I wasn’t supposed to be there that night. One of my cousins was celebrating getting off probation and dragged me out. No Chill ATL wasn’t my kind of scene — neon lights, adult board games, drunk laughter echoing off the brick walls.
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But she was.
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She was behind the bar, laughing with a customer, wearing this tight little black jumpsuit and gold hoops big enough to double as weapons. Her smile? Loud. Her energy? Louder.
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“Yo,” I said to my cousin, eyes still locked on her. “Who is that?”
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He followed my gaze. “That’s the owner. Brie or somethin’. Don’t even try it. She don’t do street dudes.”
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I smirked. “Good. I ain’t tryna be one tonight.”
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I watched her for maybe thirty minutes. The way she moved like she owned the whole damn city, like no one could touch her unless she let ’em.
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Eventually, I made my way to the bar. She turned, wiped her hands, and hit me with a look that had no business being that fine and that uninterested at the same time.
But what really hit me was her.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y5cWZl2Nh
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She was behind the bar, serving shots, commanding the room like she owned it. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. And when she finally walked my way, all that attitude and honey in one glance—I knew I wasn’t leaving anytime soon.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsOcdrMu6e
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She looked me up and down like she was tryna decide if I was worth her time.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK0o6J2KOc
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“You look like trouble.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiLQEoP9CZ
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“Only when I’m bored.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSILPSDB2oS
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“So what is it tonight? Bored? Or just lost?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL25Nc0glsf
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“Little of both. This place wasn’t on the map.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc85SaurFn
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“That’s the point. It’s for people who don’t wanna be found.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbtu6MEizB
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I leaned in on the bar, watching the way her eyes flickered in the dim light.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7wrHT8CWg
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“So, what are you? Owner? Host? Bartender?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClGtbPZyeM
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“All three. I’m the one who built it. Brick by brick.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2OWWV31n7
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“Damn. You always been a boss?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLVt1NJSGC
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“Always. I just finally got the title to match.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6yxTVD7Mm
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The way she said that? Like she earned every scar behind it. I liked that.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioJkYWWgRM
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She reached under the bar, poured a drink without even asking what I wanted, and slid it to me.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZUsF12ZMr
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“This one’s on the house. You got the kind of face that looks like it’s holding back a thousand thoughts.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dHUhYNKuc
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“You wouldn’t be wrong.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJA3DGZAAM
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“And I’m not nosy… but I’m real good at listening.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2hUTEkVkA
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I stared at the drink but didn’t touch it.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ckmm4jiDJ
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“You always this… inviting?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWLxrWYE8f
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“Only when I feel like it. And something about you says you don’t open up easy, so… maybe I’m curious.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lUwRymXFD
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“And what if I said curiosity’s dangerous?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxNVKJ76ba
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“Then I’d say I’ve lived through worse.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfiVg5yaDq
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And just like that… silence.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkIio71iHv
Not awkward. Just heavy. Like something just clicked.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKPlNuKMaI
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I didn’t ask for her number.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UJPPNqR81
Didn’t need to.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEKdtqoBqc
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That first night? It was enough.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeESit3cZDC
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She was peace in a room full of chaos.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOUo4aBmy9
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And I didn’t even know yet—61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CBXPtf7zR
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She’d be the bullet I’d never see coming.
