NOTE: Thank you for the reviews! I hope you keep reading! Let me know what you think of this chapter. It's a bit short, but I plan on making the next one rather long. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: A Betting Man

Shaundi locked the door to her room and couldn't help feeling out of place as she looked down at her clothes. It had been a long time since she'd slipped into her crop top, leather jacket, and tight purple pants and the outfit felt foreign to her. She let out a breath before placing her key in her pocket and walking down the hallway. As she turned a corner, she bumped into The Boss, Ben, and Kieth who looked extremely aggravated.

"Hey, how'd things go at the meeting?" she asked, noticing Keith's demeanor. "Not so well I take it?"

"Where do those assholes get off on telling me what to do?" said The Boss, crossing his arms.

"It was an advisory meeting with your advisors," said Keith, glaring at him. "They're supposed to advise you."

"I don't remember asking for their advice," said The Boss.

"You're approval rating is dropping," said Ben. "If you want to stay in the country's good graces, you're gonna to have to listen 'em."

"You were more fun as a gang leader," said The Boss, shaking his head.

"We have a country to run, remember? Fun isn't part of the equation," said Ben. "Take their advice and ours, lay low for awhile, at least until people forget about what happened the other day."

"So, I punched a few bikers, big deal, they started it."

"That may be true," said Kieth. "But, we're trying to sell a more 'less violent' you to the public. Who threw the first punch isn't the issue."

"Okay, so what, I'm supposed to stay cooped up in this house with nothing to do?"

"This house has a bowling alley and full-sized movie theater," said Shaundi, butting in. "Not to mention the dozens of stripper poles, each with their own stripper, scattered throughout your bedroom. You've turned this place into your own pleasure palace, how can you say you have nothing to do?"

The Boss turned to her before raising his brow, noticing her outfit, "What's with the blast from the past?" he asked, lifting the collar of her jacket with his finger.

"I decided to take 'your advice'," she told him, hoping he'd catch the irony. "I'm taking the night off. I told you about this last week, remember?"

"Oh yeah, you've gotta date, right?"

"That's right," said Shaundi as Kinzie brushed past her. She had her arms crossed, holding paperwork to her chest and glared at The Boss as she walked by.

"Hey, Kinzie," greeted The Boss. Kinzie ignored him and kept walking, disappearing around a corner. "What the fuck is her problem?"

"She's mad about having to cover for you at the press conference yesterday," said Keith.

"Still?" asked The Boss. Ben and Keith nodded in unison.

Shaundi sighed and tucked a curled bit of hair behind her ear, "I'm heading out," she said, turning to The Boss. "Do me a favor and try not to get killed while I'm gone."

She turned to leave when he called after her,"Hey, wait, any chance something will happen between you and this guy? I'm only asking because we've started a pool."

"A pool?"

"A betting pool," said The Boss, nodding his head. "Keith says nothing will happen, but Ben and I bet 500 bucks that you're going to bang the guy like a salvation army drum."

Shaundi crossed her arms and furrowed her brow, staring at Ben who shrugged his shoulders in response. She let out a frustrated breath and shook her head.

"I'm out of here," she said, dropping her arms to her side. She walked down the hallway and The Boss yelled after her.

"Hey, this is tax payer money you're messin' with! Don't let me down!"

She ignored him and continued down the hall toward the front door. Walking outside, she saw a car waiting for her. The driver opened the door for her and she declined.

"I'm going solo on this one," she said, placing her hand out for him to give her the keys. She took them from him and climbed into the driver's seat. She turned the engine over and pulled away, nodding to the security guard at the front gate.

Shaundi pulled up to the front of Ethan's apartment building to see him standing under the street light. She parked the car next to him and got out. He smiled and cocked his ear toward her, hearing the high heels of her boots clicking on the pavement.

"Hi," he said as she walked up to him.

"Hi," she replied, softly, before opening the door for him. "Hop in."

"This car sounds nice," he said, stepping off the curb. Shaundi instinctively reached her hand out to protect him in case tripped, but realized he didn't need the help.

"It's not a Torch, but it'll do," she told him as he carefully climbed into the car. He felt the edge of the car door so that he knew how far to duck his head as he sat down. She shut the door and walked to the driver's side before getting in and buckling her seat belt. She waited for Ethan to strap himself in, watching him feel for the buckle.

"These cars have a problem with the buckles slipping between the seats," she said reaching over the center console. She pulled the buckle up for him and he inserted the metal latch plate into it.

"Thank you," he said with a smile.

"You're welcome," she said, gently. She started the car and placed her hands on the wheel. "So, where are we going?"

"Well, that depends, are you hungry?"

"I could eat."

"There's a great place on Wisconsin Ave we could go to for dinner. They have really good pasta."

"Mmm, carbs," said Shaundi, happily. "Sounds great."

As she drove off, she glanced at Ethan who was gently bobbing his head to the faint sound of music on the radio. She grinned and turned it up causing him to smile in return. He bobbed his head a bit more earnestly and sang along to the lyrics. His voice was smooth and mellow, almost matching the original singer, but adding his own spin.

"You know this song?" he asked during a guitar solo.

"I've heard it a few times, why?"

"It's a great song," he said, before the lyrics picked up again. He resumed singing, tapping his finger on his leg.

"You have a really nice singing voice," she said.

"Why don't you join me?"

"I-I don't sing," she said, fearing she might embarrass herself.

"Everybody sings," he told her. "Come on."

He waited patiently for her and raised his brow. She gently bit her lip and remained silent. He smiled and resumed singing, making his voice loud and raspy in comparison to how he sang before. He leaned sideways and sang close to her, singing lowly, but playfully as the song mellowed for a moment causing her to laugh. When the song picked up again, he continued to sing loudly until Shaundi finally joined in, masking his playful behavior. He grinned as they sang together and laughed when she tried to reach a high note causing her voice to screech a little. They continued until the song ended and Ethan leaned back in his seat.

"See?" he said to her. "Everybody sings."