AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t wait up…”
“You said you weren’t going to be late.”
“Did I?”
I wink but it doesn’t help to calm him. “You’ll survive a few hours without her. Don’t call if you need us.”
Laughing, I take Evie’s hand and together, we leave Louis holding Rosie and climb into the cab.
The music takes over me and my body moves on its own to the beat. This is what I needed. With the few shots we threw back at the bar and the two vodka and cokes, I’m buzzing. Evie’s smile matches my own and song after song, we dance and laugh. I promised we didn’t have to stay out late but the time slips away and as we dance and wait for the next song to start, the DJ announces it’s time for us to go home and the lights come on. Sweat pebbles my forehead and if I weren’t buzzed, I’d worry about what my makeup looks like.
“How is it the end of the night already?” Evie moans, pulling her dress down her thighs.
“Time flies when you’re having fun. Let’s get out of here, I’m starving.”
She loops her arm through mine, and we stumble our way through the now-emptying club and out into the cold dead of night. The queue at the taxi rank stretches down the street but the two men across the street hold my attention.
Manik and a prospect.
Evie sees them and waves. “Looks like we won’t have to queue for a ride home.”
“If we weren’t wearing heels, I’d make us run off.”
Evie snorts. “Even without heels, I’m not running anywhere. Come on, the car will be warm.”
She’s the first one to take a step and pulls me out into the road with her. I told Manik I couldn’t be around him and yet here he is.
“Psycho said to get you both home safe,” the prospect tells us.
Not glimpsing in Manik’s direction, I tell the prospect, “We were going for food.”
“Get in the car, Lexi. We’ll stop and pick up food on the way,” Manik finally says.
I’m far too tipsy to be around him and not do as he says. But still, I refuse to move until Evie tugs on my arm and nudges me toward the car.
In the backseat, Evie lays her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes but being in this small space with Manik there’s no chance of me drifting off.
Nothing is said while the prospect goes in to get our kebabs with extra sauce. Evie’s soft snores are the only sounds between us and I’m grateful when the prospect jumps back into the car with our food. Eastford isn’t that big and it doesn’t take long until Manik’s pulling onto my brother’s street.
Louis is waiting on the doorstep and heads for the car as soon as it stops. Opening the back door, he lifts Evie into his arms and before I can climb out of the car, Manik is closing the door and the prospect who collected our food walks over to his bike parked behind the car. Manik climbs back behind the wheel and starts the engine.
“What are you doing?” I shriek.
“You’re coming back to the club with me.”
He speeds up, taking the corner far too fast, and contemplating throwing myself out of the car vanishes.
“What part of, I need time, do you not understand?”
“I’ve given you time.”
“It wasn’t framed,” I spit out.
“And this isn’t up for discussion,” he retorts.
Obviously.
I keep my mouth closed and when he drives into the club and comes to a stop, he turns in his seat.
