Page 7

Chapter Seven

What if there is a guy out there who is worth the trouble? What would I do if I met him? -Flora

The bass of the music drives a wild beat through my body. I throw my hands up in the air and close my eyes. I hear the other people in the club gyrating their bodies next to me. I can even smell them and feel the heat from them, but in my mind right now they don’t exist.

I’m dancing on my own, free from judgment. Free from the glares some of the girls may be giving me, or the lascivious stares of any guys watching. They don’t matter. The music and my connection to it is what matters.

It’s weird though. I do feel one pair of eyes upon me. It feels like someone is watching, but not with judgment. I feel a warmth flow through me because it feels like that person is watching with want and need, and even admiration. Maybe it’s just my imagination. Maybe it isn’t. It doesn’t matter because it feels right.

I’m almost giddy as I twist and turn my body to the music. This is exactly what I needed after the breakup with Tim and the test I had today in my psych class. None of it matters now. All that matters is this feeling right here.

I slowly open my eyes as the music slows down. Couples start crowding the dance floor. Fuck. Time to get a drink.

I push my way through the couples grinding against each other and find Sam, Sunny, and Molly looking longingly out to the dance floor.

“Oh my God, are you guys actually missing your boyfriends right now? Because this is a girls’ night! Remember, a girls’ night? That night when boys aren’t invited and are banished from our thoughts.” I shake my head and take a long sip of my cocktail. I wrinkle my nose. It’s mostly vodka now.

Sam holds up her hands in a defensive gesture. “I know, I know. It’s just…” she trails off and indicates all the couples on the dance floor.

“She means we are totally here for girls’ night, but it’s okay to miss the guys maybe just a little bit,” Sunny holds up her index and forefinger with only a small space between them. She tosses back her long blonde. “We are still here to celebrate your freedom from that weasel Flora. Are you sure we can’t get the other football players to beat him up? You know they will, happily.”

Sam sits up straighter and pulls her phone from her purse. “Yep, I can totally call Beau right now and see if they can organize something.”

I grab her hand and place her phone back on the table. I roll my eyes. “No, you guys. We’re not doing that. Besides, Beau is a coach. He can’t beat up anyone.”

Sam’s cheeks turn rosy. “Oh yeah, I guess he can’t. Anyway, I have a better idea.” She taps a finger against her lips and starts surveying the club with her dark eyes.

“What better way to get over someone than to get under someone else?” She grins mischievously and Sunny claps her hands together. Even Molly nods her head in agreement.

“Oooh, I love that idea, Sam,” she adds.

I roll my eyes. “Y’all are too much.” I can’t stop my grin though. I love these girls. Molly is someone I met when we suffered through a freshman class together. She was shy and quirky, and we immediately bonded. Then when Sunny moved in, I didn’t realize I would adopt her friends also. Sam is engaged to Sunny’s brother and has quickly become a part of our friend group.

“What about that guy?” Sam asks coyly. “He’s been watching you the whole time we’ve been here.”

I think about the way I felt on the dance floor, how I felt like someone was watching me. Just like the other night at the community center. I turn my head to the left and right. “Where Sam? I don’t see anyone.”

“He’s at the bar, girlie. He keeps sneaking looks over here when he thinks no one’s looking.” She grins. “I just happen to be extra observant. That and I have radar when it comes to hot guys.”

I glance towards the bar and don’t notice anyone looking my way. I shrug. “I don’t see anyone.”

She playfully slaps the back of my hand. “Give it a moment.”

I keep watching. After another moment or two, I feel a warmth spread through me. Sure enough, a tall drink of water at the bar is staring at me.

Dark eyes meet mine. A shiver runs through my body. I eat him up with my eyes. Granite jaw, nose that looks like it’s been broken a time or two, and a rugged body made for sin. Those dark eyes widen as they study me, and he winces. His cheeks redden and then he turns around to the bar.

A sneaky smile spreads across my face. There’s something about that guy. Something that I need. Something that I want…