“Come on, Levi. I can be the best dance partner you’ve ever had. Just give me a chance. I’ll be your next hit.”
So, she does know who I am.
Feeling her fingertip on my shoulder, I rise from my seat slowly. Taking a step without glancing at her, I stride forward.
“Well, you’re just as fucked up as everyone says you are!” she screams at my back like a child.
I let the smirk that I was having a hard time containing lift my mouth. People like her are so entertaining. They think I’m foolish.
“Fill her up,” I mutter as I arrive at the bar, looking at the wall ahead of me.
When I slam my glass against the counter a little too aggressively, the bartender raises a brow.
“Fifth glass of Coke?” he says before letting out a sarcastic whistle. “Damn, either you want to get fucked, you fucked up, or you just love seeing my face,” he states as he pours the soda that I wish were something else.
He slides the glass over toward me, and I snatch it quickly and down a quarter of it in one sip.
“I think you should slow down now, man, okay?” the stupid bartender says, teasing the shit out of me for not drinking alcohol. If only he fucking knew.
“You’re like the mom I never had.” I act grateful and even go the extra mile and place my hand over my heart.
Rolling his eyes, he starts making another drink for a man who’s standing way too close to me. From the corner of my eye, I see him glance down at my body. From my black crew neck with the sleeves pulled up to my elbows, making my sleeves of tattoos visible, to my black combat boots. He takes a step back and clears his throat.
When his eyes land on my tattooed fingers that are covered in rings, some black and silver, I grunt, annoyed at the unwanted attention, “Like what you see?”
Looking up at my face, he stutters, “What did you say, man?”
“I asked if we should hook up now or later. You seem to be making up fake scenarios about me in your head.”
He lets out the most awkward laugh I’ve ever heard in my life. “I have a wife. I’m definitely not interested.”
I let out a hum of concern. “I bet your wife wouldn’t like the fact that you’ve been eye-fucking girls here all night.” Yes, I might be the quietest person in this club, but I’ve been the only one paying the most attention to my surroundings, and this shitface isn’t as loyal as he claims to be.
His mouth drops open. “You have something against me I don’t know?”
Yeah, I’m a recovering alcoholic who hasn’t had a drink in a couple of months, and that makes me super grumpy.
Jackass.
Shrugging my shoulders, I down the rest of my drink and toss the glass down onto the counter. “I hope your wife realizes she’s married to the gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe.” I slap him playfully on the back as I walk past him.
I leave the shocked man behind as I push my way through the crowd of dancing bodies. As my eyes search for the only people I’ll ever tolerate.
“One day, you’re going to mess with the wrong person,” Axel points out while tipping his beer bottle at me as I reach our VIP booth.
“The fucker wouldn’t know what hit him,” I say while reclining on the couch.
“Amen to that,” Rowan says mid-chew. Stuffing another chip in his mouth, he tosses me a water bottle. “Drink that shit and stop looking at his beer with heart-shaped eyes.”
Of their own accord, my eyes roll. “Do I look lovestruck?”
“To answer your question, yes. You’re an alcoholic. Remember, you’re doing this for her.”
Of course he brings her up. She’s my only weakness after all. He always reminds me of my little sister, which gets me back in check every single time. Twisting the plastic cap open, I down the water instead of stealing Axel’s beer.
A few years ago, I would’ve denied I was addicted to alcohol. Now, years later, it’s the one thing that makes me feel nothing when the entire world is crashing down on my shoulders.
I used to go through multiple bottles a week. I became so dependent on alcohol that I scared myself shitless when I couldn’t even go a minute without a drink. I did the one thing an addict should never do—I didn’t go to rehab. I started my sober journey at home, all alone.Dangerous, I know. I went through absolute hell. Some days, I would have Axel or Rowan lock me in my room so I wouldn’t run out to the liquor store.
