36. Jace
thirty-six
Jace
I’m feeling fucking good; my veins thrum with energy and liquor. My skin buzzes and my stomach is warm as I dance around the top floor of Breeze, the newest addition to my parents ever flowing string of nightclubs.
Shots of colored liquor get passed around to all the people on the floor. About twenty minutes ago, I decided that if I were to be sad on my birthday, I was going to do so while being drunk as fuck.
I wish Sienna was here. I mean, I understand why she couldn’t be, but my heart yearns for her to be here next to me.
“Bro, take another shot! Let’s get you fucked up!” Braxton jeers, passing me a shot cup filled to the brim with purple liquid. My heart beats triple its normal speed as I look down at the single drink that I wanted passed around at tonight's party: The Angel.
It’s a banana rum shooter, mixed with everything to create a miniature Caribbean storm—Sienna’s favorite type of margarita.
Downing it in one go, I inhale deeply, cheering as I turn to Brax who pats my back a few times.
I cough from the impact and stumble my way back over to the table where all my friends and the team are seated. Blake and Cleo talk amongst themselves while Georgia and Denver laugh at something Alec says. I go up to Georgia, Alec, and Denver first.
Stumbling, I rest my elbow against Georgia’s shoulder, smiling droopily at my three friends .
“Happy birthday, Jace! Are you happy to be twenty?” Denver asks, smiling at me as I grin.
“I’d be happier if I had a drink right about now!” I say, shouting over the loud music as Denver hands me her cup.
I don’t think twice before downing it.
The guys make me play all types of drinking games, and I’ll admit, they’re fun as fuck. But my mind keeps wandering back to Sienna. I wonder if she’s having fun with her students.
I know she was signed up for the Halloween party at the studio. It just sucks that Halloween is also my birthday.
Heaving a sigh, I pat Alec’s shoulder and leave the table where the team is.
What does a guy have to do to get a solid drink around here? I’m getting fed up—
“Announcement for the birthday boy!” the DJ shouts into his mic, stopping me in my tracks as I look down at the floors under me. Breeze has four different levels shaped in a square pattern with a large dance floor on the bottom level. I can see everything in the building from where I’m standing.
“Jace Heart, an angel has arrived!” the DJ shouts, and all air in the room is sucked out. My body vibrates as I look everywhere, searching for her, but I can’t see anything or anyone with pink hair that isn’t so obviously a wig.
Without thought, my legs pull me away from my spot and to the elevators.
I don’t think as I let my legs propel me to the ground floor.
People dance and grind around each other as strobe lights flare through the lower level.
I’m pushed around as I squeeze through the crowd looking for a head of pink hair.
“Where is she—” The air in my body is expelled through a sharp intake of breath as I stop in my tracks.
On the bar, a girl in a red lace corset that forms a heart shape around her chest wearing a red lace garter with matching angel wings and horns dances freely to the seductive music playing in the club.
I almost look past her and the guy who’s trying to get her attention, but something draws me in and that’s when I notice it.
Her hair—it’s black.
And that’s my girl.