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“No problem.”

He turns to walk away but I stop him. “Hey, Riley. Everything been good around here?”

“Yeah, normal. We had trouble a couple of weeks ago. This guy threatened Ivy, but we booted him and we haven’t seen him since.”

“Does he have a name?”

“Uh, Robert…” He pauses, clicking his teeth. “Oh, Pitt. Robert Pitt. You know him?”

“No, just wondering. See ya around.”

He salutes me and I exit the club.

Now I’m worried that something happened with Blush’s family. I pull my phone from my pocket as I slide back into the driver’s seat of my van and fire off a text to him.

Me: Stopped by Segreto but you’re not here. Are you okay?

I tap my fingers on my steering wheel, waiting for him to reply, but he doesn’t. Several minutes pass without a response. Something could be wrong. He might need help.

I’m about to pop into the back and see if I can find his address when my phone buzzes.

Blush: Who dis?

Oh, I see. He’s mad at me.

Me: Whisper. Just checking in.

Blush: Sorry. I don’t know anyone named Whisper. Maybe you have the wrong number?

Me: Blush. Quit playing. Is everything okay?

Blush: Why do you fucking care?

Shit. He’s really mad.

Blush: I know I fucking blew it being weird so you don’t have to act like I’m something to you. I’m not and that’s fine. We’re done.

Oh really?

Me: I don’t remember saying you blew anything or that we were done.

Blush: Then where the fuck have you been for the past two weeks? Don’t play with me, Whisper. I’m not stupid or naive. I’m sure you can find another boy toy to fuck around with when you’re bored.

Whoa. Okay. He’s not mad. He’s hurt.

Me: Can we talk?

Blush: Nothing to talk about and I’m busy. I’m fucking someone else right now. Well, he’s fucking me.

I know he’s bluffing.

Me: If he was fucking you well, you wouldn’t be able to text me.

Three dots pop up and disappear several times until a new text finally comes through.

Blush: Leave me alone. I’m sorry I followed you but if you could just go away now, that would be great. I’ve humiliated myself enough.

I want to see him even more now than I did.