“Wanna dance?” Baron asks. I hesitate at first, but the alcohol in my system, coupled with the irresistible beats blaring from the stage, makes me want to get on the dance floor. Plus the fact that, pervy jokes aside, Baron is surprisingly a pretty decent guy.
We move to the upbeat tempo, singing or more like shouting along to the songs. Baron keeps his hands to himself, apart from twirling me around a few times. It’s during one of those twirls that I spot something, or someone across the room which makes my stomach drop.
Raph is walking in through the club entrance, Layla in tow. I look over to the far corner, which looks like the VIP section and see that Keller and Ivy are already there, along with a group of people who I recognize from the popular table.
Heads turn as Raph enters. I don’t think the guy can even help it. He’s that irritatingly beautiful. It’s almost impossible not to look his way. Plus of course, there’s the fact that he’s next in line to the throne. I realize that he probably can’t go anywhere without people knowing who he is.
Tonight he’s wearing a plain black sweater and dark jeans. His golden hair and skin glow, even in the dim light. Those impossibly blue eyes lock onto Baron and me almost instantly. Layla is raging at him about something. Clearly they’re in the middle of some kind of argument. If I think that my dress is indecent, then Layla is practically naked in her nude, skin tight dress, with so many cut outs, that she actually does just look naked. Guys are visibly drooling in her direction. But Raph, who her attention is fixed on, isn’t paying her a shred of attention as she grabs onto his arm. He’s too busy giving Baron and me the look of death. He looks like he’s fuming and I have no clue why.
Dani’s band finishes their set and bows before going backstage. The crowd erupts with applause and I see Lance walk on stage next with a group of four other guys. The song which starts up is a slow one.
I feel awkward at first but Baron’s easy going manner makes it difficult to stay that way. He draws me close, but keeps a respectful distance as we begin to sway to the lead singer’s raspy vocals. Lance is playing electric guitar, and even in the midst of the other instruments, I can hear how good he is.
I’m so busy trying to block out a certain pair of burning blue eyes, that I don’t sense Raph approaching, no, more like stomping towards us, until he’s standing right in front of me.
“What the fuck is this?” he demands. If his expression from afar looked like he was fuming, then up close he looks positively furious.
I stare back at him in confusion, because I have no idea why he’s so pissed. Not one. I can feel people beginning to stare. Most notably, the people in the VIP section, Keller, Ivy and Layla included. Layla’s eyes are narrowed to slits and she looks like she wants to claw my face off.
Baron looks alarmed by Raph’s apparent rage. But I’m not. I’m just angry.
“What does it look like?” I snap back.
“It looks like you’re standing here in not enough clothes, with your tits on display and your hands all over someone else.”
I try to block out his words, but his insult stings and at the same time, I’m utterly baffled by his reaction.
“Fuck you, asshole—and what do you mean by someone else?” I shout back. “As opposed to who?”
“Raph, calm down,” Baron is interjecting now, trying to pull Raph away.
“Sorry,” Baron shoots an apologetic look my way and he’s looking between me and Raph, as if Raph has lost his mind. I think I agree with him.
“Just stay the hell away from us,” Raph seethes.
I don’t know what makes me do what I do next. I could blame it on the alcohol, but I think it has more to do with the way those impossibly blue eyes burn into me.
I walk over to Baron, closing the distance between us as I pull his head down and kiss him. Baron is surprised at first, no, more like utterly shocked. He recovers quickly and kisses me back after a second, taking control of the kiss as his tongue sweeps into my mouth. I have very little kissing experience. In fact I have none. But Baron clearly has plenty for the both of us. He lives up to his reputation, because he is a damn good kisser. There’s no butterflies or fire or any of the other crazy things that you hear about in romance novels. But it’s a damn good kiss.
I break away and Baron looks a little dazed. Raph, however, looks like he’s about to lose his shit.
I don’t stick around to watch. Fuck him.
I turn on my heel and walk away, well aware that everyone is witnessing this floor show.
I catch a glimpse of Baron and Raph as I walk out of the bar, still standing in the middle of the dance floor, locked in some heated argument. What the fuck ever.
I send a text to Dani to tell her that I left early and that I don’t need a ride back to campus when I realize that I have no idea where I am and I also think I’m drunk. I contemplate going back to the bar, but I can’t bear the thought of seeing that asshole’s stupid face again.
I’m just about to text Dani again, when I hear the rumble of an engine behind me, following me down the otherwise deserted street.
I can feel my skin prickle with panic, but I force myself to stay calm. I command myself to keep walking, my gaze darting around for any sign of safety. The shops lining the darkened street are all closed, and there doesn’t seem to be any houses on this street.
I can see a gun metal sports car in the corner of my eye. I don’t recognize it. I hear the sound of the electric window lowering and I almost scream when someone says my name.
“Jaz, get in.”
I whirl around to find that infuriatingly perfect face looking back at me from the driver’s seat of what is probably his new ride.
I let out a harsh laugh as my nerves calm.
“No. Fucking. Way.”
Raph lets out a growl of frustration.
“Get in the car, Jaz,” he repeats.
“Are you deaf?” I shout back. “I said no.”
“If you think I’m going to leave you out here when I know that you’re drunk and you have no idea where you are, then you’re wrong.”
I stare back at him in confusion.
“What the fuck do you care, asshole? You hate me, remember?”
He gets out of the car himself then and all six foot three of him towers over me on the sidewalk.
“Please, just get in the car.” I don’t know whether it’s the alcohol making me hear things, but his voice sounds different—gentle in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak before.
My confusion only grows; but he’s right—I am drunk and I have no idea where I am. The stubborn part of me would rather get lost and mugged than get in the car with the guy who has made my life here in Eden a living hell so far. But I know I’d only be punishing myself. Plus, I fully believe that this equally stubborn asshole will just continue to follow me if I don’t get in.
I say nothing as I let Raph open the passenger side door for me and I climb in.