In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,29
seemed like his sort of thing: bar, loud music, riled crowd.
"Samson, what's going on, dude?"
A cab pulled up to the curb. I climbed inside and told the driver where to go.
"I'm heading to Mercury Lounge, actually. Going to check out some band." I forgot the name of the band we were seeing tonight...something about roadkill.
"You are going to Mercury Lounge? Sam, that doesn't really seem like the type of place you'd go. Are you wearing a tie?" Wren's incredulous tone came through loud and clear. How'd he know I was wearing a tie?
"Don't worry about what I'm wearing, asshole. Do you want to come or not?"
"As much as I would love to come and see everyone's reaction to your dapper outfit, I can't."
"That's right. You've got that gynecologist appointment in the morning," I jabbed.
"Don't worry. I'll be back in time to see you parading around in class."
I hung up with Wren, amused. I thought about all of the things I'd learned about Natalia that day. The way she described the hospital visits and the waiting she endured while her father was being treated made me want to hold her in my arms. I wanted nothing more than to be the shoulder that she could cry on. I barely knew her, but my gut instinct was to keep all the bad things from her. Going to that cafe was probably the best decision I'd made in a long time.
When I hopped out of my cab and stood in front of Mercury Lounge, I realized why Wren asked if I was wearing a tie. Most of the people who stood outside wore band T-shirts and tight fitted jeans. I wore tights on a daily basis: there's no way I'd shove my nuts into something that constricting when I didn't have to. Showing the doorman my fake ID, he studied me and allowed me to pass through. $400 well spent.
The place was tiny. Bumping a few shoulders on my way in, I headed to the bar. I needed a drink before braving the crowd again to find Natalia. After what felt like an hour, I finally reached the bar and ordered a whiskey. The lights above me looked as if they could fall on my head at any moment, so I stepped a few inches to my left, just in case. I turned my head and noticed the venue in the back, but I wasn't able to see anything past the massive beards. This place was where flannel shirts went to die. It smelled like death and sawdust. I was surrounded by people who were completely different from me. The typical crowd I hung out with preferred high-end clubs, their favorites being Lavo and Simyone. Up to this point, I had lived my life in excess. All I wanted now was to live my life normally. I was tired of classifying someone by what kind of car they drove or which neighborhood they lived in. When I was given a new BMW for my sixteenth birthday, my cool points doubled. It was exhausting having to constantly prove myself, when all I cared about now was being one of the best at Juilliard.
Draining my drink, I slammed it down on the bar just as the band finished their set. The crowd cheered and began clearing away from the stage. I looked to the front and spotted Natalia. Her beauty lit up the entire room. She looked at me, smiled, and I felt my heart beat like a kick drum. Her sun-kissed blonde hair, which was typically in a ponytail, fell past her shoulders, framing her petite features. Her legs were bare, perfectly pale. As I walked toward Natalia, Kingsley came into view and all of my happiness evaporated.
I was definitely going to be cock-blocked all night.
"Happy you could make it. I'm sure this isn't your usual crowd." Looking at Samson, it was obvious. He was wearing a tie, for God's sake! And were his jeans creased? As out of place as Samson seemed, I thought he looked great. The guys I had dated typically wore T-shirts and a flannel button-up. I wonder what Samson wears to bed? Does he keep it casual or is he more of a luxury fabric kind of guy? As fast as the thought, I banned it from my mind. Samson and I both agreed to be friends, nothing more. I chuckled quietly. My head had been in disarray all week and I didn't anticipate it clearing up anytime soon.