The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) by Harper Bentley

and is heading to the restroom. I arrive there
before she does and watch as she makes her way toward the ladies’
room, going right by me with nary a glance. Her friend’s not far
behind and I can see that she’s drunk. But she, unlike Laney,
notices me.
    “I know you!”
she says loudly.
    I nod
acknowledging that, yes, she has seen me before.
    “I’m Laney’s
roommate! You’re Hot Tattoo Guy and she wants to screw your brains
out!” Her eyes get big and she puts a hand over her mouth realizing
what she’s just said then she starts giggling and points a finger
at me. “Do not tell her I told you that. She’d so kick my
ass!” Smacking a hand against my chest she says, “She got a little
dizzy so I’ve gotta get in there to check on her. ‘Kay, bye!” Then
she goes into the restroom
    Now I’m torn.
Do I stay to make sure Laney, aka the possible enemy, aka the woman
I jerked off to this morning, is all right or do I go about my
business and leave?
    I decide I’m
getting too close. I can’t let myself get involved. I need to
leave.
    Just as I turn
to go, I hear a woman yell, “What?” from the bathroom which makes
me chuckle. A moment later I feel a push from behind and turn to
face the most beautiful and possibly most outraged woman I’ve ever
seen. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Laney Kyle.
    “You!” she
yells, jabbing a finger repeatedly against my chest. What is it
with women and my chest tonight? “You are to ignore what my
roommate said! Got it, Hot Tattoo Guy?”
    I try not to
smile but my lip curls up just a bit and now it’s on.
    “Why’re you
smiling?” Jab! “Huh?” Jab! “You think this is funny?” Jab! “You…”
Jab! “think…” Jab! “you’re…” Jab! “hot…” Jab! “shit…” Jab! “don’t…”
Jab! “you?” Jab! Jab! Jab!
    I grab her
hand to stop the jabs and not being able to help myself, lean down
to her ear and taunt, “You want to screw my brains out.”
    Now, I’ve seen
pissed off before but this is something new. Swear to God, I think
actual daggers just shot out of her eyes missing me by mere inches
as does her hand when she swings it to slap me. Her misfired blow
goes awry and she twists and almost falls, so I grab her from
behind wrapping an arm around her waist pulling her back against my
front. I’m expecting a struggle but her roommate distracts her by
yelling her name as she walks up from wherever she went and is now
holding a shot glass out to her.
    “Those guys at
the bar bought these for us!” the roommate chirps motioning her
head in the direction of the bar before holding her glass up for
Laney to clink hers against then they both drink them down.
    “Oh, God! What
was that?” Laney says, her hand resting on mine that’s across her
belly and I know the shit’s gonna hit the fan the second she
notices.
    “A Three Wise
Men!” her roommate informs.
    Jesus. Jim,
Jack and Johnny combined is a serious drink. If you’re not feeling
it after throwing a few of those back, then you’re a better man
than I am. And Laney had already been stumbling along the brink of
inebriation before so I’m pretty sure this is going to toss her
over the edge.
    “That was
kinda gross!” Laney says with a giggle then leans her head back
against my shoulder. “I think I’m done for the night.”
    “Me too!” her
roommate announces. Then her eyes move up and she looks at me. “Oh,
I’m Dani, by the way!”
    I feel Laney
grow tense against me as she slowly realizes what’s been going on.
First, she moves her head forward looking down at her hand that’s
atop mine then uses it to pull my hands from her. Next, she turns
reluctantly to face me, her eyes first going to my arms then my abs
and on up my chest until she’s looking at me, the aggravation
apparent on her face.
    She says it so
quietly I don’t hear her at first and I have to lean down to catch
it. And when I do, I feel like a complete and total asshole.
    “You’re the guy
who hates me