“And dance,” Chloe adds, downing what’s left in my glass. “Definitely dance. Maybe I’ll find somebody tonight and have a sex marathon in our room.”
“That would serve her right.”
“Maybe you should try and find a guy she’s been pining after but couldn’t get. Rub it in her face and all.”
Chloe ponders it for a moment. “That’s actually not such a bad idea.”
“Callie?”
We turn around and come face to face with a stunning redhead. If I thought Callie and Chloe were dressed up, they have nothing on her. She has a little black dress on that hugs her every curve and high heels that make her legs seem like they’re a mile long. And, are there diamonds hanging off her ears? Because they look too damn sparkly to be anything but.
“Alyssa! What are you up to?” Callie asks, pulling her in for a quick hug.
“Just having some fun.” Alyssa looks at us over Callie’s shoulder. She looks vaguely familiar, although I’m not sure where to place her. “No guys tonight?”
“Nope, it’s just us girls.”
“Hayden, let you off the hook?” she asks, clearly surprised. Not that I can blame her, even I was shocked for a moment The two have been attached at the hip since they got together, but they both seem happy so who am I to judge?
“He isn’t like that.” Callie shoves her away playfully. “Besides, he should be able to survive one night without me.”
Alyssa throws her head back and laughs. “Sweet. You girls should join us. We have a table just over there.” Alyssa points in the direction of a secluded area at the back. It seems like it’s separated from the rest of the club. A VIP area?
Callie looks at us over her shoulder, silently asking what we think.
“The more the merrier, right?” Chloe agrees with a shrug, and I nod my agreement.
“Just gimme a second, and we’ll get you settled, and then we can go and have some fun on the dance floor.”
I watch as Alyssa goes to the bartender, and they talk for a few minutes. She’s a merciless flirt, but the guy doesn’t seem to mind one bit. Who can blame him? She’s stunning. With her long red hair bouncing off her shoulders, bright blue eyes accentuated by flawless makeup and a little black dress, she’s every guy’s wet dream. Probably some girls’ too.
“Who’s that Alyssa chick?” I lean in to whisper into Callie’s ear. “The more I try to think about it, the more I can’t place her, but I know I have to have seen her somewhere.”
“Probably at Hayden’s. She’s Maddox’s friend so she hangs around occasionally.”
“Right! I knew I’d seen her, but I couldn’t remember from where.”
Before Callie can say anything else, Alyssa is back.
“All done, let’s go.”
Alyssa leads the way to the back, and just like I suspected, it’s a VIP area. Big leather booths dominate the space, the light is dim, and there is more air to breathe since there are fewer people here.
“One of my friends knows the owner so she scored us the booth,” Alyssa explains with a playful wink over her shoulder.
Three girls are sitting in the booth when we get there, talking and laughing. They all look gorgeous, making me feel thankful that I let Chloe boss me into one of my best dresses, although at the time, it seemed silly. It’s just a club in a smallish town in New England. But the dresses and heels Alyssa and her friends are wearing aren’t something you’ll find in the local Target, that’s for sure.
Alyssa makes the introductions, and just as we sit down a waiter comes with a tray of shots. Alyssa lifts hers in the air as each of us takes her drink. “To an amazing night, girls!”
We all cheer in agreement as we down the shots.
Chloe jumps to her feet and pulls us up. “C’mon, let’s get this booty movin’.”
By now the dance floor is even more cramped then it was when we arrived. We barely manage to squeeze between the masses of people. We’re so squashed together, our bodies grind against one another, but we don’t care. With a few shots in our systems our inhibitions are already lowered. We dance together, our hips swaying to the beat of the music. Closing my eyes, I lift my arms in the air, letting the melody overflow my senses.
One night.
Just one night, and then I’ll go back to being a good girl, a responsible student, and daughter.
But tonight, I get to be young and free.
One song turns into two. Two into three. After that, I stop counting.
“Oh, I love this one,” Callie squeals loudly when the familiar beat of Enrique Iglesias’s older hit fills the room.
“This one and then I seriously need to pee!” Chloe yells loudly so we can hear her over the music.
I nod my agreement just as a hand slides over my hip. I turn around and come face to face with a guy.
“Dance with me.”
It’s not a question, but I nod regardless. The hand that’s already on my hip slides to the small of my back, pulling me closer, as his other one nestles on my waist.
I let him lead, matching the sway of my hips to his. His eyes bore into mine as we move in the limited space we have.
He’s cute, around my age or maybe a few years older. His light hair is neatly styled and matches the dress shirt with rolled sleeves and dark jeans he’s wearing perfectly, giving him a preppy vibe. If fraternities were a thing at Blairwood, he’d be the perfect candidate to join one.
He moves closer as the tempo increases, his thigh slipping between my legs as he leans closer. I turn my head to the side just a little bit, his lips brushing against my cheek, his warm breath touching my earlobe as he whispers in my ear, “I’ve been watching you all night.”
“Oh yeah? Like what you see?”
His heated eyes give me an appraising look. “You have no idea.”
My red lips tip up in a half smile. I’m debating on what to do when the song ends, and I feel somebody pinch my elbow. Looking over my shoulder, I find Callie and Chloe looking at me. Chloe tips her head toward the back of the club.
Toilet, right.
Facing the nameless guy, I offer him an apologetic smile as I start to pull back. “Duty calls.”
He looks over my shoulder and then back at me. “Find me later?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. He’s too handsome and charming for his own good. “I might take you up on that.”
That seems to appease him somewhat, and he lets me go. I let Callie pull me through the people toward the back. Only when we’re a safe distance away do the girls squeal loudly.
“What the hell was that?”
“Fire alert!”
I shove them away. “You both are insane.”
“Does that mean you’re done with Mr. Tuesday?”
I groan loudly as we enter the dark hallway. The music here is slightly lower so we don’t have to scream to be heard.
“I already told you, there is no Mr. Tuesday.”
“So are you going to look for Mr. Hottie later?” Callie asks, wiggling her brows.
Intense blue-gray eyes flash in my mind. The weight of his forehead pressed against mine. The scruffiness of his cheeks underneath my palms.
Memories flash in my mind one after the other in quick succession. I shake my head, pushing them back.