Chapter 9 #2
Cubicles with changing and shower facilities line the room, each one kitted out with the most beautiful bathroom suite.
Skin and hair care products line the walls along with fresh fluffy towels.
I have no doubt in my mind that Gemma played a massive part in designing this place, and when I spot the hairdryer and straighteners, it only confirms my thoughts.
I change quickly and use the lockers for my things. Jogging up the steps, I make my way into the gym and take my time, working on every piece of equipment until sweat is running off me and I feel the weight of the world slipping from my shoulders.
I’ve missed this.
“I’m not going,” Lucy huffs, pulling the dress over her head and throwing it to the ground.
“Stop being a queen. There must be something here,” Megan tells her.
“It’s alright for you! You look like a Greek goddess with your tanned skin and silky hair. I have roots, my skin’s looking all grey, and I have nothing to wear!”
“First world problems.” Scarlet chuckles, elbowing me as I put another coat of mascara on.
“Luce, you look beautiful. What was wrong with the red dress?” I ask, trying to console her in her meltdown. We’ve all been there.
“Too booby.”
“Miller wouldn’t mind.” Megan grins.
“I’m not going,” she reiterates.
It’s Elliot’s birthday tonight but Lucy has a date with Miller. We all know he isn’t the one—hell, I think even Luce knows that. But she always sticks it out, giving them a fighting chance before she cuts them loose.
“Suits me.” I shrug, putting my makeup back into my bag. “We could get takeaway and chill?” I ask hopefully. I’ve been dreading tonight all week. The idea of going out with Mason and the gang seems petrifying. It’s all too much too soon.
“You’re going.” Megan points at me. “We are all going! Lucy, get dressed, you’ll look incredible in whatever you wear and Nina…” She looks over at me, guilt in her eyes. “Have another drink.”
I get up and pour myself another vodka, adding far more than necessary.
Here goes nothing.
Mase
“She’s pissed,” I bite out, draining the last of my whiskey as I lean back in my seat.
“Might just be the heels, mate,” says Lance, shrugging his shoulders when I glare at him as if he doesn’t really have a clue.
The girls just arrived sans Lucy–much to Elliot’s annoyance. They laugh their way over to us and I don’t miss Megan’s arm that’s wrapped tightly around Nina’s waist as she wobbles on her heels.
My palms itch to take her from Megan’s arms as they reach the table.
She looks around at us, scrunching her nose up and smiling. “Hey, my boys!”
“You’re pissed.” Lance laughs out loud, standing first to kiss her cheek.
Charlie and Elliot follow suit, while I say hi to Megan and Scarlet. I eventually turn to Nina, and she smiles shyly over at me. “Hey, Mase.”
My heart thrashes against my chest at that smile, and the fact she called me Mase and not Mason. It gets me right there, deep in my gut. I take my time as I lean forward, running my lips past her cheek to her jaw, placing a soft kiss just below her ear. “You look beautiful, Nina,” I whisper.
Our eyes meet and I watch as she swallows the lump in her throat. She isn’t as drunk as I first thought, but her eyes are still wide and glassy.
“I need a drink,” she blurts, breaking the moment. “Ell, what do you want to drink?”
She struts off to the bar and leans over the marble top, looking for someone to serve her, and I watch as her short black dress rises up her thighs. I couldn’t keep my feet in place if I wanted to. I stride to the bar and stand at her back.
“I’ll get these.” I signal to the barman.
“What? No. I can buy my friend a drink.” She frowns at me, looking over her shoulder. “What are you drinking, Ell?” she calls behind us, but Elliot doesn’t seem to hear her over the music.
“Four Macallans and a bottle of Dom Perignon vintage. Three glasses.”
“Two. PLEASE!” she corrects, giving me a drunken glare as she lowers her voice to a hushed whisper. “Could you be any showier?”
I drop my head to her ear, talking low and with warning. “It’s Montgomery’s birthday, don’t make this about us.”
My hand barely grazes her waist when she spins, slapping my hand away. “Exactly! Leave me alone, you giant butthead.” She snots as she chuckles at herself and then slips past me, leaving me to wait for the drinks. I ask for a third flute when the barman gives me two.
The girls are gone when I get back to the table. I place the champagne down and hand the boys their drinks.
“What’s going on with you two?” Charlie asks as I pass him his glass.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing,” Lance pipes up. “You gonna be on her ass all night?”
“I’m not on her ass now, am I? Dick.”
“I think she found someone to dance with anyway.”
My head snaps to Elliot and he grins up at me, clearly trying to wind me up. “Fuck you!” I spit, stretching out my neck.
She fucking rattles me.
“Just go get her, for fuck’s sake. You need to stuff her full, Lowell.”
Charlie and Lance chuckle, while I shake my head. “You’re a pig, you know that,” I tell him in disgust.
“We’re all thinking it.”
“She’ll come around, mate.” Charlie winks, lifting his whiskey to me before taking a sip.
“You think I want her, still?” I shake my head at them all, my pointer aimed at my chest. “I couldn’t give a fuck, but she’s the mother of my child and I won’t have her making a show of herself drunk. I’ll never trust the girl again. That ship sailed the day she left me.”
“Geez, you don’t hold no punches, do you?”
I turn to find the girls standing at my back. Nina glowers at me, before rolling her eyes and taking off towards the bar again.
“Really, Mason!” Scarlet scolds me. “What is wrong with you?”
“For fuck’s sake.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and go after her.
“Go away, please. I want to enjoy my night,” she tells me, her voice dripping with sarcasm as I step up next to her. “This is Elliot’s night, Mase. Let’s not make it about us.” She smiles sweetly, then turns back to the barman. “A vodka cranberry, and two shots of tequila, please.”
“You don’t have to be such a child. Maybe just once we could have a conversation without you running off.”
She scoffs. “Seriously, Mason, I just want to enjoy the evening. I don’t want to stand around and listen to you run me into the ground, but thanks for the thought. Here.” She passes me a shot. “Bottoms up, asshole!”
She tilts her head back and swallows the clear liquid down.
A small drop leaks from her mouth and runs down her chin and throat.
Her hand comes up to wipe her chin, then she looks at my shot.
“You have a nice night.” She clashes her empty glass with mine, sending the contents everywhere and all over my hand.
“Cheers,” I mutter, drinking down the remnants of the shot. I watch as she takes her drink and leaves, her hips swaying with each step she takes.
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t missed her fire.
The girls have been on and off dancing all night, and they are nowhere to be seen when I spot Lucy making her way through the club.
I check my watch and notice it’s still early.
Catching Elliot’s eye, I nod my head in her direction.
Their eyes meet across the room and Elliot stands.
“Alright Luce?” he asks her as she reaches the table.
“Where’s Nina?” she asks, looking past Elliot at me.
I shrug.
Elliot leans in and whispers something in her ear that I can’t hear. She shakes her head, looking close to tears.
Sensing she needs a female, I go to the dance floor and search for Nina, spotting her on a podium wedged between Scarlet and Megan. Shaking my head, I step up to them and tap her leg.
“Fuck off!” She waves me off, smiling down at me. “I’m having fun and you’re ruining it.” She wobbles on her heels and starts to fall backwards grabbing on to the girls. They laugh amongst themselves as if it’s the funniest thing in the world.
“You’re going to have to get her down,” the bouncer tells me, pointing up at Nina.
“Come on.” I grab her at the waist and throw her over my shoulder, knowing it’s the only way to get her off the podium.
“Mason!” she shouts, her fist meeting my back once in annoyance.
I slide her down my body when we reach the side of the dance floor, my hands keeping her steady as she finds her feet again.
She glances up at me through her lashes with a look in her eye that I can’t quite decipher.
“Lucy just got here. Something’s up,” I tell her on autopilot, still stuck in our trance.
She blinks, snapping out of it as she looks off to the far side of the room where the boys are seated. Just as she goes to step away from me, I pull her back.
Her hand grips my bicep and I flex involuntary—maybe. Arousal sparks in her eyes and I watch as she fights with herself, her gaze flicking all over my face. “Not now,” she tells me.
Nina
I’m drunk.
Beyond drunk. But I feel fantastic. That is, until Mason pulls me from the dance floor and tells me Lucy’s here, seducing me with his damn face.
Brushing him off and taking some deep breaths, I make my way to our table, finding Lucy sitting across Elliot’s lap. I spy his hand resting across her legs, and my gaze tightens on them. Elliot is whispering something in her ear, and she is very clearly hanging off his every word.
“Luce,” I shout over the music. “You okay?”
She nods her head, giving me a sad smile. I frown, wondering what could have happened with Miller. It’s early, still. Something isn’t right, and the fact she is sitting on Elliot’s lap says a lot.
“Nina.” Lance taps my shoulder, handing me a drink.
“Thanks.”
“How many’s that?” Mason asks loudly in my ear.
I lean away from him, looking up into his dark eyes. “None of your business.”
He mumbles something I don’t catch, and it irks me. “What was that?” I snap.
“Nothing.”
“You two!” Charlie tsks. “Just don’t speak to each other. It’s like watching a pair of children.”