“Won.”
No response.
“Silent treatment.Real mature.”
“I really am sorry, Benji,” I offered.
He gave me a small smile as he raised the phone to his ear.“Don't worry, Sav, I forgive you.”
“Hey!What about me?”
Benji walked to the back, heading to Jaxon's office, and I giggled at Jaxon's dumbfounded look.
“I'm sorry, too!Oh, come on, Benji.”
The door shut behind him, and everyone laughed.
32 | The Best Thing You Ever Lost
Savannah
Low,moodylightingspilledacross velvet seating and polished marble floors of the nightclub,Momentos.There were gold accents catching on just about everything, with aqua lighting that felt intentional instead of excessive.The bar stretched long and sleek, backlit with rows of top-shelf liquor that looked more like display pieces than something meant to be poured.
Music pulsed through the space—not overpowering, but constant.Controlled.Like everything else there.Jaxon mentioned the owner was Russian, and yeah, it showed in the sharp edges and clean-cut interior.
Tonight was the bachelor and bachelorette party, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I would much have been rather in bed.Instead, there I was at the bar, drink in hand, fingers loosely wrapped around the glass as I looked out at the crowd.
Parties like that tended to blur into one chaotic, indulgent mess, and this one proved to be no different.There was loud laughter and music with bodies stacked too close together.That's what happened when you mixed regular weekend patrons with Lori's insistence on having her bachelorette party there.
A crazier idea to have both parties in the same place, just on opposite ends of the club.
My expression gave nothing away as I took a slow sip, letting the burn settle just enough to keep me grounded.
Everything would go down tonight.
The plan saw to that, and Jaxon and I took the extra step of arriving separately tonight.Every step from here on out was carefully calculated—deemed necessary to finally put that part of my life behind me.
But until Lori graced us with her presence, I was keeping to myself and just people-watching.The booths, outside of the bachelor party madness, were all filled tonight and I'd seen business being dealt in cash, drugs, and alcohol.It was incredible what—
Giggles.
The familiar sound had my ears perked, but
I didn't dare turn around.No, I wanted her to come to me.I just took another slow sip before setting my glass down gently against the bar and turned to get the attention of the bartender.
And there she was.
Flanked by her usual circle, laughter spilling out of them like they owned the room.She came into my space, back toward me as she leaned against the bar, laughing her head off.It didn't surprise me when she shoved against me.
“Oops, sorry, I—” Her eyes landed on me.
“Oh, it's you.”
Her smile changed, wide and satisfied as if she'd already won this round.
“Aww, hi, Savvy,” she greeted smoothly.
“Lori.”
