“Hey, we are on the VIP list for Jameson Havelka.”
The bouncer looks at his papers and nods. He pulls the rope out for us to pass through. “Go on, straight in, and up the stairs. I’ll let them know you are on your way, Mr. Havelka.”
Someone opens the doors for us, and we are immediately engulfed in many people. The music is loud, and we can barely hear each other. I see Jameson motion with his hand, and we head to a bar.
“Stay here. I’ll grab shots, and then we can make our way up.”
After what seems like forever, Jameson returns with four drinks and a sour face.
“What’s up with you?” I ask as he passes out the drinks. We took our tequila shots and placed them on a table we managed to grab.
“I just saw Emma.” He pauses and then continues looking directly at me. “She was with Liv.”
At those words, my heart skips a beat…more like I was punched in the chest, and my breath blows out in a whoosh.
“Where?” I ask but don’t wait for the answer as I make my way to where Jameson ordered the shots.
I scan the crowd but don’t see Emma or Liv. I turn back and mouth “where” to Jameson. He points to a spot near the bar, but they are nowhere to be seen. I make my way back to the table, eyes still darting around.
“They’re not there?” Jameson asks while scanning the crowd himself. “Weird. Let’s go up to the VIP lounge. We can get a better look from above. I doubt they left yet.”
Up in the VIP section is a different world. We take our seats, and a waitress comes over immediately, and we are offered bottle service with our favorite tequila—Don Julio 1942. The waitress sets us up with drinks when a tall guy in a custom-tailored suit makes his way toward us. Jameson looks his way and goes over.
“Hey Eduardo, thanks for the hospitality, man. We appreciate it. Nice club, too.”
“Good to see you, brother. Glad you could make it.”
Introductions are made all around. He has a few guys who fall behind him as he speaks but doesn’t introduce them to us. It is a bit odd, but I figure they must make up the security personnel in this place.
“Enjoy yourselves,” he says as he walks away. “I have to get back to work, but maybe I’ll get a chance to drop back by later.”
We say our goodbyes, and I quickly scan the area again for Liv.
“Chill out, dude,” Jameson says while looking over at the dance floor. “Let’s see if we can find that nurse of yours.”
And I can’t help but smile when he says, “Yours.”
Jameson hits me on the shoulder and points over to the side of the dance floor.
“Where!” I ask frantically. Not able to make heads or tails of the throng of dancing bodies below.
Jameson looks at me like I’m crazy. “She's right there. Are you blind?” He points at some ethereal-looking creature in a metallic dress dancing with her back to me.
Her hair is plaited in a braid and turned into a bun. I notice some strands have gotten loose and are sticking to the sweat on her neck. My eyes follow her every movement, and my heartbeat picks up. My trance is broken. A guy moves toward her and rests his hands on her hips. Before she can turn to see who it is, he pushes himself close and starts to grind up on her. Anger rips through me, and I immediately see red staring at his hands on her.
“Let’s go.” I hit Jameson on the shoulder and motioned to the dance floor.
He tells Eric and Theo that we will be right back. Theo has a girl on his lap, and Eric is talking to the waitress. I make my way through the crowd, eyes locked on my girl.
ChapterFifteen
Liv
I had just got homefrom Brodie’s house, and I felt like utter shit. It’s still early, and I have got to be the only young person alone on a weekend night at home.How pathetic am I?
I’m debating whether to take a nice bath after taking a big swig of my wine when I hear my phone start to ring. Who the fuck actually calls anyway? Only my mother would be calling, wondering if that was her and if something terrible had happened. I ran to retrieve my phone that I had just placed on the charger at my bedside table. I see Emma’s name flashing with the call. I answered it before it was sent to the land of unanswered voice mails.
“Hey, girlie! What’s up?”
