Page 84 of Poet & Protector

“No, no, just listen!” His whisper was so emphatic I decided to shut up. He dropped his voice even lower. “I got lost when I was looking for the bathroom earlier.”

I matched my reply to his secretive tone. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

“Fuck off.” He shoved me playfully. “What I’m trying to tell you is I ended up somewhere odd. Somewhere you and Nev could spend a little time without being seen.”

A lightning-bolt thrill struck me, but I quelled the feeling as quickly as it arrived.

“I appreciate the thought, An,” I told him, already resigned to staying away from Nev for the rest of the night. “But I doubt there’s anywhere we’d be hidden enough.”

“I swear no one would find you,” Ansel insisted. “I wouldn’t have said anything if I thought there was a chance you’d get caught.”

I shook my head. “It’s not a good idea, but thank you.”

“Will you at least come see it?” Ansel whined.

Ugh. Ansel had the worst—read, most effective—puppy eyes in our pack. Whenever he gave me that pleading look, I couldn’t say no.

“I’ll look at it.”

Ansel hopped up. “Follow me.”

He led me to the back of the lounge area and along the edge of the second floor until he made a quick turn down a narrow corridor that was definitely not a proper hallway.

“You were really lost, huh?” I remarked.

“Shut up.”

At first I wasn’t sure where we were, but when I took a second to look at my surroundings I realized we were wedged behind the scaffolding that ran the length of one side of the club’s second floor.

Ansel turned abruptly, disappearing into the metal framework.

“What the—?” I halted, trying to figure out where he’d gone.

His head popped out from among the bars. “Come on. It’s this way!”

It’s what way? I wondered, because he didn’t seem to be anywhere but climbing through a web of steel, but I turned where Ansel had and discovered there was a very narrow path between the sections of scaffold that led to a small but open area at its center.

“What do you think?” Ansel asked. “Nev can come here and hang out with you. I’ll stay at the end of the corridor and make sure no one comes in. And if there’s a bouncer or tech that gives me a hard time and I have to move, I’ll warn you.”

“Uh huh.” I turned in a slow circle, examining Ansel’s find.

Ansel watched me take in the space. “I’m a genius, right?”

The side of the scaffolding that faced the dance floor was covered by dark, reflective fabric that enhanced the lighting effects, which meant this little cave was completely cloaked. No one could peer through the latticework of metal and spy us out.

If Ansel kept watch…

“This could work.” My pulse jumped with anticipation.

“I told you.”

“I guess I’ll text Nev.”

“No, no.” Ansel slapped my phone down. “He won’t find it. I have a plan for this, too.”

“When have you been making all these plans?” I asked. “I thought you were wooing Bryn.”

“I’m an exceptional multi-tasker,” Ansel quipped. “Stay here.”