A car door opened on the other end. “Then it’s better to know now than five years from now. You can’t stop living because you’re scared. You’ll either find middle ground, or you won’t.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“Anytime. Call me if you need me. I’m always here for you. I’ll call you tomorrow to see how it went.”
“Sounds good. Good luck, Wesley. I hope you’re wrong about Diane.”
“Me, too.”
I hung up and drove, thinking about Wesley’s advice. He’d been my rock after losing Brandt. We’d helped each other put the pieces back together after losing our partners. I’d never felt more than friendship with Wesley. I think he felt the same way. I was going to tell Brandt tonight about Lance. He needed to know. I had to trust our love.
You guys will last or you won’t.
My insides knotted thinking the latter could actually happen. Hopefully, our love was strong enough. Hopefully. I would fight with everything I had to make it work.
My mind was a jumbled mess as I pulled into the Club Envy parking lot. It was a busy night. The red sign lit up the club name as people stood in line, waiting to get in. On the marquee it said: THRILLHAMMERS: LIVE TONIGHT! The band always drew a crowd, and I loved their sound. I’d seen them at a few different venues after Brandt and I broke up. Remembering to tell Brandt I was in the parking lot, I texted him.
Me: I’m here.
Brandt: Okay, I’ll be right out.
Brandt had always wanted to meet me at the car and bring me in the club. It made me feel special. Brandt came through the doors on the sex club side. He wore nice, dark-colored jeans with a thermal. His hair was loose, hitting his shoulders. He smiled as he jogged across the parking lot and I got out of my car.
“Hey there. I’m glad you’re here. I missed you while you were in New York.”
My smile spread wider across my face. “Missed you, too.”
I leaned in for a hug. Brandt’s strong arms came around me, and I loved how safe I felt. Pulling back, our eyes searched each other’s. The atmosphere charged between us, and I involuntarily licked my lips. This had happened in the back of his car the other day. My pulse quickened and the palms of my hands felt slightly sweaty. Brandt watched me closely and started to lean in. My body craved his lips. I wanted him. The moment our lips touched, need ignited within me. His lips were soft, yet firm, and I’d dreamed about them while we were apart. My memory had not done us justice.
The secret I’d been keeping came to mind as his tongue sought entrance. I needed to tell him about Lance first. I panicked and blurted, “I saw the Thrillhammers are playing tonight.”
Brandt had a confused look on his face, along with a flash of disappointment. He cleared his throat and pulled back slightly. I felt like a bitch as he responded, but my rattled insides kept me from speaking.
“They are. Want to go see them?”
I nodded. My nerves were all over the place, being somewhere that screamed of our sexy former relationship. But once we were in the club, I’d find a way to bring up Lance—I had to before we left tonight.
The music vibrated in the pavement. Tonight, I’d gone with skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater—classy and sexy. We made our way inside, passing Jethro, the bouncer. He was a giant, bald teddy bear, and he’d always been kind to me.
“Hey, Nikola, long time no see. Welcome back.”
I gave him a big hug. “Good to see you. How have you been?”
“Good! These fuckers keep me busy, but all’s good. Have fun in there tonight. Good to see the two of you together.”
I beamed and looked back at Brandt. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Brandt placed his hand on my lower back. I loved how possessive it felt.
Brandt smiled as he spoke, “I’m going to take Nikola inside”
“Sounds good.”
“Matt has security if you need anything.”
Jethro nodded. “It’s all good.”
Brandt nodded, and we went inside. The bar side of the club felt so familiar—I let it wash over me. Old street signs hung from rustic metal walls. Neon beer signs were lit up. The floor was packed with bodies dancing to the Thrillhammers. The band was in full swing, playing “Hippie House.” Momentarily closing my eyes, I fortified myself, pushing away the craving for his hard length. My body wanted Brandt badly—especially after barely kissing him in the parking lot. I wanted to feel his tip graze the sensitive nerve endings of my inner walls. Stop. I need to stop. I brought myself back to the now, preparing to talk about Lance.
As we made our way through the crowd I asked, “So, you told everyone we’re together?”
“I did. I said we’d started seeing each other. Are you okay with that?”
I smiled. “More than okay.”
Our hands were intertwined as we approached the bar. Brandt pulled out his phone and showed me the app he’d downloaded.
Brandt wiggled his eyebrows as I mock-slapped his chest.
“You’re incorrigible.”
His mouth came down to my ear; his hot breath tickling my skin. “I’ll wait forever, but when I do sink myself into you, I’m going to make it last. I remember, like it was yesterday, just how incredible you feel.”
His words made my face flush with passion. I remembered as if it were yesterday, too. His hand flexed against my waist. He knew what I was thinking. We’d always been able to sense each other’s feelings. What made us perfect for each other hadn’t changed. The thought made me smile—maybe our differences wouldn’t be so hard to overcome.
We continued toward the bar and I took a deep breath. A heady mixture of sweat and alcohol filled the room, forcing memories to the forefront of my mind. When I touched the bar, an image had desire spiraling through me: Brandt, after closing the bar, bending me over the countertop and taking me from behind. A vibrator was going to be in order tonight. I needed to distract myself.
“Is Adam here?”
“Did someone say my name?”
I turned at the sound of the familiar voice.
Adam was behind me, arms open. I jumped to give him a sisterly bear hug. When I’d left Brandt after getting him to rehab, Adam had never judged my decision.
“Hey, now. She’s my girl,” Brandt called from over my shoulder.
Adam released me a bit. He looked the same with his warm, chocolate eyes and short, messy, brown hair. However, there was one difference—he looked happy. I glanced back at Brandt with a loving smile.
Adam said, “Payback’s going to be hell, with how much you’ve hugged Ainsley.”
Brandt cursed behind us, and I giggled. A beautiful chestnut-haired woman with the palest blue eyes came and stood behind Adam.
He hugged me again. “It’s good having you around again. I missed you, Nikola.”
The warm reception from Jethro and Adam further mended my broken heart. When I’d left Brandt, I’d left some dear friends. I thought it wouldn’t
be fair to Brandt, still doing things with people he’d need to lean on during his recovery.
“I’ve missed you too, Adam. Is this the lucky girl who’s won your heart? I hear congratulations are in order.”
The sound of Brandt tapping his hand twice on the bar top caused me to turn and look his way for a second. The waitress came and sat a beer down in front of Brandt.
Adam’s voice took my attention away from Brandt. The woman, whom I’d assumed was Ainsley, stood beside Adam as he put his arm around her. Brandt had told me about her.
“This is Ainsley Pearson, soon to be Ryker. Ainsley, this is Nikola Kingston. Nikola owns her own company. She’s a strategist.”
Ainsley hugged me, and I could see how she’d been the person to sooth Adam’s wounds and give him the unconditional love he deserved. “Nice to meet you, Ainsley.”
We pulled back from the hug. Her features were warm, and I was glad she hadn’t taken offense to me hugging Adam like I had.
“Nice to meet you, too. We have something in common. I’m going to school for business analysis. I graduate this semester.”
“That’s what my degree is in! Congrats. Maybe we can talk shop sometime.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, I’d love that! Thank you.”
Brandt came from behind me and put his arm around my waist. I leaned into him, loving how this felt. He took a sip of beer and my nerves shot back up. Brandt used to drink when he did drugs. I tried to not overreact, but anything connected to the drugs had all my defenses up.