Chapter 31
Lacey
T he end of my shift rolls around in the blink of an eye. I was worried I’d spend the afternoon ruminating over the mysterious text message from the unknown number, but things were so crazy I didn’t get the chance to overthink.
Then I had to get home, do some laundry, cook the kids dinner, and the next thing I knew, I was falling asleep on the couch. Thank God Daniel showed up at eight and woke me up.
He’s just gotten back into town to move into his new place.
We were supposed to be at the party at eight thirty, but I knew there was no way I could shower, decide what to wear, get ready, and drive over there in thirty minutes. So, I texted TJ and the girls that I’d be running late.
I get to the club a little after ten. The most embarrassing part is it took me five minutes to find a parking space near the party and another five just to parallel park—what? Everybody knows hot girls park like shit.
I pull out my phone to text TJ that I’m almost there, only to see that I have three new messages.
The first message is from the unknown number.
When I saw they hadn’t texted me back earlier, I convinced myself that I was right and it was a wrong number, but them texting me again brings back the bad feeling from before.
Unknown Number
Keep telling yourself that.
My last message said, “I think you have the wrong person.”
So, basically, this rando is saying he meant to text me?
Okay, this is too weird for me. I don’t think twice and block the number.
Only then do I realize that I also have a text from Aaron.
I haven’t seen him much since we got back from spring break. Last I heard, he and his parents decided to extend their trip. The guys like to joke and say he was too scared that TJ would beat his ass up for the way he humiliated me at that party. If I’m being honest, I haven’t thought about him in a while.
It’s a little weird that he’s texting me.
Aaron
Were you invited to Theo’s party?
Why wouldn’t I be invited to Theo’s party? That just seems like an odd question to ask. After giving it some thought, I decide to answer to get to the bottom of it.
Lacey
Yeah. Why?
Maybe he’s asking because he wasn’t invited?
I don’t allow myself to think too much into it and select my conversation with TJ.
TJ
Waiting for you by the entrance.
“Almost there,” I text him as I’m walking to the entrance of the club. Two big men stand at the door next to a sign that says, “Private Event. Invitation Only.”
The music inside the club is so loud the building can’t contain it, and I have to give my name to the bouncers twice for them to hear me.
I know this is going to be more of a “stop by and say hi” situation for me from the moment they let me inside the club. The place is packed—or maybe it’s just too small to hold an entire basketball team. Either way, the past week has taken a toll on me, and all I really want is my head on a pillow. It’s also ridiculously hot in here, and the music is deafening.
Flashing neon lights dance across the room as I edge my way through the crowd, scanning the area for TJ. He said he was waiting for me by the entrance of the?—
I let out a yelp when strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, and my boyfriend’s cologne fills my nostrils.
“There she is. How are you doing, beautiful?” The warmth of his breath fans the side of my neck, and I shiver.
I don’t even have time to say hi before he’s grabbing my wrist and dragging me through the crowd with him.
“Where are we going?” I say in between laughter, and TJ responds by throwing a door labeled Coat Check open and pulling me inside.
His lips are on mine before I can blink, his hands flying to my face as he presses me into the wall almost violently.
My shoulders unwind at his touch, the worries weighing me down dissolving with every stroke of his tongue against mine.
This. This is what I needed.
“Showing up an hour late, huh? Were you trying to drive me fucking crazy? I missed you so much I think I saw your face in my drink earlier.”
A laugh rips from my throat. “I see someone’s been taking advantage of the open bar.”
I can tell from his body language that he’s had a few. He’s relaxed, his movements are unsteady, and he has that big dopey smile that makes my heart melt on his face.
He smirks, sticking his hands up in the air. “I’m innocent, Your Honor.”
I smile. “Well, I’m sorry, sir, but it seems to me like you are guilty of enjoying yourself.”
His mouth crashes down on mine again, and he groans when I push my lower body to his. I can feel his rock-hard erection prodding my stomach.
“You been having fun with the guys?” I ask when we separate for air.
“Sure. Now I want to have fun with my girl.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “Your girl, huh?”
I love hearing him say that.
“I’m sorry, I meant future wife .”
His mouth descends to my throat, and he starts to devour every inch of the skin on my neck. I’m not sure I’ll be able to think clearly if he keeps this up.
I swat his shoulder with a giggle. “Here? Anyone could walk in.”
“Don’t worry, I bribed the coat check girl to take herself on a walk. And locked the door.”
That only makes me laugh harder. “Wow, you’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “What can I say? Basketball taught me to always have a game plan.”
My laughter is drowned out by another one of his hot kisses, and I allow myself to live in the moment, letting him kiss each of my troubles away for one night.
“You have no idea how much I’ve dreamed about fucking you today,” he rasps against my mouth, directing his hand between my legs.
That’s when a loud bang rattles the door.
“Hey, perverts! We know you’re in there. Get your asses over here. It’s cake time,” Chance says on the other side.
TJ releases an irritated groan, the muscles in his jaw flexing. “I hate that guy.”
“No, you don’t. Plus, he’s right. We can’t miss the cake.” I peck the corner of his mouth. “Come on.”
I spend the next minute negotiating and trying to convince my grown-ass boyfriend to get out of the closet so we can go celebrate his friend’s birthday.
And the crazy part?
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Shots! Shots! Shots!” The chanting of the basketball team carries across the club in spite of the blaring music making the walls shake.
The birthday boy downs the shot handed to him in one go and makes a “this tastes like piss” face afterward.
“What’s the matter, Cox? Can’t hold your liquor?” one of the guys from the team teases, and Theo flips him off as a result.
“Hey, you! Another round, please!” the guy Theo flipped off tells the bartender, and she nods in acknowledgment. Poor girl obviously underestimated how annoying drunk basketball players can get. She’s been at their beck and call all night.
Theo creates a megaphone with his hand and shouts, “Actually, never mind, we’re good!”
This causes Chance and the guys from the team to boo him.
“Fuck off. I’d like to still remember my name when my girl gets here,” Theo fires back.
It’s about time he stopped indulging his friends. I have no idea how he’s still standing. Seriously, Theo’s probably taken more shots tonight than he has all basketball season.
Bright side is I ended up having a lot more fun than I thought I would. The girls and I did some dancing, some catching up, and we laughed so hard at some point we almost cried.
All the while, our boyfriends were having the time of their lives, trying to figure out how much alcohol Theo could handle before his liver shut down.
“Ashley just texted us. Her flight got delayed. She won’t be here until one,” Aveena says mid-yawn. She’s clearly exhausted.
She mentioned she wanted to make an effort and stay up late for Theo’s birthday, but her eyes just keep getting smaller and smaller as the night progresses. It’s almost midnight. I don’t think anyone would blame her for going home.
Aveena yawns for the tenth time in a matter of five minutes. “I think that’s my cue. I’m going to go home, but I’ll see you two tomorrow at brunch?”
Dia nods. “Sure thing. Eleven at my place. Don’t forget.”
We each hug her goodbye before she walks off, heading for the coat check room. I debate on following her lead. I’ve been thinking of leaving, too. We didn’t feel like getting wasted, so Dia and I were Aveena’s sober companions tonight.
I turn to Dia. “I’m beat, too. I think I’m going to call it a night.”
I’ve also been having the most random back aches all night. It started out as a dull pain and evolved into an intermittent stabbing sensation that’s becoming harder to ignore. Might just be because my period’s due soon.
She nods in agreement. “Same. Let’s go get our coats and find the guys.”
Finn, Xavier, and TJ stepped outside to get some fresh air a few minutes ago. Not that I can blame them—it’s as hot as the fiery pits of hell in here. I check my phone as we’re making our way to the coat check area.
Thankfully, I don’t have any more messages from that unknown number.
Of course you don’t. You blocked the number.
“Lace, you coming?” Dia asks when she notices I’ve stopped walking.
I shove my phone into my back pocket, pushing the thought out of my mind in the process. “Yeah, sorry.”
We collect our coats in no time and amble over to the exit of the club. I immediately spot Finn and TJ talking out front. They’re laughing—probably about some inside joke I’m sure we wouldn’t understand even if we tried. These two are just two peas in a pod lately. They’ve really been hitting it off.
“Hey, you two!” Dia calls to get the guys’ attention.
Their faces light up at the sight of us, their reactions making me smile. They’re adorable, looking at us like we’re works of art.
“Hope we’re not interrupting,” I say, slowing down before the two of them.
“Hell nah. Come here.” TJ throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a kiss at the same time Finn kisses Dia.
I match TJ’s energy without a moment’s hesitation, welcoming his kiss by pushing to the tip of my toes to deepen the connection. My stomach does a whole backflip when his hand drops to my lower back and he crushes my body to his.
God, I love him.
“Hey, lovebirds. Get a room, will you?” Finn calls us to order before things get too heated.
Thank God he did. I have this tendency to forget there are people around every time this guy kisses me.
“Trust me, I’ve been trying,” TJ jokes, clearly referencing his attempts to have shower sex this morning and then sex in the coat check room tonight.
“You and me both, brother.” Finn smirks, and a blush creeps onto Dia’s cheeks. She playfully swats Finn’s arm in response.
It’s no secret that Dia’s main focus has been launching her dog-walking app lately. It’s been taking up a lot of her energy, and she hasn’t had a lot of free time since she managed to land investors for her project. I’m guessing it’s taken a bit of a toll on their time together. Not that I’m worried about them. I can’t think of a single couple who’s survived more hardships than they have.
“Speaking of rooms, I’m missing mine. I think I’m going to go home and sleep for twelve hours,” I tell TJ.
The look of disappointment on his face fills me with guilt. “Already? It’s not even midnight.”
“Yeah, babe. I’m exhausted.”
He nods. “All right, let’s go home.”
I see what he’s doing. He thinks just because I’m leaving, he automatically has to leave, too. But he’s been having a great time tonight. And unlike me, he looks fresh as a daisy. This may be my first time being in a serious relationship, but one thing I know for sure is that I am not going to be one of those girls who forbid their men from having fun unless they’re present.
“You’re not going home. I am,” I correct him.
“But—”
“No buts. You’ve been having a blast with the guys. Just stay. Hang out. I’ll text you when I get home.”
His features twist with hesitation. He’s not entirely sold on the idea.
“You sure? I can come with you if you want. Spend the night?”
This is why I love him. It’s clear he doesn’t want to leave, and yet, here he is, willing to bail on his best friend’s birthday to make me happy.
I plant a kiss in the corner of his mouth. “Why don’t you just come over when you’re done? You can use that spare key I gave you.”
He chooses to drop a hard kiss on my mouth as a response because who needs words, anyway?
“You’re the best, you know that?” he whispers against my lips.
I pretend to do a hair flip over my shoulder. “Oh, I know.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car,” he says.
“It’s not that far. I’m fine.”
“Like hell. I’m not letting my girl walk alone at night,” he insists.
We quickly say our goodbyes to Finn and Dia and begin walking toward my car, which is parked a few blocks away from the club.
I almost regret letting him walk me to my car when we get there and TJ gets to see my god-awful parking skills for the first time.
I cover my face with my hands. “I know, I suck at parallel parking.”
He bites down on his lip, directing all of his energy into keeping a straight face. “Babe, I don’t think you can call it parallel parking if it’s not parallel to anything.”
He’s exaggerating. It’s in the space… sort of.
I push him playfully. “Hey, I tried my best, okay?”
He laughs harder. “Straight lines are overrated, anyway.”
We spend the next few minutes laughing like kids.
“Promise to text me when you get home?” he asks as I’m unlocking my car with the key fob.
“Triple promise,” I assure him.
“Drive safe. I love you,” TJ says before kissing me once. Twice. Three times. I laugh as he pecks my mouth repeatedly.
“I love you,” I tell him as I’m opening my car door.
On that note, I get into my car, fire up the engine, and pull out of the parking spot. I’ve just stopped at a red light when a few raindrops hit my windshield.
Fuck.
It’s raining.
A lot has changed lately, but not this. I will always hate driving in the rain. I consider turning around, leaving my car near the club, and calling an Uber.
Lacey, stop. You’re a big girl. Just because your dad died while driving in the rain doesn’t mean you will.
It takes me a few deep breaths to collect myself, but I eventually manage to snap out of it.
I can do this. My house isn’t too far from the club. It’s just a little rain.
Only, a little rain quickly becomes a full-blown downpour. Still, I focus on my breathing, praying to make it home in one piece. I think I see something in my rearview mirror just as I’m turning into a back road.
I can see another car’s headlights in the distance. I don’t think twice about it, too busy trying not to panic about the rain to pay the car any mind.
Until the car speeds up, quickly catching up to me.
That’s when I hear them.
The police sirens.
Red and blue lights begin pulsing in the dark, flickering like a chaotic heartbeat.
Shit, I’m getting pulled over.
But why? I wasn’t speeding. If anything, I was driving like a granny because of the rain. I steer my car off to the side of the road and slide into park.
An unsettling feeling churns in my stomach when I see the cop car slow down behind me. As though my body knows something is off before my mind does. And I can’t explain it.
But a voice in my head spurs to life when two men climb out of the police car and begin walking toward me.
The voice is faint, barely there, but it sends terror coursing through my veins.
Run.