Inside the club was far nicer than the ones I’d snuck into when I was in high school.
The ceiling had these unique triangle dropdowns that glowed with different colors and the floor was shiny and clean—not covered in a layer of sticky grossness like most were.
The bar was lined with every drink imaginable and backlit in varying colors like the triangle tiles on the ceiling.
“Boys,” I patted Ezra on the shoulder, “why don’t you go grab a table and some drinks.”
Ezra eyed me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “And what are you ladies going to do?”
I grabbed Emma and Arden’s hands. “Dance of course.”
Before either of them could protest, like I knew they would, I dragged them onto the dance floor.
It was a fast paced song that immediately had my heart racing.
“I can’t dance,” Emma whined.
“I shouldn’t dance,” Arden interjected. “At least not like this. I’m a mom.” She glared at the people around us with disdain in her amber colored eyes.
“First off, you can dance.” I pointed a finger at Emma. “Secondly,” I narrowed my eyes on Arden, “just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you lose all sex appeal. Own it, girl.”
When neither of them moved I started to dance. I reached out and grabbed Emma’s hips, getting her to sway in time to the music. Once she had it I set my sights on Arden, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was already loosening up. She was clearly still nervous, and rather awkward, but I knew in a matter of minutes she’d let the rest of her reservations go.
Since both girls seemed to be fine on their own now I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the moment.
All that existed was me, the music, and how it made me feel.
I swayed my hips, lifting my hair off of my shoulders when my skin began to dampen with sweat. There were a lot of people packed in here and the air was stifling, but it was all a part of the experience.
Three songs later I finally opened my eyes and saw that Emma and Arden had disappeared.
I searched the crowded dance floor for them and came up empty.
Feeling irritated I started towards the tables.
I finally found them sitting at a large booth with the guys.
I stuck my hands on my hips and gave them both the most withering glare I could muster. “You bitches ditched me.”
Emma giggled. “We were thirsty.” She pointed to her drink.
I shook my head. “What are you even drinking?” I asked, sliding into the booth beside Arden.
Emma lifted her brightly colored drink. “I have no idea, but it’s delicious. We got you one too.” She pointed at a drink in the center of the table.
I took it and cringed. It was too sweet for me, but it packed quite the punch. For someone like Emma, who didn’t drink much, she’d be wasted in thirty minutes…maybe less.
“Are you drinking?” I asked Arden.
She shook her head. “No.”
I couldn’t blame her. She had a kid and dealing with a hangover and a three-year-old in the morning would be killer.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Hayes chanted, lifting his drink in the air. “We should toast.”
“To what?” Ezra asked.
Hayes’ lips twisted in thought. “To the Willow Creek family and all the adventures that are headed our way.”
“Hell yeah I’ll toast to that.” Maddox lifted his drink—which I’d bet was diet Pepsi, since he was tonight’s DD, and tapped it against Hayes’, before we all followed suit.
I downed my drink, and upon seeing the empty cup Ezra signaled someone over to our table.
Without me even getting a chance to open my mouth, Ezra ordered me a new drink—something completely different than the one I’d had. I’d bet money Emma had ordered the first drink for me, and of course Ezra had noticed that I detested it. But hey, it was doing its job of getting me buzzed, so it was still a winner in my book.
“Thanks,” I mouthed to him, where he sat across from me.
He waved his hand in dismissal.
Emma finished her drink and bumped Ezra to move so that she and Maddox could slide out of the booth.
“Outta my way!” She cried. “I want to dance with my man!”
Maddox snorted, fighting a grin. “I think someone’s buzzed already.”
“Absolutely not.” She pouted, standing with her hands on her hips.
Maddox leaned down and took her lips between his, kissing her long and deep. She melted into his touch and then they disappeared onto the dance floor.
Beside me Arden let out a dreamy sigh. “Is it just me or are they the cutest couple ever?”
“They are,” I agreed.
“I’ve seen cuter,” Hayes piped in.
Arden and I swung our gaze in his direction. “Like who?” I questioned, as a fresh drink was set down for me.
“One time I saw these two puppies that were clearly in love. Their little tongues kept hanging out and their tails were wagging. It was the epitome of cuteness.” He grinned easily, stretching his arm out along the back of the booth.
“Aww, that sounds precious,” Arden cried, clasping her hands together.
At the same time, I said, “You’re so full of shit.”
Arden narrowed her eyes on me. “That was an adorable story.”
“And you’re drunk.”
She wrinkled her nose in confusion. “I’m not even drinking.”
“Exactly.”
I finished my drink and stood. “See you losers later. I’m going to get my dance on.”
Before anyone could protest I stepped back and allowed my body to be carried away by the crowd.
The room was pulsing with energy and you couldn’t help but respond to it.
I let the music flow through my veins as I swung my hips to the beat of the song. My arms swayed above my head and I truly let myself go for the first time on this trip.
I closed my eyes and the glowing lights glittered behind my eyelids.
One song blended into many and my body grew damp with sweat as my heart beat like a drum.
A smile touched my lips when I felt arms wind around me from behind.
I’d recognize the feel of that body anywhere.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been watching you?” He growled lowly in my ear, his teeth grazing my lobe. “You’re so fucking sexy it was killing me that I could only look and not touch. It was like having my favorite candy dangled in front of me and saying one bite would kill me.”
“And yet,” I panted, leaning my back against his front as I opened my eyes, “you’re here touching me.”
“I decided it was worth the risk.”
“They might see us,” I warned.
I waited for him to say he didn’t care, that he wanted me and it didn’t matter anymore—that this arrangement was futile and he wanted me forever, as his future and not just his temporary pleasure.
But he didn’t say that.
Instead he whispered, “Then we’ll just have to make sure they don’t see us.”
I squished my eyes closed once more, silently reminding myself that I was being silly. He was sticking to our agreement and I couldn’t fault him for that. But my heart was breaking a little more every day and the sex—as amazing as it was—wasn’t enough to keep me whole. I couldn’t keep doing this to myself, and I vowed in that moment that once we got home I’d find my own place. This needed to end before I broke completely, but for now I would let myself enjoy the feel of his body wrapped around mine for just a little bit longer. Selfish? Maybe so. But if I was going to be forced to go the rest of my life without him then I wanted to make the most of every second we had left.
“Sadie.” He prompted when I’d been silent too long.
“Just dance with me.”
He obliged.
I never knew Ezra was such a good dancer, but the way he moved his body against mine should’ve been a crime. It was one of the most erotic things I’d ever experienced, and he wasn’t even being sexual about it. Not at all, actually. He felt the music and it pulsed through him and into me. It was like the beat of the song made us one.