He reaches out, giving my hand a tight squeeze. “Won’t be long.”
Blowing him a kiss, I step out into the hallway where Raoul is already waiting.
“Flying solo tonight,mon petit oiseau?” he teases as I link my arm with his.
“Temporarily. Mercs is talking to Kiera.”
Raoul nods. “She sounds like a lovely girl.”
A warmth rushes through me. “She really is.”
We make our way down to the bar, and the second the elevator doors open, the thumping bass hits us like a tidal wave. The atmosphere is alive with bright lights, laughter, music, and the unmistakable hum of celebration. We head through the velvet ropes into the VIP section of the hotel bar.
Inside, chaos and comfort swirl together in perfect harmony. Andi’s already drinking solo in a booth, looking like she’s two seconds from biting someone’s head off. Casey’s off in a dim corner with a few of our groupies, clearly partaking in more than just conversation. Alana, Kristy, and Luke are huddled together, deep in some strategy talk.
This is home.
Messy, loud, chaotic… but home.
I scan the room again, and my gaze lands on Andi. She looks rough, like she’s barely holding herself together. I haven’t had a proper talk with her since that whole pixie-joke incident, and the air between us has been thick ever since. I’m not great at holding grudges, especially not with someone I care about this much. So I steel myself and head toward her.
Raoul steps aside as I approach her booth. Andi’s lip curls when she sees me, but she doesn’t say anything. Just tips back her whiskey like it’s medicine.
I slide into the seat opposite her. “Andi… I love you.”
She pauses mid-drink, eyes narrowing. “What?”
“I love you.”
She frowns. “Yeah, I heard you. I’m just confused why you’re saying it.”
I lean forward, reaching across the table to take her hand. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t pull away. She lets me thread my fingers through hers.
“Whatever’s going on with you, you’re pushing people away. But I want you to know that I see you. I care. You’re one of my best friends, Andi. And even if you’re a pain in the ass right now, I still love you.”
Her shoulders slump, her hard shell cracks just a little. “I’m sorry, Eff. That pixie thing… it was harsh. I didn’t mean it.”
“I know.”
She sighs. “Tank pushes. He wants answers I’m not ready to give.”
“But you have answers?” I prod gently.
“I think so.”
Her hair is dyed pitch-black now, her makeup heavy, her vibe darker than usual. She looks like she’s been wading through emotional quicksand and losing.
“I think I might have… lesbian tendencies,” she mumbles, eyes down.
I blink, then grin. “You think you’re a lesbian?”
She shakes her head. “No…. maybe… I don’t know. That’s the problem. I’m confused. I like guys. I like girls. I just… I’m stuck in this no-man’s-land.”
I squeeze her hand tighter. “You’re bisexual, Andi. You’re allowed to like both. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Her eyes lift to the ceiling like the idea’s just clicked for the first time. “Bisexual! Well, fuck!”
“It’s okay to be confused, but now it has clicked you can own it. Don’t let it eat you up anymore.”
