Tonight, the resort-sponsored club was Dady’O. Jack was awestruck when their group stepped into the dimly lit interior. Where The City was all flashing lights, exposed steel trusses, and wide open spaces, Dady’O was the exact opposite. The inside had been modeled after a sort of cavern, with rough-hewn walls, dim lights that glowed like a flickering campfire, and a modestly-sized raised platform in the center that served as the dance floor. One side was flanked by an even higher stage, and booths and tables were spread around the other three.
Their group picked a table, and before they could even consider sitting down, a waitress approached with several bottles of vodka, as well as pitchers of orange and cranberry juice.
“We didn’t order this!” Jack shouted at her over the pulsing of the music.
“It’s on the house!” She nodded at his wristband. “That’s your ticket to whatever you want tonight,” she added, throwing him a flirtatious wink before she walked away.
“I think she likes you,” Jessica teased as Jack stared, dumbfounded, after the waitress.
Snapping out of it, Jack grinned down at her. Under the glow of the black lights lining the ceiling, Jessica’s teeth shone bright blue when she smiled at him. “Unfortunately for her, there’s nothing this place could offer me that I don’t already have.”
“Good save,” she said, rising onto her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips.
When she moved to pull away, Jack cupped the back of her head, holding her in place. Jack felt more than heard her hum of appreciation as he ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth and licked his way inside. They hadn’t had a single drink yet, and Jack was already drunk on Jessica’severything. The way she anchored herself to him by gripping his shirt in her fists, how the silky strands of her hair fanned out across his hands and arms as he hauled her in impossibly closer. He kissed her like this was the last time, like this was goodbye.
And Jessica returned his kiss with fervor, responding so enthusiastically that she basically crawled up his body and wrapped herself around him.
Jack wasn’t mad at it.
But before things could get too heated—in a very public place, no less—a tap on his shoulder had Jack pulling away, gasping for air, Jessica’s own breath rasping in his ear.
“Hate to break up what was sure to be an impressive show,” Zach said with a grin, “but we’re taking shots.”
Reluctantly, Jessica released her legs from his waist and returned to her own two feet, though she remained tethered to Jack by threading her fingers through his. They turned to the table, where the entire group watched them expectantly. Bethani held out a shot for Jessica, and Tyler had one ready for Jack.
Together, the six of them raised their glasses over the center of the table.
“To spring break,” Jack said, smiling down at Jessica. “It’s been one hell of a ride.”
“To spring break!” they echoed, then lowered their shots to tap them on the table before tipping them back.
Unlike the tequila they’d been shooting all week, vodka went down a lot smoother, though it burned the inside of his nostrils like that sterile scent of medical grade antiseptic. He poured himself a shot of cranberry juice into the same glass to chase it down.
“I’m gonna go get a beer!” he yelled to Jessica over the music. “I can’t drink this shit all night.”
“I’ll come with you!” she said.
As Jack turned toward the bar, the waitress once again appeared at his side.
“Can I get you guys anything?” she asked.
“I would love a beer,” he said, then turned to Jessica. “What do you want, sunshine?”
“I’ll have what he’s having!”
“I’ll be right back with those,” the waitress said, then vanished into the crush of bodies.
After she’d returned, and Jack washed away the lingering burn of vodka with a few swigs of his beer, Jessica tugged on his arm.
“Let’s go dance!”
Before he could protest—not that he would have—Jessica towed him onto the dance floor, pushing her way through the throng until they were deep in the middle of the crowd. Overhead, warm-toned lights flashed in time with the bass, and on stage, a woman in a feathered and sequined outfit performed aerial tricks on a long swath of fabric hanging from the ceiling.
Jessica spun and pressed her ass into his lap, leading them in rocking side to side to the beat. He still had no idea what the words accompanying the music were, but with Jessica in his arms, it didn’t matter.
Finally, a song Jack did recognize blasted over the crowd, and a cheer went up as the whole club began shouting the chorus of “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee.
On the heels of that came “Despacito,” and Jack turned Jessica to face him, settling his hands low on her hips and tucking her hand between them against his chest.
