Page 13 of Breakout (Walker University #3)

ten

Beck

We going to meet up tonight?

“Girl, put your phone down. It’s girls’ night,” Cora says, knocking my shoulder.

I turn my screen off quickly, hoping like hell she didn’t see who messaged me. She takes another drink, looking out over the floor.

I have regrets. Major ones.

When Cora came back from her morning class, she asked me if I worked tonight. I didn’t think and told her the truth. I should have told her I had to work so that I wouldn’t be stuck at this club with her and Grace.

That’s a little harsh. I don’t mind being with her and Grace, but I loathe clubs. They are loud with flashing lights and the faint smell of body odor from everyone either drinking themselves into a heat stroke or dancing so much that they sweat out the alcohol before it can even hit them.

It’s like a breeding ground for germs. There’s a reason I have never found myself inside of one. It’s one of the experiences from movies I never wanted, yet here I am.

All because of Cora’s big mouth.

“Why are we here again?” I yell over the music.

Grace shoots me a “not impressed” look.

“Stop being a sourpuss. We are looking for a man for you to dance with for a little bit.” I must have a look on my face because she continues to yell, “Oh, don’t look so frightened. You don’t have to take the poor schmuck home. You only need to live a little.”

“Yeah, you spend all of your time in class and at work. You need a little fun.” Cora shakes her chest as if to say that doing that means we are having fun.

“I don’t want to dance with some random guy.”

Especially not since I’m married.

“What about him?” I hear Cora shout to Grace.

“Nah. He’s a fuckboy. He will have his hand down the back of her pants before he gets her name,” Grace says.

“When did you become an expert? Isn’t Clay your first and only boyfriend?” I ask her, making her laugh.

“Yep, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t learned some things by hanging with the guys. That one there might as well be Brett. A fun lay but might give you an STD.”

I roll my eyes. “What about you, Cora? Doesn’t this place hold bad memories for you? I remember you complaining that Kellan kissed you for her benefit here once.”

I feel like a dick bringing it up, but fuck, I want to go home.

If I don’t figure out an exit strategy soon, I’m going to have to come clean about being married to Beckett because, fake or not, I won’t be caught dancing with another man.

Not only is it disrespectful to Beckett, but it makes me feel gross just thinking about it.

He’s already done this amazing thing for me.

The least I can do is honor our vows as much as I can while we are married.

“My last first kiss.” She sighs with a weird smile on her face. “I actually told him that he could have been my last one that night, but he ruined it. Little did I know, he had already forgotten all about Gracie here,” Cora teases.

“Thank God. Kellan is my best friend. I’m happy he is happy,” Grace shouts.

I shake my head. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Let’s go then.”

We each down the remainder of our drinks before we take off across the club.

Going to the bathroom should be a quick walk, but with the number of people in here tonight, it takes far too long.

I cringe as I feel bodies brush against me as I hold onto Cora’s hand as she leads me through the crowd.

Grace is behind me, holding onto my arm, yet even having her there, I can feel the press of bodies.

It’s not that I’m a germophobe. I don’t mind going places, but large groups of people like this give me anxiety. It feels like there are bugs under my skin.

Just as we are about to enter the bathroom, I see a familiar face.

“Hey, fancy meeting you here,” Gabe calls out, making the girls stop.

“Yeah. Girls’ night,” I yell back as a response.

“Want to dance?” he yells, adding at the last minute, “As friends?”

“She’d love to,” Cora answers for me. “We will be right back.”

I frown as she pulls me the rest of the way into the bathroom. Once the door shuts, she laughs.

“You are so dancing with the cute guy. He has the hots for you.”

I look over to Grace, who frowns.

“This is the guy who asked you out the other day? The one who you turned down?” Grace asks.

I nod, going into the stall. Pulling out my phone, I shoot a text to Beckett.

Me

This is me sending out the bat signal. We are at Club Zero. Save me?

I hurry up and pocket my phone, flushing the toilet for appearances before stepping out.

“I’m sorry, Pey. I didn’t realize. I’ll tell him you changed your mind,” Cora says.

I wave her off. “You had no idea.”

“We could just blow past him and go get another drink,” Grace offers.

“That sounds like a great idea,” I tell her, hoping like hell Beckett gets my distress call.

When we exit the bathroom, Gabe is standing there waiting.

“Hey, loverboy. We are going to get some drinks. You can claim that dance later,” Grace informs him, linking her arm with mine.

Cora does the same on my other side as they march me back across the crowd, this time not letting go for anything. I feel powerful having these women at my side.

When we get to the bar, I discreetly check my phone, frowning when I don’t see a message from Beckett. I try to keep the disappointment from my face as I put my phone away and smile at the girls.

“What do you think, girls?” Cora shimmies her shoulders once again. “Shots?”

I force a smile. “Fuck it. Shots!”

Maybe alcohol can take the sting of being ignored away. Only one way to find out.

Wife

This is me sending out the bat signal. We are at Club Zero. Save me?

My heart starts racing as I read the message on my watch mid-battle with the guys. I want to throw the controller and run to her side, but it would be too obvious.

No, instead I have to play it cool.

It takes another five minutes for us to finish our fight. I swear it’s the longest five minutes of my life. As soon as we are done, I put the controller down and stand.

“Grab me a cola,” Brett says, looking at his phone.

I smack him on the back of the head. “Get your own. I’m going out.”

“What? Where?” Kellan asks.

“Club Zero.”

Clay perks up. “That’s where Grace is. I mean, you guys don’t know that. We could maybe tag along? It is all your idea after all, and you have no clue where they are.”

Fuck. How am I supposed to save her without our entire friend group knowing what is going on?

I don’t have a choice, though. The guys will be even more suspicious of me if I tell them they can’t come.

God, I hate lying.

“Yeah. The more the merrier,” I tell them.

“You going to meet up with a chick?” Brett asks as he stands, stretching.

“Nope. I just feel like getting out.”

He shrugs. “I’m going to pass. Don’t have too much fun without me.”

“Wait. Are you feeling okay?” I ask, touching his forehead. “You aren’t acting like yourself.”

He pushes me off of him. “Not everything is about clubbing.”

“You’re right. You also like to get pussy, from what I recall.” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah. Yeah. Sue me. I’m tired.” He doesn’t say another word as he heads toward the stairs.

“Is he okay?” Kellan asks.

I have been so focused on everything with Peyton that I don’t even know what’s going on with my best friend. Feeling guilty, I tell the guys, “I’ll be out in a second.”

Taking the stairs two at a time, I make it to the top in no time at all. I knock on Brett’s door, opening it when he calls out.

“You okay, bud?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe.

He gives me a sad smile. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

“You want to talk about it?” I ask, even with the need to get to Peyton under my skin.

“Nah, man. Go get your girl.”

“There’s no girl, and even if there was, I still have time for you.”

He nods. “I know. When the time is right, I’ll tell you, just like you will tell me when your time is right.”

I go to tell him there’s nothing to tell him, but keep my mouth shut instead. He’s right.

“Anytime you need me, I’m here,” I tell him.

“Same, brother.”

As I turn to leave, he calls out to me, “Beckett.” When I look back, he smiles. “Thanks for checking on me.”

I nod my head once, leaving him in his room.

I don’t know what is going on with him, but I hope he talks about it soon. I love the guy and hate that he is suffering in silence.

I feel like a hypocrite, though. I’m in the same position.

When I get to the car, Clay is already in the driver’s seat, the passenger seat being left for me. I’m surprised to find Wyatt inside the car as well. When I look back and give him a look, he only shrugs.

Clay turns the music off as we take off. Kellan and Clay chat along the way while I pull a Wyatt and stay quiet. I feel antsy. I want to know what Peyton needs saving from.

I’m hoping it’s the girls. I don’t know if I can rein it in if it’s another guy.

When we arrive at the club, the line is a mile long, but thankfully playing on the Walker U hockey team has its privileges. We get to bypass the line as we are ushered into the club.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting as the music pumps loudly through the speakers.

“I’m going to find Grace,” Clay calls out.

“Cora for me,” Kellan adds in.

I nod. I should be going with them, but I stay put.

“You can go find her too, you know. Finally get it out into the open,” Wyatt shouts into my ear.

I shoot him a glare.

He shrugs as his eyes go to skirt over the club, but then he freezes. I look to where he’s looking, and a few of the football players are there with some women.

“One of them take your lunch money or something?” I ask, wondering if I’m ever going to find Peyton.

“What?” He looks up at me and blinks. “No. Just a girl I used to know.”

He glances back once more before patting me on the back. “Let’s go pretend we stumbled upon the girls. They are at the bar.”