Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
VIX - PRESENT
I thank the gods above that Leah is alone in our room when I return. She smirks at me, and I grunt, burying myself in my pillows.
“Should I say I told you so now? Or would you like me to wait until you’re done telling me what happened?” she asks, hopping over to my bed.
“UGHHHHHH,” I groan louder.
“Oh shit, what happened?” she asks, pulling the pillows off me.
“Honestly? I don’t know. Too much. He didn’t hit on me.” I huff out a breath.
“Well, that’s a good thing, right?” she asks, confused by my frustration. Leah pulls me back up and looks deep into my eyes. “What. Happened,” she says, concern etched in her brow.
“He was sweet. He put a lot of thought into our hangout, stocking up on all my favourite things and picking a movie he knew I would like. It was… surprisingly nice,” I tell her, a small smile whispering across my lips. But then it vanishes.
“That’s the problem.” I shift my guilt-ridden eyes back to hers.
I explain getting spooked when Austin got home, the confrontation with Lana, and Kash’s confession. She sits, eyes wide, hanging on every word I say.
“Oh no, Vix…” Her eyes are sympathetic. I sigh, defeat blanketing my entire body.
“But do you feel the same way? Things are going so great with you and Austin, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know what I feel. At least that’s what my brain keeps telling me.”
“What does your heart feel?”
“Too much,” I reply, and she nods—a silent understanding.
“You need a distraction.” Her face lights up as she hops over to her nightstand to grab her laptop. “This,” she plops back down beside me, “is what you need.” She pulls up a page for a new nightclub opening an hour and a half outside of Halgrove. Expérience Nightclub.
I’ve never been someone who enjoys going clubbing.
Where Austin and I are from, there weren’t many places to do so, but curiosity gets the best of me.
I enjoy the dancing and fun nights we have at Booths, so how different could this be?
A nightclub and bar for ages twenty-one and older.
Opening night is tomorrow, and, of course, Leah is ecstatic about the discovery.
“We are so going!” she squeals, already rummaging through her wardrobe. “I think we need a shopping trip. Everything I have is so bleh.”
“Yes, please,” I concur, wanting nothing more than to get away for an evening of shopping and clear my head from the chaos bomb that has been dropped upon me an hour ago.
“Shopping date tomorrow morning, then. It’s decided,” she announces, and I nod. I think of Austin, and my stomach gets queasy. Guilt is wracking my mind like a bad migraine.
Dress shopping with Leah is precisely what I needed today.
We hit some local shops and find exactly what we were looking for to feel like a million bucks this Friday night.
Leah finds a pearl white, satin mini dress that has material drooping down the centre, making her boobs look fucking fantastic with no bra.
I find a short, black, form-fitting, strapless dress with a slit so high up the thigh that one wrong move and the world will see more than they asked for.
The slit is held together by tiny silver chains, giving it an edgy appeal that immediately captured my eye.
It fits my body like a glove, and I’m so ready for a night on the town in this outfit.
This club is nothing like I could have ever imagined. Violet strobe lights flicker around the neon-lit bar. It feels luxurious and energetic. The music pulses through my veins, and I’m ready to hit the dance floor.
The car ride over here was tense and awkward.
I know I was the only person who felt that way, but I couldn’t shake the feeling.
Kash told me how he felt so that it wouldn’t be awkward, and here I am, all but wearing a sign on my forehead that says I don’t know how to act right now.
The guys joke, shoving each other around as usual, laughing over something someone said and roasting one another.
Leah turns to me and sees the conflict in my eyes.
“Drinks?” she asks.
“Fuck yes,” I say, following her to the bar. I order a few rounds of tequila shots and down three in a row, not wanting to deal with real life tonight.
“Looks like we’re in for quite the night.” Austin laughs and downs his own shot before shaking his head at the horrid taste. I can feel Kash’s eyes on me. I glance up to meet his gaze, and concern is etched across his features. We still haven’t spoken about what happened in the lounge yesterday.
“More shots,” I decide, and turn to flag down the bartender. By the time we hit the dance floor, I’m a lot further gone than I had anticipated coming in here tonight. I move like my body is liquid and the music is rippling through me. We are one.
Leah is pulled by a stranger for a dance; their movements together are so fluid and beautiful.
The chemistry between their bodies is getting me hot and bothered by just watching.
Warm hands grip my waist, and I don’t have to look back to know who it is.
I sink back into Austin’s touch, swaying against him as the song continues.
The air is sensual, a blend of sweat and musk from the people around us and our bodies clashing against one another; there’s no room on this dance floor for thoughts.
I look up to see Kash watching me from the bar.
His eyes darken, and he takes another sip of his drink.
My hips sway with the rhythm of the music, slow and inviting, and I’m feeling things I probably shouldn’t.
I give Kash a smirk as I dip myself low, grinding my way back up Austin’s legs.
He places his drink down on the counter and strolls into the crowd of people, straight towards me.
He stands before me, unmoving, an animalistic expression on his face.
I keep dancing and look up to see Austin nod to Kash.
He moves towards me, placing his hand on the side of my cheek, and I look up into his eyes, not understanding what is happening.
With his other hand, Kash grips my hip and pulls me flush against him, and we move.
The three of us together move as one body in a slow, seductive rhythm.
Our breaths laboured and heavy, my chest rising and falling with the beat of the music.
I can feel both of their erections pressing into me from the front and back of my body, and it’s intoxicating.
I want this so much. I want them, and I didn’t realize it until tonight with both of them wrapped around me.
My lips part as we stare at each other, our eyes locked in, unwilling to break.
I lift my arm behind me, wrapping it around Austin’s neck, telling him I’m here, and I want this.
He grinds harder against me, and to anyone else on this dance floor, the intimacy of this moment between the three of us would be highly erotic.
Austin’s breath tickles my ear as he leans in to say, “Just let go, Vixen,” and he nibbles on my earlobe. Kash lifts my chin, bringing my gaze back to his and runs his tongue over my bottom lip. I feel drunk, but it’s not from the alcohol I’ve consumed.
Kash leans closer, about to seal his lips on mine, and desire pools between my thighs. It snaps me out of whatever trance I was in, and my body goes into panic mode. I release myself from both of their grips and pull away from their bodies.
“I-I need some air.” I gasp. Austin and Kash are both staring at me, brows furrowed and concerned by my reaction. “I just… I need to go outside for a minute,” I tell them, and Leah comes rushing to my side. She links arms with me and leads me outside to give me a moment to cool down.
When we hit the street, and I take a few deep breaths, I turn to see Leah giving me a devious look.
“Girl, you are so fucked.”
The guys follow us out after giving us a few moments to collect ourselves. I inhale the fresh air, giving myself a moment to collect my thoughts. What would have happened had I not stepped back in that moment?
“Vix, are you okay?” Austin holds my face delicately, looking me over as if searching for something wrong. I give him a soft smile.
“Yes, it was just getting to be… a lot. I’m sorry.” I feel the need to apologize, and I look to the ground, unable to meet his eyes.
“Hey,” he whispers, “you’re okay, baby. It’s all okay.
You have nothing to be sorry about,” he insists, and then kisses me to let me know he means it.
I wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him, when I see Kash watching me over his shoulder.
He gives me a weak smile, sadness clouding over his features.
I want to hold him. I want to let him know I care about him, too.
My heart is aching for him as much as it aches for Austin, and I don’t know if these are my true feelings or the liquor making me feel too much.
Austin notices where my gaze is directed and gives me a peck on the cheek.
“It’s okay, baby. Do what you need to do.
I’m not going anywhere,” he reassures me and nods to Kash.
I search his eyes, looking for answers only I carry deep inside of me.
I let go of Austin and walk. Kash watches me, uneasy, as if not expecting me to give him any more attention after what just happened inside.
He starts speaking before I’m in front of him.
“Look, Grem, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel—” I kiss him. Long and hard right there in the street. A kiss to say I see you. A kiss to say I want you. A kiss to say I care. The moment our mouths break away, I hear Leah audibly gasp.
“What the actual fuck is happening right now?” she asks, dumbfounded.
“That’s what I’m wondering.” Kash grins.
Austin just smiles, and my heart warms from the endless amount of tequila I’ve consumed tonight and the possibilities the night has brought upon us.