AllFreeNovel
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“Drinks!”
She grabs my hand, and I trail behind her, taking in the VIP section at the back of the club to the left of the bar. While the exclusive space doesn’t have any physical barriers keeping the rest of the patrons from entering, there are two security guards just outside the entrance. Within the area are plush couches and private tables, and well-dressed individuals sipping their beverages while taking in the scene before them. Or ignoring the rest of us.
“What’s your drink of choice?” Harper asks me. She pulls me to her side in front of the bar and throws an arm around my shoulder. Her secure hold makes me feel less vulnerable to the countless eyes that could be watching us.
“Cherry vodka sour,” I say.
“Cherry vodka sour for her.” She points to me and then herself, shooting a wink at the bartender. The tall blonde returns the gesture, and Harper’s smile widens. “And I’ll take an apple martini,” she says. “Might as well keep the fruity theme going.”
I nod at her in thanks while keeping my eye on the bartender. I watch his every move, every twitch of his fingers, never letting the glass out my sight. Not even to blink.
Because that’s all it takes for someone to drug you.
When he delivers the beverages without any signs of foul play, I relax and take a sip. The alcohol slides into my belly, immediately heating me from the inside. Harper takes a large gulp from hers and grins at me.
“To the dance floor with your sexy ass!”
The flashing lights overhead reveal Harper’s features. Her face is alight with excitement, the dramatic smoky-look of her makeup emphasizing the shape and color of her green eyes. Her wild red tresses are pinned up in a messy topknot on her head, and her lips are stained red, pairing nicely with the shimmering gold minidress that clings to her body. She’s so lovely it’s hard to look anywhere except at her.
In contrast to Harper’s bright and shiny appearance, my outfit is a simple, form-fitting black halter dress. The plunging neckline was an issue when my friend suggested I wear it, but then she challenged me not to be a pussy. So here I am, wearing something that makes me feel both sexy and exposed.
It’s similar to the way I feel whenever I’m around Hayden.
“Come on, beautiful,” Harper says, pulling me away from my thoughts about a certain attorney. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I shake my head with a small laugh. “I’m not very coordinated.”
“I’m sure that’s a lie. Just do what I do.”
Drink in hand, my friend morphs into a goddess right before my eyes. Harper sways to the music as though every beat and every note controls her. Eyes closed and arms raised, she moves with a sensual grace that commands attention, and the people around us watch her with unconcealed interest. She’s beautiful to look at.
Some of the men draw near to her, but she simply smiles at them while getting closer to me. “Come on, Calista. Let’s do this shit.”
I down half the contents in my glass, needing all the liquid courage I can get. Then I let the energy of the crowd and the rhythm of the music take me away. Other than the fact that I promised Harper I’d come, forgetting everything in my life for a few hours of peace is why I’m here.
No murdered father.
No creepy stalker.
No Hayden.
We dance to several songs as one bleeds into the next. My leg muscles throb, and my forehead is damp with sweat due to my exertion, but the happiness streaming through me—thank you, vodka—is something I don’t want to end. If this is what it’s like to be young and carefree, then I owe Harper my gratitude for persuading me to go beyond my comfort zone. It helps that she continues to turn down male dance partners in favor of staying with me.
“This is amazing,” I say to her, shouting to be heard above the music.
She nods. “I know, right? Let’s take a break and get another drink.”
“Okay.”
Harper takes my hand. Once our glasses are full, she leads me to a tiny booth near the VIP section. A man dressed in an expensive-looking shirt and black slacks raises his hand and tilts his drink in our direction. I avert my gaze, knowing he’s not trying to get my attention.
“Hottie, nine o’clock,” Harper says, leaning close. “He has brown hair and a nice smile, and he won’t stop looking at you.”
“The one in the VIP section?”
She grins at me. “Ah, so you did notice him. Yes, that one.”
“I thought he was looking at you. Not that I’d blame him. You’re gorgeous.”
