Page 16

Three hours and five drinks later, Charley was feeling no pain. In fact, it was the most liberated she’d ever felt.

She stumbled back to the stool, and it took two tries to finally hop up.

“Look at you, got some moves, girl.” Penny teased.

Charley laughed, brushing her hair away from her forehead. She could just imagine what she looked like with sweat dripping down her face. And I don’t care. Charley couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much. Maybe never.

“I don’t usually dance.”

“Could’ve fooled me. You look good out there.”

“Keely says you have to do shit that scares you.”

Penny chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. She licked her lips, placing the glass down while eyeing Charley.

“That’s good advice.” Penny paused. “Of course, I like to do shit that scares other people. My man thinks it’s a toxic trait. I find it empowering.”

“I wouldn’t even know how to scare someone.” Charley giggled. She’d smiled so much tonight, her cheeks were sore. “I needed this with everything going on.”

“Rough patch? Penny asked.

“Almost a decade long rough patch. It’s like every bad thing that could happen” —She lifted her glass, sloshing some over the rim— “Is happening!”

Penny arched her brow. “Maybe you should slow down on those drinks.”

Charley laughed, shaking her head and raising her glass again. “This is the only good thing in my life at the moment.”

“That’s not a good thing, girl.” Penny chuckled and rested her elbows on the bar. “What’s going on?”

Charley shook her head, and Penny grabbed her arm.

“Consider this free therapy. I’ll listen, and you can unload and unleash. Get it all out, and then we’ll leave it right here, never to speak of it again.”

“Really?”

“Let’s hear it.”

In a sober state, Charley was the definition of private.

With a belly full of potent alcoholic purple drinks?

All her inhibitions were out the door. She had always kept everything bottled up in an effort to protect everyone around her.

She was basically drowning in everyone else’s problems and responsibilities.

Why shouldn’t she get it all out? Finally, just spill all her problems and issues.

Penny was a virtual stranger who she’d probably never cross paths with again.

Do it!

She drank the last bit of her drink and slammed the glass on the table.

“Aside from being evicted and only having a few more days to find a place, my brother still hasn’t called.

I don’t know which rehab he’s in or if he’s okay or scared.

I mean, I think he’s doing good. That’s what I was told, but I can’t know for sure until I hear from him.

He’s basically my only family, and now he’s gone.

I don’t have any friends except for Keely.

Without her, I have no one.” Charley shook her head and lifted her hand, ordering another drink as if it were second nature.

“Then I got my brother’s dealer showing up at the house looking for something.

I don’t know what exactly, but I’m pretty sure it’s” —Charley leaned closer and whispered loudly— “drugs.”

Penny raised her brows.

Charley twisted her lips and nodded. “And that jerk even threatened me. Said if I didn’t get it to him, he’d come back for me.

And then I got this, which is taking forever to heal.

” Charley tugged her turtleneck down, exposing her throat.

“I have to wear turtlenecks and scarves all the time to hide it. Penny, I hate scarves. My life is a mess right now.”

Charley smiled at Penny, expecting her to laugh. She got the polar opposite reaction. Penny pointed to her neck.

“Who did that?” Even over the music Charley could make out the anger in her tone. Charley grabbed her hand.

“My brother. He didn’t mean it. I think he was on something or coming down hard from withdrawals.”

“That’s not your fault,” Penny snapped.

Charley waved her hand. “I know but…”

“No!” Penny slammed her hand on the bar.

“If you’re following up with but, then you don’t fucking know.

That” —She pointed to Charley’s neck again— “Is one hundred percent all on him. I don’t care if he’s high as a fucking kite.

There’s no excuse for what he did to you, and don’t you dare make one for him, Charley. ”

It was a horrible cycle. She’d spent so many years making excuses for him. It was as if she’d trained herself to do it. And with that carried some shame. Her head was light as she was trying to make sense of the conversation. It had taken a turn, and she wasn’t in the right mindset to deal with it.

Penny sighed. “Losing your buzz?”

Charley pouted and slowly nodded.

Penny smiled. “Alright, let’s get you back on it. Something tells you need alcohol induced bliss more than anyone in the club tonight.”

“I’d really like that.”

Penny chuckled and cocked her head. “Tell me about Nash.”

If Penny was trying to get her in her happy place, she was leading Charley in the right direction.

“Isn’t he the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen?”

Penny smirked. “He’s sexy, I’ll give him that.”

Charley straightened on her stool, grabbing her glass. “And so nice, right?”

Penny scoffed, shaking her head. Charley didn’t know what to make of the reaction. Penny sipped her drink, licked her lips, and stared back at her. “Is Nash always nice to you, Charley?”

There was something in her tone that had Charley hesitating on her response.

It almost felt like a trick question. Had she not had so many purple drinks, she might’ve been able to read between the lines of the seemingly innocent question.

But unfortunately, she’d lost the ability of that task about two drinks ago.

“Yes. I mean, he let me come back here. And the other night he walked me to my car. And he said I looked beautiful.”

Penny’s lips twitched, and she slowly nodded.

“What?”

“When I think of Nash, nice is not what comes to mind.” Penny squinted. “But things are starting to add up.”

“What do you mean?”

Penny glanced over Charley’s shoulder and lifted her gaze with a small smile playing on her lips. “He’s got his men watching you and keeping everyone away. You think it’s just by chance that everyone on the dance floor stayed at least five feet away from you?”

Charley swiveled on her stool. “They did?”

Penny arched her brow and nodded.

“Keely thinks I should make out with him. You know, make the first move. What do you think?”

Penny glanced up when the lights brightened, and the music faded.

Charley squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get her eyes to adjust to the lights.

She glanced across the bar. It was completely empty.

When she spun on her stool, the few remaining people were gathering their things and headed to the door.

Penny grabbed Charley’s pocketbook on the bar and handed it to her.

“I think that you shouldn’t take advice from your drunk friend.”

From out of nowhere, Keely made a beeline for them, stumbling on her feet.

“It’s over?” Keely bumped into Charley, wrapping her arm around her shoulder.

“Yeah girl, it’s after three,” Penny said, leading them toward the door. “Come on.”

“We’re leaving already? Aren’t they required by law to do a last call or something?” Keely whined but surprisingly, Charley was in agreement. I could go for one more purple drink.

This night had taken an amazing turn since she’d walked through the doors a few hours ago. True, there were some low points, but she’d bounced back. She couldn’t remember, if ever, she’d felt more free or had more fun.

“By law? No.” Penny hooked the strap of her pocketbook over her shoulder. “Look around, Keels, it’s closing time.”

Keely’s jaw dropped, and she turned, grabbing Charley’s arms and bouncing on her toes. “We closed down the X-Lounge! Do you know what this means?”

“We have to leave now?” Charley innocently asked.

“Charley.” Keely grabbed her forearms, shaking her. “We’re like friggin’ legends!”

“Oh hell,” Penny said with an exasperated breath.

Charley wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, and she was getting mixed messages from Keely and Penny’s polar opposite responses. I’m just going to feed off Keely’s energy.

“This was the best night ever!” Charley shouted, raised her hands above her head, and shook her hips. It was a chain reaction with Keely imitating her moves.

“You two are an absolute shitshow.” Penny laughed, grabbing each of them by an arm and guiding them to the exit.

Being so dark in the hallway, it was hard to navigate. Every time Keely would bump into her, they both broke out in laughter. I don’t want this night to end. They’d made it to the main hall when Penny stopped, staring past them.

Charley turned to see a man walking toward them.

He was the same guy who’d escorted them to their table when they’d arrived.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Cyrus.

Of all the security, he seemed the most laid-back.

Though, that didn’t say much since he was still brutally frightening.

Had she been in a sober state, she would’ve remained silent. But instead…

Charley waved, and his head jerked, scowling.

“Hi, Cyrus! Do you remember us?” She pointed to Keely, but they were standing so close, Charley slapped the back of her hand on Keely’s head, causing her to stumble backward. Penny reached out, but from out of nowhere, Caine stepped behind Keely, grasping her arms and steadying her.

Keely chuckled and glanced up at Caine. “I’ve always wanted to fall and have a hot guy catch me.”

Without thinking, Charley muttered, “Me too.”

It might have been outdated thinking, but the chivalrous gesture had Charley’s blood warming.