Chapter Thirty-Four
I eased myself into the dress, wriggling and pulling, the fabric stubborn and slick against my skin. It was cut to cling, and I couldn’t decide if I looked like a million bucks or just out of breath.
Rachel appraised me like I was artwork. “Girl! That looks so good on you.”
She circled me, misting me with perfume. I caught the scent—it was sweet, somehow hopeful.
“I wish I had an ass like yours,” she said.
I snorted, smoothing the fabric at my hips. “I wish I had one like yours.”
Rachel didn’t give me time to think. “Alright, let’s go!
” She tossed her hair and snatched up her clutch, the excitement in her grin contagious.
I caught a glimpse of us in the mirror as we headed out: two women dressed to the nines, ready for anything, and I had to admit, we looked the part.
I tried a tentative smile at my reflection, the tightness of the dress making me feel braver than I was. Maybe tonight, I could just… let go.
We stepped into the night air, and it felt cooler than I remembered, crisp with possibility.
The city was alive—the kind of alive that made everything seem electric, urgent.
We fell into step along the sidewalk, the lights from the street drawing us forward.
Laughter and bass rolled out from the club up ahead, the pulse picking up inside my chest.
Jackson was waiting when we arrived. I hadn’t even seen him at first, but as soon as he saw us, his whole face lit up. “Wow, Livi! You look incredible!” He hugged me with a kiss on the cheek, then turned to Rachel. “And you’re killing it too, Rach.”
Inside, the bass took over, so thick it seemed to buzz in my bones.
We let ourselves drift with the crowd, the grain of it carrying us along, drinks in hand, laughing until the strain in my chest started to loosen.
This was what I wanted: to evaporate the heaviness of the past few weeks and just feel good for a while.
We hadn’t been there long when I saw Nate coming through the crowd.
He moved like he belonged in every room he entered.
He was wearing a black shirt that fit perfectly, and when his eyes found me, they softened.
“Look at you, Livi! Absolutely stunning.” He leaned in for a kiss on my cheek, and I felt the shiver all the way to my toes.
It was so easy to smile back at him. “You’re not looking too shabby yourself. ”
Soon we’d lost ourselves entirely to the music and the lights. Rachel clinked her glass against mine and we floated, untethered. I felt lighter, like if I just kept moving, nothing could catch up to me—not even the memories I was trying to outrun.
The hours slipped by. We danced until nothing mattered but the rhythm. Nate and I kept finding our way back to each other, his hands familiar on my waist, our bodies moving together without thinking. I felt the energy between us, sharp and clean—a thrill that almost made me forget everything else.
But then I looked up, and there he was. Cam. He stood just inside the entrance, scanning the throng, his face shuttered but determined. For a split second, everything froze—the beat, the laughter, the haze from the drinks and lights. It all snapped into focus.
Cam’s eyes found mine before I could look away. My heart beat so loud I was sure Rachel could hear it, but the rest of the world fell away, muffled behind a pane of glass.
“Livi?” Nate’s voice drifted in, distant but worried. He tried to catch my gaze. “What’s wrong?”
I swallowed, forcing myself to remember where I was. “Nothing,” I said, but it came out shaky. “Just… it’s Cam.”
Nate tensed at the name. He glanced over his shoulder, then looked at me hard. “Do you want to leave? We can go anywhere you want.”
I shook my head, the words tumbling out faster than I could think them. “No! I don’t want to run away. I need to face this.” Instantly, I wondered if I really meant it. But it was too late to take it back.
Cam crossed the club toward us, shoulders squared, eyes intent. He paused when he reached us, forcing a polite smile. “Hey, Livi.” His voice was even, but his gaze searched my face. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” I managed, though there was an ache in my chest that made it hard to draw breath. I tried to smile for him, and for a second I could feel the old ache, the longing that used to ruin me.
Nate angled himself between us, a human wall.
He offered a chilly little laugh. “Wow, look who’s here.” He didn’t move aside.
I could feel the tension spike as Nate squared up, protective and a little menacing. The easy, sparkling energy of the night was gone now, replaced by something tighter and more brittle.
“Cam.” Nate’s voice was all challenge. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
Cam’s jaw ticked, but he held his ground. “Nate,” he nodded, not quite smiling. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too,” Nate shot back, every syllable clipped and clear. He was not here to be friendly.
The two of them might as well have drawn lines in the sticky bar floor. It should have been funny, but all I felt was nauseous.
Nate’s arm hovered at my back, like he was afraid Cam would try to snatch me away if he let go for a second. I looked for Rachel. She was at the edge of the dance floor, reading the tension and already moving closer.
Cam seemed to sense the weirdness, too. He shifted back a step, then said, “I should probably check in with my friends.” His tone tried for casual, hopeful, but there was a note of regret in it.
He nodded toward me. “I’m going to head to the bar. I didn’t come to cause trouble, Livi. I promise.” Then he melted into the crowd and was gone.
Only when he disappeared did I realize how tightly I’d been holding onto my own nerves.
“You okay?” Rachel was suddenly at my elbow, all soft concern.
“Yeah.” I wanted it to sound solid, but it sounded thin and far away. “I just… wasn’t expecting to see him here.”
Nate’s hand went to the small of my back. “Let’s get another drink.” His voice was strained, and even in the dim club lights I could see the tension in his jaw.
We cut across the floor to the bar, deliberately choosing the one farthest from Cam. Nate ordered a double whiskey for himself and another cocktail for me. The bartender barely set the drinks down before Nate drained his glass in one go.
I put my hand on his arm, worried. “Slow down. We’ve got all night.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted. The muscle jumped in his jaw as he signaled for another. “I just need to take the edge off.”
Rachel glanced at me, her eyes serious, but she ushered Jackson back onto the dance floor to give us space.
I sipped my drink, trying to ignore how Nate’s gaze kept flicking to where Cam stood at the opposite bar.
“He’s not even looking over here,” I said, hoping to pour a little water on the fire. “He’s giving us space, just like he said he would.”
Nate didn’t look convinced. “That’s not the point.” He picked up his next whiskey and drank it even faster. “He shouldn’t be here at all. This is our night.”
I felt a twinge of annoyance. “It’s a public place. He has every right to be here.”
Nate’s eyes cut sideways. “Are you defending him now?”
I held up a hand. “No, I’m just saying it’s not worth getting worked up over.”
“Let’s dance,” he snapped, grabbing my hand and pulling me back into the crush of the floor.
The music was loud again, but I couldn’t find my way back to feeling good. Nate was tense against me; his grip on my waist was firmer than before, almost possessive, and the smell of whiskey was sharp every time he leaned in.
His words were hot in my ear: “You look so fucking hot tonight. Every guy in here is watching you.”
I tried to relax, to make his admiration feel like a balm, but his focus wasn’t really on me at all. He kept looking past me, tracking Cam’s every move, and after a few songs, he pulled away again.
“I need another drink,” he muttered, barely waiting before vanishing toward the bar.
Rachel was back at my side, frowning. “What’s going on with him?” she asked as we watched him throw back another drink.
“I don’t know.” I honestly didn’t. “He was fine until Cam showed up. Now he’s drinking like he’s got something to prove.”
Rachel squeezed my arm, worry etched deep. “Maybe we should call it a night before things get out of hand.”
“No,” I said, sharper than I meant. “I’m not going to let Cam’s presence ruin our night. I want to be here.”
Jackson sidled up, loyal as ever. “Everything okay?”
“Just some unexpected company,” Rachel explained, tilting her head toward Cam’s side of the club. Cam was deep in conversation with strangers, not even glancing over.
Jackson sized it up at once. “He seems to be keeping his distance.”
“He is.” I let out a shaky breath. “I just wish Nate would see that.”
Nate returned with another drink. His eyes were a little glazed, but his arm found its way around my waist again, this time like he wanted to prove a point.
“Let’s dance,” he said, and I let him pull me with him, hoping maybe the movement would help.
At first, it worked. The music was a shield, the lights a blur. I could see Rachel and Jackson nearby, laughing and dancing, and for a while I let myself forget everything.
Then Nate’s lips brushed my ear again, voice low. “He’s still watching you.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Cam stood at the bar, facing away, not even pretending to look.
“No, he’s not,” I said, trying to reassure. “He’s respecting our space, just like he said.”
Nate laughed sharply. “You’re so naive, Livi. He didn’t just happen to show up tonight. He followed you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said, pulling back to face him. “How would he even know where we were?”
“Maybe your friend Rachel told him.” Nate’s tone was ugly, and his grip on my hips was almost bruising.
“What?” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “Rachel wouldn’t do that.”
He didn’t back down. “Wouldn’t she? She’s been pushing you to work things out with him. Since day one.”
I felt anger bloom inside me, hot and swift. “That’s not true. Rachel supports me. Supports us.”
Nate gave me a long look, then muttered, “You’re defending everyone tonight except me.”
I took a steadying breath. “I’m not defending anyone—I’m trying to enjoy our night, which is getting kind of hard with the way you’re acting.”
“Oh, so I’m the problem now?”
Before I could answer, Nate went rigid beside me. I followed his gaze: Cam was crossing the floor, heading toward the restrooms, not even glancing our way.
“He’s doing it on purpose,” Nate said, voice tight as piano wire, his grip biting into my arm.
“Doing what? Going to the bathroom?” I tried to pull away, but his fingers dug in. “Nate, he’s not even acknowledging us.”
“That’s bullshit,” Nate said, raising his voice. “He keeps parading around, making sure you see him.”
I shook my head. “He’s literally just walking past. I think you’ve had enough to drink. We should go home.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but I was shaking.
Nate’s eyes narrowed, and something in his face twisted that made my skin go cold.
“Who’s home, Livi? Mine? Rachel’s? Or his? Because it seems to me like you don’t really know where you want to be.”
There was a brief, frozen moment before I realized how tight his hand was on my arm. The pressure stung and snapped me out of it.
“Nathaniel Porter.” I said it flat and cold.
“I know it’s the alcohol talking so I’m going to let this go this one time.
But let’s get something straight: I have been through enough.
I’m not coming out of one toxic relationship just to land in another.
Get your shit together or don’t call me again. ”
I didn’t wait for a reply. I spotted Rachel, marched up to her, and grabbed my purse. “I’m getting an Uber,” I said, voice shaking.
Jackson didn’t hesitate. He slid his drink across the bar and nodded at us. “No need. Nate’s being a dick and you obviously need your friend tonight. What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t see you ladies home safe?”
I could only nod my gratitude, trying not to think about the two sets of eyes watching as we disappeared into the night.