“Ly, you okay?” A breathless Cale is at my side.
I can see the anger still flaming in his eyes.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I was—”
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” I rub his arm. “How’s Tom?” As I speak, I turn and see Tom talking with two of the club’s security men, who have finally made an appearance.
“I should go and see if he’s okay.” Stepping away, I leave Cale with Shannon.
At my approach, Tom’s eyes meet mine. He says something to the security guys. Then, he moves away from them, coming to me.
We stop a foot apart. “Are you okay?” I ask.
He looks okay. His cheek is a bit red from where Dex hit him, but apart from that, Tom doesn’t appear to have a mark on him.
“Are you?” he asks, turning my question back on me.
“Yeah.” I nod. “You hit him…”
He stares at me for a long moment. “I take care of what’s mine.”
I’m his?
My heart thuds against my ribs. I close the distance between us. Tentatively, I lift my hand to his face and gently press it to his cheek.
In his eyes, I see the surprise from me touching him like this in public.
I lower my hand. “This is our last night together.”
His eyes darken. “Then, we should make the most of it.”
I’m beyond relieved that I’m going to have this one last night with Tom. I know I’ll hurt badly for it tomorrow, but for tonight, I don’t care. All I care about is being with him.
Tom slips his hand into mine. “Let’s get out of here,” he says.
“Wait.” I tug on his hand. “I need to let Cale know that I’m leaving. He’ll worry if I just disappear.”
Tom leans down, and presses his lips to mine. I feel his kiss all the way down to my toes.
“You’ve got one minute,” he says over my mouth, before releasing me.
I take a shaky step back. “One minute.” I turn on my heel, and walk quickly back to where I left Cale.
He’s still standing with Shannon.
“Cale, I’m going to…” Shit, what do I say?
“Leave with Tom.” He gives me a look. “Come on, Ly, I know you and Tom have been doing the nasty.”
What?
The shock must be written clear on my face, because Cale says, “Don’t look so surprised. You’ve always been a shit liar.”
“Hey.” I give him a gentle jab in the arm. “I’m sorry though, that I didn’t tell you.”
“We’ll talk about that tomorrow. You’ve had enough shit going on tonight from seeing…” He doesn’t say Dex’s name.
Seeing Dex here tonight has had an effect on Cale, too.
“You okay?” I ask, touching his arm.
He wraps his hand over mine, gripping my fingers. “I’m fine. Go with Tom. And tomorrow, you and I will have a long talk about how you don’t keep secrets from your best friend.” He smiles.
Letting go of his arm, I wrap mine around him, hugging him. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever hope for,” I say against his shirt.
He squeezes me tight. “And you’re the best girl a guy could ask for.”
I lift my head from his chest, looking up at him.
He gives me a rueful smile. “He hurts you, Ly, and—”
“You’ll kick his ass. I know the drill.” I put on a smile.
Right now, I don’t want to tell Cale that Tom and I will be no more by tomorrow, and my heart will pretty much be kicking its own ass. I can confide in Cale when it’s over.
Giving him one last squeeze, I say good-bye and walk back to Tom, who’s waiting for me where I left him.
He’s got a scowl on his face.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Uhum.” His eyes find mine, softening on me, the scowl instantly disappears. He puts his arm around my waist. “Let’s go.”
Tom guides us out a side door of the club, and he opens the door of a waiting black limo, ushering me inside.
The instant we’re seated, I curl my body around his big frame, just needing to feel him. His strength. His warmth.
One hand slides around my back before settling on my hip. His other finds my chin. He tilts my face to his. “You doing okay, Firecracker?”
“Yeah…I’m good. Here with you, I’m happy.”
He stares at me. Then, his eyes close, and he leans in, pressing a sweet kiss to my lips while grazing his knuckles against my cheek.
The limo starts to move.
Settling my head against his shoulder, I ask, “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah, my house in LA.”
“That’s a bit of a drive.” I smile, secretly happy at the thought of seeing Tom’s house. Happy that he wants to take me there.
“Don’t worry.” He grins as Usher’s “Scream” starts to play in the limo. “I’m sure I can find a way to keep you entertained for the few hours it’ll take to get us there.”
A Few Hours Later—Tom’s House, LA
I awake to the feeling of the world falling out beneath me. My body jumps.