Free Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn

time.”
    “Twice,” I tease her before taking a drag. Though I have to admit, it’s a relief she can joke about it.
    “Don’t remind me.”
    I don’t even consider getting offended because I feel the same way she does.
    Surprise takes over me when I open my mouth and say, “Is it fucked up that we can sit around and joke about having sex with each other like this? I’ve never spent a lot of time with anyone I’ve been with.”
    “Slut,” she teases. “Who knows if it’s fucked up or not? I don’t care. You don’t care. That’s why it works. We both want the same thing, so it’s not like we’re going to get all attached or get our feelings hurt because the other doesn’t call the next day, ya know? We both know what it is.”
    “What is
was
.” The need to stress that comes out of nowhere. Even talking like this feels foreign to me. I don’t do shit like this.
    “Exactly.” She moves slightly and something makes me walk over and hold my hand out. I feel like an idiot for a second, but then Bee grabs it and lets me help her up. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.” After putting out my cigarette, we go inside.
    “I feel like getting out tonight.”
    The way she says it makes me think there’s more to it than that. Maybe not that she feels like it, but she needs to.
What the hell is my problem? Why do I think I suddenly know this girl?
It’s not like I’ve ever tried to figure anyone out before. I’m not sure why it keeps happening with Bee.
    Because she’s like me…
    “I’m down to go to Lunar.” It’s not like I’d be doing anything except sitting in my apartment anyway.
    “Yeah?” She stalls for a second. “We could do that. Have a beer or something.”
    “Typical thing for people to do after work.”
    “And like we said before, we both know there’s nothing more than that going on.”
    I leave it at that. It doesn’t matter if we end up going or not. I don’t want to get into some big fucking conversation on if, why, or when we’ll go have a drink. Instead, I do a quick sweep of Masquerade. When I don’t find anything I missed while cleaning up, I tell Bee, “I’m going to go. I have some shit to take care of. Let me know if you wanna go and I’ll meet you there.”
    She nods. I make it to the door and pull it open before she speaks. “Maddox?”
    “Yeah?” I don’t turn around to face her.
    “Thanks.”
    There’s more than one thing she could be thanking me for: the bird in the tattoo, cleaning up the shop, talking to her, or even some of the shit that went down in her office. But I wonder if it’s maybe a combination of all of them.
    With a simple nod, I walk out, knowing both of us will do better without verbally acknowledging her gratitude.
    * * *
    Bee doesn’t call until 9:00 p.m. I change my shirt before heading toward Lunar. I’d already showered.
    It doesn’t take me long to get there. I’m surprised to find Bee waiting outside for me. I figured she would have gone in.
    She’s wearing this short black skirt and her shirt is another tank top, this one camo.
    When I reach her, the stupidest fucking thing comes out of my mouth. “I don’t do anything more than T-shirts.” Anger then starts sizzling through me. Why the hell did I say that? It doesn’t matter what I wear and even if she did care, I don’t.
    “Let me give you a hint, Maddox. When you look as good as you do, women don’t need you to wear anything more than a T-shirt. They’re hoping to get you out of it anyway.”
    Her words throw water on the flames of my anger, but all they do is burn to life again, but this time blending with lust. I don’t say shit like “I don’t do anything more than T-shirts,” and knowing I did puts me on edge. Yet hearing her say she thinks I’m sexy too? It makes me want her again. “Let’s go inside.”
    Since it’s not a weekend, there isn’t a line. Not that we would have to stand in one anyway. It doesn’t mean it’s not busy inside. The music is still