Chapter 20
This day couldn’t go any slower. I’ve got two hours until I can clock out and head to Tracy’s to get ready for our night out, and I swear they are going to take forever to pass.
It’s been unusually quiet at the office today. None of the partners came in, so it’s just been me, by myself, wasting time since I’m caught up on all of my work.
Adam had stormed out of the office after the meeting yesterday. It was clear he was holding back all of his frustrations until Emmett was gone, because the second the front door closed, Adam came through like a dark cloud. I haven’t heard from him since, other than an email notifying me I could start teleworking next week as long as there were no clients coming in. But a quick glance at everyone’s calendars told me the only day I’d be able to telework was Thursday.
Not that I’m complaining. I’m still incredibly grateful he even offered it. And even one day a week at home will make a big difference for me.
I pull up my emails one more time, and seeing nothing of importance has come in, settle in for the last couple of hours. Life has been a blur lately, so it’s nice to just have some peace and quiet to sip my coffee and unwind. Or as much as I can unwind when my mind keeps returning to Emmett.
Groaning, I pull up a podcast to listen to in hopes of keeping my mind off of him.
I’d called Tracy yesterday after I had a minute to collect my thoughts, and she agreed with me that he was overstepping and had supported my decision to distance myself from him. She also agreed with me that the best way to get over him was to get drunk and dance the night away. She may have also suggested that I ‘find another hottie to fuck,’ to which I had groaned and told her that wasn’t happening. Probably.
I guess the only positive to everything that’s happened with Emmett is that I”m much more open to the prospect of being physically intimate with someone again. The fact that I was able to hook up with him, and not have a complete mental breakdown, tells me that maybe I’m ready for a relationship again. Or at least make out with someone tonight. After all, what does Tracy always say? The quickest way to move on is to fuck someone else.
Maybe there is some truth to that. Because since hooking up with Emmett, I’ve felt more closure from my relationship with Trevor than I ever have before.
Thankfully, the rest of my afternoon goes by quickly, and I’m just getting ready to lock up when a woman comes through the front door with a bouquet of bright flowers and chocolates in her hands.
“Riley Miles?” she asks as she approaches my desk.
“That’s me,” I respond. She sets the flowers and heart-shaped box of chocolates down. “Thank you,” I say, reaching for the card that’s included in the bouquet this time.
“Have a good night,” she calls over her shoulder as she turns to leave.
I open the card to see one typed line of text.
You’ll be mine soon.
I stare at the words, reading them over and over again as my mind reels.
The audacity of this man. Seriously, screw him. I am so done.
The anger I’d managed to tamp down rears its ugly head again, and my hands shake as I grip the card so tight my fingers ache.
He just assumes he’ll get his way. Like no one’s ever told him ‘no’ before in his life. Or maybe they have, but knowing him, he didn’t fricken listen.
But Emmett’s got another thing coming. There’s no chance in hell I’m leaving my job to go and work for him. He doesn’t get to make that decision for me.
I toss the chocolates and flowers in the trash, knowing housekeeping will take them out over the weekend, so I won’t have to see them again on Monday. Then I call Tracy on the drive over to her place to fill her in.
By the time I pull up to her townhome, she’s somehow managed to turn my anger into excitement for the night out. And when we’re finally ready to go, we throw back a shot and pile into a cab, ready for a night where we can forget all of our worries.
Tracy pulls on my hand, leading me to the VIP booths near the back of the club. When we arrived, the bouncers waved us in as soon as they saw us approach, apparently recognizing Tracy. I was grateful we didn’t have to stand in line. It’s freezing out tonight, and my short, red bodycon dress does little to keep me warm.
I had straightened my hair for tonight and put it up in a high ponytail. Tracy then insisted on giving me a dramatic, dark look with my makeup. Pair that with a pair of black heels that lace up my calves, and even I can admit I look sexy. I feel sexy. Okay, maybe a little slutty too, and definitely cold as we sprinted to and from the cab, but sexy none-the-less.
Music thumps loudly as we weave our way across the room, the vibrations of the bass seeping into my bones. The club is dimly lit, most of the light coming from chandeliers hanging throughout and the flashing lights over the dance floor in the center.
Everything is black and gold and red, and it gives the space a dark and sultry feel. The walls are lined with booths and there’s a long bar on one side, countless bottles on shelves in front of a mirrored wall. The back of the club is roped off, and that’s where Tracy is currently tugging me along to.
She mentioned on the way over that she got us a VIP booth with bottle service, using the excuse that I never go out clubbing as her reason for splurging.
But really, I know that whether or not I was with her, she’d opt for the VIP section. Because that’s just who she is. Over the top with everything, and using every moment as an opportunity to present herself a certain way. Money and high class.
Well, except for her dress. It’s anything but high class tonight, showing off more skin than it covers. I can’t help the grin plastered to my face as she tugs me along, my anticipation for the night building. Plus, the shot we took before coming over is starting to kick in, my body feeling lighter, and the stress from earlier in the day beginning to melt away.
The place is packed, and Tracy and I have to squeeze through people to get to our booth, our bodies rubbing against strangers as she keeps a tight hold on my hand. The dance floor is crowded, an endless sea of bodies grinding together to the beat of the music, and there’s a feeling in the air–of excitement and sin and dirty deeds.
When Tracy pulls me to our table, I’m surprised to see two guys already there, sitting back in the round booth with drinks in front of them.
“Don’t be mad,” Tracy starts, turning toward me before we’re within earshot. “I invited a couple of guys I met here a few weeks ago. So you can, you know… get over Emmett.” The grin on her face is entirely too devious.
“Of course you did,” I tell her, laughing. I’m not even mad about it. Normally I”d be annoyed by her efforts to set me up, but tonight, I’m more than ready to let loose and just see what happens. I give them both a quick glance, then, leaning into her, say, “Okay, but why are they so hot?”
“Right? I call dibs on the blonde, but you can have Caleb.”
Tracy pulls me over to the booth and introduces me to Ryan–the blonde who’s apparently off limits–and Caleb, then not so subtly nudges me into the booth next to him.
Caleb’s attractive, with dark brown hair that’s just messy enough that you know he styled it that way. And he’s built, his snug black shirt showing off his shoulders and arms.
I scoot into the booth next to him, the leather of the seat cool against the backs of my legs.
Caleb leans in so I can hear him, his breath tickling my ear as he asks, “Want a drink?”
“Sure, thanks.” I watch as he pours a generous amount of vodka into a glass, then adds some orange and cranberry juice. He slides it to me and I take a sip, coughing as it goes down. “Jesus, that’s strong,” I tell him, hand on my chest as I clear my throat.
He laughs and flashes me a grin. “Tracy said you’ve had a rough week, and to make sure you had a good night. So I figured a little alcohol would help.”
“You figured right,” I say, taking another sip. It goes down easier this time.
“So what made your week so shitty?” he asks, putting one arm over the back of the booth behind me, the other holding his drink in front of him on the table. The position makes him angle toward me, closing some of the distance between us.
“That’s a long story.” I play with my straw as I consider how much to tell him.
“So, it’s a guy, then,” he says, not missing a beat.
I turn to look at him, and his pretty brown eyes hold a hint of amusement to them. “Yeah,” I admit.
“You don’t have to tell me.” Then leaning in, he whispers, “But if you need help to forget him, just let me know.”
Nerves erupt in my stomach and I grab my drink, throwing the rest of it back before scooting out of the booth. “I’ll be right back,” I tell him, before heading toward the bathroom.
I shouldn’t be feeling guilty right now. In fact, I should seriously be considering letting Caleb help me forget in whatever way he has in mind.
But for some reason, a small part of me is hesitant. It feels like a betrayal to Emmett, even though I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. And I certainly don’t owe him anything.
Slipping past people, I eventually make my way to the restroom and push inside. Thankfully, there isn’t a line, so I duck into the first empty stall I see. I pee real quick, and am about to open the stall door, when someone’s voice catches my ear.
“Emmett will be here tonight,” the voice says.
“How do you know that?” someone else asks. “Did you talk to him?”
“Teddy said he was on the VIP list.”
My stomach drops. There’s no way she’s talking about my Emmett, right?
No, I remind myself. He’s not my Emmett. He’s not my anything.
Still, it has to be a coincidence. There are probably tons of Emmetts in the city. I risk a peek through the crack in the stall and see two women reapplying makeup in the bathroom mirror.
“You think he’ll bring Jax with him?” the brunette asks.
It’s them. It has to be. My stomach twists knowing they will be here. The last thing I want is to see Emmett right now. I’m trying to forget him, which is pretty hard to do when he’s constantly everywhere. And who are these two women, anyway?
“Probably,” the blonde answers.
“God, I hope so. Maybe he’ll fuck me this time,” the brunette says, adjusting her boobs in her low cut dress. “You going to hook up with Emmett again?”
The blonde stops applying her lipstick to stare at the other girl in the mirror. “Of course I am. He can’t keep his hands off me. I bet he’ll have me bent over this counter within thirty minutes.” She finishes applying her lipstick and pops her lips.
No. No, no, no, no, no. Anger and hurt like I’ve never felt before course through me. Has he been fucking her the entire time he’s been with me? He told me he hadn’t been with anyone else since me, but listening to this woman, I don’t know if I believe it. She seems so certain they’ll hook up tonight.
And as much as I hate to admit it, jealousy swirls in my gut. I told Emmett we were done, which means he should be able to do whatever he wants. I am. So why do I get a sick feeling in my stomach at the thought of him hooking up with someone else? And why is my chest suddenly so tight?
I push out of the stall and walk over to them to wash my hands. I need to know he wasn’t hooking up with her while we were together.
Turning on the water and pumping some soap into my hands, I catch the blonde’s eyes in the mirror and try to keep my voice neutral. “Hey,” I say. “Did I hear you say you know Emmett Raythorne?”
The blonde looks me over in the mirror, an annoyed look on her face. “Yes, and you are?”
I hesitate. I don’t even know what I am to Emmett. Girlfriend? Ex? Casual hookup? Fuck buddy?
“I’m a… friend,” I settle for. I bite my lip, trying to consider how to ask her what I want to know, then just decide to spit it out. “Can I ask you something?”
I scrub my hands under the running water to hide the shake in them as I wait for her response, then grab some paper towels to dry them.
The blonde studies me for a second, before finally saying, “Sure.”
“How long have you been hooking up with him?”
She laughs. Actually laughs at me. “Oh, honey,” she says in a condescending tone. Putting her hand on my shoulder, she feigns sympathy as she asks, “You like him, don’t you?” She steps into me, closing the distance between us. “Let me let you in on a little secret. Emmett doesn’t go for girls like you. And he doesn’t do relationships. He fucks. And to answer your question, we’ve been fucking since he moved here.”
The cruel smirk on her face has my stomach in knots. Tugging my shoulder from her grasp, I toss my paper towels into the trash. Just breathe. Just breathe. Just breathe. Don’t let her see how much that hurts. Keeping my head high, I push past her to leave the restroom.
Just as the door closes, I hear the brunette saying, “You can be such a bitch, Ashleigh,” before both of them burst out laughing.
Humiliation sweeps through me as I fight down the lump forming in my throat. And it’s suddenly too hot in here and freezing all at the same time. A cold sweat springs up on my skin as I weave through the crowd and fight the urge to run. To flee and crawl into a deep, dark hole.
I was so stupid. So incredibly stupid. Against my better judgment, a small part of me thought–hoped–that maybe Emmett was being honest when he told me he hadn’t been with anyone else.
The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior, Riley.
His words from the day we met slam into me.
He warned me. He fucking warned me. And I didn’t even listen.
Screw him. He doesn’t get to make me feel like this. I’ve spent enough time and energy on him.
Taking a deep breath, I try to compose myself as I approach our table, only to find Tracy and Ryan gone.
“Everything okay?” Caleb asks, his eyes sweeping over my face. Apparently, I’m not as good at hiding my emotions as I try to be.
I grab the bottle of vodka from the table and take a long pull directly from it. Forcing it down, I set the bottle back in the ice bucket and grab his hand. “Help me forget,” I say, tugging him from the booth.
There’s a glimmer in his eye as he smirks at me, then laces his fingers through mine and pulls me out to the dance floor.
My body hums from the alcohol and loud music and Caleb’s touch. And all I want is to forget. Everything.
Caleb leads me to the center of the dance floor, then pulls me tight against him, my back pressed to his chest. His hands come to rest on my waist, and I lean my head back into him as I close my eyes and start to move.
I know it’s the alcohol making me brave, because I wouldn’t normally get this close to someone I just met. Let them put their hands on me and explore my body like Caleb is as he trails his fingers across my waist, my hips, my stomach. But I let him. Because I’m angry and hurt and just want to feel something good right now.
Or maybe Emmett shifted something inside me. Maybe hooking up with him gave me the confidence to get close to men again, even when he himself proved not to be trustworthy.
Whatever it is, I don’t stop Caleb as his lips brush the side of my neck.
My body flows with the music, hips gyrating to the beat, and I can feel Caleb behind me, grinding into me, meeting my ass with every roll of our bodies.
And I sink into it, pressing myself impossibly harder into him, taking, taking, taking. I let the alcohol, the music, the bodies writhing around me, carry me to a far off place, lost in the trance of the bass in my blood and Caleb”s hands trailing across my body.
His hand trails up from my waist, running up my side, grazing over the side of my breast, before moving over my shoulder and to the back of my neck, where he applies some pressure, pushing me forward so I’m bent at the hips.
I throw my head back, my back arching as I push my ass into his groin. I can feel him harden in his pants as he holds me in this position, one hand on my waist pulling me into him, the other on my back, pressing me down as he rolls his hips into my ass, the hard length of his dick letting me know just how much he wants me. How much he wants this to go beyond just dancing.
I feel a tug on my hair as Caleb grabs onto my ponytail, pulling me back upright. He spins me so I’m facing him, nestling a thigh between my legs, pushing my already short dress impossibly higher up my thighs. And I let him. I ride his thigh, grinding against it as his hands grab my ass, seeking that oblivion I so badly want.
Until I look up and am met with furious dark eyes across the room. And suddenly, it’s like someone poured ice water over me.