Page 98 of Holding You
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
RUBY
Time seems to stop when you’re having fun, and right now, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun that didn’t include my son.
Hudson opted for a table with bottle service. I can’t even begin to think of what something like this would cost. We have our own half-circle booth that fits all of us, with room to spare. There is a table in front of the seating with a cutout in the middle for ice and drinks. There are bottles of three different alcohols and the juice or beverage of choice to mix with them and a dedicated waitress who has been here the entire time to make our drinks.
Even though I haven’t drunk anything but water, my mind is blown that people experience this more than once in their lives.
A Bar Song by Shaboozy is playing, and the girls and I have huddled together as we dance and shake and sing as loudly as we can. Not that anyone can hear us over the volume of the music and club noise in general. The guys are sitting down and seem to be deep into multiple conversations. When random songs come on, a few will come to dance with us.
Mostly Hudson, Luca, and Miles. Dutton and Linc wandered off with Carver and Archer a while ago, and we haven’t seen them since.
The next song bleeds into the ending of the current one, never letting the music stop.
Shay yawns, leaving the girls to find my brother.
She whispers in his ear, and then Hudson and Miles nod quickly.
Declan’s eyes are already on me.
I’ve sneaked glances at him all night, and every time I’ve caught him looking back.
At some point, I’d assumed he would dance with me the way the others did, but he never moved.
He just watched.
Me.
Only me.
Knowing he can’t take his eyes off me has kept my body alive all night.
“We’re going to head back to the room,” Hudson leans in to yell into my ear. He jerks his thumb over his shoulder in case I couldn’t hear him.
I spot the others in the group gathering any belongings they brought and a different waitress steps up to Hudson with a little clipboard.
My brother signs it, and then the group moves for the door, but Declan's hand grabs mine.
“We should stay,” he says.
“Yes,” I answer without thinking.
The group keeps moving, but Luca looks over his shoulder and gives me a thumbs-up.
I return it and then spin to find Declan talking to the waitress.
He holds a finger up and then slips a hand around my middle to pull me close.
“Do you want to keep this table or move to the dance floor?” he asks.
“What do you want to do?”
His eyes lock onto mine as a smirk touches his lips.
“I want to dance with you.”
I pinch my lips together to hold back the mega smile that wants to take over.
