AllFreeNovel
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I need to go find them, but I don’t know where that is. Dammit.
Steve. I have to find Steve. Why didn’t I pay attention when he first brought me there? Why didn’t I check the street name and building number when I left? I know why I didn’t—I was in a come-addled delirium.
Steve hasn’t come in since the day he brought me to the club. And it might be months since I left. Years. Forever. It feels like forever. What if Steve never comes back? What am I going to do then? I can’t bear the thought.
Okay, okay. Think. Think. I have to think. I can’t go another sleepless night without their touch. Did they drug me and now I’m addicted? No, no. It was only one night and that’s not how addictions work. It was them, what they did to me. That’s what has me on edge.
Damn it,Everly.Focus.
Steve. He’s the key. I need to find Steve. He hasn’t been to the cafe since I’ve been back. So I have to figure out where to find him. He goes to the gym across from the cafe. I can check there. The staff themselves will no doubt refuse to give me any information, but he’s got friends there who might be willing to at least let him know I’m looking for him. Right? Fuck, I hope so because I need to get back to the club and to Xeno and Zoro like I need to take my next breath. Maybe even more. No, most definitely more. Okay, I have a plan. Let’s see if I can get through the next couple of hours without screaming.
As soon as my shift is over, I head across the street, hoping that someone has seen Steve.
Some power is smiling down at me because when I walk in, there he is, Steve at the juice bar, sucking on a smoothie. Relief runs through me at the sight of him.
“Uh, hey?” I hope Steve recognizes me because I barely recognize myself.
He blinks over at me, then, “Everly? Is that you?”
“Yeah. Yeah, hey. How goes it?” I go through the niceties, even though what I want to do is grab hold of him, shake him, and demand that he take me back to the club. Right this fucking minute. I take a deep breath, trying to find some semblance of control.
“Fantastic. Areyouokay? You look… well, you’ve looked better.”
“I’m—I’m just… I’m having a hard time, you know?” A really hard time. Like the worst time ever.
“Oh… how long has it been since you were at the club?”
I have to think to remember the real time because I know it’s not forever, which is what it feels like. “A week. I don’t remember how to get back. Can you help me?”
“Oh, man, a whole week? You must be going crazy. Give me your phone.”
I pass it over and he takes it, types something in.
“I’m headed that way myself, so we can share an Uber, but this is the address so you can go back on your own next time.”
“Oh. Okay, thanks.” And I’ll get their numbers too. I need them.
“You want a smoothie for the trip? You look like you could use the boost.” Steve doesn’t wait for my answer, turning to the guy behind the counter and ordering a large berry protein explosion.
“I—Yeah. I’m just worn through. Like totally worn out.”
“Not to be mean or anything, but you look it.” Steve pays for the smoothie, then hands it over. “Come on, our ride should be here in a minute. Drink that up—you’ll need your strength where we’re going.”
“Yeah?” I sure hope so. I hope they welcome me with open arms and plans to blow my mind all over again. I want to feel wrung out. Okay, so I already feel wrung out, but it’s different when it’s because they’ve fucked me into oblivion.
“Yeah. I want to go home as badly as you do, man. Maybe more.”
I start to shake my head and tell him it’s not my home, except I’d rather be there than at my apartment, don’t I? I want to go and stay like they said I could. They were just teasing, but I want it.
I want to go back and go home.
To them.
He gives me a knowing, sympathetic smile and squeezes my shoulder before opening the car door for me.
“There’s no shame in needing them,” he tells me as we settle next to each other and the car pulls back out into traffic. Bringing us back to the club.
“I’m just… so worn out, you know? Nothing is right. Nothing feels right.”
