Company Ink by E.L. Lewis

e l e v e n

After two hours of primping and pampering myself, I finally manage to get out of the house and head to Mamba. Monique still hasn't come home since her birthday dinner with Matt. She texted me saying they'd meet us at the bar. In the last few months, Monique has been staying at Matt's more frequently which irritates the shit out of me. I despise being home alone. Maybe I'll have a word with Matt and tell him to stop hogging my bestie.

I jog down the street in my sexy yet oh-so-uncomfortable stilettos, having a pretend conversation with Matthew in my head.

I flash my ID to the bouncer and get a black 'M' stamped on my right wrist. Red and purple lights flash across my face, blaring Latin music vibrates through my body as I make my way to our usual table in the corner of the lounge area.

"Bitch! You're late!" Kai sings, wobbling as he stands up. "Where's Monique?"

"I'm sorry!" I whine, gesturing to my outfit. "This takes time to create!"

Axel comes around the table and twirls me around. "You look fucking hot, Cass."

Tonight, I decided to wear a black sequin skirt with a beaded fringe and a burgundy lace tube top. I love the way this skirt moves when I Salsa; makes me feel like a flapper from The Great Gatsby, granted a little sluttier but uh—still classy. I think.

"Thank you!" I gush, taking a seat on the black leather bar chair. I look over to Kai, who's swaying to the music. "Wait, did you say Monique's not here yet?" I check my phone. "She's thirty minutes late? That is so not Monique."

Kai shrugs, passing me a dark brown drink. "We thought she would be with you."

"No, she stayed at Matt's last night." I take a sip of his whiskey sour and scrunch up my face. "This is so gross."

"Here." Axel passes me his glass. "Wash your mouth out with this refreshing vodka soda."

I giggle. "Bless you, my love." I swish the bubbly mixture around my mouth and exaggerate an exhale. "That's better."

Kai's eyes light up as he tilts his head to the side, peering over my shoulder. "Mon-Mon is here!" he sings.

I whip my head around to find Monique walking towards our table, hand in hand with Matt. Monique's wearing her iconic flowy white mini dress and chunky black heels. Matt looks like he always does, blue jeans and a t-shirt. I wonder if he has multiple pairs of the same pants or just washes them every other day. These are the types of questions that keep me up at night. Lingering behind them is a tall and trim blonde, sporting a lopsided smile and a navy and white checkered plaid shirt.

Kai, Axel, and I hop out of our seats and greet Monique and Matt, wishing her the happiest of birthdays. Hugging my best friend, I peer over her shoulder, catching Mr. Shaggy Blonde Hair's eyes.

"Who's the guy?" I whisper into Monique's ear. "And why's he here?"

Monique grins, lifting a knowing brow. "Everyone, this is Carson Tilford, he works with Matt at Archer Academy teaching Social Studies." She turns to Carson. "This is Kai, his boyfriend Axel, and the infamous Cassie." Oh no, I don't like her pushy tone. What did she do?

Carson says hello to the boys and then gives me an obvious once-over before extending his hand forward. "Nice to meet you, Cassie. I've heard tons about you."

I clench my teeth, smiling. "Really?" I side-eye Monique. She has some serious explaining to do. "I hope it was all good things."

"Definitely," he grins, showcasing his chemically whitened teeth.

"If you'll excuse me for a second, birthday girl and I need to do a shot at the bar." I slip past Carson and yank Monique's arm, dragging her to a small bar kiosk.

"Cassie, your nails are digging into my arm!" Monique whines.

"Shit, sorry! I forgot I have acrylic nails on." I let go of her wrist once we're several yards away from our table. "Okay, what was that?" I ask, crossing my arms. "Is this a setup? I think this is a set up."

"Okay, yes. It's a set up," Monique admits with a sigh. "But listen, Cass. Carson is single, cute, has a job, and I think you guys will get along. Plus! He's not your freaking boss."

I let out a frustrated scoff. "You know I hate it when you try to set me up, right? I can find men myself."

"I know you can find men, Cassie. It's the keeping them that's the problem," Monique retorts icily, like a frigid punch to the gut. Monique notices that I wince at her words and softens her tone. "I just don't want you to end up alone."

"Alone?" I scoff, fiddling with my fake French manicure. "I'm not alone. I have you."

Monique grabs my hand, pressing it between her warm palms, her deep earthy eyes scanning my face. "Sweetie, Matt proposed last night."

My heart drops into the fiery pits of hell. "What?"

He proposed? What does this mean? Is she going to move out? She's going to leave me? What am I going to do?

I blink rapidly trying to fight back tears. No, this isn't about me. Stop being so selfish. This is about Monique. All she's ever wanted was to get married and have a family. This is a good thing. I'm happy for her. I am. I lift the corners of my mouth into a tight smile.

"He proposed?" I ask, my voice faltering. "That's amazing, Mon. I'm so happy for you. You're going to make a beautiful bride." I glance down at her bare hand. "Where's the ring?"

"It was a little big so we're having it resized," she whispers, pulling me into a hug. "Cassie, I love you. You know that right?"

I nod into her curly hair, taking a deep breath. Ten years of memories flood my mind. Our first high school party, first kiss, first heartbreak, first beer, college, moving in together. Everything. Now she's going to trade firsts with me for firsts with Matt. And I'll be...alone.

"Cassie, I just want you to be with someone who will appreciate you. I want you to have stability and love and support," Monique cries, her tone soft and uneven. "I just—I just worry about you sometimes. And now that Matt and I are—you know... I want to make sure you're taken care of, because I won't be able to do it anymore."

I swallow away my anxiety. "So that's why you brought Carson?" I ask meekly.

"All I'm saying is give him a chance. I know you're totally fixated on this whole Adrian thing but let's be realistic here Cassie, he's not a long-term option, he's just a fun time," Monique says, my gaze drifting to our table. Carson and Matt are chatting with Axel and Kai, everyone is laughing and smiling and getting along. Maybe she's right. Maybe I should give him a chance.

I let out a deep breath. "Okay, I'll try but no promises."

"That's all I ask. Also, don't say anything to Kai and Axel yet. I haven't even told my parents," she laughs.

"My lips are sealed."

Monique and I walk back to our table, our arms linked together. I grip her arm tightly, worried that she'll float away from me. Monique takes a seat next to Matt and I sit down beside blinddate.

"So, Carson. Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do when you're not working?" I ask hesitantly, Monique's words replaying in my head.

Carson rubs his hands together, his spirited midnight blue eyes lighting up. "Well, lately I've been super into Warhammer."

I look at him, perplexed. "Warhammer? What is that?"

"Oh, it's sick. It's like a mini war-game, and you have all these figurines of warriors and fighting vehicles that you paint and then you play with them on a battlefield."

I blink, attempting to process how a grown-ass man thinks playing with toys is an appropriate hobby. No. Stop it, Cassie. Don't be a judgmental bitch. "That sounds uh—cool. Do you play with your friends or?"

"We have a league!" Carson exclaims. "It's pretty fun! You should come sometime."

"Yeah, for sure." I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm really busy with work these days so no promises."

For the next forty-five minutes, I politely listen to Carson drone on about his extracurricular activities, all of which would be more appropriate for a sixteen-year-old boy, not a twenty-six-year-old man. What the fuck was Monique thinking? Has she ever talked to this guy before? Or did she just assume that since he was buds with Matt that he would automatically be as charming?

I can't do this anymore. If I have to hear about one more League of Legend character, I think I'll die. Or I'll die from alcohol poisoning seeing as I've had three Cosmos in the span of an hour. I shoot an SOS side-eye to Axel and mouth 'help'.

"Hey, Cass!" Axel shouts from across the table. "Wanna dance?" He gets up and walks towards me.

I interrupt Carson's riveting tale about the strength of Akali, whoever the fuck that is. "I'm going to go dance."

Carson takes a sip of beer. "Oh, I don't dance," he laughs. "I have a bum knee."

"Aw, that's too bad," I say flatly, grabbing Axel's hand. "Bye."

Axel leads me out to the dance floor, laughing at me while I recount the torment of that conversation.

"So basically, you're saying he's a nerd?" Axel chuckles, placing a hand on my waist as we begin to salsa dance together.

"I don't mind nerds! I don't! You know I don't have a type but whatever that man is, he's like the anti-me. I asked him if he's ever traveled, and he told me he's afraid of airplanes. And get this, it's not because of the flying, it's because of the germs." Axel snorts, spinning me around to the thumping and rhythmic sound of the booming music. "Oh, also, did you know that airplane trays have eight times more germs than the toilet flush button?"

"He sounds like a keeper," Axel quips as the music changes to a slower, more sensual beat. "Wanna Rumba, babe?"

"Fuck yeah! I'm so glad we took those dance classes together," I laugh.

Axel and I begin to sway our bodies in fluid, flawless, and passionate movements, hitting every beat, extending every arm, grazing each other as we let the soulful music enter our bodies.

Axel pulls me closer to him, grabbing my thigh and pulling it up to his hip. He leans down to my ear and whispers, "You have an admirer."

I roll my eyes. "Is Carson watching?"

Axel smirks. "It's not Carson." He dips me in a circular motion, my curled hair almost sweeping the ground. He leaves me hanging for a beat and I blink to make sure I'm not seeing things. Even upside down I can recognize Adrian's smoldering and tightened gaze. Shit! Has he been here the whole time?

Axel jerks me upright. "Holy fuck! That's Adrian," I whisper, completely stunned. "Like my boss, Adrian."

"I thought so," Axel muses, twirling me into his arms, his devilish eyes growing wide. "He's been watching you for a while."

"He has?" My face flushes as Axel gives me a final spin. I sift a hand through my sweaty hair as we stand in the middle of the dance floor catching our breaths. "Should I go say hi to him?" I ask.

"No fucking way!" Axel shakes his scolding head, fanning out his dress shirt. "Let him come to you."

I nod in understanding, letting out a sigh. "Okay. Good plan. I'm going to go to the bathroom to freshen up." We're both covered in a sheen of perspiration and my feet are screaming bloody murder right now.

Axel leans over and places a lingering kiss on my cheek, something he never does. "Just in case he needs some extra motivation," he says smoothly.

I stifle a hearty laugh. "You're so conniving! I love it!" I exclaim, kissing him back and then heading towards the hallway that leads to the bathroom.

I can't believe Adrian is here! Did Axel see him earlier and that's why he suggested to Rumba? He's fucking crazy if that's the case. It's literally the most sexual ballroom dance there is! It's like making love on a dance floor. I only saw Adrian's face for a brief second, but he looked quite pissed. I suppose he doesn't know that Axel is just a friend, let alone someone who is definitely no threat.

I splash some cold water on my face and chest while I check my reflection in the mirror. Jesus, I look like I just finished doing hot yoga; my face is glowing and pink, my hair is in complete disarray. Shit, I kind of hope Adrian doesn't come up to me—I look a hot mess.

Straightening out my crop top, I swing the door open and take two strides into the dimly lit hallway. Before I can take another step, I'm pushed up against the maroon wallpaper, a familiar hand on the base of my chest. I gasp as my back sticks against the cold hard surface.

Shit!