Page 84 of Declan

“Why did you lead me away?” I whined to Brysen as we joined Royal at a high-top table. “He was sexy as fuck.”

“Because he screamed rapist to me,” Brysen answered.

“Whatever,” I scoffed before taking a drink. He’d bought me another rum and coke, fortunately.

After how fucked up I got last time atRaw, I didn’t need to mix my liquor again. As I looked at the pair of them, a lump wedged in my throat. They might’ve been huge pain in the asses, but I loved them. Not many friends would’ve done what they did.

“Thanks for bringing me out, guys. I know I’ve been a downer this week.”

“Anytime.” Royal smiled and knuckle-bumped my arm. “We’ve all had our hearts broken. It hurts like a bitch right now, but you’ll get through it.”

Royal had gone through a bad breakup. Brysen and I hadn’t known Royal at that time, but he’d told us about it once when the three of us had gotten shitfaced at the lake. In high school, he’d had a best friend, and they’d kind of explored their sexualities together, eventually falling in love. In college, the douche had dumped him and run off with some twink. Royal had issues trusting guys now because of it.

I downed my drink in a few gulps before slamming the glass on the table. “Damn, that shit burns going down.”

“Then maybe don’t gulp it like a jackass.” Brysen was in hiswhore outfitthat night; tight black shirt with rips in it, vibrant red skinny jeans with frays, and heeled boots to make him taller than his amusing five foot seven height. “Oh sweet lord have mercy. Look at him.”

Royal and I turned to see the dude B was gawking at. He was maybe mid-forties, brown hair, and a nice build.

“’Scuse me, gentlemen,” Brysen said before throwing back the rest of his drink. “I see a daddy who could use a good riding.”

He slid off the chair and approached the guy, swinging his hips.

“And just like that, we lose him.” Royal gave an amused snort.

“Jello shots?” a guy holding a bucket of them asked. He had spiky bleached-blond hair and was wearing neon lights around his neck.

I was just about to ask if they had strawberry, when Royal gave me a raised-eyebrow look.

“No, we’re good. Thanks,” he said to the guy. Then, he pointed at me. “You’re forbidden, K. We’re not having a repeat of last time.”

“Can we at least go back to the dance floor then?” I asked, standing up and holding out a hand to him. “Come on, Royal. Be my boyfriend for the night.”

Grinning, he shook his head and slapped his hand in mine. “Why the hell not?”

I led him to the dance floor right as a song with a sick beat came on. Sounded like some kind of rave song. We grinded on each other and laughed. There wasn’t anything sexual about it, which was the point.

As much as I’d flirted with that sexy bearded guy, I wasn’t sure I could’ve actually fucked him. Or anyone else for that matter.

I was angry at Declan. But my heart and body still belonged to him. I didn’t think I could get it up for another guy even if I tried.

After two more drinks, I pulled out my phone and started snapping pics. I was a firm believer in capturing the moment. I just tended to do so while intoxicated. Royal and I took a few silly selfies before taking one with us pretending to kiss. At that point, I was drunk enough to approach random guys, too.

“Take a pic with me?” I slurred to a group of guys standing at the edge of the dance floor.

“Sure.”

I got in the middle of them, and we all stuck out our tongues as I took the picture. The ones on either side of me had draped their arms over me. They smelled good, too.

“Thanks!”

“You don’t have to run off, cutie,” one said and winked.

“I might be back,” I lied, waving.

Not looking where I was going, I bumped into a group of girls. I apologized, and they told me it was okay. I then took selfies with them, too. Two of them were lesbians, but the rest of the group was straight. I only knew that fact, because they all started talking to me.

“It’s nice to be able to go out and have fun without creepy men hitting on me,” one girl said.