Chapter 3
EVERLEE - YOU SHOULD NEVER KISS A STRANGER IN THE DARK
Nerves course through me, like lightning trapped in a tube.
I forgot about the guys for a second when we were waiting outside, because I was so focused on that bridal hussy, but now it’s just us, the music, and my thoughts.
Callum knows I’m here. I can’t help but glance up at the cameras, wondering if he’s watching me.
Caught up in the moment, I offer a meek wave.
Lizzy pulls my arm, jerking me down the hall, waving at a few servers as we make our way to the bar.
I can’t help but look for Emmett when we stop at the end, but he’s not here.
When I don’t see him, I’m equal parts sad and relieved because while I want to see his beautiful face, at the same time, I don’t.
“This isn’t a good idea,” I mumble to Lizzy. My palms go clammy, and a thin sheen of sweat creeps over my skin like my nerves have flipped a switch.
“Let’s just have a few drinks, then we’ll leave. What time is your flight tomorrow?”
“Three in the afternoon.”
“Thank you for clarifying in the afternoon. Without that, I may have thought you booked an unreasonably early flight in the morning,” she says with cool sarcasm. She claps and continues, “This works out perfectly, though. You can get wasted and come home with me!”
“Lizzy…”
“What?” She flags the bartender down. “Two lemon drop shots—”
“And two pineapple martinis?” the bartender finishes.
She’s cute and edgy with a pixie haircut, which has a fade on one side and streaks of purple and blue colored throughout.
Her eyebrow, nose, and lip are pierced, with several small tattoos scattered around her arms, neck, and chest. “Haven’t seen you here in a few weeks. ”
Confused, I start to answer before I’m cut off by Lizzy, “It’s been super busy at work.”
“Where’s Tony tonight?”
“He’s with his brother and sister.”
“You should have told them to come here.” She hands us the shots, then starts on the martinis. “Is his sister as attractive as he is?”
Listening to their conversation, I feel so completely out of the loop. It’s only been a couple of months, but it also feels like a lifetime. The world did not stop moving when I holed myself up in my apartment, and now here I am, feeling lost in my own skin.
“Low, I thought you were seeing that other chick. Rosy or something like that.”
She sighs. “It fizzled out last week.” She looks at me. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Everlee, but she loves cock. Everlee, this is Harlow.”
“Yes. I’m Everlee, who loves cock.” I roll my eyes, laughing at Lizzy.
“Bummer. Well, nice to meet you, Everlee, who loves cock. I’ve heard so much about you.”
I panic for a moment, and Lizzy puts her hand on my arm. “Guilty. I may have told her all about you.”
“Hopefully not everything.” I smile. Like the part where I used to fuck all the owners of this club.
“No, just the embarrassing parts.”
“Perfect.” I laugh. “Nice to meet you, Harlow.”
“You can call me Low.”
I smile as she hands us our drinks.
“Tab?”
“Yes, please,” Lizzy says before we walk away.
I’ve already glanced up to the second floor three times, looking for any sign of Jax, Knox, Callum, or Emmett, but haven’t seen them. I grab Lizzy’s arm. “Let’s sit over there.” I point to the far corner of the room. From these seats, it will make it difficult to see anyone on the top floor.
The air is warm, and the lights dance all around us as the bass pumps through the air. A woman walks by in a black corset and black bunny ears and asks if we want a shot. It’s some sort of liquid in a chocolate Easter egg shot glass. I, of course, have to try it.
“It’s our special recipe. One of the owners created it,” the woman chimes.
Emmett.
My heart aches.
“I’ll take two then,” I say, grabbing another off the tray. If Emmett made them, I know they’re going to be dangerously good.
I tilt the first back and let out a moan. It’s heaven. Some sort of vanilla vodka paired with the milk chocolate egg.
“Damn. Emmett knows what he’s doing,” Lizzy chimes, biting a piece of the egg.
“He does.” There’s a long silence between us, and then curiosity gets the better of me. “Have you seen them?”
“Not tonight.”
“But you have other nights?”
She nods slowly.
I want to ask her if they’ve asked about me, but I can’t get the words out. I want to know, but also don’t. With a quick motion, I knock back the other shot and savor the vanilla and chocolate flavors. “Want to dance?”
“Would love to,” she peeps.
We walk onto the dance floor, and I fight the urge to look up again. Instead, I let the music flow through me, closing my eyes, and just let all the worry and pain go. The buzz from the drinks paired with the music thumping through my body makes me feel great.
I watched a show once that talked about how the beat of the music was extremely important to ensuring the dancer is having the best experience. Before the show, I’d never realized how much science went into EDM music.
“Hey girls!” An unfamiliar voice calls, and I open my eyes to see a shirtless man wearing black satin boxers, a bow tie, and some bunny ears dancing over to us with absolutely no rhythm. He has golden blond shaggy locks and green eyes that look a little glassy, but his smile seems genuine.
“Hey there.” I smile.
“My buddy’s having a party up in VIP and wants some hot girls up there. You want to go up? There are free drinks.”
“Yeah!” Lizzy says, pumping her fist into the air without even looking at me.
I look at her curiously, because with Lizzy, curiosity is usually the first sign I’m about to regret something.
“Cool. My name is Mark.”
“Hi, Mark. I’m Lizzy and this is Everlee!” she leans over and yells in his ear.
“Everlee. That’s a cool name.”
“Thanks!” I smile cautiously. It always feels so weird having guys just walk up to you at the bar. I always feel guarded, which is probably why I haven’t found anyone since dickface. It could also be because I’m looking in the wrong places.
“This will be fun!” Lizzy cheers.
Yeah. Fun for who? I’m trying to avoid seeing them, and now I’m going to the place they will probably be. My subconscious mocks me, pointing out that I’ve come to the club they own, not to be seen.
“Let’s do this!” I should just go find them, say hello and get this over with. We could still be friends. Be civil. It’s not like we dated for very long.
We follow Mark to the set of stairs, where he thumbs over his shoulder, letting the bouncer know we’re with him.
Once upstairs, there are streamers and balloons all over the place, with two enormous balloons with the numbers three and five. I quickly scan the floor, but still don’t see any sign of my guys.
Lizzy grabs my hand and gives it a light, encouraging squeeze.
“Come to the dance floor. I’ll introduce you to the birthday boy!” Mark calls out.
We follow him through the crowd to a man who is dancing with two other women. Mark taps him on the shoulder. “Hey Rich. I brought two more up.”
My stomach drops.
Rich turns around and standing in front of me is Dick.
Lizzy looks from me to him, back to me.
“Everlee?” He smiles, leaning forward to give me a hug.
I awkwardly accept it, but don’t return it. He moves to give Lizzy a hug, but she stiff arms him. “No, thanks.”
“You know them? Wild!” Mark says, before mindlessly flitting away to go downstairs.
“We can leave,” I offer, thumbing over my shoulder.
“Don’t be silly. Stay! Drinks are free up here!” Dick smiles while he continues to dance.
I study him for a minute, then turn to look at Lizzy.
She looks at him. “I will stay for the free drinks, but I’m not singing Happy Birthday to you.”
Dick chuckles. “That’s fair.” His gaze settles on me. “You look good, Everlee.”
“She knows!” Lizzy barks back.
He laughs, “I see you’re protective as ever.” He winks at me, then turns back to the girls and continues dancing.
“Let’s get a drink,” Lizzy mumbles and grabs my hand.
She drags me behind her as we move across the floor to the bar, and I can’t help but glance over my shoulder to look at Dick. Of all the things I thought would happen tonight, ending up at Dick’s birthday party never made the list.
Lizzy hands me the drink, then turns back to the bartender.
Her words fade as I sip my drink and continue to stare at Dick, still shocked at where I am.
The last time I’d seen him was a few days after the Valentine’s gala when he showed up at my doorstep begging for another chance.
He said he was going to win me back, but it’s been radio silence.
It’s probably a good thing, because I would have slipped.
Not because I wanted to get back with him, but because I was sad and horny and he’s someone I know.
It would only be to fuck him, but that would open the door and I didn’t feel like dealing with that baggage.
A squeal catches my attention, and I turn to find Bridezilla dancing with Dick.
I guess flies are attracted to shit, so it makes sense they’d find each other.
Though in this case, I don’t know which is the fly and which is the giant pile of shit.
I know I shouldn’t stare, but I can’t take my eyes off them as they grind against one another, putting their hands in places they don’t belong.
“I guess some things never change,” Lizzy groans, putting her cheek beside mine.
“Good luck to that woman’s groom,” I grumble, finishing the last sip of my drink.
“Want to dance… on the opposite side of the room from that?”
“Sure.”
We set our empty glasses on the bar and walk, hand in hand, to the other side of the dance floor. All the other times I’d been up here, it had just been a few of us, so it’s weird to see it so busy, but I’m happy for them. The club looks like it’s doing really well.
We reach our corner just as the song changes, and suddenly a crowd rushes the dance floor. A guy wedges himself between Lizzy and me and starts dancing like we invited him. Which we didn’t. But I try not to overthink it and just let the music take over.
A moment later, a hand grips my side. I lean back against him and close my eyes, moving my hips with this stranger. I just want to have fun and let go of everything. Let go of Callum, Jax, Knox, Emmett, and Dick. The person, not the appendage.
The man’s hand slips up to my waist, then back down to my hip.
My body feels electrified right now—humming.
The vibration from the bass and the drinks are probably helping.
His head drops beside my face as he continues to grind into me.
Our bodies move together in perfect rhythm.
It feels so right. So perfect. I snake my hand around his neck, holding him in place as his fingers fumble with my hair, moving it out of the way.
His lips gently kiss my neck, and a moan escapes my lips.
I try not to cringe and ruin this moment.
This is the first time in months I feel…
free… happy. He smiles against my throat as he continues to nibble and suck on my fevered skin.
I turn my head to find his lips just as the lights go out, but our lips still connect.
The kiss starts off soft—surprised—then quickly turns into something more.
His tongue brushes across my lips asking for permission, and I give it, letting our tongues dance.
Needing more, I fully turn around, so I’m facing him chest to chest.
I want more.
I need more.
The crowd starts to sing happy birthday, but I don’t care about anything but these lips on mine right now. It’s like everything around us fades away and it’s just me and this stranger. These lips. This kiss. My insides tighten as I melt into him.
The song finishes and the lights click back on. I pull away and look at the man I’ve been kissing.
His bright blue eyes are on my face with a smile tugging on his lips while his hand rests on my cheek.
Shit.