Page 3

Chapter three

Samantha

When we first walk into the club, the energy is high.

Everyone is cheering and congratulating Janae on her wedding.

And though I’m happy for my friend, all I can concentrate on is that I’m about to come face to face with my ex.

Following Janae to a table located in the middle of the room, I look at the crowd of people sitting there and talking, but Kade is nowhere to be seen.

My brow furrows, confusion wracks my body, not knowing if I should be happy or upset that he's no where in sight, but all of that is forgotten when Blake on of Shane’s teammates, greets me as I approach the table, "Hey, Sam! How are you?"

"I'm good. Been busy with school and work. Almost done," I say giving him a smile.

He nods his head and that's when I see him.

Kade pushes through the crowd, coming back to the table with a woman hanging off him.

I can't help but roll my eyes at what I'm seeing because this is classic Kade. What I didn't expect was for the way my heart begins to race the closer he gets. No. I’m not doing this. We’re over him.

When he reaches the table, he glances at each and every girl that came with Janae before he settles on me. I watch as he goes to open his mouth but then closes it again. Thankfully Janae comes to both of our rescues. "Hey, Kade. Who is your friend?"

He looks at her with confusion when she nods toward the woman next to him, bringing his attention to the girl.

Is he such a player that he didn't even notice the girl next to him?

"Oh yeah." He looks over giving her his best smile, and a pang of jealousy hits me right in the chest. But I torture myself by watching the whole exchange. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Daisy," she says. A little too breathy in my opinion.

"Well, Daisy, thanks for dancing with me but I'm here to celebrate my main man, Shane," he tells her.

Daisy pushes her lip out into a pout, dragging one of her fingers down the front of his chest, "I thought we could hang out more and get to know each other better."

Kade grabs her wrist taking her hand off him, dismissing her. "Maybe another time, sweetheart."

Daisy blinks her eyes as if she's stunned that a man turned her down, but to her credit, she doesn’t try to beg or anything. She just turns and leaves. I guess she realized he was a lost cause, but I could've told her that before he even opened his mouth.

Over the last few months, I've kept my distance coming up with excuses to not be in the same room as him, even throughout the wedding planning with my best friend. But that all comes to an end tonight. I knew a time would come that I would have to face him. I just thought I would be more prepared.

Once the woman is gone, Kade pushes past me and slides into the booth, giving me a chance to secretly take him in from the corner of my eye.

My heart skips a beat because he looks even more handsome than the last time I saw him.

His slacks are molded to his perfectly muscular ass—this man has muscles upon muscles everywhere.

He has his light brown hair styled to the side just the way I like it.

Ugh. Why couldn't he have turned into a troll magically overnight?

It feels as if I'm being punished for something I did in another life.

I can't even look at him full on, because if I give him a chance, he would be able to charm me once again. Kade Humphrey is a soft spot for me, and to make sure I don't get hurt again, I've wrapped that spot in barbed wire and I need to keep it that way.

To help with that, I try to inconspicuously glance around the room, looking as if I'm expecting someone and making sure to take notice of everyone. Hot in Herre , by Nelly is blaring through the speakers, and I can't help but feel the music as I start to move to the beat as subtly as possible.

Early 00s music is my favorite and the clubs here in Vegas love to play it. Which is great for me, but I know it's a marketing scheme, probably trying to appeal to the masses. Who doesn't love music from that time period?

Janae is snuggled up next to Shane whispering what I can only assume are sweet nothings in his ear.

Jasmine is talking with Blake, and Jill and Sienna are conversing with a group of other football players, leaving me on my own.

Gripping the strap of my purse and shuffling from one foot to the other, I can't help but feel a little lonely even though I'm standing in the middle of a crowded club with my friends.

"Want to sit?"

Kade’s question has me turning toward him.

But I don't move, just frozen in my spot as I watch him scoot across the booth leaving space for me.

After just staring at him for a moment as if I'm hypnotized, I suddenly become aware of who he is and where I am.

Rolling my eyes, I scoff at his question.

"You are the last person I would want to sit next to; I could get cooties from all your skanks. "

Kade does something that I'm not expecting. He bursts out laughing and I can't help but pull my brows together in confusion. When he finally composes himself, he looks up at me with tears in his eyes. "You're probably right. Should we grab some hand sanitizer? I can rub it all over my body."

His comment throws me off. I didn't expect him to lean into my jab.

No, I wanted it to hurt him, but I should've known better.

One thing I do know about him is that Kade Humphries doesn't take anything seriously.

Everything is a joke to him. Fuck, I need a drink and to get away from him, especially if I'm going to last the rest of the night.

Instead of responding, I turn my back to him and head straight for the bar like my ass is on fire.

"Hey, wait up," I hear. Jill calls my name, freezing me in my tracks just before I get to the bar. When she finally catches me, she's huffing. "Fuck, you walk fast."

"Maybe you need to up your cardio," I tell her with a smirk. Jill doesn't need to up her cardio, she's a runner and even for fun. Ugh. Admittedly it sounds awful to me, I would rather do yoga instead.

Smacking my shoulder, she lets out a laugh. "There is no cardio that can keep up with a scorned woman."

That earns her a scowl from me as I mumble, "I'm not scorned."

Jill giggles, throwing her arm around my shoulders, ignoring my comment as she pulls me forward the last few steps to the bar. "Let's go get you a drink."

"Yes. Let's do that." I nod because no matter what anyone thinks, I need to drown my sorrows away. Moments later, a blonde chick comes up. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Yes. Four shots of tequila, please," Jill chirps.

"Four shots?" I ask raising a brow "Don't you think that's a little much?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you wanted to get drunk and forget all about Kade," she says, looking at me pointedly with a brow raised, and I know she's got me there.

"Yes. I do," I reply in defeat.

Jill nods and we wait in silence until the bartender places our shots down in front of us. She picks up one of the shots handing it to me. "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"To forgetting our mistakes," she says as we clink our glasses together, both downing the shot.

"Whew! That was something," I squeal, reaching for one of the limes and placing it in my mouth. A shiver runs down my spine while the alcohol makes its way through my system.

Jill doesn't respond, instead handing me another shot. "Ready for the second one?" she says with a hint of challenge in her tone, like she's expecting me to back out. A challenge is a challenge, and Samantha Robinson never backs down from a challenge even if it's her downfall.

"You know it." Giving her a wink, I throw the shot down, allowing it to glide down my throat and I can already feel the alcohol buzzing. Leaning over the bar, I wave the bartender down once again.

"What can I get you?" she asks as she approaches.

"I'll have a margarita on the rocks." I pause for a moment looking back at Jill when she gives me a nod. "Make it two."

The bartender nods and then moves back to make us the drinks. Once we have our margaritas, we make our way through the crowd to the dance floor. Blow by Kesha is on and I can't help but let the alcohol and music flow over me, allowing my problems to drift off.

The rest of the night, the drinks and the music flow and before I know it, I'm enjoying myself. Ignoring any consequences that might come way, because tomorrow is a different day.