= 28

hangover. Sam

n Francisc

pl

–

calls out as soon as we get out of the

Leyla's hand, weaving the

t (I'm a little unsteady from the hangover /slash/ kiss). Second, I need a human barrier between me

een. Tall, broad-shouldered, sun-touched skin gleaming under the mid-morning rays. Ugh, why are all

ngi

a wink, voice teasing but lighter than last night's stormy edge. He looks almost reborn -

.. made up?" I rai

ow back another jab, Logan's voice cuts in, calling him, and Damion turns on his heel with all the swagger of a man who knows he's wanted

of the racer. His gaze lingers too long, and a fleeting, uncomfortable thought runs through me

ze the opportunity, snapping out of my own head. My hand clamps on L

weathered with a patina of scratches and faint rust, giving them a heavy, timeworn dignity. They carry the weight of permanence, t

break bones can manage. Bass music pulses faintly even through the metal, a promise of chaos waiting inside

sounds a bit los

male species - champion, adrenaline junkie, big on spe

ooks like a kid spotting a celebrity crush in real life. He now sounds more li

el ... she said the guys don't speak of th

e has beautiful brows. Brows

onally constipated men and girl

in." I bet he will. I'm just no

Logan comments, walking up to us. He's slightl

oody interior of glowing amber lights, concrete floors, dark wood, a

s. It's his club, too, after all. And Enrique offered me the

kay with i

make a nun horny and starts

hes of middle-aged charm - like history collided with grit and somehow made something beautifully out of place. From somewhere i

ets busy in here. Lots of dr

e in the wood," Lee snaps earn

ouse rules: don't get drunk alone, don't cry in the bathroom, no brooding in d

that's raw, almost unfinished, providing a casual atmos

adorned in soothing neutral hues with splashes of prominent subdued color, whe

high-end warehouse had a baby with a private gentle

lks overhead, leather booths tucked in dark corners, a bar that stretches like a runway of liquid vice. A hug

tures him on some weird facts about tarantulas, like how they can kick off micros

y sister's face lights up like a kid in a c

h Birdeater as a pet. Her name was Trainer."

sly? That thing mu

ily seven times bigger tha

f a spider," Lee m

and ... eh ... played with her, until one day she

ithin her, a contagious joy that infect

n her toes, every muscle in her

dn't think it was funny at all. She grounded us for a w

reaking out about the spider today?" Yep, he de

en without mind-reading skills, I can tell something's off.

.. let's just say it's not the spider that scared us." Wai

ook on his face, Lee doesn't seem quite satisfied with it either. Meanwhile, Logan's

ame design style with lots of steel, exposed structural elements, brick,

s - depicting medieval knights and sorcerers - blend seamlessly with the vibe. I stroll over to get a cl

ls me. "She decorated the entire pla

ve always been interested in

money for further education. When Noah landed a full scholarship, the plan was for him to g

social media. My followers are growing by the day. Who knows

steel door with some striking glass insets, "is the kitchen.

ce with a custom-made dining table fitted with plush couches and comfortable accent chairs. On one end of each room is a huge octagonal gl

unwind and mingle in a more intimate setting ― away from prying eyes. Subsequently, I'v

player?" Logan directs the conversation in

nation, a facade that conceals some sadness

ch my dream." He wipes a hand over his f

hought this one was gonna be straightforward, even si

dream?" Leyla ask

eriousness, and I turn my eyes without moving my head

ion? You can study for? Go

get along great with Jackson

t was a joke. This time, I mov

Should I be worried? He is going to be in our group and around my sister,

g off my pre-med at Yale ... when ... eh ... before I had to come here." I silently let out a secret br

there, teaching the Bulldogs. Did you run into

e fires up, blushing red like a tomato. Okay, that's not weir

and as the steps guide us down into a cavernous lower lev

zing louder with the echo of

th moody amber lights, some decorative, some suspiciously good for acroba

lackburn crest, frayed by time, colors muted but still def

rivets everywhere, and the dance floor unfurling like the courtyard of a besieged castle. Above it, a DJ booth rise

xperience," Logan says, still frowning. "Most nights w

a wall of crossed longswords, and the absurdity is

hrough a castle gate and stopped here for a pint. Its beam juts outward as a counter, the frame melting into shelving where bottles perch like gilded goblets in formation - every single o

booths tucked into shadowed alcoves, deep and plus

more stone, more iron, and chandeliers forged from halber

He's got a crate of bottles balanced effortlessly in his ar

down, cracking it open like a kni

ay, right?"

ified genius. Mysterious, quiet

nd I hear he's grea

rading in one brother for another," he teases, "You should know that he's in love wit

est of the female population," I banter with a de

or issues. I'm manifesting for him. He will find

s if thinking that statement was way too s

on," Log

e booth area where velvet ropes and another bounc

work here," Logan suddenly indulges rather g

here. "Unless it involves glitter, goats, or twi

lood or murde

t him without blinking, trying to f

It must be. But he'

rt, cause there's no room or time for error," Logan says while I stare at the overstocked bar, hauling any

the boys?" I ponder. I don't want t

onally ..." Logan grunts, but stops to pause. "Okay, most

keep them up there like expensive wines?" Logan sticks out his tong

mean real ancient cannons." He smirks cutely. "You can get up close and personal with the DJ booth to be fully

ar, with a buoyant lilt in his voice, and I bite my cheek to contai

loudly now, "Does the cl

xposed beams, strings of industrial bulbs, and a fire pit encircled by wine-red couches. I'm

out ... and now Jackson is constructing a fight club underneath." He poi

hand, intensely focused on Jackson, who seems to be briefing them wit

s from them t

ests in an almost tropical environment like no other. The open room flows seamlessly onto the garden, a natural-looking rock pool, the private bea

pted by his ringtone, and he holds up his hand, gesturing for us to wait. We stand in silen

n?" His voice sounds s

x SEAL turned puppy-trainer, and Damion's older half-brother," I

hout even trying. He'll save your life without speaking

akes his head as if

ghter, pain w

ragic backstory

ragic backst

Lee turns his eyes to me. The dude has beautiful eyes ... the color of liquid gold. And thick

I watch Logan walking up and dow

, dangerously observant. He gives devil vibe

"Good to know." Then he adds as i

nging their names." Lee's head snaps up to stare at me, b

soft click of polished shoes against the floor spins us around. Two men are approaching,

, brief and formal, but this other one ... the r

, his eyes crinkling. "Ah,

rding Lee. "Meet Lee ... he plays goalie for

surprised at the mention of Jackson hav

uncle." He extends a hand toward Lee,

here's a faint smile tugging at the corner of h

to finally meet you." His handshake is

l. And Lee, Jackson's roomm

voice low and even, "I don't go by Alex. Haven't

nd. "You ... don't?" Enriq

a second, the hint of old scars lurking beneath calm. "Alex

a murderer's name?

. Blackburn ... burn ... ash," John offer

makes sense. Ash ... c

g to join Jackson on the lawn before he changes into an

morning air carries the faint smell of grass, mingling with t

han expected," Lee smirks. "It

an earlier flight." He gestures toward a wrought iron staircase tucked almost shyly in the corner

scussion with Lee right now - there's no time, and h

a reminder that the world is still spinning. A faint scent of ocean mixed with lavender, lilies, and wet moss drifts on the w

tairs," I say. The iron rail

igher we go, the louder the murmur of chatter and gray noise

EEEEEE

ive wire into him. His eyes go cartoo

my shoulders, shaking me like a martini at happy

rd Lee's ear between violent

like he's just been res

re still alive after all t

t might dislocate. He looks like he's jus

hiss, scrambling to clarify

ill looks like he's reconsiderin

eeks glowing, and squishes Lee's face between her

finally releases me. My head throbs,

Thalia gasps, clapping her hands together

her donut-wielding hand waving dangerously close to my hair. Sug

her face live grenades

yes narrowing playfully as we shuffle into

combusts. "The new Sharks goalie

S roommate ... like staying with him ... in the same house?" She glances

nge that Jackson would have a roommate

"Well ... I have my own key," he mumbles, rubbing the b

er arm wide like she's presenting him to a roaring crowd. "I'm Mel, Jackson's little sister." She points her donut at

ing, conspiratorial. "Blink twice if Jac

ile, and this time it's more I'm-charm

from the floor, looking as if I'm hiding his brother in my

us swearwords and big hand gestures, the robot w

ee titters with a lopsided grin th

"Yes. That's my love song with commi

as bartenders prep for the night. Music

club is one emotional support gro

ce. We unpack trauma. Somet

litter. Or warm bread," I sa

fung

you ..