Lucas - The Other Side

Table of Contents

OTHER BOOKS BY NICOLE

Men of Trance

Got Mine

Thizz Series

Thizz, A Love Story

Illusions of Ecstasy

Lunam Series

The Lunam Ceremony

The Lunam Deception

The Lunam Legacy

Novellas

The Excursion

Anthology

Cop Tales

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, or persons, whether living or dead is entirely coincidental.

SIDE GAME

Men of Trance, Book 2

www.nicoleloufas.com

Copyright 2018 by Nicole Loufas

All rights reserved.

Except for the original material written by the author, all song titles and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in book reviews.

ISBN: 978-0-9964946-6-3

Published by F-Bomb Publishing

www.f-bombpublishing.com

Oasis

S ix years ago

Guys like me dont wait in line.

It doesnt matter if Im a few years shy of being here legally. My presence increases the worth and reputation of the club. Neon palm trees cast a green glow over a crowd of impeccably dressed patrons waiting to have their thirst quenched inside of Oasis. I roll past them with Cookie beside me. She is a life-size Brat dollbig hair, lips, and hips. Walking with her increases my worth exponentially.

I hand the doorman my id, he pretends the twenty-five-year-old dork on the fake drivers license is the same person standing four inches taller than him. He barely glances at Cookies fabricated identification.

Have a good night, he says and opens the rope so we can enter.

The bass drop hits as we walk in, announcing our arrival. It wasnt planned, but when you look this good the world works in your favor.

Industrial-sized fans whirl on opposite ends of an illuminated dance floor. An empty pool lies beneath the thick glass squares embedded into the ground. Oasis used to be a motel. Remnants of that time are littered around the club. Old sofas and desk chairs create make-shift lounge areas.

Cookie pushes between two guys at the bar. One of them smiles and offers his seat hoping he has a chance. Cookie thanks him, then waves me over. The guy is a few inches shorter than me and about twenty pounds overweight. With a little help from his friend, he could probably take me down. This thought crosses my mind when I step beside Cookie and take the guys seat.

Youre going to get me killed, I warn Cookie.

Dying in defense of my honor is a great way to go. She kisses my cheek then waves the bartender over.

Being here with Cookie diminishes my chances of getting laid. Never bring sand to the beach. But I dont have a car and taking the bus to the clubnot cool.

I order two Captain and Cokes.

I dont want to get drunk. Cookie places a hand on her hip. Im driving.

Its mostly coke, I clarify. Just have one.

Thankfully, Cookie is a cheap date. She hardly drinks and has a rule about eating in public. What little money I have is pilfered from my tuition account. Dad says college isnt for fun, its for learning. Clearly, hes never been. Every dime I spend in the club is one less meal I eat when I return to school. Its worth it.

Cookie takes a small sip of her drink, careful not to disturb her lipstick. Im going to dance. she pushes away from the bar and walks away.

Six dudes follow her to the dance floor. If I wanted, I could hit that. Cookie is beautiful, but her personality needs serious contouring.

I finish my first drink then order another. The club isnt fun unless youre buzzed. I take my second drink upstairs. The view of the dancefloor is better from there. I can keep an eye on Cookie while I look for the reason I came here tonight. The reason I've come here for the last three nights.

Her purple hair is easy to spot and just part of the reason she stands out in a crowd of hundreds. Shes like one of those porch lights that lure bugs to their death. You know she's dangerous but you can't stay away. People jockey for position around her. Waiting for their chance dance in her glow.

Everyone but me.

Watching from a distance isnt my style, she isnt my style, and Im not hers. Cookie knows her from school and swears shes strictly into females. This fact doesnt prevent me from watching, fantasizing.

Her eyes glance up to the second floor. I swear she looks right at me. I look away and find Cookie waving her arms to get my attention.

My drink? she mouths.

Shit, I left it on the bar. Its probably been rufied by now. I head downstairs and order her another drink. Ive already spent half the money in my pocket on two rounds. Even if Cookie didnt drive, Id be stuck paying for her drinks because Im the guy. Somehow, men set precedence when it comes to buying drinks. Itd be nice if that philosophy worked both ways. Im confident every woman standing at this bar would dance with me, possibly fuck me. Not one will open her Coach wallet and buy my drink.

Someone places a hand on my shoulder, I turn ready to punch. Im not cool with people touching me. Male or female. Im a big proponent of personal space. The hand belongs to a guy I know from the gym.

Sup, Rico? We bro hug.

Just chillin. Rico points at Cookie a few feet away. Is she with you? I thought I saw you walk in together.

Of course you did.

No, we shared a ride.

Cookie stops pouting when she notices Rico checking her out.

Mind if I dance with her?

Please, take her off my hands. I give him Cookies fresh drink.

I owe, son. Rico saunters towards Cookie and Im off the hook.

Can I get a shot, I yell to the bartender.

What do you want?

Uh, I dont know. Whiskey?

What kind? Hes annoyed.

Makers Mark, someone says. Make it two.

Its her. The purple-haired chick.

Hi. She stands beside me with a crazy cool grin. Ive seen you here before. She points upstairs. Shes noticed me watching her. Ive never seen you dance.

Im not a dancer.

Then why come to a club?

I guess I like the view.

Damn, that was smooth.

She smiles in appreciation of my quick wit and my stomach tightens. Ive never been this close to her. Shes like a live wire, igniting everything around her.

The bartender places the shots on the bar.

Eighteen.

I pull my wallet out and start counting the last of my dollars.

Its on me. She tosses a twenty on the bar.

My chest does this weird thing where it gets tight and I feel like every hair on my arm is standing up.

"Thanks."

"My pleasure." She smiles. "What are we drinking to?"

"You bought the drinks, you tell me."

She processes for half a minute then lifts her shot.

May we get what we want, what we need, and never what we deserve.

I smile despite the corniness of her toast and touch my plastic shot glass to hers. I hesitate when the smell of the brown liquid hits my nose. She tosses hers back and I follow. For three seconds Im sure its going to come back up and shoot all over her face.