Page 10 of Defying the Crown
"Nope, nope, definitely not, oh hello-" She holds up a pair of black skinny jeans I forgot I owned. "These are perfect. Pair them with that transparent net shirt where you can see your nipples and your doc martens and you'll be irresistible to all the boys."
"Yes ma'am." I give her a mock salute before stripping off my slacks and button-down. As I shimmy into the jeans, I have to admit they do make my ass look fantastic. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all.
Twenty minutes later, we pile into the Uber, Jayda in her signature goth getup and Caleb in his usual hipster attire. The vodka gets passed around as we head towards the club, the burn in my throat a welcome distraction from the day's events.
By the time we reach the club, I'm buzzing pleasantly, the stress of work and Cassandra's threats feeling far away. Jayda grabs my hand, grinning wildly.
"Ready to dance your ass off and forget about the corporate world for a night?"
I grin back, letting her pull me towards the pulsing music. "Absolutely."
We push our way through the writhing bodies, the beat pulsing through my bones. Sweat glistens on skin as the crowd moves as one to the thumping bass. Jayda and Caleb dance close, lost in each other's eyes, while I let the music take over, my body moving of its own accord.
After a few songs, I gesture towards the bar, mouthing "drink" to Jayda. She nods, still wrapped up in Caleb. I weave my way off the dance floor, the press of bodies giving way to cool air as I approach the bar.
"Whiskey sour," I call to the bartender over the din. As I wait, I feel a presence beside me. Glancing over, I'm met with the sight of a handsome older man, salt and pepper hair artfully tousled, suit jacket straining against broad shoulders.
"Hey there," he purrs, eyes raking over my body appreciatively. "Can I buy you that drink?"
I swallow hard, suddenly feeling out of my depth. It's been so long since I've flirted with anyone, let alone a gorgeous man like this.
"S-sure," I stammer out, internally cringing at how lame I sound.
He smiles, signaling the bartender. "Two whiskey sours." His eyes find mine again. "I'm Liam."
"Daniel," I manage, taking a large gulp of my drink as soon as it's placed in front of me.
Liam chuckles, leaning in close. His expensive cologne fills my nostrils. "Nervous?"
I laugh shakily. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's endearing," he murmurs, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. His face is inches from mine now, his intentions clear.
Panic rises in my throat as memories of Alex flash through my mind. I jerk back, nearly toppling off my barstool.
"I-I'm sorry," I choke out, shame heating my cheeks. "I can't do this. It's too soon and I'm not ready for this..."
Liam straightens, disappointment flickering across his chiseled features before being replaced by a polite yet cool mask. "No worries. Your loss though, we would have had a lot of fun." He winks, knocking back his drink before melting into the crowd.
I stare into my glass, the amber liquid blurring as tears prick at my eyes. What the fuck was that and why did I chicken out? Will I ever be ready to move on?
The tough looking bartender catches my eye as I blink back tears, her brow furrowed in concern. She leans over, her voice raised to be heard over the music.
"Hey, you okay? Don't let that guy get to you. He's a regular here and trust me, you dodged a bullet. Pretty sure you'd catch something nasty from him." She winks conspiratorially.
A surprised laugh escapes me and I feel some of the tightness in my chest ease. "Thanks for the warning. Guess I should be more careful who I let buy me drinks, huh?"
She grins. "Stick with me, kid. I'll steer you right."
I raise my glass in a toast. "To dodging bullets and not catching STDs!"
We clink glasses and I down the rest of my whiskey sour, the alcohol burning away the last of my embarrassment. Setting the empty glass on the bar, I flash her a grateful smile before turning to head back to the dance floor.
Jayda spots me and waves me over, her face flushed and glowing. "There you are! We were about to send out a search party!"
I force a laugh, letting her pull me into the crush of bodies. "Just needed a drink to keep up with you two."
Caleb slings an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "Stick with us, we'll keep you young!"
