Chapter 23
STELLA
I staggered out of the bathroom to find a smirking Daisy, sitting at our corner table, typing away on her phone— wait, she has my phone.
“What are you doing?”
She jolted, her mouth curving into a cheeky smirk. “Just checking the time.”
My eyes narrowed as Cannon skirted behind her to whisper in her ear. Daisy’s cheeks immediately flushed as she nodded in agreement.
His eyes sparked with lust, then he caught her hand to lead her away.
Daisy winked as she passed, slotting my phone back in my pocket. “Won’t be long.”
I rolled my eyes. “Use protection.”
“Yes, Mum.”
She disappeared down the back corridor with the man she’d been teasing all night. It wasn’t a surprise; their end was inevitable, purely based on the obnoxious flirting and outrageous sex talk.
Although it made me want to puke, I was happy for my friend. She was hurting from her douchebag of a husband—who I never liked—and if she wanted to get her rocks off with a stranger, then all power to her.
If only I could do the same—jump in bed with a sexy man and let go of my inhibitions. Alas, Felix hadn’t just obliterated my trust in men. He had also swung an axe straight through my self-esteem.
The adrenalin high I’d been riding the past couple of months had abruptly worn off, leaving toxic waste behind.
It was hard to pinpoint, a slow pollutant of my confidence, making me feel undesirable and entirely unwanted…
How could I not? My husband, who I thought would never waver, didn’t just step out on me, but obliterated my soul.
How do I get myself out of this drought? I was near dying of thirst—desperate for affection, for attention, for the warmth of a body that solely wanted mine in return. But if my own husband couldn’t give me that, who would?
Suddenly, soft brown eyes flashed in my mind, accompanied by a familiar, charming smile. That facial expression had remained the same since our childhood, particularly when Curtis was being mischievous or teasing. Except now his lips were surrounded by crinkled smiling lines I wanted to trace.
I was brought out of my drunken musings by my buzzing phone. I tried to concentrate on the device as the room spun around me, the home screen flashing a text from Curtis, as if I’d conjured him into existence.
“You okay, baby?”
Electricity ignited my nerve endings from the innocent title. Why did he start calling me that? And why do I like it so much?
Another text came through.
“Bikers? When are you coming home?”
Huh? It seemed like he was responding to a previous conversation. Except I hadn’t talked to him since I had left Dad’s earlier, the boys consumed by their pizza and action movie.
That was when my idled brain caught up… Daisy.
As I swiped open the message thread, dread—and dare I say excitement—took over.
My so-called girl best friend had sent a series of texts from “me” each one worse than the last.
“I miss you when you’re not with me.”
“I dream about you.”
“These bikers might be hot. But they have nothing on you.”
Sure, all those statements were true. But I had told her that in confidence, not so she could use it against me.
Daisy is so dead!
My phone started ringing. Shit. Shit. He’s calling. Act cool, act sober.
“Ahem. Hello?”
All I could hear was muffled gibberish due to the heavy base resonating from the sound system.
“Hold on,” I said before I turned the corner and pressed myself into a secluded alcove, the sheltered walls giving some reprieve from the noise.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
“It’s 3 a.m., Stells,” Curtis growled. “Where are you—”
“Why are you still up?”
“I’m waiting for you,” he said, so straightforward, like that didn’t pose a question.
“You’re at Dad’s?”
He sighed. “I had to know you got home safe.”
What? What does that mean? And why does it make me want to go home immediately?
At that moment, a random guy happened to stagger down the corridor, pivoting towards the male toilets. “Have to take a piss… Think some leaked out already.” Eww.
“Stella, where are you?” Curtis asked. His tone had grown frigid.
“A-at a motorcycle club—bar—drink thingy.”
“Motorcycle—fuck, Stells. Are you safe? Where’s Daisy?”
“In the bathroom with some guy.”
His words cut out for a bit, but I could still pick up the impressive tirade of threats. Then, I heard keys jiggling in the background before his voice rang clear once more.
“Tell me where.”
“Well, about that—”
“Now, Stella!” The rumble of the car ignition sounded through the speaker.
“Oakfield,” I whispered.
“Huh? Say again?”
“Oakfield.”
“Fuck’s sake. Hold on, I’m coming.”
“Here? You’re coming here?”
“What?” he snapped. “You saying you don’t want me to? Want to go for a quick ride in the toilet as well?”
“Hey,” I admonished. “Don’t talk about her like that. Her husband’s a cheating jerk. She doesn’t owe loyalty to anyone but herself.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Stells,” Curtis said, his tone laced with frustration and underlying hurt. “You’re both grown women and can do whatever you want. But what about your messages, baby? You miss me? You dream about me? Is that true?”
Well, Stella. What the fuck do you have to say now? Daisy had sent those messages, but they were tipsy confessions that had spilled directly from my mouth. I could have lied, but it was Curtis—my best friend. He deserved honesty. Always.
“Maybe…” I said, trying to be evasive and failing.
“Yes or no, baby?” he asked. “No workarounds, no maybes. Tell me, is it true?”
I licked my lips, knowing there was no escape. “Yes. It’s true.”
“Good girl. Now, the truth again. Have you not finished partying with your friend, or do you want me to come get you?”
My eyes lapsed shut, processing the blatant care radiating from his voice. I knew he was already in the car, but with one word from me, he would turn around and leave us be, if I chose. But right then, I couldn’t think of anything worse.
I wanted him there. I wanted him with me. “I want you.”
“I’m on my way. Keep your phone on you. And none of those guys better fucking touch you. I don’t give a fuck who they are.”
When he hung up, I immediately slumped against the wall, bringing the back of my hand up against my forehead. I was heating up quickly, my pulse racing faster as a certain anticipation gathered at the apex between my legs.
Geez, get a grip.
I had to sober up fast before Curtis arrived, and I did something crazy like climb my best friend and beg him to fuck me.