My smile widens. “It’s not cocky if you can back it up.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “Such a diva.”
We continue to dance. Once the music switches back to rap, I’m prepared to head back to the bar, but Ellie wraps her fingers around my shoulder. “I love this song! Dance with me.” I hesitate. “Please!” she begs.
Tanner’s already stalking back to the bar, Pacey trailing behind him.
Ellie spins me around and presses her back to my front, and I know I’m in trouble. She drops low, hands on her knees, and rubs her ass against my crotch. Heat swoops in my gut, right down to my cock, and I grit my teeth, trying to refrain from springing a hard-on.
Bringing her body back up, her head meets my chest as she sways against me. My hands curl around her waist, then I think better of it. Doing what that other fucker wasn’t allowed to do, I slip my hand under her dress, feeling her bare stomach against my palm. And she lets me.
The smirk that hits my lips is just for me.Yeah, fuck you, dude.
I let Ellie grind her ass all over me for a whole three minutes until I physically can’t take it anymore. My dick is up and dripping in my pants, and I have to step away.
She doesn’t protest as I head toward the bar. She shoves me playfully, then struts ahead of me, grabbing Pacey and dragging her back out on the floor.
“I’m going to go. I need to find Katie,” Tanner says as I take the stool next to him.
“Where is she?”
Staring at his phone, he says, “Apparently another club.”
I let my eyes fall to his screen. He has one of those tracking apps pulled up.Jesus fuck.
“Let me take a leak, then we can grab the girls and go.”
He shakes his head. “No, I’ll go alone.”
“Nope. We’re sticking together tonight.” I slap his shoulder and head to the bathroom.
When I’m done, we follow Tanner outside while he watches his phone, leading the way. I feel like Scooby-Doo on a trail.
“Do we know where we’re going?” Pacey asks. Tanner ignores her and presses forward. “Ok, then,” she mumbles.
Tanner stops abruptly, causing us all to nearly crash into his back. He spins around, holding his phone, and from behind him, I see the dot flashing on the screen. Jesus, I hope I never date anyone I have to track on my goddamn phone. This is exactly why I don’t date. Tanner.
If he can’t keep his girl in line with his controlling alpha waysandhis monster dick, there’s no hope for the rest of us.
“I’ll be right back. You guys wait out here,” he says, clicking his phone off and shoving it into his pocket. I wonder if she knows he can do that.
“Oh hell no, we’re going in,” I argue.
He growls. “No.”
I’m sensing he’s embarrassed about the situation, but I’m not letting him do this alone. I’m worried about what we might find inside. I know better than anyone what it feels like to find your girl with someone else. It’s like a sledgehammer to the chest. Something I don’t ever want to feel again. I hope that’s not what we’re about to find, for Tanner’s sake.
“Yes.” I push forward and step into the line outside the door. He huffs and puffs but follows me as the bouncer lets usinside. The club is way louder and more packed than the one we were just in.
He surveys the crowd. I don’t know how you’d find anyone in here with these flashing neon lights. Pacey and Ellie come close, and I reach out and grab both their arms to keep from losing them. Neither of them is bigger than a Pixie Stick. The top of their heads barely reach my armpits. If someone wanted to snatch them, it wouldn’t take much.
Tanner says nothing but moves through the crowd. We trail behind him, squeezing through sweaty bodies. We dodge and weave until we’re in the back, near a section of sleek black booths. There’s a group of people gathered around, and in the mix, I spot Katie. Some dude sits next to her, whispering in her ear. My shoulders straighten, head whipping to Tanner.
He stands perfectly still, eyes sharp, jaw ticking as he watches them. The rest of the table is a mix of guys and girls, chatting loudly. Tanner edges closer, then braces his hands on the table, leaning forward. Katie laughs at something the guy says, then turns, spotting Tanner. Her eyes widen before she quickly attempts to recover.
“Babe!” she says, voice extremely loud, the high pitch giving her guilt away. It makes me sick. Her eyes slide past him, to me and the girls, and narrow before she tacks on a fake smile. “Isn’t this cute? You guys on a double date?”
In my arms, both girls tense. This bitch is crazy if she thinks Tanner would ever cheat on her. He’s obsessed with her. Though I’ve never seen the appeal, I’m sure there’s something there that’s kept him with her this long.
