I watch Luna’s dot on my phone as she finally leaves Spines and Steins, a local bookstore and beer-cafe thing. I don’t remember exactly what Google said, but it’s a place that sells books. I hacked into her messages and saw she’s going to Pyre tonight with her friend Olivia, who owns the beer-cafe thing.
This is my chance to run into her again. I’ll dress in all black and devise a plan to get into the club without raising red flags. I’ll sneak into the service entrance and pretend to be a new hire. Once I’m in the club, I’ll disappear into the crowd until Ibumpinto my wifey-to-be. Bada-bing-bada-boom. Easy peasy.
Unless everything goes horribly wrong, and they call the cops on me—or Luna does.
I tuck that silly thought away and switch gears to prepare for tonight. And just as that thought crosses my mind, my phone pings, letting me know that Luna has made it home and is now in her apartment. I breathe a sigh of relief and head for my shower to get ready for ourdate.
I jump off my bike and head down the alleyway to Pyre's service entrance. In the doorway, an older man in an apron sat on a five-gallon bucket with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. “Are you, Joey?” The man asks. His voice is gravelly from the presumably twenty-plus years of smoking.
“Yeah. I’m Joey,” I say, slipping my hands in my pockets.
“Well, get the fuck in there. Do you need me to hold your dick while you piss, too?” He says, gesturing into the kitchen. I don’t hesitate to walk past the old man, pulling out my phone to see that Luna’s just now arriving with her friend.
Perfect.
I grab a tray of alcohol that’s nearby and head out to the club floor. I quickly discard the tray on a nearby table as soon as I can and descend the stairs to the dance floor. I check my tracker after a few minutes and find that Luna’s in the club. I search the floors, my eyes landing on her immediately as she’s walking up the steps to the third floor. I watch as she walks over to a guarded door and is let in, disappearing from my view.
I clench my teeth so hard I swear I hear my jaw crack over the loud music. Does Luna know someone here? Was she meeting someone?
No, Dante. She isn’t, and you know that because you have her text messages. Luna doesn’t text anyone but Olivia and only replies to her fans on social media. My obsessive jealousy needs to be under better control. I need to be better for her.
I set my sights on the bar while waiting for Luna to return. I waved the bartender down, asking for a whiskey on the rocks. The bartender nods, and I look down at my phone to see that Luna’s blue dot is moving again. I glance up towards the stairs and see her heading down them, right in my direction. “Here’syour drink,” the bartender says. I hand her cash, quickly slip into the shadows, and wait for my opportunity.
I watch as Luna twirls around with her friend. Not a care in the world, and she has no idea that every man on the dance floor was eye fucking her and her friend. I feel my jealousy rising again, but only to be the person she loses herself with. I watch as Olivia leans in, says something to Luna, and walks away, leaving her vulnerable and alone. The same eyes that were watching her before now turn hungry, and I can see them one by one, moving in on my angel.
Preying on her.
And I’ll have none of that.
I move from the shadows, never taking my eyes off her as I approach. Luna has a scared and confused expression on her face, and she doesn’t see me until she turns and smacks right into my chest. “Shit! I’m sorry!” Luna says, rubbing her head.
“Are you alright?” I ask, and her wide eyes meet mine.
Luna’s surprised to see me here, but isn’t immediately freaked out. Good. “Y–yes. Thank you. I'm trying to find my friend. I'm sorry I ran into you,” Luna says, turning to look behind her.
“That’s okay. Didn’t hurt me at all. It's funny running into you here. I didn’t take you as a club girl,” I say, giving her a cheeky smile.
She laughs, “I’m not. This is my first time out in a long time.”
“And are you enjoying yourself?” I ask, genuinely wanting to know.
Luna bites her bottom lip, and I wish it were mine. “I think so,” she says playfully.
I’m not hiding the fact that I’m checking her out. I want her to know that seeing her in this dress is doing something to my psyche that I don’t think either of us is prepared for. “Would you like to dance with me, Luna?”
My eyes meet hers, and she swallows. “Just one?”
I lean into her, “You canalwaysask for more.” A club remixof “Stereo Love” starts playing, and everyone around us begins to cheer and jump around to the music. Someone bumps into her, sending her into my chest once again.
Luna places her hands against my chest, looking up at me. “Sorry. I should—" she pauses, “one dance. And then I need to find my friend.”
I nod, grabbing her by the waist and guiding her through the crowd to where I last saw her and her friend dancing. I let go of her waist, taking her by the hand, and spinning her out and back into me, only this time, with her backside pinned against me. I can feel the shivers it sends down her spine. I groan as she relaxes into me, grinding her ass on me to the music.
My hand leaves her hip, tracing up her body to her neck, and teasing her decolletage. My hand instinctively wrapped itself around her soft neck. I lean down, my lips grazing her neck, and I hear a small whimper. I tighten my hand around her neck to adjust my grip, and Luna goes rigid.
Shit. I’ve done something wrong.
She quickly removes herself from me, and I desperately want the warmth of my angel back. “Sorry. I—I can’t. I’m sorry,” Luna says, backing away, stumbling over herself.
