Broken Holidays: A Broken Series Novella (The Broken Series) Read Online Free

immediate interest and come straight over to you when you meet their eye are trouble waiting to happen. That’s usually desperation. They probably have a significant other they are looking to make jealous and that can lead to fights. I’ve been there a few times. Not pretty.”
    I ignored the ache in my chest at the mental images his words brought with them, along with the thought of how many women he’d gone through to learn this. Listening to Zane retell the stories of his sordid ways wasn’t something I was sure I could handle. But what if this was the only way to stay close to him?
    “The ones who take note of you but keep moving, like he did, are usually in for exactly what you want. They want one night, no strings,” he continued, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil.
    “So, if I don’t want one that’s paying attention, how do I get him to talk to me?” I asked honestly. The theory didn’t make much sense to me, but maybe I didn’t really want it to.
    “You get his attention. Subtly. And then wait. He’ll either come to you or give you a signal to come to him.”
    “And then?” I asked, watching as Zane made eye contact with a blonde across the room.
    His gaze slipped back to mine. “And then you talk to him. Flirt. Make it known that you are willing to give what he’s looking for. But only if you’re actually going to follow through. Most of the time, women, even the ones I sleep with, say they can handle a one night stand, but truth be told, most aren’t wired that way. You want to tie all of these emotions into the physical act of fucking. You start planning futures and wanting to build relationships—”
    “Don’t lump me in like that. You don’t know the first thing about what I want in my life,” I interrupted, regardless of whether he was finished speaking or not. Though, I wasn’t as angry as I probably should’ve been. The blonde holding Zane’s attention crossed her legs and spun on the stool to face the rest of the bar.
    “Enjoy it. You only live once. But be careful.” He turned back to face me then, his expression serious. “I mean it. Be careful when going back to someone’s house or hotel room. Keep yourself safe.”
    “I can take care of myself,” I huffed, hating that he felt the need to lecture me about personal safety. “And did you seriously just YOLO?”
    “Yes, I did. Have fun with it. Take what you want and walk away happy,” he said, giving me a wink before grabbing his beer and heading off toward the blonde.
    I watched him for a moment, trying to be discreet, as he stood close and chatted with her. I knew how to use my body to get what I wanted from men, whether it be money, a ride, or even food. I’d done it enough times in the past just to survive. It was a necessary job back then, but using it now for personal pleasure was something I wasn’t sure I was ready to wrap my head around. Instead, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through to Tony’s number.
     
    Me: You busy?
     
    After sending the text, I sat back in my chair, my eyes once again falling on Zane and the blonde. He’d taken her spot on the stool and she was perched with her ass against him on the edge, his hands holding her as he whispered in her ear. She laughed and though I couldn’t hear the sound over the din of the bar, it tore at me all the same. I needed to get out of here. When my phone screen lit with the response from Tony, I felt the familiar relief at his words.
     
    Tony: I’m all yours.
     

 
    It seemed like Lili was there one second and gone the next. When I glanced back only moments before, she was on her phone. Then, she disappeared. I checked the other end of the bar, where the guy had been, but he was still there. A part of me wanted to worry about her, but with Jessie’s tongue trailing up my neck, I quickly forgot any concerns I had.
    “We should go to your place,” she said when she reached my ear, her teeth pulling on it in a way that had my dick twitching