Without Me Read Online Free Page B

Nita.
    Nita’s mouth gaped. “Fuck. That’s one of the sexiest things I’ve ever heard.”
    “You need to get out more, Nita,” Max snapped, grabbing her beer and taking a drink.
    “What can I get you to drink, Nita?” I had a feeling that, if I won her friends over, maybe—just maybe—I’d find an inroad to Max.
    “Yes, I’d love a sangria.” She smiled as she stared at me.
    “Coming right up. I’ll be right back,” I said as I pushed the chair back and left them behind.
    I kept my eyes glued to the windows, watching them to make sure they didn’t vanish as I ordered Nita’s drink. When I returned to the table, they both stopped talking and stared at me.
    “Miss me?” I asked as I set the drink in front of Nita.
    “Yes.” Nita smiled and batted her eyelashes again.
    Max coughed, and something like “traitor” left her mouth.
    “So, what’s the plan tonight?” I asked, curious at what my evening would entail. When I’d thought all hope was lost, I’d stumbled upon her and found a new sense of purpose.
    “Drinks and dancing,” Nita replied as she sipped her sangria.
    “I’m tired. I think I want to just go home,” Max whined, twirling the beer in her hands.
    “Don’t be such a pussy, Max,” Nita teased, glaring at Max.
    “You’re both assholes.”
    “She’s just a grouchy fuck. Don’t mind her. She’s been—”
    “I’m just tired,” Max blurted out.
    I stroked my chin, wondering what I’d missed. There was something Max clearly didn’t want me to know.
    “She’s been what?” I asked.
    “Nothing,” Nita said with wide eyes. Then she gulped her sangria and glanced away from me. “Is Malia coming?” she asked over the rim of her glass.
    Max shrugged. “She’s supposed to be here already, but that girl is always late.”
    “It’s fashionable to be late, and you know her, always being trendy,” Nita replied, still not making eye contact with me.
    “Once she gets here, we’ll head to the club,” Max said before lifting the beer to her lips.
    I wanted to be the bottle, feeling the softness of her lips as she pressed them to me. Reaching under the table, I had to adjust myself to not draw attention to the growing problem in my pants.
    “Where are we headed?” I asked, feeling more hopeful with each passing moment.
    “We’re going to Liquid, but you’re not,” Max replied, giving me a cold stare.
    “Why not?” Whether she liked it or not, I was fucking going. There was no way I’d let her out of my sight now that I’d found her again.
    Nita started to giggle, and Max laughed.
    “What?”
    “You don’t want to go there,” Nita answered, covering her mouth with her hand. “Unless you’re man enough to handle it.”
    “I’m man enough to handle anything, Nita.” I smiled, puffing out my chest.
    “It’s a gay bar.” Her entire face lit up as the corners of her mouth reached for her eyes.
    Damn, she was beautiful—especially when she smiled.
    “So?” I asked. I had always been comfortable in my sexuality. Men, especially gay ones, didn’t scare me. I had gay, straight, and bisexual friends—and a few I couldn’t classify.
    “We wouldn’t want to threaten your manhood,” Max answered through her giggling.
    “Kitty Cat, other men don’t threaten me.”
    “What if they try to hit on you?” Nita asked, raising her eyebrow as her laughter died.
    “I’m not worried about it, Nita. I can handle myself in any situation.”
    “Somehow, I believe you,” she replied.
    “Anthony, I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come,” Max stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
    “Are you worried more men will hit on me than you, Max?” I asked playfully.
    “We go to the gay bar so men won’t hit on us, Anthony. So no, I’m not worried.” Max smiled, thinking she had one-upped me.
    “I’ll never understand women,” I mumbled, a little louder than I had intended.
    Nita propped her hands on the table. “It’s like this, Anth. Can I