One More Time
Page 26
“Oh, but I think I was just about to get somewhere with the brunette…”
“You’ve got more chance with Shank’s ex, and I ain’t letting you get anywhere near her.”
As we wander towards the door I dart my eyes back just once to catch Kym looking right back at me. I flick her half a smile but don’t get anything back. Just a blank, wide-eyed Bambi-like stare. That doesn’t matter though, it’s better than nothing. Friday is starting to look more and more exciting by the moment…
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Chapter 3: Kym
The music pounds so hard it racks my brain against my skull. The bright lights flash everywhere making it impossible for me to think, never mind speak. I don’t know what the hell Alyssa thought would happen when she brought me to Pummel, but this is a fucking nightmare. I hate it. I wish I wasn’t here.
“Ooh, this is amazing!” Okay, it must be an age thing; my friend is having a great time. “Let’s get drinks!”
As she grabs onto my arm and drags me through the writhing, sweaty bodies, I try to work out why I’m not immediately inspired by this place. It can’t just be that I’m a little older than Alyssa, there are other people my age or more, so what is it about me? Is it just because I’ve lived such a different life to these people, so I don’t know how to have fun in the same way? Or is it because I’m still trying my hardest to hide away?
“Wooh, this is awesome, isn’t it?” Alyssa bounces on her toes. “I’m so excited. Aside from this queue, come on we need to get to the bar already. It’s my birthday, I can’t wait!”
She drags me through people, not caring when they get angry and yell at us. She dips and climbs, she pushes and shoves, with me stunned behind her. Some of the insults fly my way, but I can’t take any of them in. This isn’t my fault; I’m innocent here, just being pulled along.
“Look, we’re here. Lift me up a bit.”
“Lift you up? What the hell are you…?”
She backs her hips into me so I automatically grab them and I raise her upwards. She leans across the bar, waving a bank note to grab the attention of the first bartender she can. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night… maybe I should have made an excuse. I’m not exactly a wall flower here, am I?
While Alyssa does her thing, I try to discreetly look around. I don’t know who I think I’m going to see but I have to check. My heart pounds but through the strobe lighting I can’t see anyone’s faces clearly enough. I don’t recognize a single soul. That’s perfect, it means I might not be recognized either.
It’s going to be fine, it’s just one night. Have some fun, just for once.
“Right, here you go, girl.” Alyssa spins back to smirk at me as she screams these words at the top of her lungs. “Knock this shot back, then drink this after. Once we’ve got these drinks in us I might consider hitting the dance floor, depending if there are any cute guys out there. Ooh, we should find you a man.”
My body stiffens, the idea of getting anywhere near a man is almost too much. “I don’t know about that…”
“Just drink your shot. That might help to change your mind.”
She hands me the drink then knocks hers back in one. Her face screws up; unimpressed but then she grins and nods at me, encouraging me to do the same. I drag the glass up against my lips, trying not to inhale the bitter smell, and I imitate what Alyssa just did, sliding the liquid down my throat fast…
“Fuck! How do you drink that? It’s horrible.”
Alyssa laughs, completely amused by my reaction, and she pulls me away from everyone else. My feet continue to follow her even though the raging burn in the back of my throat suggests it’s probably not the best idea. She’s about to lead me down a very dark path and I think I might let her…
“Nah, no cute guys in here at the moment, let’s go out to the smoking garden.”
“You don’t smoke, do you?” After working together for such a long time, I would have noticed if she kept popping out for cigarette breaks. “What are we doing here?”
Alyssa doesn’t answer me, not until the fresh cool air hits our faces once more. We were just waiting in a queue for ages to come inside, just to head right back out into the cold night again. I’m glad though, I prefer being out here than to be inside. “I’m checking out the talent. You never know who might be out here.”
She makes a sweeping gesture with her hands which I can’t help following. My eyes take in loads of different faces; I can see them clearly now which means everyone can see me too. That all too familiar ball of panic rises up into my throat and I have to really squash it before it expands and completely consumes me.
“Oh, erm, right.” My eyes fix down on the floor, heat trickles all the way through me. I shift awkwardly on my feet feeling exposed and vulnerable. “I see. And did you see anyone you like yet?”
“Oh, I don’t know, he’s quite cute… I might go and talk to him…”
Alyssa grabs onto my arm and she pulls me in to a giant group of guys who are all puffing cigarette smoke as if it isn’t completely wrecking the environment. I stifle a cough, already hating the smell.
“Hey there, girls.” One of them touches my butt which makes me bolt to one side. He laughs nastily as if I’m a silly little girl just there to be toyed with. “You up for a night of fun tonight?”
“It’s my birthday! I’m twenty-two.”
“Oh wow, young enough to be my kid.” Alyssa doesn’t even flinch when the old perv wraps his hand around her waist. “Thankfully you aren’t since you’re hot as fuck.”
“Yeah?” Alyssa flutters her eyelashes. “And what do you do for a living?”
“We’re all boring bankers.” He rolls his eyes. “Rich, but dull. You know the type. Of course, if you can stick hanging around with us we might be able to buy you a bottle of expensive champagne.”
It takes all that I have not to snort with derision. What sort of person falls for such bullshit? Aside from Alyssa, apparently, since she’s nodding away like an excited puppy. Unfortunately, I don’t have much choice but to stick with her since it’s her birthday and I promised to be her wing woman.
I know these men more than Alyssa does. Not personally, but I don’t need to. It barely matters which man it is, they’re all very much the same. They think wealth equals power, sexiness, lust. They believe that they’re above other people because they control the financial sector; they believe everyone else should be at their feet.
I keep my body language completely closed off, even more so than usual, to give these men the hint. No way in hell I’m heading back into that sort of life. I’m done with all of it.
“So, pretty,” My body language doesn’t matter to the guy behind me since he leans in and covers me with his body heat. “Are you here for a good time?”
I shake him off and slowly step away. “I’m just here to dance with my best friend, that’s all.”
We both look to Alyssa who’s hooked her arm around the other guys and they are both drinking from a champagne flute. She giggles like crazy, looking like she’s having the time of her life.
“I assume you don’t mean that friend because she looks like she’s about to get lucky. I don’t think there’ll be any dancing with her. Not unless you like getting between two people fucking.”
Disappointment floods me. I know Alyssa in work, but not out of it. I don’t really know what she’s like in her personal life. I’m not one to judge, but I don’t want to be left here alone either. I didn’t put on this slightly too tight black dress and sky high red heels just to come here for half an hour to be abandoned. Hot tears ball up behind my eyes and I immediately need an escape once more. This time to get back inside.
“I just need to go to the bathroom. Alyssa, I’m just headed to the toilet. I’ll be back in a moment.”
She nods but says nothing; I can already see the glaze over her eyes which means she’s distracted from me. Some night out this is, I’m really pissed off that I got tricked into it.
I practically run back inside, now being the rude one who shoves everyone out the way. I spot a glowing sign indicating a toilet and I shove the door open. Luckily, there aren’t many people inside so I rush straight for the mirrors. I grip onto the side of one of the sinks and stare at my manic looking reflection. My eyes are wide and a little wet, my cheeks pinker than usual, my makeup starting to smudge just a little bit.
I don’t belong in a place like this, I knew that before I came. Now, I need to get out of here.
Maybe it’s time to just make my excuses and go. Perhaps Alyssa doesn’t need me anymore. Yeah, if she’s come here to hook up, to meet someone to have a night of fun with, then mission accomplished. If she wants to tangle herself up in bankers, then there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Even if I warn her it’s a bad plan, it won’t be pleasant. She’ll do whatever the hell she wants. It’s my opinion based on my past. Not hers.
I calm my breathing down and wait until my pulse stops racing before I finally take myself back out into the club. The music wracks through my body, I can feel it absolutely everywhere, it’s too much, but I won’t need to be here for much longer. Once I’ve spoken to Alyssa I can get the hell out of here.
What the…? I feel an odd prickle hitting the back of my neck. I reach my fingers up to brush it off, but it doesn’t go anywhere. That’s because it isn’t connected to anything physical.
I turn slowly, my whole body tensing up with fear as I do. I don’t know who I’m going to see, but that scares the living shit out of me. I prepare myself, waiting, expecting the worst…
“Oh…” The word falls apart on my lips. My heart flickers and flutters violently. But not in a scared way, in an excitable way, filled with sheer anticipation. “It’s you.”
The dark hair, the thick muscles, the endless tattoos, the sparkling green eyes… it’s him. The man from the diner, the one who features in all my naughty dreams. Ted, the guy who said he would be here with his mate to ‘protect’ me and Alyssa, but who I never thought would actually be here.
My whole body flip flops. I don’t know how I feel.
“Hi,” he mouths at me, curling his fingers around in a waving gesture. A giant smile spreads across my lips as I wave back. This is crazy, I feel like I’m falling apart, but in a really good way. In a way I haven’t felt before. He holds up his glass and points to it. “You want a drink?”
I need to say no, I need to reject this offer and run for the hills. I can’t let this guy in, even for one moment because his presence absolutely threatens to unhinge me, his eyes unravel me, and his mouth could literally undress me… that’s dangerous, not what my life in the city is supposed to be like.
I need to say no. So, why the hell have I become the nodding dog all of a sudden? Why am I bouncing my chin up and down to agree with him?
As he grins, looking genuinely pleased that I’ve agreed with him, I know I’m sucked in. It’s too late, I’m in danger, sucked in. Drawn in by him.
* * *
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About the Author
Mia is a contemporary romance writer who loves to write about strong, gorgeous, Greek God like alpha men who love protecting their sassy and sexy women.
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