She actually gives in. “Fine. But only because Tommy wants it. Not me.” Aww … she’s basically proposing to me. She keeps talking. “And tell Lars I’ll be there at ten.”

There’s a record scratch in my brain. “Wait, what?”

“Ten. Tonight. He needs to be ready.”

“Ready for what?” Ever and Tommy look as confused as I do.

“Wait …” Tommy leans forward. “Are you going on a date?”

Arlie’s gun is in her hand and against his chin before I even work out where she pulled it from. “Say another word.”

He doesn’t, but it’s less from the threat and more because he bursts into wheezing laughter.

Lars and Arlie, huh? Guess the big man finally won her over.

“Damn it,” I say, suddenly remembering something. “We were supposed to finish our show tonight. I bought popcorn.”

She turns her gun on me instead.

“The last time you did that, I got shot,” I remind her. “Somehow, I got through this thing without PTSD, and I’d kinda like to keep it that way.”

She huffs and tucks her gun away.

“But I’ll remind Lars to be ready for your date,” I say before bolting.

Because sometimes I’m smart enough to learn from other people’s mistakes.

St. Clare looks up the second I step back outside.

“You good? Everything okay?” He wasn’t sure about me being here in the first place, but he’s slowly trusting the baddie bunch again since Colin has been doing so much work with them.

“Sure am.” I hold my arms out to the side. “You’re looking at the new manager of Lethal Poison.”

He blinks in confusion. “The what?”

“Well, bar manager, but I don’t think it really makes a difference.”

“They offered you a job?”

I puff out my chest. “One that comes with a qualification.” I’m going to hold them to that part.

“I … fuck. Congratulations.”

I accept his congratulatory kiss, wishing we weren’t standing on a street in broad daylight so that he could really congratulate me.

“Careful,” I tell him. “I’m going to know more about running a bar than you soon.”

“It wouldn’t be hard, if we’re honest.”

“Hey! Maybe we could go into business together one day.”

“Or maybe we focus on getting your medical bills paid down before we start getting ahead of ourselves.”

Elle had offered to pay them off for me, but if she did, when does it end? I’ve always been bailed out my whole life; now, it’s time for me to fix things myself.

With a little bit of help from St. Clare.

After all, I took a bullet for him. As far as I’m concerned, this injury was equal parts both our fault and would have happened whether I mistakenly shot off his ear or not.

Which he’s been gracious enough not to bring up for at least a week now.