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“All right.” I grab my wallet and phone from the table. “Let’s go.”
As we pull up to the club, I can feel the bass of the music vibrating through my bones. The line outside the entrance wraps around the building, but Brent and Omar lead me straight to the front, where the bouncer recognizes us and lifts the velvet rope.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” He nods, ushering us inside.
The interior is like stepping into another world. Strobing lights reflect off mirrored walls, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the writhing bodies on the dance floor. A sleek bar stretches along one side of the room while plush booths occupy the other. We make our way to one of the reserved tables, settling into the comfortable seats as a waitress approaches to take our drink orders.
I order my usual, still feeling the weight of Lily’s revelation pressing down on me.
“Make it a whole bottle!” Brent claps me on the back. “We’re celebrating life tonight, right?”
“Sure,” I murmur, forcing a smile as I reach for my phone.
Lilly hasn’t called, though. And why should she?
I was so dismissive earlier, but I didn’t know what else to do. Didn’t know what to say. This whole pregnancy has come out of left field, and it feels like I’m still spinning from the shock of it.
As if on cue, women begin to flock to our table, drawn by our VIP status and eager to join in the festivities. Their laughter rings in my ears, their perfume mingling with the scent of spilled alcohol and sweat. None of them hold any interest to me — not when all I can think about is Lily, alone and pregnant with my child.
“Hey, Felix, why don’t you dance with her?” Omar nudges me toward a beautiful woman with long, wavy hair and a sultry smile.
She extends a hand, inviting me to join her on the dance floor, but I shake my head.
“Sorry.” I rub the back of my neck and look away. “I’m not really in the mood.”
“Come on, man.” Brent pours us a fresh round of drinks. “You’re usually the life of the party! What’s gotten into you?”
I glance at my phone again, disappointed to find the screen still blank. Should I go to Lily? Or just bite my tongue and stay here?
She probably doesn’t even expect to hear from me, and maybe that’s for the best. I can’t be the man she wants, so my presence would probably be an uncomfortable reminder of the things we don’t have.
Grabbing my glass, I slam the rest of the liquid down. Is it my third? My fourth? How long have I been here, lost in the music and my spinning thoughts?
Maybe coming out tonight was a bad idea.
“Guys, I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“What? Seriously?” Omar protests.
The pulsing beat of the music vibrates through my chest as I continue to scan the crowd, my eyes drawn to the flashes from smartphones like moths to a flame. The atmosphere in the club feels suffocating, and it’s not just because of the smoke machines or the crush of bodies on the dance floor. I know I should be enjoying myself — this is exactly the kind of place I used to love — but all I can think about is Lily.
“Hey!” Brent shouts into my ear, trying to make himself heard over the music. “Smile for the camera!”
I look up to see a group of club-goers snapping pictures of our table, their faces lit with excitement at the prospect of capturing a candid shot of the infamous playboy prince. Normally, I’d indulge them with a charming grin or a playful wink, but tonight, I feel nothing but irritation.
“Enough!” I hiss, pushing away from the table and stalking toward the exit.
I shove past the throngs of people, my face burning with anger and embarrassment.
“Prince Felix, wait!” a woman calls out behind me, but I don’t stop.
I need to get away from here — from the noise, the attention, the endless parade of beautiful women who only see me as a trophy to be won.
I practically sprint back to my rental house, slamming the door shut behind me and sagging against it in relief. The silence is a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the club, and I take a deep breath.
There’s no real silence here though, because once again, I’m alone with my thoughts.
And it seems those are worse than anything else.
