Part 15 (2/2)

”Coming to get you,” said Max as if it was obvious. ”All ten of us are going down to the Barcelona bar, and you're coming with us.”

”Isn't the Barcelona a men only bar?”

”Tonight was a big achievement for us, and we couldn't have done it without all your training. We're going out to celebrate, you're our Coach, so you're coming with us.” Max had said it like it was a mathematical equation.

”I'm not sure whether I should be offended that you see me as one of the boys...?”

”Don't tell us you don't want to get out of that apartment for one night,” said Denny.

”We could always carry you there...” Max let the idea taunt me.

”You wouldn't dare,” I said.

Max arched a brow. ”Wouldn't I? I've told you before, you have your authority during training but when we're on our time it means squat.” He made a move toward me.

”Okay, okay, I'll go, I'll go,” I said quickly.

Max gave me a curious look, as if he couldn't understand why I had caved so easily. The answer? I was naked under my nightgown. Not that I thought Max would cart me all the way to the bar in just my nightgown, but he would certainly pick me up just to prove the point that he was willing to do that if push came to shove.

So I got dressed. I didn't put much thought into it really. I just stepped into the black halter-neck dress and the matching shoes that Fletcher had picked, and then slipped on some fas.h.i.+on jewellery. With my hair left loose, I stepped out into the hallway. All of the squad were stood waiting. Each one stared and swallowed hard. Poor b.u.g.g.e.rs didn't have many female vampires around them on a regular basis.

I couldn't really understand why they wanted to go to an all-male bar as I'd always thought that part of the fun for blokes was to get themselves a girl. Denny explained that the drinks were cheapest in that bar so they always went there first to get hammered and then they'd move on to the unis.e.x bars.

I didn't have any trouble getting in the bar; one look at my cleavage and the sound of the word Coach' and the fact that I was a female faded into nonexistence for the doormen. The inside was actually alright. It looked more like a club with its strobe lights, packed dance-floor and booming music. Despite it being chocker, it was easy enough to get a drink seen as the bar was eternally long.

Max stayed close, a hand always on my elbow or my back. Chico repeatedly rolled his eyes at the sight, as if Max was trying too hard and making himself look desperate. I didn't see it that way. Max was trying hard, sure, but what he was trying hard at was to show me that there could be a completely different relations.h.i.+p between us outside of work hours and it wouldn't make anything awkward. I wasn't sure if the fact that I didn't want anything more than casual s.e.x would be a letdown for him or the biggest turn-on ever. I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out.

I was overjoyed when I came across Fletcher and Norm. Again tonight they had been colourful in their choice of clothes.

Fletcher hugged me tightly, asking, ”How the bleeding h.e.l.l did you get in here, it's men only? Me and Norm just about get in.”

”How do you think I got in?” I gave my b.o.o.bs a little push.

Fletcher laughed. ”I told you a bit of cleavage works wonders, didn't I?”

”It certainly works for me,” said a voice into my ear. Max.

”Hey Coach,” sang another voice. Evan. He a.s.sessed the dress and frowned playfully, giving me the big-brother look. ”I should send you home to get some clothes on.”

”Oh I beg you not to do that,” said Harvey to Evan. ”The view is perfect.”

Evan shot him a warning look. ”Note that she is much too good for you.”

”Harvey's right, though, she looks absolutely gorgeous,” said Fletcher. ”The only girl who has ever tempted me to go straight.”

Max ushered closer to me but I shrugged him off. ”Sorry, Slap-head, but I'm going.”

”Where?” he asked, deflating.

”To the dance-floor, of course. And anyone here who isn't on that dance-floor won't see me all night.”

”Don't think you're leaving me behind,” said Fletcher.

At first I was surprised that the entire squad came to the dance-floor with me, but after a while I came to realise that a big reason for it was because I was getting approached by a lot of blokes since I was the only female in there. Evan's warning gaze served as a great deterrent to the would-be-drink-offering-blokes as well.

I was dancing with Max when Evan spoke down my ear, ”You probably won't be pleased to know that Jared's here.”

My heart did a little jump at the sound of his name. Maybe it was faulty. ”I don't care. He can go where he pleases, it's nothing to do with me.”

”Do you realise that that's near enough the same thing he said to me telepathically that night when you eavesdropped?”

I spun on my heel, giggling but offended. ”I did not eavesdrop.” In truth, I hadn't turned so that I could jokingly confront Evan. I wanted to get an idea of where Jared was. My senses reached out, alerting me that he was somewhere to my right near the bar. And not happy.

”I was just letting you know he's here.”

I knew what he meant: be aware that Jared's here and tone it down with Max or Jared might snap. I'd have disagreed, but Jared had told me telepathically that I'd saved Max's life by saying no to him, though I never really understood why he was so mental over a bonk.

”Look,” began Evan, ”maybe you should pretend you're going to the bar for a drink and let him approach you.”

”Why would I do that?”

”Because I can feel that he's riled.”

So could I. That was the thing that got to me: I shouldn't be able to sense his emotions so well. ”It's not my fault that Antonio wants me to lead the squad alongside Jared. I told Antonio I didn't want to, he made it clear that it was an order.”

”So let Jared approach you, let him bring it up, and then tell him that. Let him get it off his chest.”

”Why should I rea.s.sure the plonker?”

Evan sighed. ”Please, Sam?” He very rarely called me that. ”Yeah he's a pain in the a.s.s but he's also my twin brother. Maybe once he's got it off his chest you two can start behaving civilly to each other again...you know, like grown-ups do.”

I couldn't help smiling at that. I supposed it wasn't very mature to snub your colleague when you have to see them and work with them every day. Plus, if we didn't somehow sort this out how would we ever successfully lead the squad together? How could we ever protect The Hollow the way we were needed to?

Evan kissed my cheek when I sighed in defeat. I then left it to Evan to keep Max out of the way while we tested this theory that Jared had something to say. As Evan suggested, I went to the bar and ordered a drink. I then leaned my back against the bar as if having a brief rest, and kept my gaze forward as I sipped on the red grape NST. Only moments later I felt Jared approaching. Felt his eyes, felt his annoyance...and G.o.d that scent.

”I never thought you'd manage to pa.s.s as a guy.” His humour didn't disguise his irritation very well.

”I never thought you'd manage to get entry either, considering you have to be an adult. Sulking is more a toddler thing.” I heard him take a long breath. It pleasantly tickled my skin as he exhaled.

”The squad was impressive at the arena.”

There was a slight emphasis on the word squad; the interpretation being that he believed it was them that deserved the glory, not me. I didn't rise to that. The fact that was they were impressive and wouldn't have been unless they had listened hard and tried hard. I was proud of them and wouldn't take that away from them.

”I've noticed that they're improving physically too,” I said. ”Especially Max. You're obviously training them right.”

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