‘I usually think long hair is kinda childish when you’re older, but on you it just looks hot.’ The guy I’ve been talking to at the bar of the club – Clay, I think is his name – throws me an innocent smile, as if he thinks that backhanded compliment will work. You know, tear a girl down enough that I’ll be more likely to go home with him tonight.
I take a long sip of my drink – the one I’ve been trying to make last much longer than this – to stop me from telling Clay tojustfuck right off. And to think, I’d agreed with Montana I’d try to tick something off the second half of my bucket list tonight too – her mom’s away, so she said we could stay in her guest room if I wanted to bring someone back.
Fat chance that’s happening now.
‘There you are!’ Montana bumbles into my shoulder, spinning me around clumsily to face her. Her cheeks are flushed from dancing, as opposed to her lips which show little trace of the lipstick she had on earlier. I can tell from the glassy sparkle in her eyes that she’s drunk on love as well as alcohol tonight.
‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you – oh.’ Montana stops herself when she notices the guy behind us. She raises her brows at me with a silent question, to which I give a subtle shake of my head. Wrapping an arm around my waist, Montana drags me away, shouting behind to the guy, ‘Sorry, I need to steal my friend!’
I don’t even say goodbye, just down my drink as we head towards the restroom. Once we’re inside, Montana heads to the sinks to start topping up her lipstick.
‘Thanks for saving me,’ I say, blowing out a breath.
‘Always, girl. Anyway, I think I wanna finally go home with Austin tonight.’ She lets out a giggle when she catches my eye in the mirror – and that confirms where all her lipstick has gone.
‘Yeah you do, you little minx!’ I squeal, coming behind her to wrap her in a hug, squeezing tight.
‘I know, I know! Will you be okay getting back without me? You can obvs still crash at mine.’ She spins in my grip. ‘I don’t think I’m gonna make it ’til close, but I know you wanted to stay …’
‘Yeah, of course.’ The usual excuse ofI’m getting tired and probably shouldn’t overdo itlingers in the back of my mind, waiting to be used, but I push it away with a shake of my head. ‘I can still get a lift with Levi – he was pretty keen to stay ’til the end anyway, so I’ll go find him.’
‘You sure?’ Montana checks once more, batting her long lashes at me. It beats her bringing Austin back with us and having to sit next to them in the car while they make out. Or trying to sleep in the guest room when all I can hear is her creaking bed.
‘Positive, birthday girl. I’ve got your spare key anyway.’ I pull her into a hug again. ‘Now, go find your man, be safe, and promise you’ll let me know when you get to his, yeah?’
‘Promise! Tell me when you get home too!’ Montana slaps a big kiss on my cheek before dashing out the restroom. Chuckling, I whip out my phone to locate Levi.
Cherry: Hey, Montana’s going home with Austin. Where are ya?
Levi: Course she is. I’m outside smoking. Come find me.
I filter my way through the crowded club, ducking behind a few groups to avoid the man I was talking to earlier, as I head outside. When I finally spot Levi, smoking on his own and leaning against the wall, my chest falls slightly with relief. No sign of his friend, Tiller, who came with us tonight, though. There’s a few other people outside, and a couple leave as I make my way over. I rest against the wall next to Levi, letting out a long exhale.
He chuckles, smoke cascading into the air. ‘I’m impressed you’ve made it this long.’
Levi offers me his cigarette and I shake my head. He shrugs and takes another pull, blowing the smoke leisurely away from me.
I breathe down as much of the cool summer’s night air as possible while attempting to ignore the faint aroma of smoke, letting it revitalise me enough to continue dancing for another couple of hours. ‘I’m trying to make it ’til close for once. It’s a cool club.’
The last remaining people smoking drop their cigarettes to the floor, then head back inside, leaving the two of us. City lights cast the midnight sky with a faint glow while the soft rumble of distant cars occasionally fills the air. I love nothing more than getting lost in the loud pulses of club music, but the few minutes of quiet is welcome.
Though, the lack of stars dappling the sky does make my heart ache a little for the serenity of Willow Ridge. And sitting in a truck bed to watch them with a certain bartender…
‘Yeah, it’s not a bad club at all,’ Levi agrees. ‘I like that they let people up on those platforms to dance. Haven’t seen that before.’
I nod with a smile, letting my eyes close for a moment. ‘Right? So cool. I wish I could dance like them. Must be fun being up there.’ No cares whatsoever as you just let your mind and body meld with the melody of the music – I bet it’s liberating.
‘Ah, you’re way hotter, though.’ My eyes shoot open. ‘Doubt any of them could give as good of a lap dance either.’ Levi twists towards me, shuffling along the wall. His smoky breath fills up the air between us and trying not to grimace is a struggle, especially when he’s grinning at me like I’m a prize.
Instead, I just let out trembling laugh, sliding a few inches away.
‘Well, it was Montana who got the lap dance, and she’s gone home with someone else, so couldn’t have been that great,’ I joke, checking once to the open door. We’re still the only ones out here. My skin prickles, the night’s chill no longer welcome.
I’m all too aware of the way my heartrate is climbing.
‘Well, I wouldn’t have gone home with someone else,’ he shrugs and flicks his cigarette to the ground.
Suddenly, his hands are wrapping around my waist, caging me in, as his head ducks down towards me—
