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JIMMY

We redressed, I took a quick moment to fix my hair and reapply my gloss, and then we headed out. TJ had been right—our sexual shenanigans had indeed caused us to miss our restaurant reservation, so we stopped by Runza for a quick bite before heading to the club.

The evening had turned cool, sending people looking for inside entertainment, so there was already a decent crowd on the dancefloor once we got inside. Drea had texted, letting us know they had claimed a couple of tables in the back corner, so we headed in that direction.

The club scene wasn’t usually my thing—I generally preferred a quiet night at home with Lucy and my book—but with TJ’s response to my new look, I had the unusual urge to show it off.

The beat pulsed around us as we pushed our way through the club toward our friends. Drea was sipping something bright pink out of a plastic cup, one hand in the air, swaying to the beat. Between Drea and Mandy, Drea was usually the more chill of the two. However, it seemed like she might have done a little pregaming before arriving tonight.

When she saw us, she let out a squeal and then set her drink on the table next to her, some of the liquid sloshing over the side. She put her arms out in front of her, and as soon as I got close enough, she grabbed me by the shoulders, her grip remarkably strong. “Holy shit, Jimmy.” She brushed at my curls, then tugged the bottom of my shirt. “You look fucking amazing.”

I could feel my cheeks heat and hoped it wasn’t too noticeable in the darkened club. Not that it mattered. Drea and Mandy were my closest friends. They were used to my blushing. “Seriously hot,” Mandy said, stepping up next to Drea.

“Thank you.”

“I’m gonna grab us some drinks,” TJ said, then pushed his way back through the crowd to the bar while I took stock of who else was gathered around the tables. I recognized Selena, Joe, and another instructor from the dance studio. And Jason and Zach were there talking to Sarah. Absently, I wondered who was watching her kids.

“Where’s Rafi and Elise?” I thought I remembered them being in the group chat for tonight.

“Frannie was running a low-grade fever, so they’re not gonna make it. Sounds like Elise told him to come without her, but he insisted on staying home with them.”

“That’s too bad. Hopefully, she’s okay.”

“You’d be surprised how often a baby runs a fever and then is totally fine the next day,” Mandy said, sipping her drink. Her eyes were bright, making me think the two had pregamed together.

“Who’s your DD tonight?”

“We got a hotel a couple of blocks over. We’ll either walk or get an Uber.”

“So what’s going on with TJ? You guys back together yet?” Drea asked.

My eyes automatically sought him out, my pulse ticking up at just the sight of him smiling as he wove his way through the crowd toward me, two seltzers in hand.

“Oh my god, look at your face. I was giving you shit, but you’re together, aren’t you?”

I smiled, happiness flooding through me, and nodded. Both girls squealed, making me feel a little like we were back in high school again. TJ made it to my side and handed me my seltzer, asking, “What are they going on about?”

“I told them we’re together.”

His face lit up and he slid his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. Jason, Zach, and Sarah moved around the table to join us. “Is this officially a thing?” Jason asked, gesturing between the two of us.

TJ kissed me on the temple while I smiled and nodded.

“About damn time,” Zach said.

Drea rolled her eyes. “Please. You wouldn’t even have known they had a history if I hadn’t told you that day at the pumpkin patch.”

“In my defense, I hadn’t met Jimmy until just a couple of months ago.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Mandy interjected. “We’re just really happy for you.”

“Thanks,” I said, blushing furiously at all the attention.

TJ came to my rescue. “Should we dance?”

Our group fought through the crowd to the dancefloor, separating into smaller groups of twos and threes. Jason and Zach hit a bump and grind, just slightly awkward and off-beat, but their eyes were completely locked on each other, and I figured it wouldn’t be too long before they found somewhere a little more private.

Drea, Mandy, and Sarah danced in a small group next to the other dance instructors. They took turns trading partners, though I noticed Drea and Sarah kept coming back to each other. I wondered if there was something between them I hadn’t noticed before.

All of that slipped away when TJ pulled me against him, sliding his thigh between my legs and dipping his hips low. He reached around and grabbed a healthy handful of my ass, squeezing possessively as he swayed us back and forth to the beat. I shouldn’t have been surprised that a dancer like TJ would know how to use his hips.

I’d been to this club a handful of times, always with Steven. He thought he knew how to dance, usually blaming me for any awkwardness in our movements with some poorly veiled joke. But as I moved on the floor now with TJ, it was evident Steven didn’t know shit about how to dance.

TJ’s movements were fluid and effortless as we swayed to the music. I continued to ride his thigh, my cock thickening against the friction and pressure provided by his leg. His hand roamed down my ass, cupping and kneading as he moved lower, his grip strong as he held me against him. He bent his head forward and kissed me, the flavor of his mango seltzer mingling with the cherry of my own. We made out right there in the middle of the dancefloor, the lights and music pulsing around us, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t give a shit if we were catching anyone’s attention. I didn’t care if people saw us. Hell, half the people in this club were making out anyway.

I was dangerously close to coming in my pants, though, so I pulled back and turned, pressing my ass into his crotch and grinding against him. His hand went to my waist, sliding underneath my crop top while I leaned back, resting my head on his shoulder. He nibbled at my throat and rolled his hips, his erection firmly pressing into the cleft of my ass. His thumb found my nipple, and he flicked it, then pinched, causing me to suck in a breath. Fuck . I might come right here on the dancefloor anyway.

It would seem the sixty-nine we’d engaged in earlier had only served as an appetizer, and now I wanted more .

Without warning, TJ stiffened behind me, all movement stopping. I thought for a moment he’d been the one coming on the dancefloor, but as I opened my eyes, I saw the cause of his tension. Ten feet away, toward the edge of the dancefloor, was Steven, angry eyes trained on us. He was dancing with some guy whose back was to us, but by his size, I didn’t think it was Chance or Justin. Not that it mattered. It was no longer my problem.

I felt TJ’s lips against my ear. “Do you want to leave? I’m sure Drea would understand.”

My eyes darted over to where she was dancing with Sarah, arms wrapped around each other in a way that suggested there was more than friendship between them. TJ was right, she would understand, but I’d be damned if I’d give Steven the satisfaction.

I turned back toward TJ, pulling his face down, forcing him to look at me. “Fuck him. I spent far too long giving him too much control over my life. I’m having a good time, and I’m not ready to leave.”

His eyes slid back and forth between mine. “You sure?”

“Absolutely.” I tilted my lips up for a kiss. “Let’s keep dancing.”

He smiled, placing his hands back on my hips and pulling me into him once again. “I like dancing with you. Did I tell you how hot you look tonight?”

I bit my lip, wrapping my hands around his neck and giving a playful toss of my head. “You did, but you can tell me again.” I loved being flirty with him. I loved how he responded to it. It made me feel so fucking good that I could have that effect on TJ.

“Well, let me see…” He pretended to be deep in thought. “First, I like the way these jeans highlight your ass.” He gripped it in demonstration. “I think I liked the way they looked on the floor better though.” I groaned. He moved his head forward so his lips were against my ear. “You gonna let me fuck you in that jock later?”

I pulled back so I could look into his eyes. “Is fucking on the table, Mr. We Should Take It Slow?”

“You made it pretty clear earlier that you were down. I’m done trying to dictate the pace. If you say you’re ready, then I am too.”

“Maybe we should get out of here then.” My smile was lewd as I slid my hand between us and gripped his dick, gratified when he sucked in a breath. His blue eyes were almost black with lust. He looked like he wanted to take me right there on the dancefloor.

“You’ve got to be kidding me with this.” Sighing, I retracted my hand, and we both turned to look at Steven, who was standing next to us, wearing a look that was somehow both smug and pissed off at the same time. “You accuse me of cheating, and here you are, practically fucking each other on the dancefloor.”

“You did cheat. And what I do on the dancefloor and who I do it with is none of your goddamn business.” I looked him up and down with disgust, then turned back to TJ. “Come on, baby. Let’s go grab another drink.”

I took TJ’s hand with the intention of leading him toward the bar, but Steven grabbed my arm in an attempt to stop me. I looked down at his hand, then back at him, hot flames of anger burning in my gut.

I’d been pissed when I’d found out about the cheating, but that had been the kind of anger that freezes in your veins like ice. I’d been upset after the breakup, at the way he’d spoken to me and gotten physical with me. I’d been disappointed in myself for allowing him to treat me the way he had for so long. But now, standing in the middle of the club, with his refusal to leave me the hell alone, my rage was white-hot.

I shook off his hand. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

“Oh my god, you’re always so dramatic.”

“Oh really? I’m not the one who got himself thrown out of an Outback Steakhouse when he made a scene over the way his steak was cooked. Which, by the way, was cooked correctly.”

“Now, listen here?—”

“No, you listen.” I stepped right into his face. “Do not touch me again. Ever. In fact, don’t talk to me either. I gave a year of my life to you. A year of allowing you to belittle me and make me feel small. I bent over backward to cater to your needs, and you fucking cheated on me. You are a vile, disgusting piece of shit, and I don’t want anything to do with you ever again.”

I stepped back, sneering as I looked him up and down. “Now, my boyfriend and I are going to step over to the bar and get another drink. And you… You are going to walk away from me. You’re going to leave me and my friends alone. In fact, you’re going to pretend we don’t even exist. Because I sure as shit am not going to give you another thought.”

His eyes flicked to the crowd of people standing around us, watching the scene unfold. “And what if I don’t?” he asked, stepping back into my space. God, he was as stubborn as he was stupid. “What are you going to do about it.” He shoved a pointed forefinger into my shoulder, eyebrow raised in challenge.

I didn’t hesitate. I popped off and slapped him.