Andy laughed, grabbing Carson’s hand, and they both skipped to the front. Andy winked at the lady bouncer, almost a hidden message.
“Save me a dance, sugar!” she called after Andy as we went inside. Knowing Andy freely accepted her sexuality brought a sense of pride I only ever felt toward Carson. It was smothered in absolute joy.
Chapter Eight
Cinema (Skrillex Remix) – Benny Benassi, Gary Go, Skrillex
Madden
Once we got to the dance floor, my heart hammered with the beat of the techno music. It hit the walls in an unsteady staccato and I found myself swaying already. The lights streamed everywhere, a faint mist spritzed the air, and the smell of lust and bad choices filtered through my nose. When the base dropped and the lights followed the beat, my body hummed with anticipation.
There was a comfort that came with lost inhibitions and fun. It painted the air in vibrant colors, settling into the bones of everyone around.
This place was more spacious than the last bar, even if it was just as dark. The vibe here felt entirely different, gentler somehow. Welcoming.
Our bodies felt stuffy after dancing. Hot and sweaty, we decided on drinks. While Cars and I weren’t of age, no one ID’d in Brookewood, especially if we were with an adult.
When we reached the bar, Andy ordered a round of tequila shots, along with vodka and Red Bull shooters. Andy’s shoulders were no longer tight like when we were at her condo, her confidence bloomed in the darkness of this place. From what she chose to buy for drinks, she wanted us all tanked by the end of the night. One thing was for sure, distractions were a person’s best friend.
“This is amazing!” Cars yelled over the loud music. Her eyes lit up and she never seemed freer than at this moment. At home, she felt closeted, suffocated, and in this moment, freedom painted her features as much as the glitter did.
Andy handed us the tequila, wrapping her arm with mine and then the other with Carson’s. “To bad decisions!”
We all yelled it and awkwardly tried taking the shots. Mistakenly, I moved in the wrong direction, drenching Andy’s dress, and Cars just laughed as she drank hers in one gulp.
“Fuck, I’m sorry!” I yelled. Andy shook her head and went for the next ones. Handing us both Red Bulls and a shot, we did it again, not screwing up this time.
We laughed after and Cars headed toward the dance floor. “Are you sure?” I questioned, wanting to give her space but protect her too. She nodded, no fear in her eyes.
“I will see you out there!”
I watched as she weaved through the sweaty bodies. Her eyes lit up as some random guy tapped her shoulder as if asking for permission. They danced, their bodies close but not groping close, and the smile that lit Carson’s face meant everything.
“She means a lot to you,” Andy yelled over the Skrillex song playing.
“She means everything to me,” I confirmed, noticing the tequila hadn’t even slightly gone off her dress. Grabbing her wrist, I guided her toward the lighted hallway. The sign said unisex bathrooms and we went in there. She stared at me as if she didn’t know why I brought her in here. I went to the sink, grabbed a couple of paper towels, wetting them, and reached for Andy.
Before my hands could touch her, she grabbed them, her face flushed. Whether from alcohol or embarrassment, I didn’t mention it. She dabbed at her dress and then threw away the soiled towels. We stared at each other for a moment and it made me want to grab her and do all the things I imagined earlier.
But I held back.
For as long as I could remember, she had always been my aunt.
Whether the blood in our veins matched or not, she was family.
I shouldn’t feel this way, even if my dick constantly argued.
“We should check on Carson,” she mentioned, pointing her thumb toward the door we came in. It’d only been five minutes tops, but in this space, it felt like time stopped so I could appreciate the sight.
“You’re right.” I sidestepped her, not wanting to leave Cars out there alone. The protectiveness I held in my heart overwhelmed me so much. She was so very important to me. Maybe if I didn’t save her, I wouldn’t feel so brotherly, but I worried about the world around her.
They didn’t understand her.
They sure as hell didn’t deserve her.
I left, closing the door behind me, noticing Andy didn’t follow. It made sense; she probably didn’t know how to feel about my need to be close to her.
Spotting Cars on the dance floor, her face wasn’t one of happiness or joy. Fear touched every inch of her, leaving me with the utmost unease. I practically ran to her, grabbing her arm to bring her toward me, halting to make sure I wasn’t overstepping her boundaries.
“You okay?” I whispered loudly, enough for her to hear. She shook a bit, not answering. I led her away from the crowded area, guiding her to a side door with a cigarette label on it.
Pushing it open, I pulled her closer to me, holding her face. “What happened?”
“I was—I,” she stuttered, the tears rushing a moment after. “H-he touched me.”
“Who?” I practically barked, my veins stoking a fucking bonfire inside. “I will end him.” Dropping my hands from her face, I stood, my body barely containing the rage. First Tony, now this fuck. Fate wanted me to spend my life in prison, I was sure of it.
She shook her head. “He ran off.”
I tried settling, but couldn’t fight the rage inside me. “Tell me what you need.”
“Comfort, Mads. Hold me.”
I pulled her to my chest. Then after a moment, I lifted her, holding her like a child. She cried lightly on my shoulder. Her body shook as she gripped me like a lifeline. I felt like shit leaving her alone, even if it was only for five minutes.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered into her hair, making sure she knew I didn’t mean to leave her.
“I-I can’t believe this happened. He wanted to see what was under my skirt.”
“It’s that fuck’s fault, okay? You did nothing wrong. It was him.”
“I wore this—”
I stopped her from continuing. “You will not blame yourself for that sick fuck, Cars. I swear to all that’s fucking holy, I will kill that motherfucker.”
“Don’t leave me,” she begged, and after heaving out several deadly breaths, I didn’t.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but Andy came outside eventually, spotting us. Her eyes connected with mine and understanding somehow melded between us. She came close to Cars and held her too. Like a big hug of comfort.
“Let’s get home, drink some hot chocolate, and lust after Lee Pace,” Andy suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
Cars chuckled. “He’s very hot.”
“Damn straight,” I concurred, kissing her head.
“Not a single one of us is straight, Mads,” Cars attempted to jest, but her heart wasn’t in it.
“Straight with a bend?” I tried, watching her smile resurface for a moment.
“Only if that bend is one after another, basically a circle.”
“She’s right,” Andy agreed.
“This new friendship is the worst, you guys are always going to side against me,” I fake complained, watching them both light up at the mention of it.