Where We Belong (A Touch of Fate #1)(12)

Damn, I’ve missed these guys.

"Where are you staying, bro?" Levi asks, tipping his beer at me.

"I'm renting a sweet-ass condo a few blocks from the hospital,” I answer, picking at the label of my beer bottle.

"So you're not too far from here, then? You'll have to swing by sometime for lunch." I nod in agreement but don't get a chance to respond.

"So what the f*ck happened with Brit?" Mason asks, leaning his elbows on the table. "Last we heard, the two of you were tying the knot." Before I can say anything, Levi and Cooper pipe in at the same time.

"I never liked her."

"She was a bitch."

I shake my head at the easy banter, amazed that we're all sitting around like no time has passed.

I raise my bottle, signaling for another beer. "Nah, we broke up."

"See," Levi says, "I knew I didn't like her." He lifts his bottle and we all salute. "To dodged bullets!" he says with a grin.

I chug what’s left of my beer and a knot forms in my stomach. I wonder if Harley thinks of me as a ‘dodged bullet.’

"Whatever happened to your parents?" Levi asks.

I sigh heavily. "They moved. Not far, but they were struggling after Dallas died. They needed to get out of town."

Levi nods in understanding and the table goes quiet. I hate this. Everyone does this when they talk to me about Dallas. Time for a subject change.

"This place is amazing," I say, reclining back in the leather chair. I look down and over the edge at the bar, admiring how stunning he made this place is. Stunning isn't even the right word...sexy is more like it. This place is f*cking sexy.

"Thanks, man! That means a lot. She's my baby." I can hear the pride in his voice…and he damn well should feel that way.

"What are those?" I ask, pointing to three steel contraptions hanging from the ceiling.

"Those are God's gift to men," Cooper answers.

"Levi's girls dance in there," Mason says with a playful smile. "It was an ingenious idea. Everyone f*cking loves it."

Interesting. "So your bartenders go in there, or patrons?" I ask, wondering briefly if Harley has ever stepped foot in one.

"Mostly the staff, but only if they want to. They get paid extra and then men usually tip really well afterward, so most of them aren't complaining." Levi turns back to the table and when Blaire returns with my beer, he orders a round of shots.

"Quinn gets in there," Cooper states, displaying a wide grin. "That girl is f*cking hot." Mason shoots Cooper an irritated glare. "We've been telling Levi that he should hire her to come dance in one of those cages every weekend. The crowd that girl can draw is unbelievable!"

I watch curiously as Mason's jaw noticeably clenches. He opens his mouth to say something, then stops short. Pushing away from the table forcefully, he stalks off toward the bar. Okay, there is definitely a story there. I'll have to remember to ask Levi about that later.

"Knock it off,” Levi says, his tone sharp.

"Oh, come on," Cooper defends. "Like you don't find it f*cking hilarious."

"Has Harley been in there?" I interrupt, letting my gaze wander. I'm hoping like hell that question came off as indifferent, but when I glance back at Coop's face, I know I didn't succeed. His smirk is slow and easy, his eyes knowing. But what surprises me is the searing look I get from Levi, pinning me to the chair. I can't help but wonder if I just pissed on someone else's territory.

The sound of hysterical laughter breaks the tension and we turn in our seats, just in time to see a tall, willowy, beautiful woman come stumbling into the room.

Quinn. I smile softly to myself—she's always been a bit of a klutz.

Two seconds later, she is followed by...

Harley.

The sight of her causes my heart to start slamming wildly against my ribcage and my throat grows thick.

Christ, she looks incredible. Who am I kidding? She's always looked amazing, but her body has matured over the past five years in the most mind-blowing—and dick-throbbing—way. Her dark brown hair flows in long, thick waves past her shoulders. A yellow halter dress hugs her curves in all the right places and black stilettos show off her toned, mile-long legs. She looks absolutely perfect.

I keep telling myself to stop staring, but for the life of me I can’t. For the past five years I’ve thought of her, and now here she is. Sliding my chair back, I begin to stand, the need to be closer to her pulling at me like a f*cking magnet. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I know I’ve got to do something—say something.

Looking up from her phone, Harley spies Levi and her face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. What the f*ck is that about? As her eyes move across the rest of the table, she continues to laugh at something unknown. When her gaze lands on mine, the energy in the room shifts instantly. The air becomes heavy, and for a split second I find it hard to breathe.

Harley’s face falls. The beautiful smile that had formed on her face just seconds before is gone. Her eyes dart frantically to Levi and then back to me. Without a word, she spins on her heel and heads back out the same way she came in.

I need to go after her. There are so many things I need to tell her, starting with 'I'm sorry.' Before I can move, Levi grips my forearm. “I got this." He nods for me to sit and takes off toward the only place I want to be.