Free Meant for Me (A Second Chance standalone) by L.P. Dover

but it was against Jake’s rules and they knew it.
However, it didn’t stop me and Wade from stealing a few moments here and there
for fun. We were the infamous trio at The Labyrinth.
    The moment Tyler looked my way he didn’t register it was me
at first, but then quickly glanced toward me again. He whispered something to
the other guy, whom I didn’t know, and then came bounding out of the doorway
toward me with the biggest grin on his face.
    Mason let me go at the same time Tyler scooped me up in his
arms and twirled me around in a circle, hollering, “Holy fucking shit, look at
what the cat dragged in. You know, I should be pissed at you for not returning
my calls for the past year, but being the friend that I am I understood you had
a lot going on. We’ve missed you, kitten! How long has it been … six years?”
    Kitten was my nickname among everyone, since at the time I
was the youngest of The Labyrinth’s employees. I was the youngest, but I was
the smartest. That was why Jake hired me to begin with.
    When I caught my breath from laughing so hard, I swiped the
hair out of my face and responded, “Wow, I’m surprised you remembered it’s been
that long, Ty. I’m sorry I let time slip away. I feel bad for losing touch with
you and everyone else from here. Anyway, you know I had to finish college and
move back home. My time to run wild had come to a close.”
    Tyler scoffed and a mischievous smirk tilted up his lips.
“Somehow I don’t believe that,” he teased lightly. “I’m sure you got into
plenty of trouble once you went home.”
    “Whatever, Tyler Rushing,” I grumbled playfully. I peered
over his shoulder to the door where his partner for the night stood checking
ID’s. “So where’s Wade?” I asked. “I was hoping to see him tonight, too.”
    I wanted to see Wade, but there were some circumstances
there that might not bode too well for Mason. Wade and I were friends, or I
guess you could say friends with benefits. Before I left Vegas, he told me he
had actual feelings for me, but since I was leaving, we never acted on them.
Plus, I was twenty-one years old and I didn’t want a long term relationship at
that point in my life. Wade was a great guy, though, and I had fun with him
while it lasted.
    “Oh, he’ll probably be around later this week. He’s been in
the Bahamas for the past week or so. I’m sure he’ll come running here once he
finds out you’re in town. I know he’s missed you.”
    He winked at me, and then his gaze finally landed on Mason
who stood by watching our reunion all calm and collected. However, deep down I
knew he was anything but calm.
    “Who’s your friend?” Tyler asked, looking straight at Mason.
    Mason extended a hand out to him. “I’m Mason Bradley,” he
told him.
    Tyler narrowed his eyes and took Mason’s hand, shaking
firmly. “Why does your name sound familiar? For some reason I know I’ve heard
it before.”
    Mason shrugged. “Don’t know, man. I guess it could have been
from anywhere.”
    Tyler pondered for another few seconds and then said, “Yeah,
I guess you’re right. Well, anyway, any friend of Claire’s is a friend of mine.
Come on, brother, let’s get you a drink. I know Jake is going to be thrilled by
this visit.”
    The moment we stepped inside it was like a maze where each
different path would lead you on a journey of ecstasy. There were bars set up
in each section of the club where you could order whatever your heart desired,
but the section right in the middle of the club was where the magic happened
for me. The stage called to me like it did all those years ago when I would
dance. It was a time when I could express my feelings not by words, but by the
movement of my body. It was like another language for me.
    Mason came up behind me, placing his hands on my waist, and
whispered in my ear, “Are you okay, baby? You faded away there for a moment.”
    “I think she misses the stage,” Tyler cut in humorously. “I
could tell