Ten minutes later, she still hasn’t resurfaced.
“Bell?” I call out, taking a seat on the arm of the sofa.
Her muffled reply floats through the room. “Another five minutes.”
I pull out my phone and see a text from Pietro.
Pietro: I assume you’d prefer I contact you on this number? Your father wants to know how you’re doing.
I roll my eyes. I called him when we arrived, but no doubt he is still worried.
Me: This number is good. The only person who contacts me on the other is my father. Speaking of, doesn’t he know how to work a phone?
Pietro: Trust me. The last thing you want your father to figure out is the joy of texting.
I laugh because he’s right. My father barely leaves me alone as it is.
Me: Tell him I’m fine. Bella is keeping me out of trouble ;)
Pietro: I’m not sure Bella is capable of avoiding trouble, nor will the news that Bella is in charge of your safety make your father happy. Have a good night.
I shove my phone into my purse just as Bella appears, looking hot. She’s gone all out in a sheer black mini dress that shows a lot of skin and a pair of strappy heels. I glance down at my own outfit. Only Bella could make me feel like a nun while wearing a dress like this.
“Ready?” she asks me. I laugh and nod, wanting to add I was ready nearly half an hour ago.
We walk outside, the cool breeze hitting my arms. I shiver and run my hands over my bare skin. The walk to the club is short. People are lining up outside waiting to be let in. We join the line, but the bouncer motions for us to come up front. We do, much to the annoyance of the group of girls still waiting.
“How awesome is this?” Bella grins at me as we walk through the wide double doors.
I know what she means. I can’t believe I’m in New York. Shivers of anticipation race through my body. This is actually happening. Things couldn’t be more perfect than they are right now.
“All we need to do now is get you laid,” she calls out over the crowd.
“Bella!” I gasp, my face going red. There are things you don’t want complete strangers knowing, and that is one of them. I swear I can hear giggling from the people behind us, but maybe that’s just my paranoia.
“What?” she protests, flicking her long blond hair over her shoulder. “You need to loosen up. Imagine how much more fluid your dancing would be if you got some.”
She giggles and shoves me and I can’t help but smile. The truth is, I do want sex. Well, not just sex, but the whole relationship thing.
“My dancing is just fine, thank you very much.”
“Then prove it,” she says, grabbing my arm and dragging me out onto the dance floor. I groan, but indulge her in a few moves. An attractive guy with scruffy shoulder-length dark hair cuts in, spinning Bell away from me.
I’m relieved at the chance to escape. Is it odd that I’m a dancer, yet I hate dancing in bars? Without hesitation, I turn on my heel and march toward the bar, sitting my ass down on a stool. I watch her dance for a moment, shaking my head. It’s always like this when we go out together. Not that I blame guys for wanting to get close to her. She’s so much fun. I smile, realizing how lucky I am to have her as a friend.
I order a drink from the female bartender, then pull out my phone. The guy to my left keeps checking me out, and it’s making me uncomfortable. I need to be doing something. I find Pietro’s last text to me and start a new message. A shiver races through me, a feeling I always get when I talk to him. He’s always been there for me, but the last few years I’ve seen him in a different light. Maybe Bella is right. Maybe I do need to get laid.
—
It’s close to two in the morning when I stumble through my front door, holding a very inebriated Bella. She hasn’t been sick yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. I can tell by the way she is turning a pale shade of green.
“Let’s get you into the bathroom,” I mutter. Fuck. How can someone so small be so damn heavy?
I prop her up against the toilet, and leave her for a moment to fetch some Tylenol. In the kitchen, I can hear her laughing hysterically, which makes me smile. The girl’s crazy.
“Here, take this,” I say, handing her the pills and a glass of water.