“I have a fake.” My face must have shown my surprise because she rolled her eyes. “Listen, this is the only thing that will give me the courage to dance. And—” she eyed me up and down, “it will help you loosen up.”
I huffed. I wasn’t tense. Well, okay, I was extremely tense, but I was annoyed Leanne could tell. I took a healthy gulp of my drink; if the alcohol would help me relax, then I was open to it.
The place was packed with young, beautiful men and women. According to Oliver and Leanne, a majority of these people were my peers, out to enjoy the last bit of summer.
A sweaty Oliver bounded up to us. “Ladies, you need to dance! Put down those drinks.” He tried to grab mine, but I resisted, clinging onto it for dear life. Now that I properly understood the perks of underage drinking, there was no way I was dancing without getting more liquid courage in me.
As we tussled for possession of the Rum and Coke, a hush fell over the crowd. I released the drink, only barely noticing as it sloshed on Oliver.
“Damnit Gabrielle, you could’ve given it up peacefully.”
I felt a tingle up my spine, and I wondered if the man in the suit had found me. Only the usual sensation was now slightly different. It felt … good.
Then a second sensation hit me. Magnets. That was the best way to describe the pull. I was attracted towards something on the other end of the room, and it beckoned me to look up.
I let my eyes travel through the crowd, allowing the sensation to guide them. They found their target.
My gaze landed on a man’s sculpted torso on the far side of the room. My eyes traveled upward, taking in his extraordinary height and his toned body barely hidden under his black button down. At last they reached his devastatingly beautiful face, framed by rich black hair. He had a strong jaw, sensuous lips, and dark, dangerous eyes.
Our gazes met for one perfect second, and the universe held its breath. Images flashed; nothing else existed. In that moment, I saw his past and my future. I saw a thousand images from an impossible number of lifetimes. And then I saw us. Together. Always.
The man’s eyes showed surprise, and then wonder. And then the moment ended, and the world came rushing back to my senses.
I felt more than saw him take that first tentative step towards me. Adrenaline spiked my blood. I wasn’t the curious type when it came to these situations. The man in the suit had fixed that years ago. After I got away, I’d think about what it all meant.
I slipped through the packed club, making my way to the dance floor. After I’d crammed myself into the very middle of the mass of gyrating bodies, I glanced around for him. My eyes just barely caught sight of him.
He was casually scanning the crowd, which meant he had lost me. But just to be safe I pushed myself a little further into the sweaty mass of club-goers. I glanced back again, and he was gone.
Once I was sure I’d lost him, I moved through the crowd towards the back of the building. I needed someplace to be alone. Someplace where I didn’t have to pretend to be having fun and where I could question my sanity. I came to a long hallway where the bathrooms and back entrance were located.
A sweaty blond man stumbled out of the men’s bathroom. I tried to be as innocuous as possible, but out of my peripherals I saw him do a double take.
“Hey there,” he catcalled. I could smell the alcohol on his breath from where I stood a few feet away.
I gave him a tight-lipped smile and continued walking.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. I continued walking. “Don’t fucking ignore me.” When I continued to do just that, I heard a shuffle of feet behind me and felt a meaty hand wrap around my arm.
“Let go of my arm,” I said.
He laughed and pulled me closer. “What do I get out of that?” He pulled me in close, and I got a nearly lethal dose of his hot, putrid breath.
I probably should’ve given the guy some further warning, but I’d done this little dance too many times back in the States. I lifted my leg and stomped down on his foot with my heel.
He let out a howl of pain. “You bitch!”
Instead of letting me go, however, he pulled his hand back, preparing to give me a backhand slap. Before he had the chance to hit me, I kneed him in the crotch, silently thanking my mother for enrolling me in self-defense courses over the summer.
He crumpled to the ground, holding himself.
“Idiot,” I said under my breath.
I began to walk towards the exit when I heard another voice behind me.
“Wait.”
I turned as a shadow removed itself from the wall.