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Nash has theories, of course, but whatever the reason, it’s impossible to cling onto it any longer . . . However, that doesn’t mean my dick has free rein to her. There isn’t a world in which us being together is something anyone would accept, at least not my family, who mean the world to me. And that is something Idoneed to remind myself of.
“Are you even listening to me?” Nash calls out, stepping into the room and hopping up on the counter.
Rolling my eyes, I grab my towel and wrap it around my waist before flicking the water off. “Not really. I can’t say I ever do.” He throws my toothpaste at me, and I dodge it before shoving him off the counter and grabbing my aftershave. “Where are we going?”
“Probably that new club off Boulevard, they don’t card there,” he says, wagging his brows. “Plus, they’re going to have all the hot co-eds since it’s Saturday night.”
“Thought you were with Maisie?”
“Nah, man, we’re just having some fun.” He shrugs, hopping off the counter. “Plus, she’s the one who says we’re not exclusive, so I’m free as a bird.”
I narrow my eyes, cocking my head as I watch him. “You buy that? Isn’t that normally a trap?”
“You would think so, but since I know she’s also planning on finding some guys to dance with tonight—” He wags his brows, thrusting his hips into the air, forcing a laugh from me. “I think she’s good.”
“You two confuse me.”
“Some of us aren’t meant to be tied down. Not like you.”
“I’m not—”
“Have you even looked at another chick since Beatrice showed up?” I open my mouth, but he continues before I get the chance. “And don’t say Harlow. Because we both know that’s bullshit. You two have never and would never, solely platonic right there. Just like me and Bea. You’ve had a hard-on for Beatrice since we were kids, man, don’t act like it means nothing now.”
“It doesn’t. It can’t.”
“Why?” he asks, his brows raised.
“You know why, bro.”
“’Cause your family is holding some stupid grudge?” He surmises, shaking his head. “If you can let it go, they damn well need to. None of it is her fault, Mav. She was a kid, and she made a mistake. Can any of us honestly say we’d have done anything different in her shoes?”
Now it’s my turn to shrug.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he says, pushing the door open and stepping into my room. “We don’t know why she made the decision she did, but I know she had her reasons, and in the long run, I’d say she’s suffered for it more than anyone else. So I’ll say the same thing I said to Willow when she chewed me out over being friends with Bea again. I didn’t pick sides back then, and I’m sure as shit not about to now. You’re grown adults, it’s nobody else’s business what you do with your lives. And if two people deserve a real shot at happiness, it’s you guys.”
The club is packed with bodies when we make it past security. Pushing through the bodies writhing around the floor, we camp out at the bar, ordering a couple beers while we wait for Beck and Gray to make an appearance.
Nursing mine, I lean against the bar top, flicking my gaze over the space. Bright lights flicker over the patrons, and the sound of heavy dance music bounces through the speakers, echoing off the walls.
A few girls catch my eyeline, smiling at me. One turns her body, popping her chest forward and pulling her lip between her teeth as she stares at me.
Instead of having the effect I assume she wants, it only sends another image barreling through my mind: one of a girl with red hair, chewing at her bottom lip.
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose, forcing my mind to conjure up something else—anything else—as I blow out a breath. But it seems the world has other ideas when Nash slaps my arm, gesturing to the center of the room.
My breath stutters, and I’m sure I don’t breathe for a solid minute when I finally zero in on what he’s pointing at.
“Is that—”
“The fuck is she doing?” I blare, not letting Nash finish his question as I slam my bottle on the bar and start toward the girls. Nash grabs my bicep, tugging me backward, but his attempts are futile. Slipping from his hold, I make my way halfway across the floor, only stopping when Beck steps in front of me and slings his arm over my shoulder, spinning me around.
“The party has arrived, boys,” he shouts over the music, pulling me back to the bar with him, as he grabs a beer from Nash’s waiting hand, mine spilling over the bar top, thanks to the force I put it down with. “Now who’s going to tell me why Mav looks murderous.”
“That.” Nash smirks, pointing toward the girls.
My hands are clenched to fists at my sides when I spot them again. Maisie and Harlow dance freely, a couple of guys hovering around them while they throw their arms in the air, their heads tipping back with laughter, but my attention doesn’t stay on them.
Nope. I’m beholding the girl shuffling awkwardly, her drink held to her chest as she chuckles at her friends. Dressed in all black, Beatrice looks like every fucking dream I’ve ever had come to life.
