TWENTY-ONE
“Whereareyougoing?” Tack fisted the back of my shirt and shouted to be heard over the loud dance music. I turned to him, jostled closer as a frenetic dancer bounced against me. Usually, I was in the thick of things, letting my body loose to do whatever it wanted, but I’d already had enough, even though we couldn’t have been here for over an hour.
Why on earth had I agreed when Tack suggested we hit up a club? Oh right, I’d been lonely and missing Sully.
“I’m going back to the bar,” I yelled into his ear. “Need a break and a drink.”
Usually, having a sexy half-naked twink dancing his ass off on me was fun, but tonight it all fell flat.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, stay! Have a good time.”
Tack nodded and released my shirt, bumping into a tall guy with muscular arms whose irritated expression changed to lust the second his eyes landed on Tack.
Chuckling, I pushed my way through the throng of people, almost getting thrown back onto the dance floor a couple of times. When I’d managed to wind myself through the gyrating and sweaty bodies, I sighed in relief and hurried over to the bar. I climbed onto a bar stool, smiling at the man who sat on the one to my right.
He looked at me, then away. I frowned. Why did he look so familiar? I had seen him before somewhere, but where?
The bartenders were busy at the other end of the bar, but I was in no rush to get another drink.
“Do I know you?” I leaned sideways to the man. He had wide shoulders, a military buzz cut, and intense gray eyes.
“Nah, you don’t know me.”
He slid off the stool and strode away as if his ass was on fire. How strange. I wasn’t used to guys tripping over their feet trying to get away from me.
“What can I get you, sweet boy?”
The bartender wiped his rag over the counter, his eyes trained on me. This was what I was used to.
When Tack had called me earlier to get out, it had seemed like such a good idea. Instead of moping around the house, wondering when Sully would finally come home, I could distract myself with a bit of booze and dancing. My fake ID—which Sully hadn’t confiscated—was still good in places like these, as proven by the bartender giving us our first drinks without question.
“Just a club soda.”
I’d already had tequila earlier. My plan to get drunk was no longer appealing. I didn’t want to end up doing something stupid like waking up in a strange man’s bed with no idea of how I ended up there or what I’d done. In the past, it might not have been a big deal where I slept, but now it was different.
Sully and I hadn’t defined what we were yet, but I sensed he cared about me, and I felt the same way.We’d agreed to be exclusive, and I’d gotten tested yesterday just like we’d talked about.
“Here you go.” The bartender winked at me. “Anything else, just give me a holler.”
I drank down half, fanning my neck. Too many people were in the club, and the air was humid and suddenly suffocating. I couldn’t breathe. I needed fresh air.
Liquid spilled over my hand as I slapped the glass on the counter. I threw some money onto the counter to cover the cost of my drink, jumped down from the stool, and rushed toward the exit. People crowded the space, and I elbowed my way outside, not caring about the angry glares and curses. The moment the fresh night air touched my face, I gulped in as much of it as I could.
I leaned against the wall and just breathed, and slowly the pressure in my chest dissipated. My phone vibrated. I unlocked it, but my excitement fizzled away. It was just Tack wanting to find out where I was. I shot him a text that he shouldn’t worry and that I was outside getting some fresh air.
When he didn’t reply, I sagged against the bricks at my back and buried my face in my hands. Why had forty-eight hours turned into ninety-six? Something had to be wrong, and the fact that Sully no longer turned his camera on when he talked to me was worrying. So far, I hadn’t asked too many questions and just gone along with everything he said.
The last thing I wanted was for him to believe I would change his life. I didn’t want to change his life. I wanted to be a part of it.
“Hey, why’d you come out here all by yourself?”
I popped my eyes open. Tack stood before me, frowning. In just a short amount of time, he’d proven to be loyal and kind. And so much fun. I hated ruining his night.
“I needed some fresh air,” I said. “I was feeling claustrophobic.”
“Are you feeling better now?” He stepped into my personal space and laid his hand on my forehead. “You feel fine.”