“Sorry girls, it’s not worth the headache,” he chuckles.
“It’s fine, Vinny. It’s girls’ night anyway,” I say, sitting back in the seat.
“Screw girls’ night! I want to meet the famous Mr Lowell,” Megan whines.
Lizzo starts playing on the radio, and the girls start singing along, thankfully forgetting about Mason.
“Vinny, can you turn it up, please?” Luce sings.
Fifteen minutes later, we are pulling up at the curb. I glance out the window noticing we’re not at The Pearl.
“Where are we?” I question.
“Melders. You girls have a good night.” Vinny smirks, looking straight ahead.
“Yes! Thank you, Vinny!” Megan cheers, ruffling his short hair before climbing out of the car.
“Vinny!” I jokingly scold as Lucy slides from the car excitedly, joining Megan on the pavement.
Vinny’s eyes find mine in the rearview mirror. “You didn’t see me, okay?” He winks.
7
Nina
We shuffle forwardin the line, huddled together as we try to keep warm. Melders Bar is overflowing at the seams tonight. Bodies spill out onto the street as the queue wraps around the side of the building. Thankfully, it’s moving quickly, and we are nearly at the entrance.
“He better be as hot as I remember, Nina. It’s flipping freezing out here tonight,” Lucy complains.
“Umm, I didn’t want to come here tonight. This is all on you, girls. I was happy going to The Pearl.”
A large group of men step from the club, and relief fills me when the bouncer allows us and the couple in front to step inside. The warmth of the club blankets me the moment we cross the threshold, instantly calming my body.
“Drinks first,” Lucy says. “And keep an eye out for Mase! We need to find him first.”
I link arms with my two best friends, rolling my eyes. “Screw him. Let’s have some fun instead!”
We haven’t been to Melders Bar before, always being put off by the wait even to contemplate entertaining the fifty-pound admission charge. It’s one of the hottest places in the city to party—but it’s just a club, and I will now be living off of noodles for the remainder of the week.
“So this is where all the classy girls go,” Megan says with a smirk, well aware that we aren’t that.
The bar is set out on two levels, and we have entered the club from the top one. A bar runs around the room in a U shape, with plush velvet seats and tables scattered throughout the area. There is a large opening at the centre, and we walk over to the railings, looking down at the crowd of people dancing below.
“This place is incredible. Let’s get a drink and hit the dance floor,” Lucy shouts over the music.
My gaze involuntarily scans the entire top floor, trying to seek out Mason, but it’s such an immense space, and I doubt I could find him amongst all these people. We see a spot at the bar and slide in, ordering nine shots and a vodka cranberry chaser to take with us.
“Cheers, bitches,” Megan smiles.
We down our shots one after another, all of us struggling by the third. Tiesto - “Wasted” starts to blare through the speakers, and the girls squeal as they slam down their shot glasses. I grab their hands, pulling them to the top of the steps that lead to the dance floor.
I’m about to take the first step when my eyes lift, locking on Charlie’s. He stands at the opposite side of the opening—close to where we stood at the bar moments ago. His forearms rest against the railings with his glass hung leisurely from the tips of his fingers.
Holy shit. I forgot how hot they all are.
Mason and Elliot stand off to the side, engaged in a conversation with a man I haven’t seen before. I quickly lift my finger to my lips and plead with my eyes at Charlie.
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
