Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Um, excuse me?
Over my dead body is that happening.
Before I can think better of it, I step out of the shadows and stalk to the door. Maybe Ava wanted to keep this on the downlow because of her father, but her friends need to understand that she doesn’t need help finding a man.
She’s already got one.
“Plus—” Britt’s voice comes to an abrupt halt as soon as she catches sight of me.
Once I’m directly behind Ava, my hands settle possessively on her shoulders. “That won’t be necessary,” I tell her, just so we’re clear on the situation.
Britt’s eyes widen. “Well, this is one plot twist I didn’t see coming.”
A slow grin spreads across Maverick’s face as Colby mutters, “No one I knew, my ass.”
Willow beams as she puts two and two together. “Perfect. Now both of you can join us.”
24
Ava
I’m tucked beneath Hayes’s muscular arm as we step through the back door of the club. The bouncer takes one look at the guys and waves us in. Blue Vibe is like an assault on the senses. The techno beat pulses off the black walls as strobe lights cut through the darkness. The interior can only be described as sumptuous. There’s a long stretch of glass bar at the far end of the room with booths and tables scattered around the perimeter. The dance floor is located on the opposite side of the space. Even on a Wednesday night, the place is jam-packed. There’s a surprising range of people inside, from students in college to adults in their mid-to-late twenties. A DJ sits perched high above the crowd in a booth, mixing music.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been here, but it’s different walking in with Hayes. Usually, I feel more like a fifth wheel. I keep catching glances from my friends. I haven’t said a word to them about Hayes. As soon as they got me alone in my room, I was bombarded with questions. Ones I didn’t have answers for.
My attention is drawn back to Hayes when his warm breath ghosts over my ear, and a shiver dances down my spine.
“Have I mentioned how amazing you look?”
My fingers flutter over the short black dress that barely skims my thighs. Britt found it in the back of my closet when she was rifling around for something I could wear. Apparently, a sweater and leggings weren’t going to cut it. She threatened to make a pit stop at her apartment to grab something for me.
Before I can respond, he adds, “Or how much I love when you wear your hair down?”
The thick mass has been left long and loose around my shoulders. I’m used to wearing it up so it’s out of the way when I skate. Most days, I forget to style it differently.
“Thank you.”
“Are you cool with your friends knowing we’re together?”
“Is that what we are?” Air gets trapped in my lungs as I blurt out the question. “Together?”
“I certainly hope so.”
The tension filling my muscles dissipates as happiness bubbles up inside me. I couldn’t tamp it down even if I tried. I have no idea how everything will play out in the future, but for tonight, I’m going to go with it and just enjoy myself.
“Who wants a shot?” Colby asks.
Willow shakes her head. “Nothing for me.”
She recently confided that she was diagnosed with childhood leukemia in high school. So she does what she can to keep her immune system as healthy as possible without missing out on the things she wants to do.
Maverick also shakes his head.
Until this year, alcohol was only something I indulged in when celebrating my birthday or winning a competition. When you’re in training, there’s no place for it.
But tonight, I’m going to make an exception.
“I’ll have one,” I say.
Hayes jerks his head in a nod. “One for me as well.”
Colby returns with four shots, two in each hand, before passing them out. We all clink our glasses before belting back the smooth liquor. The cinnamon flavor burns as it slides down the back of my throat.
Colby raises a brow. “One more?”
“Probably not—” Hayes begins.
“Yes,” I cut in.
“You sure that’s a good idea, Tink? My guess is that you’re a lightweight when it comes to shots.”
“Oh my God, did you just call her Tink?”
I break eye contact with him to glance at Willow.
A wide grin lights up her face. “That’s so cute.”
Slow smiles spread across Maverick’s and Colby’s faces.
“Yeah, super cute,” Maverick adds with a laugh.
Hayes groans from beside me. “Shut the hell up, McKinnon.”
Colby chuckles as he returns to the bar for a second round.
Already I feel the effects of the alcohol warming me from the inside out. Some of the constant worry that’s been gnawing at me ever since the messages from Nathan began popping up with more frequency melts away, and there’s something freeing about that.