Lorenzo and Derek were well on their way to being drunk. After hearing the other man’s recount of the night Angelina thought they’d had sex, he’d punched Derek in the eye. The fact Derek didn’t swing back let him know, more than words could, how much he’d regretted not telling him.
It appeared Angelina hadn’t told him why she was so upset, and his best friend had just seen his long-time girlfriend making out with a waiter at the club. The combination of one large flask of ninety proof alcohol mixed with lemonade, and two broken hearts, resulted in a night neither one remembered much of. A lucky break, since Lorenzo didn’t want to kill or maim one of his best friends.
The vibrating of his phone broke into his musings. He read the message from Angel, cursing at her vague reason for not coming back tonight. If he’d known she was flying back to LA, he would’ve volunteered to go with her, just to keep her company, of course. He trusted her to come back this time.
“What’s up, man?” Derek asked.
“I just got a text from Angel. It seems she won’t be making it back tonight.”
Derek blew out a breath. “That sucks.”
“Yeah it does. She was kinda engaged, or at least accepted some jack-offs ring with the intention of thinking about marrying him from what Gia said. Now she flew there and ain’t coming back? Fuck.” He scrubbed his face with both hands. “Dude, I swear to all that I believe in, I’ll spank her pretty little ass, if she doesn’t call me first thing in the morning.”
“Why don’t you text her back and tell her to call you now, or, shit, man, call her.”
Lorenzo shook his head. “I can’t call her. She’ll think I don’t trust her, which I do.”
“Just shoot her a text and tell her… Hell, I don’t know. Just tell her you love her or some shit.” Derek’s bewildered expression would’ve been comical if Lorenzo wasn’t freaked out.
“Wow! You are such a charmer with words. No wonder women flock to you.”
“Women flock to me because I’m rich, well hung, and handsome,” Derek joked.
Lorenzo punched Derek in the shoulder and then sent a short text back to Angelina. He told her that he missed her. Angelina’s return text, saying she missed him more, made his heart swell. Now he just had to trust her feelings were true and that she was ready for a relationship with him.
Normally a patient man, he couldn’t seem to find that attribute inside him when it came to the one who meant more than the world to him. She brought out all his caveman instincts and thoughts of building an ivory tower.
“Since your woman isn’t coming back tonight, let’s make it a guy’s night. You and I can hit the clubs like the old days, only this time you’ll be my wingman.” Derek waggled his brows.
“I’m not singing some cheesy ass song and going by a dumb nickname like Goose.”
“You always were a spoilsport. I’d even have banged the ugly chick, just so you could get it on with the hot one. See, now, that’s a true friend.” His best friend grinned.
“Oh, you are so full of shit.” Lorenzo slapped Derek on the back. “You know that, right?”
Lorenzo lazed on one of the padded loungers facing the beach that would be a staple part of the new club he and Derek were opening. They’d opted to check out their newest acquisition, bringing a bottle of their favorite vodka from his home before hitting the crowded clubs on the main street.
The views from any part of their waterfront club were top notch, and the location couldn’t be beat. It had a huge villa like feel to it. Inside, there would be large lounge-style beds with white gauzy curtains that could be pulled closed for privacy. Lorenzo had the feeling they’d be pulled more often than not. The pillars were clear glass tubes that changed colors. The bar was similar to the one at Club Inferno, sitting in the middle of the space and made of white marble with accents of color.
He loved the outside section the most. More lounge-type beds and circular booths decorated the sand, though the private cabanas were his favorite. They faced the beach, close enough to the water for ambiance, but far enough away you wouldn’t need to worry about the tides. He could picture taking Angel there, in more ways than one.
“You need to get the hell up. Our ride will be here in a few minutes.”
Derek’s loud voice broke into his private musings. Lorenzo shoved off the comfy seat, smacking his friend on the head as he walked past him. Never one to be outdone, Derek popped him back a little harder.
The club scene was just getting started at ten o’clock, and Derek was in full party mode. He ordered a shot of Grey Goose, in honor of Lorenzo’s new nickname, and gave a toast about getting laid.
“Hi, Ren, how’re you doing? I haven’t seen you here before,” Candis said.