But even that wasn’t enough to ruin my favorite nightclub for me.
The Artemis had delicious drinks, lots of cozy booths, a giant dance floor, and best of all, fantastic music. And unlike so many popular bars, the staff was actually friendly. The bartenders were nice and always quick to take my order—even the female ones—and the bouncers and I had a good thing going: I brought them Aunt Mireille’s goodies, and they always let me in no matter how long the lineup was.
No way was I letting Carter ruin this for me.
Even if he still showed up sometimes and tried.
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t actually trying to ruin my night. But seeing my ex-boyfriend walk into my favorite club holding another chick’s hand, even if I didn’t want him back, wasn’t exactly a highlight of my night. Especially when I was here with no one. At least, no one male.
I was sitting in one of the giant booths with eight other girls—my sister, our cousin Jolie, and assorted friends and friends-of-friends—when Carter saw me and beelined straight over. With some pretty blonde in tow.
Unfortunately, Taylor wasn’t here tonight because her psycho boss, who didn’t give a crap about ladies night, made her work late. Which meant my sister would have to run interference on this. While drunk.
Frightening.
I couldn’t even make a quick, graceful escape before she saw him. I was in the back of the booth, locked in on both sides by drunk chicks.
“Hey, ladies,” Carter said, his gaze sweeping the table, his eyes landing on me.
A couple of the girls glanced his way and saidHey, whether they knew who he was or not. But although he was all tall and broad and handsome, with his designer shirt and tidy hair—you know, if you were into that kind of thing—they quickly dismissed him when they saw the blonde attached to him.
“Hey, Carter,” I forced out. I even managed to smile.
“Oh, good,” my sister said.
“This is Melody.” Carter introduced the girl with him. “That’s Danica, over there,” he told her.
I would’ve reached across and shaken her hand, but the table was too big. So I shoved at my sister’s shoulder a bit, like,Move so I can get out. She gave me a look back, like,Sit your ass right there. I gave her a look back, like,Don’t make me go under the table.
Daniella didn’t budge. She just threw back a shooter and gave me a cold-ass look.
I threw back a shooter, too.
Then I slithered off my seat, dropping into a crouch under the table, and fought my way through the sea of legs. When I popped up on the other side, Carter and his date stepped back to let me up. We all edged awkwardly out of the way to let the waitress in with her drink-laden tray.
“Hi,” I said, offering Melody my hand.
“Hey,” she said, offering me a flimsy handshake. “Nice to meet you.”
It totally wasn’t. Which meant Carter had told her he used to screw me. She had that look in her eyes.
Keep your hands off my man.That look.
I gave him a hug anyway. A quick one, but still. Blonde Mel didn’t like it. “Join us?” I offered. Then I dropped under the table, crawled my way back through the sea of legs and snaked my way back into my seat. Good thing I was flexible. All those barre classes. Plus, I’d worn a slinky, slippery dress tonight, and the shooters didn’t hurt, either.
Dani just shook her head at me and sipped her drink as I settled next to her.
“You’re such a bitch,” I informed her with a smile on my face. Together we watched Carter and his new girl debating whether to join us or not. He seemed to be gesturing toward the end of the booth seat, where there was room for them to squeeze in. She seemed to be trying to drag him away—anywhere but here.
“Why?” Dani said. “Because I’m trying to save you from yourself? You’re too nice to that dick.”
“My prerogative,” I said. I accepted the fresh bottle of cider Jolie slid my way.
“Saved you one,” she said, as she handed me a shooter, too.
“Thank you. Now that’s a good friend,” I remarked. “Very sisterly. You know what, Jolie? You’ve been upgraded. You are now my sister. Dani, you’ve been downgraded to cousin.”
Daniella rolled her eyes.
