitches and his warm breath tickles against my skin. God, it feels so nice to be this close to someone. Just before his lips brush mine, there’s a loud bang on my window. Jack and I leap backwards, and I spin around to see Rainer sliding my window up.
Oh no.
No.
No.
“Rainer,” I hiss when he climbs in, stands tall and crosses his arms. “What the hell?”
Jack shifts uncomfortably beside me.