Page 59 of From West, With Regret

Club Verona is the hottest new spot here in the city. According to Julianna, that is. I wouldn’t know otherwise. It’s massive, with multiple levels, and several different bar stations. Julianna reserved an exclusive VIP section for the four of us, complete with our own personal bartender. AKA Stephanie.

Red curtains line the outer walls of our cornered section, with an opening overlooking the dance floor below.

I adjust the bottom of the dress Julianna let me borrow as I cross one leg over the other. She was right; this dress fits me like a dream, and it screams London. Although it’s probably the slinkiest dress I’ve ever worn, I’ve never felt more confident and comfortable insomething than I do now.

It’s like the pseudo family I’ve had around me has brought out the true me. The one afraid to come out of her shell.

“If Stephanie keeps bringing these over, Asher might have to come and carry me out of here.” Charleigh laughs, setting her glass on the small, square table in front of us.

“Watch,” Julianna cuts in. “If he does, he’ll probably bring Holt and West to help drag us out of here.”

“Probably,” Charleigh agrees.

A groan makes its way out of my throat, and I scoff against my glass. Just what I need. West carrying me out of here. I’m certain if West were to touch me again, my body would burst into flames. Admittedly, it would be a good way to go.

Silence.

I look over the group. I’ve caught their full attention by my sudden outburst. All eyes are on me.

“What was that groan about?” Julianna’s mouth splits into a gleeful grin.

“Nothing.” I sigh.

If I’m going to have this conversation, I need more champagne at a faster pace. Thinking and talking about West not only makes my pussy clench with need, but it makes my heart race too. An intoxicating combination I can’t decide what to do with.

“Oh, this isn’t nothing,” Charleigh chimes in, flipping her long hair over her shoulder and leaning forward. She crosses her arms over her crossed legs.

Another groan vibrates up my throat as I twist in my seat to steal the bottle of champagne Stephanie left on the bar cart behind me. Our personal bartender stares at me in horror as I pour myself another glass. If she’s worried our table won’t leave her a massive tip, she must not know that half the people at this table make an obscene amount of money.

I open my mouth wide and guzzle down my entire glass. The bubbles fizz and sting their way down my throat.

“So, what?” Selene asks beside me. “You don’t want to see West?”

“It isn’t that.”

This time, our personal bartender is already cracking open another bottle of champagne, rushing to refill my glass. I give her a smile of appreciation.

“Oh, wait.” Julianna crosses her legs, her tan skin shimmering under the club’s lights as she smooths a hand over her knee. She drapes her other arm across the back of the leather booth. “I know what this is. You’re in the denial stage.”

I scoff, laughing off her comment.

“It’s true.” She gestures toward Charleigh, then me. “Little Charleigh here was the same when Asher came back into her life. Pretended not to have feelings for him, but eventually confessed it was all a ruse.”

“Sort of like me, huh?”

Julianna’s eyes spread wide with shock, but then her face falls with recognition at the voice meeting her ear. The man behind her is bent at the hip, standing so close to Julianna, you’d think they were a couple.

Rome Montgomery. I remember meeting him the night of Julianna’s party.

He’s the one she can’t stand.

“Is that how you feel about me, Lark?” he teases close to Julianna’s ear.

“Rome,” she grinds out, the muscles in her temple twitching.

Rome’s mouth curl deviously. “Your hatred from me is just for show, isn’t it?”

If I wasn’t sitting directly beside Julianna, I wouldn’t havebeen able to hear Rome’s teasing. His use of a pet name ‘Lark’ has me feeling as though I’m witness to something private.