Free Not Looking for Love: Episode 6 (A New Adult Contemporary Romance Novel) by Lena Bourne

of an accent in his voice.
    "Fine, I guess," I say. "I do my job and go home."
    "And you do it well," he says, smiling widely.  
    "I'd do it even better if I could do my own planning." I'm not really sure why I'm bringing it up. But not knowing where I'm going, or what the next job will be is starting to turn into pure dread before each one. Because what if I fuck something up? What happens to Gail then?
    Vlado laughs, the smell of onions growing more disgusting. "I do like people who speak their mind plainly."
    Mike's glaring at me, dark hatred in his eyes. Is he jealous?  
    "Yes, I think you've proven you can be trusted," Vlado says and finally removes his arm from my shoulders. "You can start taking part in the planning from now on."
    I don't actually know if that's better or worse. It certainly means I'd be deeper in it, probably too deep to ever get out. But I guess I knew that from Mike's first phone call.
    "And now it's time for some fun!" Vlado announces to the room, clapping his hands.  
    A large door on the other side of the room opens, and at least fifteen girls, my age or younger, wander into the room, all wearing impossibly high heals, and barely any clothes. They're all sorts, some longhaired, some blonde, some black haired, tall, short, skinny, curvy. Most of them I'd fuck in a heartbeat back before I met Gail. But right now, not a single one is doing anything for me.  
    They stroll over to the guys sitting on the sofas, and the ones standing by the windows. I take a few steps back, hoping none of them will wander to me. Most of them are swaying slightly, and their eyes are so glazed over I don't even think they spotted me all the way across the room.
    "See anything you like?" Greg asks. He's standing on his own by the window too.
    "Not a thing," I mutter. "I think I'll just leave."
    "Now? But the party's just getting started."
    "Not sure how I feel about doing it with a whole bunch of other guys around," I say. Which is partly true. But even if I was alone with all of these girls, I'd still leave. Just looking feels like I'm cheating on Gail.
    "There's bedrooms," Greg says.  
    I slide open the balcony door and step outside. "What are you waiting for then?"
    Greg follows me outside, and closes the door.  
    "You have a girl?" he asks and offers me a cigarette. I take it to have a reason for standing out here.  
    "Something like that," I say. I don't want to get into it. I just want to leave. "Why aren't you in there?"
    He wanders over to the railing, leans against it. I'm afraid to go too close to the edge. The compulsion to jump is already too strong where I'm standing by the door.  
    "I'm never touching one of Vlado's girls again," he says, real anger in his voice. And there's more there, I'm sure, but I don't really want to know.
    "We can wait until they start getting it on, then leave," he says. "I don't think they'll miss us much."
    I glance back into the room, right into Mike's black eyes. One of the girls is sitting in his lap, kissing his neck, but it's like he doesn't even feel it. I look away and join Greg by the railing.
    "How long do you think that'll take?"
    "I'm actually ready to leave now." He tosses his cigarette over the railing and walks back inside. I follow.  
    We're almost at the door when Mike grabs my arm, stopping me. "Where are you going?"
    "Home," I answer. "It's been a long day."
    "Stay," he says and it sounds pleasant enough, but I know it's a command. One I'm not about to follow.
    The elevator door opens and Greg steps inside, holding the door.  
    "I'll see you later, Mike," I say and pull my arm from his grasp. I hope he doesn't make an issue out of this, but I can't stay. As it is, I feel like I'm about to throw up.
    "Your brother didn't want you to go," Greg remarks once we're finally descending.  
    "Whatever," I mutter. "He's a little fucked in the head."
    "Yeah, I noticed," Greg says. "I hate doing jobs with him. It's a good thing he mostly plans them these