Ian has never broken my trust. If anything, he’s protected it. I’ll have to explain that to Remi soon. I don’t want friction within the group.
Anne’s thrilled to have us all back together, and I know I’ll need every ounce of support I can get when I finally talk to Maddie.
I’m not convinced she’ll take it as calmly as everyone else.
We slip past the black velvet curtains, push open a heavy door, and suddenly, we’re inside a huge, dimly lit club, packed with people.
The music is thunderous. Strobe lights flash over dark walls like frantic fireflies.
“Stick together!” Francis shouts over the music. “We’ll never find each other otherwise!”
Everyone nods. Noah adds, “Use the lips sofa as our home base, yeah?”
He points to a red velvet couch shaped like a pair of lips, and then blows a kiss at Francis, who rolls his eyes while the rest of us laugh.
As my eyes adjust to the dim, flashing lights, I spot the DJ booth and the mirrored bar glinting at the back of the room.
It’s sweltering in here, bodies packed tight, moving, sweating, colliding.
And all I want is to dance.
We start out close, the group still loosely together, but the crowd has its own current, and soon we’re drawn apart.
Still, Remi doesn’t take his eyes off me.
The music pulls us closer again.
I catch his scent, warm spice, something earthier underneath. Sweat, maybe. Skin.
It floods my system.
Then his bare arm brushes my shoulder, skin against skin.
My thoughts scatter like glass.
I need space. Now.
I lean in just enough to be heard.
“Remi, I’m getting a drink. Want one?”
He starts to answer, but I’m already moving, slipping into the crowd before I lose control.
I hear him call my name, but I don’t stop.
I keep going, pushing through bodies and heat, until I nearly crash into Ian, who’s balancing two drinks.
He catches them just in time.
“Seb! You alright? Come on, it’s madness in here.”
Relieved, I follow him.
He leads us through the crush with ease, weaving between dancers until we reach a quieter corner of the room.
He hands me a glass.
“Cuba Libre, right? Still your favourite?” I blink.
