The Significant Other (The Relationship Quo Series Book 4)

by Nicole Strycharz

  He picked up a nearly empty glass of liquor he’d been sipping and downed it before drumming his knuckles on the bar in thought.

  “She can bartend,” I added.

  “She a drinker?”

  I nodded even though I didn’t want to.

  He shook his head, “No alcoholics behind my bar.”

  I pressed my lips together in defeat, “Yeah, I understand. Thanks, though.”

  I took back my booklet and started out.

  “She can bus tables.” He said before pouring himself more of the same drink.

  I turned and grinned. “Really?”

  “Night, Sweetheart.”

  ADAM

  Trixie’s sister is coming today and I refuse to be at the apartment when she shows up, so I went to the club early to practice. The guys are at home or exploring the city but I want music. Music is where all my problems go away. I sat on stage with my acoustic guitar and practiced new songs, while the staff got ready for the night.

  This place seems to throb with energy, even when it’s closed. During mid-day like now, it’s gentle but present. It also pulls inspiration from my core. I’m tempted to write a song.

  “Trouble is…” I tested the start of a song. “I need a way…keep my love… for some cold day. I see you, in the center of night. Those eyes…become my sunlight…”

  I stopped and felt frustrated. That’s as far as my robotic self can go.

  “I thought Trix wrote the lyrics,” said Chance, from the front of the stage.

  I hate that he heard that. “I’m only practicing.”

  “Emotions or music?” He strolled to the steps and with each closer move I felt cornered as hell.

  “I don’t put my emotions in my music. I just construct it. I think it out.”

  He took up an interest in the standing mic, “That’s what’s missing then.”

  “In what?”

  “Your music. You can hear the void in your voice sometimes.”

  My head whipped up and I felt the hot rain in my veins, “Excuse me?”

  “Your songs are good but the ones about nothing are better. When you sing about dancing, friendship, sex,” he came to sit in the other fold up chair across from me, “But when you sing about love it sounds forced.” He sits with his legs wide apart and his arms crossed, always keeping a barrier, like he’s saying with his body he’s open to an extent.

  I set my guitar on its stand, “So why hire us if I suck so badly?”

  “Didn’t say you suck, I said there’s something missing.”

  I hate how trapped he makes me feel, “Listen, I really appreciate all you’ve done for our band. Hiring us and contracting us, it’s great. I didn’t mean to get off on the wrong foot, but I’m not sure where you’re coming from most the time and it’s starting to piss me off.”

  He shrugged, “I’m your boss, that’s where I’m coming from. What more do you want?”

  “For you to back off from Trixie. For you to stop staring in corners.”

  “I bother you?” He guesstimated.

  “Your leering does.”

  “Ask yourself why.”

  I picked up my guitar again and slung it over my lap. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I’m not looking at Trixie.”

  I stopped and brought my eyes up to his. Fuck. I knew it. I felt it since we met but I was really hoping to be wrong.

  “Either way…” I set my jaw, “You need to stop.”

  He stood up and the churning in my stomach knifed harder, “I think I understand,” he came to stand at my shoulder, “and feel free to come to me about any other concerns you might have. I like to keep my staff happy.”

  He walked off and I breathed for the first time since he approached.

  Life just got shitty.

  That night Trix showed up early with her sister Jolee. I didn’t see Chance at all until show time when we were all set up and ready to go. He was talking to a group, mingling like always with the patrons.

  “Just don’t drink too much,” Trix told Jolee at the edge of the stage. “Please, I’m serious. No shit facing.”

  Jolee is identical to Trix in every way. In fact, it’s hard for most to tell them apart but I always could even before Trix got her tats and colored her hair. Their bodies move differently.

  Subtle things like how Trix reaches for her coffee will give her away to me.

  “Oh my God, I’m not five,” Jolee grouched, “Like, it’s a bar, I’m gonna drink.”

  “With whose money?” I asked her.

  “I never have to buy my own drinks. All I have to do is sit there, someone usually offers within eight minutes.”

  Trixie avoided my eyes because she knows what I’m thinking.

  “Ten minutes,” Zeus said clapping my shoulder. “Ten and we’re on.”

  I turned, “No problem, thanks.”

  He took in Trix and Jolee. “Am I having double vision or are there two sexy-ass women that look exactly the same in front of me?”

  Trix smiled and waved at her sister, “This is my twin, Jolee.”

  “Jolee,” he came up, took her hand and kissed it. “It is a mighty fine pleasure.”

  She bit her lip. “I was about to go check out your bar…” Jolee’s eyes raked up and down Zeus. “Maybe you could sit with me and fill me in on all things Club Rebel Vision…”

  “I gotta introduce your sis and her group then I’ll be right on over.” He started walking backward toward the stage but pointed at her, “Don’t you go buying any drinks now. That’s on the house, Sexy.”

  Jolee made herself flush and gave him a chin lift before he went backstage. “See,” she said giving Trix and I a look.

  I get it. Trix is the hottest woman alive so naturally, her twin is her equal but men can sense she’s also looser than a rusted screw from the civil war. Trix wears miniskirts but they’re classy. Jolee’s barely cover her ass. Her tits are always one sneeze from falling out of her tops and her makeup is heavy. Tonight she’s gone all out.

  “Umm,” she stood at full attention and looked past us. “Who is the man-god with the ‘please sit on my face’ body?”

  Trix and I turned to look and found Chance. He was bent over a round table of squealing women with drinks, flirting and making conversation.

  “Oh, that’s Chance Urban.” Said Trix, “Our boss. Your boss.” She reminded.

  Jolee made a growling noise, “He can be my boss in bed too.”

  “No!” Trix snapped her fingers in front of Jolee’s face, “Hello? Focus on my words. No. Fucking. The. Boss. Do you hear me? No! Besides, the guy is bad news. He’s been in prison like three times and he’s… got a reputation for being a grade A player.”

  I watched Chance move among the crowd and noticed he wasn’t leering. He took my warning and is now applying it. Good.

  “Where did you hear that?” I asked Trix.

  She frowned at me, “I told you he was in prison.”

  “No, I mean about being a player…”

  She shrugged, “The girls that I wait tables with…he’s slept with more than half of them, some at the same time.”

  When I realized she didn’t know he was gay, or Bi, I shut my lips. If she finds that out, she’ll assume things, but I also despise that Jolee is now on the hunt. “He’s really not someone to get involved with,” I backed Trix. “Just don’t.”

  Jolee patted my chest, “You’re so cute, who said anything about getting ‘involved?’” She moved toward the bar and Trix and I exchanged a look.

  “This was a bad idea,” I told her before getting on stage.

  Chapter Six

  ADAM

  We played hard. The music was at a fever pitch tonight and the crowd was so hooked. They drank and danced and listened and soon the place was filled to capacity.

  I was distracted, though. Every time I search out Chance, he’s honoring my request. He’s not looking. He’s either flirting with party goers, watching a game on the screen, or
tending the bar, but not once has he given me so much as a glance. Good.

  Between sets, I came down with the group, to mingle and get a drink. I found Jolee at the bar doing shots with Zeus and Chance was serving her.

  “I told you!” She said loudly, “I can hold my liquor! Two more!” She did a little dance in her seat and Zeus laughed before taking one of his own.

  “Hey,” I tapped her shoulder, “slow down.” My eyes met Chance’s for a quick second but he didn’t hold the moment at all.

  “Yes, Daddy…” She said sarcastically.

  Chance slid her two more shots and I shook my head, “Cut her off.” I ordered.

  Chance washed glasses behind the bar, “That’s not your call,” he said.

  My temper flared, “Jolee,” I said in a deeper tone.

  She groaned, “Go lecture my sister, not me, I’m not your girlfriend.”

  I tightened my jaw.

  “Isn’t Chance hot?” She asked me. “Come on! You used to be gay, what do you think? Would you do him?”

  I feel like time is freezing up. Chance kept washing but he heard and gave a half smile. I didn’t want him knowing. I wanted to stay in the protective bubble of being assumed straight so he’d stay backed off.

  “Say what?” Zeus bugged his eyes, “You were gay? I can’t see it!”

  “Fuck it,” I said throwing my hands up in defeat and walking away. She’s not worth it.

  We played further into the night until things slowed down. “Bed,” complained Blaze, “I’m so done tonight.”

  “Me too,” Trix agreed.

  Knox took up his equipment, “I’ll get us a cab.”

  “Thanks,” I gave him cash for the fare and started packing up. Trix left to find Jolee while Diego and Blaze went outside.

  “Hey,” Bianca, the club DJ came over and I smiled at her as I laid my guitar in its case.

  “Hey, you.”

  “You had the place hopping.” She told me. “Tryin’ to steal my spotlight?”

  I laughed, “Not possible, your mixes are too good for that.”

  I don’t know why they call Bianca a bitch; she’s always nice to me. She’s a beautiful girl with ebony skin and a tall willowy body. Her long dark hair lies over one shoulder and the other side is shaved close to her head. Her eyes are deep brown and she’s spunky.

  “We should work together sometime.” She suggested. “I’ll mix the beat and you sing.”

  “I think we should absolutely do that.” I winked at her and she turned the toes of her heavily buckled boots inward before sticking her hands in her back pockets.

  “Adam?” Trix called out. “Adam,” she said again, coming around the back. “I need help and please don’t say ‘I told you so,’ okay?”

  “You know,” Bianca gave Trix a once over, “The whole ‘damsel in distress’ acts get old after a while.”

  Trix slowly turned to face her, “So does ‘she-bitch on the rag’ act.”

  Ouch.

  Bianca laughed at her before leaving but I could feel the anger rippling off Trix.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “My sister, I can’t get her to come with me to the cab.”

  “Leave her then.”

  “Adam, it’s New York City. She’s never been here and she’ll end up on the news.”

  I shook my head as I wrapped up cords.

  “Don’t be a dick,” she snapped.

  “She’s your fucking sister! I told you not to do this! You always do this! You keep thinking she’ll pull through for you and I get left with the mess. I’m not babysitting her and she better get a damn place as soon as she’s on her feet.”

  “Don’t do this now!” She slapped the wall, “I know she’s a problem, okay? I know! You also know why I deal with her. She’s awful, I get it but she’s my sister!”

  “Isn’t it funny how you are willing to go miles to make me see that but she wouldn’t come to your aid if you were dangling from a ten story building?”

  “You know what?” She grabbed her purse and combed her hair back with her fingers so the light picked up the blue, “Just forget it. You’re such an asshole.”

  “Direct that anger at your sister, not me.”

  She shook her head with glassy eyes and left.

  I finished what I was doing while I tried to decide if I should pull out of jerk mode. I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m going to help but I’m finishing this project first.

  When I came out to the bar it was ten people from empty. Trix was urgently whispering and pleading with Jolee and Zeus was giving mouth to mouth to a platinum blonde by the door. The closer I came I saw that Chance was basically holding up Jolee by the waist. Every time she took a step forward or back from the bar she would waver on her heels and he was right there, taking the opportunity to feel her up.

  “Go to the cab,” I told Trix.

  She saw me and tried to be rebellious.

  “I said go to the cab,” I repeated, “just go home, I got her.”

  Trix went past me with cold eyes, still mad. I went over to Jolee where she was laughing like a hyena and took her drink away, “Let’s go, we’re getting a ride home, come on…”

  “Ugh! No! I’m staying here, right here, this bar is so cool,” she laughed at herself and wavered again but Chance kept her standing with no effort. “I love how big your hands are,” she told him.

  I stepped further up and started untangling her from Chance, “I thought we talked about the touch thing,” I shot at him.

  “Your twin is heading home,” he said, “You never said anything about this one.”

  I glared and he let her go. She fell into my chest. “All these hot men,” she slurred, “It’s like a porno. Chance lives right upstairs,” she turned and fell into his arms again, “let’s go hang out in your apartment! We can bring more drinks…”

  He arched a brow, “What do you want to do, Sweetheart?”

  “Let’s do it!” she jumped up and down and I grabbed her wrist.

  “No, we’re going home. This is stupid!”

  She shoved my chest. “You’re hurting me!”

  She’s done this to me before, the hurt toddler that’s falling out. I shook my head, “Your sister is freaking out, try to be decent for five minutes.”

  “You have,” she hiccupped, “the biggest stick up your ass,” she laughed again, “Jesus, lighten up! My poor sister,” she turned to Chance and wrapped her arm around his neck. She had to stand on her toes to do it, “Adam is like a robot. She’s said… she said once that… he’s a beast in bed, though.”

  “Jolee!” I grabbed her upper arm and tried to pull her off him, “We’re going home!”

  “Stop it!” she kicked me in the shin and I swore like a sailor.

  Chance’s easy laugh rolled into the air and irritated me to hell and back. “Let’s go upstairs,” he helped her stand straight and she laughed as she clung to him.

  “No,” I said, “She’s not going anywhere with you. Hell no. You’re not taking her up there alone.”

  “Come with us then,” he started walking by me but I shoved his shoulder.

  “Don’t take her up those steps,” I warned.

  Chance’s eyes flashed like shoving him triggered a killer instinct but then the sea in his eyes settled. “We’ll see you upstairs…” he said.

  As he went by I boiled. I want to go home. I want to be far away from Chance. I want to throw Trix’s sister in traffic, or not give a shit what happens to her tonight but I can’t.

  “Hey,” Bianca came to set her chin on my shoulder, she’s that tall, “See the guy in the center of the bar there?” she asked, pointing with her eyes.

  I looked as I shifted out from under her. No touching in public. I saw an impressively thick man with dark skin and even darker eyes, “Yeah,” I saw he had a golden top tooth and middle tooth, it didn’t take too much from his looks, “So?” I asked.

  “That’s Jax. The guy is a major dealer in these parts and h
e and Chance, they have bad blood.” She waited for my response but I was busy watching Chance walk or rather, carry a drunken Jolee to where Zeus was.

  He told him to do the cash-out tonight then started walking Jolee up the rickety stairs.

  “What’s this got to do with my situation?” I retorted.

  She touched the tip of her tongue to the bow in her plush upper lip, “He’s been caging your girl’s sis all night. She was getting ready to do business with him…”

  Great. Drugs. Another worry. I would like my crown of chaos now.

  “Well, she’s a big girl,” I said, shouldering my guitar and my messenger bag.

  Bianca raised her brows, “You are so not from here. Let me spell it out. You don’t want nobody you care about doing business with, Jax. Chance stepped in so she would hang on him, not Jax. Jax pushes hard shit and once you got deals with him… you’re his. He and the Boss have been one inch from murdering each other for years.”

  I looked back at this Jax and admitted to myself that I felt the dark vibe he tended to carry. I sure as hell would never let him around Trix, so obviously I don’t want him near Jolee either and he’s watching Chance take her away like a cat watching a mouse scurry into a hole in the wall.

  I sighed, “If Jax is so bad, why does Chance let him in here?”

  We kept our voices low so Jax wouldn’t hear, “Because this is a club. It’s an underground nightclub where people go to be naughty. It doesn’t hurt sales to have him slumming it down here now and again.” She flicked her hair back. “However, if he gets his hands on that twin, he’ll use her for more than dealing. He tried that shit with me and Chance nearly went to jail…again. I learned my lesson real good. So do what you want, I just thought you should know.”

  I gritted my back teeth and weighed my options.

  “By the way,” she said with a swivel of her hips, “Next time you put your hands on Urban you better duck. Never seen that man get touched like that and not flatten someone out. You’re lucky you got teeth.” She sauntered off and I smiled to myself.