Luna #2
“Let’s dance!” I say, pushing my way through the crowd, taking Olivia's hand, and pulling her to the center of the dance floor.
I sip on my drink as I spin around the dance floor, losing myself in the music. Olivia dances with me like no one else is in the room. I let myself live in the moment for once, and it feels so good.
We finish our drinks, tossing them back quickly as we bump and grind against each other, and Olivia volunteers to get us more.
Olivia disappears from my view, and as soon as she does, I feel the same gut feeling I had at the grocery store, as if I were being watched.
I dance along with the music, turning my head in all different directions to see if anyone’s looking, but all I find are unfamiliar faces.
I quickly become overcrowded, and I’m pushed further into the dance floor.
I feel lightheaded, and I turn one last time to try and find a way out of the crowd when I run face-first into someone's chest. “Shit! I’m sorry!” I say, rubbing my head.
“Are you alright?” A familiar voice asks me.
I look up to find Dante, the Greek god, from the gym. “Y–yes. Thank you. I'm trying to find my friend. I'm sorry if I hurt you.” I say, looking behind me to see if I can find Olivia in the crowd, but I don’t.
“That’s okay. Didn’t hurt me at all.” Dante says, bringing my attention back to him. “Funny running into you here. Literally. I didn’t take you as a club girl.”
I laugh. “I’m not. This is my first time out in a long time.”
“And are you enjoying yourself?” Dante asks, sounding genuinely curious.
“I think so,” I say, playfully shrugging.
Dante doesn’t hide that he’s checking me out. I watch his eyes flicker up and down my body, almost like he’s memorizing what I look like in this dress. “Would you like to dance with me, Luna?”
When his eyes meet mine, I feel my heart skip a beat. God, he’s so fucking hot. “Just one?” I ask.
Dante closes the distance between us, leaning down, his lips brushing against my ear. “You can always ask for more.”
A club remix of ‘Stereo Love’ starts playing, and everyone around us begins to cheer and jump around.
Someone brushes against me, sending me into Dante.
I look up at him. “Sorry. I should—” I pause, taking him in.
Why can’t I dance with him? I came here to have fun, right?
That’s all this would be. Fun. “One dance. And then I need to find my friend, okay?”
Dante nods. And his large hands grip my waist, guiding me through the crowd. I suddenly feel so much smaller than I am. He lets go of my waist, taking me by the hand, spinning me out, and quickly pulls me back in. Dante’s hands are back on my waist, and he moves with me, grinding to the beat.
I don’t know what it is, maybe the alcohol, but he feels safe.
At least safe enough that I feel comfortable enough to grind my ass on a total stranger.
But is he a stranger? Kinda? I technically don’t know anything about this man besides that he has the dreamiest green eyes on a man I’ve ever seen and that he has a rock-hard, God-like body that he’s grinding against me, making me clench my thighs together to keep from moaning.
His lips graze my neck, his breath huffing against my skin, sending an electric zing through my body.
Dante’s hands leave my hips and slowly travel up my body until his fingers land on my sternum.
He lightly drags his fingers up across my chest, teasing my decolletage until his hand wraps around my neck, holding me steady.
I’m putty in the man's hands. He feels so good that he could do anything to me right now, and I would let him. My overthinking brain quickly sobered me up at the thought.
What am I doing? He could be another Greg, and here I was, letting him wrap his hand around my neck. Dante’s grip on my neck is a little too tight, and I tense up, pulling away, “Sorry, I—I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry—Luna!” Dante starts to apologize, but I turn and move through the crowd.
I find Olivia when I spot her by the bar, still waiting for the bartender. “Hey, listen. I’m gonna go. I thought I was ready, but I don’t think I am. You stay. Have fun.” I say, breathless and in a mild panic.
“Are you sure? I can go home with you.” Olivia gives me a worried look.
“I’m sure,” I say, hugging her. “Stay and have fun. I will grab an Uber. Thank you for inviting me out. I’m just in my head too much.”
“Please text me when you’re home. I’ll let you know when I get home, too.” Olivia says, letting go of me, and giving me an apologetic look.
I nod and head up the stairs to the main landing. I find the host—a woman with long blonde hair, her hair held back in a sleek ponytail. She is wearing all black, looking down at a clipboard as I approach. “Hi, I’m looking for Charlie,” I say loud enough for her to hear me over the music.
“You’re looking at her. How can I help?” she says, finally looking up from her clipboard.
“I need a ride from Bessie,” I say, not so confidently.
Charlie chuckles, “Understood. Stand over here to the side, and I’ll call an Uber. Where are you going?”
“The Ozark apartments.” Charlie nods and disappears behind the curtain.
I take a few calming breaths before I stop chastising myself.
I’m trying to rationalize why I let myself be so vulnerable again.
Dante’s hands were around my neck, and anything could have happened—but he’s not Greg.
Greg wanted to hurt you. Dante was just dancing.
It was something ordinary people did, and sometimes it involved physical contact.
So why am I freaking out so much? Tonight was supposed to be about fun.
I was having fun—until my brain ruined everything.
Charlie appears from behind the curtain. “Uber’s out front. Your driver's name is Claire. Have a good rest of your evening.”
“Thanks. You, too.” I make my way to the main doors, and a bouncer instinctively opens the door for me.
I step through, the spotlights lining the entrance steps blind me, but I can still see the outline of a car parked to the left.
I walk down the steps and over to the woman standing outside the vehicle, “Hi, Claire?” I ask.
“Yes. Going to the Ozarks?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Claire opens the door for me, and I get into the back. She closes the door, and I look back over at the entrance of Pyre. Dante is there, looking around frantically. I turn my head quickly, hoping he doesn’t spot me when the Uber takes off.
Sorry, Dante. Maybe another time when I’m not such a mess.