Page 75 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

Chapter 18

PRESENT DAY

“Club Neon,” Liz says, glancing around the wild dance floor. Her teeth are glowing under the blacklights, and I run a tongue over my own wondering if they look the same.

“Well, can’t cite them for false advertising,” I tell her. She nods and refolds the thick coat hanging over her arm. When we spotted Alec and Rian walking into this place, we were just happy there wasn’t a huge line or a bouncer we had to bribe to get in. After stepping inside, we quickly discovered why. The place is so hot and full of stoned dancers that most Valentine’s Day club-goers would probably prefer standing outside on the side of the road to being in here.

I stifle a laugh as I imagine what Alec is thinking about this place.

“Have you seen them yet?” I shout over the music. Liz shakes her head, her long blond ponytail swaying. It’s been at least twenty minutes since we had eyes on them, and my stomach is getting that knotted, gross feeling that maybe he’s in a dark corner showing Rian just how talented he is with his mouth.

“Oh God, I might puke.”

“Don’t say ‘puke,’ ” Liz says, and even under the blacklights I notice her face getting green. I don’t think she’s feeling too well. When I had to withdraw around the corner from the restaurant because of my coughing fit, I was hoping she’d overheard juicy things, but instead she told me that she got a whiff of the food, and the seafood risotto made her want to yack up her entire stomach, which distracted her so much that she didn’t hear a thing.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She nods. “It’s just really hot in here.”

“Maybe if you took off that insane coat?” I say with a laugh. But I take a step back because she really does look like she’s going to be sick.

“I need water,” she mutters.

“All right.” We weave through the crowd over to the bar, and the bartender shakes his head when I order two Dasanis, like I’m some kind of buzzkill.

“Hey, business is business, buddy,” I tell him, snatching the waters and handing one to Liz. He either doesn’t hear me or chooses to ignore it. I put the cold bottle up against my burning neck instead of cracking the top.

“I’m going to go around one more time, and if they’re not here, let’s wait outside.”

Liz nods, her lips tightly wrapped around the bottle. I dive back onto the dance floor, braving the sweaty and occasionally handsy crowd.

It’s been over a year since I’ve been to a place like this—a place you go to hook up with a random person without a care in the world. Walking through the crowd sober and with my bottle of water, I feel like I’m fifty years old.

The faces start to blur as the DJ throws down a more upbeat number, and I can’t tell who’s who without getting awfully close to personal bubbles. What I can tell, however, is everyone on this dance floor is having dance sex—something I know Alec excels at.

I get a whiff of sweat and BO, and my nose crinkles in distaste. An undeniable hatred of this place and how it reminds me of who I used to be rises up, and I have the urge to hunt Rian down and punch her in the face for bringing Alec here. He’s worth so much more than this.

“Hey,” Liz says, setting a hand on my shoulder, nearly startling me out of my boots. She really doesn’t look good. “I found them.”

My eyes widen and I follow her gaze to a couple dancing near the back of the crowd. Alec is so much taller than Rian, but it doesn’t stop all their body parts aligning in a way that sets my teeth on edge. I take one determined step in that direction, but Liz reaches out and pulls me back.

“I’m all for a scene, but you were against it at the restaurant. So…think for a second.”

Right. If I’m going to be a crazy bitch about this, I may as well be thorough and think through all the possible scenarios. I want to be sure that no matter what happens, they don’t kiss, and he comes home with me.

I watch them in a jealous, green daze. Damn it, why didn’t I just say it three weeks ago? Why didn’t I let the words fall from my tongue and into his heart and let him know softly, quietly? Grand gestures are great only if everything falls into line perfectly.

“Um, Theresa,” Liz prods, “you better decide fast.”

I blink, and suddenly Alec is spinning Rian around so they’re facing each other. Their faces are close, they’re talking, he’s smiling. I can see the whites of his teeth, which match the glowing white collar of his undershirt. Liz snatches my wrist, her fingers hot.

“Make a beeline for him,” she hisses. “Grab his arm. Drag him away.”

“But what about Ria—”

“Trust me.” Her eyes are wide, and the greenish hue of her skin prevents me from arguing. She pushes through the crowd in the opposite direction, toward an exit door. Oh God, the poor thing is sick, and here I am trying to sabotage a silly auction date.

I refuse to look back at Alec and have that ignite my selfishness, and I start after Liz. I make it two steps before the entire club goes black.

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