Sucking in a painful breath, I scan the crowd, looking for Riley. I need to know she’s okay. The whole reason I’m here is for her. When I don’t see her shimmering black minidress, I search for Nastya. Where are they?
Panic rises within me until I finally find them.
Thankfully, they’re not too far away.
The relief that fact brings is dashed when I catch sight of Riley’s face. Her eyes are glassy, her lips tipped up in a loose smile. I’ve seen her like this several times since her senior year in high school, when she’d call me to pick her up from a party. She’s drunk.
What’s worse? She’s not alone. Yes, Nastya is close by, watching cautiously, but Riley’s with a man. One I don’t recognize. And they’re dancing too fucking close.
Where did he even come from?
The last time I checked, she was talking to a guy in a white shirt. This one is covered in tats. His black tee is ready to burst at the seams, and he’s wearing black leather pants.
Who wears leather pants to a club in fucking May?
He curls his arm around her waist and pulls her to him, and my blood simmers. The way she laughs, her hand on his chest, playfully pushing him away, only makes my irritation grow. In response, he tightens his hold, keeping his body moving with hers.
One glance at Nastya has the alarm bells in my head going off. With how she’s scowling, Riley’s new dance partner is on her shit list. He’s on mine too.
He’s got her plastered to him, leaving no space between their bodies. This whole situation feels off, but I can’t put my finger on why.
My stomach roils and my skin crawls, though maybe it’s guilt. Maybe this guy isn’t the issue. Maybe I am. I came here for her, yet I gave up so damn easily and allowed myself to be distracted by Zoe.
Regardless, I can’t stand the way this guy is touching Ry. I want his hands off her, right fucking now.
Instead of focusing on Zoe, who’s grinding her ass on my groin, I watch Riley. Slowly, I shift, moving closer to her. I need to make sure she’s okay. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
You sure it’s not because you’re jealous?
My inner voice is my worst enemy.
“God, I love this song,” Zoe’s high-pitched voice drifts to me over the music. She turns and drapes her arms over my shoulders, bringing her face close to mine. “Having fun?”
Yup. A shitload.
With a distracted nod, I stare over her shoulder. Instantly, the set of blue eyes I’ve known forever locks on me, and Riley’s expression morphs into a scowl. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t the anger radiating from her. When she looks away as if she can’t bear to look at me, my gut lurches.
Wow. Why does it hurt so much?
“How long are you planning to stay?” Zoe asks, bringing her mouth to my ear.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Could I convince you to leave with me?”
She sucks my earlobe into her mouth, and I shudder. It’s not a reaction I’ve ever had in the company of a hot girl, but I’m too fucked up to overthink it. All I want is to pull Riley away from that guy.
Before I can come up with an excuse for Zoe and storm over toRiley, the dude in the leather pants lunges in and kisses her. It’s not graceful or smooth. It’s not the way a man eases in to explore a woman he’s connected to. No, it’s hard and fast, and he grinds his hips against her in a disgusting move, like he’s rubbing his erection over her body.
No longer capable of pretending to be unfazed, I drop my hands from Zoe’s hips and take a step back.
Eyebrows pulled together, she peers up at me. “Is something wrong?”
“I need to take care of something. Sorry.”
Without waiting for a response, I skirt around her. As I head toward Riley, a hundred scenarios play in my mind. I’m steps from them when she pushes the guy using all her strength. Her eyes are wide, her jaw unhinged in shock.
The dude clutches at her wrist, but she swats his hand away. Her gaze darts toward Nastya, who’s already stepping up to her.
