Chapter 5
Serena
I have never wanted to be home and rot on the couch more than I do tonight.
Jules left the clinic before I did, saving me from having to talk anymore about creepy cryptic café guy. She kept giving me looks all day, and I did my best to avoid her like the plague.
It didn’t save me from thinking about him though. The way his dark eyes roamed over my body. His arms and how they flexed when he rolled up his sleeve…
Hold up…
Is he the one that has been buying my coffee all week? Carrie wouldn’t tell me who it was, but now, after his little surprise visit today, I have a feeling it was him.
I don’t know if I like the fact that he bought my coffee, or if I should be weirded out that he’s basically stalking me. On one hand, it's really sweet that he has gone out of his way every day. Thoughtful almost.
More than Tyler has done in weeks.
But then again, he’s a complete stranger. A fine as hell stranger. Heat pools between my legs when my mind wanders to his warm brown eyes. Warm, heated eyes gazing up at me from between my legs…
I shake my head as I pull into my driveway. I’m pretty sure it’s not normal to be turned on by a guy who stalks you. But try as I might, my body continues to betray me.
This is seriously messed up.
The windows are dark when I pull up to the house, which means that it’s yet another night where I won’t be seeing Tyler. Come to think of it, I haven’t even heard from him all day. I take my phone out of my purse and tap the screen over our conversation.
Me: Hey love, haven’t heard from you. Hope your day has treated you well.
Tyler: Sorry babe, I’ve been busy. I won’t be home tonight. Hanging with the guys.
I frown. This is the third Friday in a row where he hasn’t been home. I’m not the kind of girlfriend who needs to always know where her boyfriend is, but lately I have had this heavy feeling in my stomach and I don’t know what to make of it.
The first time, I missed him. But as every week goes by, I find myself missing him less and less. I just feel like he doesn’t care about me like he used to. And if I'm being honest with myself, I’ve been feeling distant from him for a while now.
Me: Okay. Have fun. Miss you. Xoxo
Tyler: Miss u 2.
I sigh, slipping my phone into my purse before stepping out of the car. When I reach the front door, I can hear Belle barking from inside and I can’t help the smile that forms on my face.
At least I can always count on her. I have no idea what I would do without her.
After finishing my dog mom duties, I shower and settle in with a pint of half baked ice cream and a glass of wine, Belle curled up next to me.
Two episodes of Criminal Minds later, my phone chimes from the end table.
My heart races hoping it’s from Tyler saying he was coming home early.
But when I see the name on the screen, my shoulders fall.
Jules: Bitch, you are going out tonight. You need the distraction.
I would rather shoot my left foot than have to go out and socialize right now.
Me: I don’t know. I’m not really in the mood.
Jules: You have no choice. I will kidnap you if I have to.
Me: Always with the theatrics. Thank you for the offer, but I’m already in my jammies and settled in for the night.
Jules: Too bad. I’m already here .
Her last message comes through the same time I hear knocking at my front door. Belle barks and jumps down from the couch to greet whoever is on the other side.
I groan and push myself off the couch cushion. When I open the door, Jules is standing in the doorway, arms crossed and her hip sticking out. I sweep my arm out in front of me, motioning for her to come in.
She walks past me like she owns the place and sets her purse on the kitchen island. There is no arguing with her when she gets like this. I might as well just accept defeat and get the dog sitter arranged.
“Okay, so after I went home, I couldn’t get your sad face out of my head.” She rummages through her purse and pulls out a tube of chapstick, applying it heavily to her lips.
“Gee, thanks.” I sit in the bar chair next to her and swivel myself so I’m facing her.
Jules rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Mmmmm no, I don’t think I do.”
“Whatever.” She waves her hand in the air and continues, “Anyway, it got me thinking. We haven’t been out in forever, and I was scrolling through Tik Tok during lunch and saw a video about a club in the city. Apparently it's the place to be. So we’re going!”
Any other time, I wouldn't hesitate to go dancing with Jules. But I am so damn exhausted, I don’t think I could even manage a finger wag. “Jules, that sounds like it would be a great time, but I am so tired.”
“Pleeeaasee.” Jules clasps her hands, looking up at me with her green eyes and fluttering her eyelashes.
My resolve lasts about three to five seconds. I hate when she does the stupid puppy dog eyes, and she knows it. She also knows that it works almost every damn time. “Fiiine.” I sigh. “Let me go get ready.”
Jules squeals and jumps up and down while clapping her hands. I shake my head, letting out a small laugh.
One hour, three different make up looks and six outfits later, I finally emerge from my bedroom. Belle rushes from behind me, almost taking my legs out with her and gallops back to the living room with her favorite stuffed T-Rex, squeaking it the entire way back.
This girl, this beautiful 90-pound brindle boxer, is my baby.
She saved me when I didn’t know I needed saving. When I was at my lowest during therapy, I went to volunteer at a pet shelter, hoping it would help. Ended up leaving with an abandoned two-year-old dog.
I have no idea what I would do without her and hate the thought of where she would be without me.
When Jules got here, she was in black yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Now, she has on a tight black skirt that falls right below her ass, a holographic sequined halter top that has an open back and four-inch open toed strappy heels, making her long legs look even longer than usual.
It’s disgusting how beautiful she is sometimes.
“Alright,” I sigh, “let’s get this over with.” I fill up Belle’s water bowl and set it on the floor next to her food and grab my jacket. The dog sitter will come grab her after she is done eating, but I want to make sure she has enough water to last her until then.
“Oh please, you’re hot and going to have a great time.” She says while slapping my ass. “Aaaand by the end of the night, you’ll be thanking me for dragging your boring ass out of this house.” Jules flips her hair over her shoulder, grabs her purse and pushes me out the door.
An hour and a half later, our Uber is dropping us off at the front of the club. I should have gone with the black jeans and halter top instead of my dress. Even with my jacket, I’m freezing my fucking tits off.
The rhythmic and erratic beats of the music shake the ground outside as we approach the entrance and greet the bouncer. We check our things in at the front, get our hands stamped and shoulder our way through the dancing crowd. Eventually, finding an empty cocktail table to stand at.
“Do you want a drink from the bar?” Jules shouts over the music.
“Why not! Take my card and open a tab. We can split it up later.” She takes my card and disappears into the crowd of people to find the bar.
It’s been a while since we’ve been clubbing. Jules and I used to go out every weekend when we first started at the clinic together. We would go out Friday nights because they aren’t as busy as Saturdays, and as much as I love my patients, I hate people.
Okay, I don’t necessarily hate people. Just stupid people.
My hips sway absentmindedly to the music while I wait and take in the club around me.
This is the first time that we have been to this place.
The dance floor stretches across the entire first level with rounded booths along the walls on either side.
In the center is a circular bar that everyone goes to for their drinks.
A spine-tingling shiver crawls up my back and I get the sudden feeling that I’m being watched. I glance over my shoulder and see a man leering at me from one of the other cocktail tables about five feet away.
My stomach twists when we lock eyes. Normally, I might feel flattered catching a guy checking me out. But this sends a chill straight through me.
I’ve always thought that the eyes can tell you a lot about a person, and right now, his eyes are telling me that being alone with him in a dark alley would be the last time I see the light of day. My dress suddenly feels too short, and I tug at the hem without thinking.
I’m turning back to the table just as Jules arrives with our drinks. She hands me my vodka cranberry and sips on her margarita while moving to the beat.
“Girl, you have got to see the bartender working tonight.” Her drink sloshing when she leans in. “I would let him take me to the back room and give me his babies.”
“Jules!” Clutching my imaginary pearls while laughing.
“What?” She says feigning innocence and looking away with her drink.
I shake my head and toss my drink back. I may not have wanted to come initially, but now that we’re here, I want to get drunk and go lose myself on the dance floor.
My hands slap on the table before I grab Jules and weave us through the dancing crowd. Dancing has always been a way for me to escape. It’s moments like these that I am grateful my best friend knows me so well.
Three vodka crans and two tequila shots later, we are laughing and moving our bodies to the beat of an unknown dub step song. I’m pretty fucking drunk at this point. The kind where I’m not blackout drunk but too drunk to walk a straight line by myself.
There’s a break between the songs and I lean in towards Jules to let her know I’m going to go get us some water.
She nods at me and continues to dance when the next song starts.
I get to the gold bar top and don’t see the bartender.