Exs and book stores pt. 3

Dakota sank onto a bar stool and rested her head on the bar “here you go honey” the bar tender said handing her a green tea shot “ thanks barb” she said with a tired smile before swilling it down in a big gulp. She smiled and gave a little wave to Lyle who was posted up scanning the room.
She felt him before she heard him. The hair on her arms and the back of her neck stood and her mouth went dry seconds before he spoke. “New boyfriend?” Asked his tone accusatory. “New bouncer” she snapped turning on her bar stool to glare at him. She refused to let him see how much he really scared her. “ you seem pretty chummy.” Travis answered as he leaned over her. She straightened her spine and squared her shoulders to better project the confidence she was faking. “ I went to school with him before I dropped out.” She was playing nice. She didn’t want trouble for Lyle and especially not with Travis. “What are you doing here?” She asked him eyes narrowing. He looked her over as if he was looking for signs that someone had been touching her body. “ I came to catch your show…” he tasted back “and to take you home” she shook her head “I have plans after this.” Travises eyes went dark and Dakota and to fight the urge to squirm in her seat. “ with the new bouncer?” He asked his voice low. She didn’t answer and he started at her “yeah..no you don’t.” It was a warning and probably the only one he would give her. “ I’m going to play pool. Come get me when your ready to go later.” He said. She knew it was not a request. She watched him walk away all the air deflating out of her. She was not going home with Travis. She would walk first but his being there did mean she would have to cancel with Lyle. He didn’t deserve to be put through whatever Travis would do to him. And she was to tired to deal with what he would do to her. With a sigh she stood up the club only stayed open till 1am on week nights so she was almost done anyway shaking her self off she pushed all the coming drama out of her mind and got back to work.

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Something was moving in her peripheral vision. Turning Inessa saw a man who she assumed was the book store owner. She could tell from the look on his face he had asked her something but she hadn’t been looking at him so she wasn’t sure what it was. She gave him an apologetic smile “oh I’m sorry what?” She asked hoping he would repeat it.