Page 152 of Revv

“Is he inviting us up?”

“Looks like it.”

Ajax leans toward the massive bouncer stationed at the entrance to VIP and says something in his ear. The guy glances down at us, then nods and unhooks the velvet rope.

Well.

Apparently we’re doing this.

Revel’s hand settles at the small of my back as we head up the stairs, and the bouncer steps aside without a word. The bass is a little duller up here, still heavy enough to shake the glass in our hands but far enough from the dance floor that people can actually hear each other.

Ajax meets us near the booth first.

“St. Clair.”

“Sawyer.”

There’s still an edge there, but it’s controlled. No puffed chests, no stupid macho bullshit.

Revel’s hand slides from my back to my hip as he looks between them.

“This is Cece. My girl.”

The words catch me for half a second.

My girl.

Normally, I’d correct him before the sentence even finished leaving his mouth, but I don’t know these guys, and, technically, I did tell him to make it clear who I came here with.

So I let it go.

That’s the only reason.

Definitely has nothing to do with the annoying little flicker of warmth the words send through me.

Dimitri’s eyes flick to me, then back to Revel, one brow lifting. “Tvoya devushka?” His Russian accent curls heavier around the words before his mouth twitches. “Interesting.”

Revel’s hand settles a little more firmly at my hip as Ajax gestures toward the booth.

“Sit. Let’s get you a drink.”

Revel guides me toward it with his hand still on my hip, and this time, I don’t give him shit for that either.

Apparently, I’m feeling generous tonight.

Ajax slides into the seat across from us while Dimitri drops down beside him, one arm stretching across the back of the booth like he’s already settling in for whatever shit is about to happen. Revel sits beside me, close enough that his thigh presses against mine beneath the table.

For a few seconds, it’s almost weirdly normal.

Then Ajax leans forward, forearms braced on his knees.

“Look, before this turns into more bullshit, I owe you an apology.”

That gets Revel’s full attention.

Ajax rubs a hand over the back of his neck, jaw tightening before he finally says it.

“My girlfriend was cheating on me. Left me for the guy, then left our daughter with me too.” He gives a humorless laugh and looks down at his drink. “So yeah, between the travel, training, races, all the other shit that comes with this life, I’m figuring out how to be a single dad while also figuring out how not to lose my fucking mind over being cheated on.”