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There’s only four of the a few good punches in before his buddies tearlesson in et his private A rooht Iris keeps jus while I notice Birdie restrains herself, probably seeing as how she has to drive back home The toood at hiding if I don’t want to be found, but I keep ot a little rough with her earlier

I’ anyone without permission It’s an invasion of privacy--one I know about all too well Guys like this douche bag from the bar are the type of people who decide if they want so from somebody, they’ll just take it I lived in a couple foster homes where the people that were supposed to be ht to lay their hands on ot placed with Sarah that I felt safe and learned not everyone did that That’s why I vowed to myself that I’d always protect vulnerable people when I could

Still stewing, I keepmy protective jealousy to cloud et how he pawed her earlier

When he detaches hiroup, I double-check that Iris and Birdie are now sitting safely at a corner booth before I follow him into the men’s room

He stumbles as he makes his way over to the urinal and I lock us inside the restroom Alone I pull the hood ofprey

Without warning, I rush over and grab the back of his head and slam his forehead into the wall A loud thud echoes around the tiny room and his hat falls to the floor by our feet

"Ah, oh," the drunken man cries as he covers his face with his hands, but he doesn’t look directly at me, rab a fistful of his hair and yank his head back so I can whisper in his ear, "You should think twice about putting your hands on a wouy you run into ht not be as nice as me"

I shove his head forward and he stumbles a bit as I turn and rush out of the s room

IRIS

I raise the "purple hooter" shot to Birdie as the tingle of all the alcohol I’ve consuh irl could ever ask for Birdie, I love ya!"

"Oh, God Now I know you’re toasted" Birdie laughs and rolls her brown eyes

I close one eye to bring her better into focus "How?"

She grins "When you start telling me that you love me, I know you’re at your lilass to my lips and throw lass down in one shot and then giggle, clapping my hands "Oneyour drunk ass houe out at her "Party pooper"

She pushes her way out of the booth we’re sitting in "One ot to come back here torind together as we laugh and sing along to the ht was a total creeper and disappeared after I shoved hioing to fuckI’ treated like one

Birdie glances around the bar "There are absolutely no cute guys here"

I turn to take in the faces around me to confirm Birdie’s complaint when my eyes land on a pair of warm brown eyes trained on every e black colu me I don’t kno Imust’ve hidden him in the shadows of the club His hair is styled in the same disarray of sexiness that he typically rocks while those daets sexier every ti and followshas he been here?"

I biteit extremely difficult to tear my eyes away from his intense stare "I’rabs ht you said he wasn’t co "That’s what he told ed his mind," she says

"It appears so"

Instinctively, my body pulls itself in his direction It’s so superficial to say this, but the first thing I always notice about Ace is how insanely beautiful he is The next thing is his intensity He’s always so focused and serious, and it’s very alluring I want to know his secret I want to knohat he’s hiding, and why he’s so hot and cold with ?" Birdie asks as I take a step toward him "Don’t you think it’s a bit stalkerish for him to come here and not approach you, but just stare at you like that?"

I pull away froh as I try to reassure her "I invited hilad he’s here"