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I PULL UP TO the club in my overpriced suit. If Maverick and Tatum weren’t the closest people to me, there’s no way I’d be here right now. I’ve already been given the heads up by Tate that Parker will be here with McKenna – unsurprisin
gly enough. From what I’ve heard lately, he’s been keeping her on a tight leash since she decided to work on things. I really wish I knew what she sees in him. Maybe then it would be a little easier to come to terms with the fact that she’s not mine.
The valet waves me toward them but I choose to park my car myself. Not only do I not trust any of these people to drive my overpowered baby, but I also need another minute to breathe before I go inside. Roman already texted me, letting me know that McKenna is there. She’s less than 500 feet away, and Christ, my body knows it.
It took two weeks before I could stand to think her name, longer until I could hear it spoken without zoning out into a depressed state of nothingness. Maverick has jokingly told me to man up more times than I’d like to admit. Realistically, I’ve been in love with McKenna Taylor for years. It’s going to take a bit longer than a month to get over it.
Giving my name to the bouncer, he pulls back the rope and lets me through. It’s not like any club I’ve ever been to. The music that’s playing is less ‘bump and grind’ and more classy instrumentals. All the men are dressed in suits, and the women in dresses. It’s clearly an expensive place, not that I expected any less with what Maverick has planned for tonight.
I grab a beer from the bar and then go to stand along the railing, overlooking the dance floor. As if my eyes are drawn to her, they immediately find McKenna in the crowd. She’s spinning around with a smile on her face that says she doesn’t have a single worry in the world. She looks so carefree and happy that I almost forget how to breathe. Seeing her again makes me feel a way I haven’t in weeks.
“Might want to wipe that drool off your chin before someone notices.” Maverick teases, suddenly appearing next to me.
I scoff playfully. “Have your nerves made you piss yourself yet?”
“Ha-ha. No, asshole. I’ve got this in the bag.”
“You sure? She could turn you down again.” When the smile drops right off his face, I smirk. “I’m kidding. She loves you. Not sure why, but she does.”
He takes a sip of his beer and then turns to lean against the railing, facing me. “Probably for the same reason Mac loves you.”
I should’ve known he would bring this up. If there is one thing Maverick is incapable of, it’s minding his own damn business. Him and Tatum really are two peas in a pod.
“Don’t go there, man. Not tonight.”
He nods in defeat but still makes sure to have the last word. “All I’m saying is you could fight for her. I mean, you waited years for a chance to get her back. Giving up now just seems like a waste.”
With one last shrug, he walks away and leaves me to ponder my thoughts. What if he’s right? McKenna being the one for me has been the only sure thing in my life since I was a kid. Breaking her heart was a mistake that I beat myself up over endlessly. For us to end like this, to end at all, feels like everything we went through was for nothing.
Parker comes out of nowhere and takes McKenna into his arms. When her eyes meet his, she smiles even brighter. She clings to him like she used to do with me, only, she’s happier. The ring she always remembered to take off glistens in the chandelier lighting, a blatant reminder of what’s bound to be the worst day of my life, only a couple weeks away. As much as I wish Maverick was right, he’s not.
I’M STANDING WITH TATUM and Roman, laughing at Rome’s inability to keep his attention off Ivy. I don’t understand why he doesn’t just make a move. She’s sweet, gorgeous, and single – the perfect trifecta. Still, he stays away and watches her from a distance.
“You know, I could find out if she’s interested.” Tatum suggests.
He turns to glare at her. “Absolutely not. You start asking questions like that and she’s going to figure it out. It’s bad enough this dipshit told McKenna.”
I chuckle. “It slipped! Besides, that was over a month ago and she hasn’t said anything.”
“Who hasn’t said anything about what?” Ivy steps up with a newly made drink in her hands.
Rome’s eyes go wide as I choke on my beer. Tatum laughs. “No one has said anything about how handsome Roman looks all dressed up.”
“Oh.” She checks him out from head to toe, somehow missing that he’s practically squirming under her gaze. “Yeah, you clean up nice Rome.”
“T-thanks.”
Her eyes narrow at his stutter, but just as she’s about to say something, a voice that has my heart on overdrive interrupts.
“There you are! Ivy, you can’t just leave me with no heads up. I probably looked like a weirdo dancing out there all on my own!”
McKenna is so busy yelling at her best friend that she doesn’t even notice my presence. All eyes are on me, except for hers, trying to gauge my reaction. I do my best to keep my face neutral, but my skin is crawling. I shove my one free hand into my pocket to avoid reaching out to touch her.
“Are you even listening to me?!” Finally, Mac follows Ivy’s line of sight until she lands on me – finding me already staring back at her. She swallows hard. “Colton.”
All the times my name has rolled off her tongue play in my mind, each one sounding better than the last. This one, however, is different. This one sounds pained, and trust me when I say I know the feeling.
“McKenna. How’ve you been?”
