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“Since you’re offering…” I grab the bottle and shut the door. “I can think of a couple things to liven the atmosphere.”
He rubs his hands excitedly. I almost feel sorry for him, but since he assigned himself, I don’t. “Lay it on me. I’m down for anything.”
Oh, I intend to.When I’m done, he’ll withdraw his offer of friendship without thinking twice.
“Stick around,” I tell him. “You’ll find out.”
I almost changedmy mind in the hours before it finally hit ten pm, but my resolve strengthened every time I thought about Roman being away.
I turn to Leo who’s sitting behind the wheel, and flash him a knowing grin. “What do you think?”
He stares beyond my shoulder at the blinking lights of the club across the street. He sighs. “When you said?—”
“You said you were down for anything,” I remind him, feeling giddy from the panic that spreads across his face. “Are you worried I’ll run away?”
Leo’s gaze drags back to me. “Will you?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “I’m here to have fun. Besides, I know you’ll either be inside watching over me like a hawk or hanging out here, waiting to see me come out.” I shrug. “Or you could relax and have fun. You don’t have to be Roman, you know. A night of letting your hair down won’t kill you.”
He seems like he might agree, but blows out a breath at the last minute, pulling out. “I genuinely fear what Roman will do if he turns up at the house and you’re nowhere to be found.”
My brows shoot up too fast to conceal my curiosity. “Turn up? He’s coming back tomorrow?”
Leo’s mouth curls with mischief. “If I tell you, will you abscond your plan and settle for something less…” He looks at the club again, helplessly. “Risky?”
“In this dress?” I yank the door open, getting out. “See ya!” I call out, waving before I cross the street. As I join the short line of people waiting outside, I spare a glance at the car.
Truth is, I don’t really want to be here.
At the club. With bright lights and people who look like they’re having a better time than I’ve had in years. Like my idea of hiding in the back of a van, this was spontaneous too.
Not really.The bouncer lets me in, and I wince as I enter the club. The music is much louder than I expected, and the building feels like it’s vibrating.I spent some time rethinking my plan, but it was fueled by my emotions and not a shred of logic.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t have some fun,” I mutter, leaving the floor and heading to the bar. Snagging a stool, I ask the bartender for a rum and coke.
“Rum and coke?” he asks, arching a brow as he assesses me. “You don’t look like a rum and coke person.”
Yeah, but I don’t plan on getting wasted.
“What am I, then?” I ask, indulging him when he keeps looking at me.
He snaps his fingers. “A moment. This will be on the house.”
Moments later, he places a tall glass of something in front of me with a slice of lime. “Vodka tonic for the lady.”
“Huh,” I mutter. I wasn’t going to go that far, but Leo’s on watch duty, and any chance I have of sleeping naturally was shot to hell days ago, so I might well help myself to an artificial sedative.
I pick up the glass and tilt it to my lips, gulping it down halfway as the bartender starts to say something.Big mistake.The alcohol hits with a vengeance, wiping my balance off the stool.
“Fucking hell,” I hiss, wiping my mouth. He hands me the lime and I squeeze it onto my tongue. “What was that?”
“I was going to warn you, but you were too far gone. I’m sorry,” he says, biting back a laugh. “The tonic water was to flavor the drink, not dilute it, per se.”
“Right,” I drawl, slapping my hands on the counter and leaning over. “So when you said it was on the house, you meant you would use me as some guinea pig?”
He raises his hands, stepping back. “My apologies. I’ll get you the rum and coke. You’ll barely taste the rum.”
That’s not what I want, though. “Wait.” I stop him. “You were right. I’m definitely a vodka tonic woman.” I pick up the glass and hold it up in salute. “Keep it coming, will you?”