Fran betas. Ariel, Jill, and Pearly preread. You all keep me going. x


Everyone that contacts Isabella tends to call her Bella, and I find myself referencing her as that in my head more often than not.

The bar she works at is a more upscale joint, and I'm grateful for that. The cameras are kept in working order, which makes it easier for me to watch. Knowing Jake could be lurking around every corner, I do, especially when she's taking out the trash.

I feel antsy and unsettled the same way I always do when I know someone I'm in charge of could potentially be in danger, but there's a policeman patrolling only a few blocks away and my finger hovers over the button that will dispatch him immediately.

The feisty redhead Bella works with tonight corners her on her way back from taking out the trash, pushing her into one of the back offices.

"Spill, baby girl," she commands, popping her gum in that annoying way girl's tend to do.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Vick," Bella sighs, but her smile betrays her serious demeanor.

"You've been walking around here all night with your I'm-so-about-to-get-laid grin, so tell me...who's the lucky guy? Let me live vicariously through you."

'Vick' has a gigantic diamond on her left ring finger, so I assume she means that she can no longer date around now that she's married.

"It's Jake," Bella beams, and I roll my eyes as they scream and giggle like school girls.

"Bitch, he has better hair than you, and your hair is gorgeous! You have to bag that and fast. Rich, hot, and crazy about you? Please, you two will make the cutest babies the world has ever seen."

Bella shoves her friend's shoulder. "Would you calm down? I'm not looking for marriage right now." She pauses, drawing her lower lip into her mouth, and again I find myself ignoring all these strange new feelings. "I'll settle for a huge dick at this point."

I grumble at that, remembering all the incriminating shit I found to prove that Jake is, in fact, a massive dick. I'm just sure it's not the kind sweet Bella is looking for.


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