Page 101 of One Night Only
Annie gives me a questioning look, but I nod at her to show it’s fine and try to turn my attention back to the table.
The waitress Soraya grabbed earlier returns surprisingly quickly with a tray of drinks and several baskets of fries, the smell of which has me salivating.
I eat them too quickly and drink the slightly too sweet cocktail without complaint. It was a mistake.
By the time the baskets are finished, I feel a little queasy and I rise slowly from the table, tucking my purse in behind Annie.
“I’ve got to use the bathroom,” I say. “No one do anything stupid.”
They ignore me, bent over Claudia’s phone as they look up pole-dancing classes.
I cross the floor to the narrow hall leading to the restrooms. Declan’s back behind the bar and I sneak glances at him as I squeeze by, unable to stop myself. It was a mistake coming here. Alcohol and Declan do not go well together. Or maybe the problem is they gotoowell together. But it’s not like he’s giving me any special attention.
Thankfully there’s no line for the ladies’ room, a cramped space covered with people’s signatures from over the years. I lock myself inside and sit with a thump on the toilet seat, the world spinning at the sudden movement.
I’m drunker than I thought.
Oh man, I’m going to feel this tomorrow.
I finish up and wash my hands, avoiding my reflection in the mirror and the sweaty, boozy version of myself I’d see in it.
Promising myself I’ll switch to water, I open the door only to see one of the men from before, Robbie, waiting outside. At first, I think he’s waiting to use the men’s room, but the way he straightens when he sees me tells me otherwise. We’re alone in the hallway, the low lighting creating an almost intimate atmosphere over us.
Crap.
I flash him a quick smile and duck my head, trying to hurry past him without being too obvious about it.
“You girls having fun tonight?”
“Yep.” I stumble back as he steps in front of me.
“What’s your name?”
“I’ve got to get back to my friends.”
“You sure?”
“Very sure,” I say, trying to slip around him again. “I— Hey!” He gropes at my waist, his hand straying lower as he pulls me toward him. I turn to push him away but as I do his lips find mine, wet and clumsy and disgusting. For one horrible second, I’m too shocked to do anything and he takes his advantage, pressing me against a door as he tries to shove his tongue into my mouth.
And then he’s gone.
I gag as he’s pulled away from me, wiping my lips with the back of my hand.
Declan stands in front of me, pinning a shocked Robbie to the wall.
“What the hell, man?” Robbie tries to shake Declan off, but his grip only tightens, his knuckles turning white.
“Declan?” A dark-clothed bouncer strides down the hallway, unclipping a walkie-talkie from his belt. “You alright, ma’am?” he asks when he sees me.
Not knowing how to answer that yet, I take a step to the side to better see Declan’s face. He doesn’t look at me. His eyes are on Robbie, who’s breathing hard, all bravado gone.
“Declan,” I murmur and his eyes flick to me. He’s furious.
“Let him go,” I say.Don’t do anything stupid, I want to add.
A long second passes before he does. Robbie sags against the wall, rubbing his shoulder. “I’m suing,” he snaps.
“Get out,” Declan says. “You and your friends. Now.”
