Conflicted

“We’ll take mine. I don’t trust yours not to fall apart.”

I grumble, but he’s right. My car is in less-than-perfect condition, and most days it’s a tossup on whether it will start. But it’s mine and not financed by my parents, which means more to me than anything. I hate relying on anyone but myself for anything—which is just another reason why this internship is so important to me.

I have a chance to show my parents I’m worth something; and that, for me, is priceless.

Chapter Nine

Lacey

“So, where are we going?” I ask. We walk over to his car and I slide into the passenger seat.

He walks around to the driver’s side and gets in. Buckling up his belt, he smiles at me, his brown eyes twinkling. When he’s not inebriated, he always drives, because he sucks as a passenger.

“You’ll see. And no complaining about my choice of venue, okay?”

I groan and lean my arm against the window, again regretting letting him decide where we’re going. Last time it was his choice I ended up in the middle of a rave surrounded by drunk guys who thought it w

as their right to grope me.

I don’t have to wait long to find out what he has in store this time. We’re up the other end of town when Lucas swings into a parking lot opposite a strip of clubs well known as being a cesspit of one-night stands. I shoot him a look, already annoyed.

“What?” he says, his tone defensive.

“We’re supposed to be celebrating my achievement,” I grumble, my brow creasing. I’m annoyed at how inconsiderate he can be, because I’ve seen the opposite. Whenever I need him, he’s there for me, and a totally different guy to this one.

“We can do that and have fun at the same time, can’t we?” he protests.

“I’d hardly call this dump fun,” I retort.

He gets out of the car and walks around to my door, opening it. My heart skips a beat as I look him over. He looks hot in his slim-fitted shirt and tight pants that show his athletic frame. He rakes his hand through his dark, unruly hair and grins at me, his brown eyes sparkling.

“Come on, you don’t even know where I’m taking you,” he says, laughing as he drags me from the car. His warm hand grips hold of mine and doesn’t let go. My heart skips as his fingers entwine with mine.

Stop it, I tell myself. You’re over him, remember? I focus on the concrete ahead of me, not thinking about how his strong hands would feel moving over the bare curve of my back.

“Unless it’s a strip club, I don’t think my reaction is far off.” I sigh and decide to be the bigger person, mainly because I know this is an argument I’m not going to win.

I never do.

We walk halfway down the strip to a dodgy-looking club with music thumping from inside. God knows why the line extends halfway up the street. I can’t think of a worse way to be spending my evening. I go to join the line when Lucas nudges me.

“I know the dude at the door. He owes me a favour for banging his cousin. What?” he asks, shrugging his shoulders when I let out a groan. I shake my head. What’s the point in saying anything?

We push our way through the crowds of people—mainly women who are too busy eyeing off Lucas to care that we’re pushing in—until we reach the front of the line. Sure enough, the bouncer greets Lucas with a slap on the back and ushers us inside. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I don’t even want to know. Sometimes I wonder how we ended up such good friends when we couldn’t be more different. Think of it as a good thing that you’re only friends with him. I can’t even imagine Lucas in a relationship. It would be a surefire way to ruin our friendship.

We spend the next few hours sitting at a table in the crowded club until my head can’t handle the incessant music any longer. It’s giving me a headache. And sitting here watching barely dressed girls fall over themselves trying to get Lucas’s attention isn’t making the experience any better. I play with the straw in the single gin and tonic Lucas insisted on buying me until I’ve had enough. I push back my seat. Lucas glances at me in surprise.

“I’m not feeling great,” I say. It’s not a total lie. All these people are making me queasy. I tighten my jacket around my chest, ignoring the sly grin of the bimbo hanging off his arm. “I’m just going to catch a cab home, okay?”

“But we’re celebrating,” he protests, his arm tightening around the waist of said bimbo. She giggles and flips her long straight hair out of her glazed eyes. I’m pretty confident she’d struggle to walk in a straight line if I asked her to.

“I’m sure you can continue the party without me,” I say, my tone dry. I lean over and kiss him on the forehead, the smell of his aftershave sending shivers down my spine. Get a grip, Lace. “Call me tomorrow, okay?” I can’t be angry at the guy because he’s just being one hundred percent the guy he always is. I should be used to this by now.

Outside, I glance up at the sky, and even in the darkness I can tell the clouds are angry and grey. At any moment I’m sure the rain is going to come pouring down. I walk the few feet to the taxi rank and wait. Crowds of people line the busy street, but there are no cabs in sight. I toss up whether to stand here and wait, or just begin the trek home.

In the end, I decide to walk. It’s not that far, and I don’t stray off the busy streets. I’m halfway home when the rain begins to pour down. Within seconds, I’m soaked and regretting my decision to leave the cover of the small shelter at the taxi rank. I increase my gait and step sideways to avoid a large puddle on the sidewalk, tripping over my feet in the process. Shit. My ankle gives way under me, sending me sprawling across the harsh concrete.

“Shit,” I curse, examining the impressive grazing that now covers my left knee. I watch as blood seeps through the tiny rips in the skin, sending a dirty trickle of blood down my leg.