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Aiden looked at her like she was crazy. “What?”

“The color themes! See all the blue and purple? Blurple!”

“That is the most ridiculous name ever,” he said with a shake of his head.

Kai looked at Blaire. “What would you like to drink? I know everyone else’s preferences.”

“Oh, um. I haven’t really—how about a Bahama Mama?” Blaire said quickly, remembering the name of a pretty drink she saw in one of Charlotte’s vacation pictures from when she went to Hawaii with her moms. She didn’t drink, so she had no idea what she liked, but she didn’t want to look silly.

Kai nodded and walked toward the bar to get everyone drinks.

Lukas climbed into the booth, scooting in, giving Blaire the outside seat. Mera slid in on the other side and Aiden took the seat across from Blaire.

“Come on!” Riley shouted at Seth, grabbing his arm, and dragging him toward the dance floor.

Blaire hid a smile at Seth’s “please no” expression, even while he willingly followed Riley.

Mera tilted her head as she watched Blaire. “How are you feeling now?”

“I’m fine,” she sighed. “There’s no reason for everyone to worry.”

Blaire placed her hand on top of the large bruise and smaller bandage the nurse told her to leave on for another five days to protect the sensitive skin. It remained an angry reminder of that horrible Monday night that forced her to miss two weeks of classes. She would have been fine to return after the first week, but the professor wasn’t having it. Concerned about Blaire’s mental state after being attacked, she advised her to take a break.

Lukas growled under his breath when she covered her arm and reached for her, but Kai returned with a tray of drinks.

Blaire got up and started helping remove the drinks, passing them to who they belonged based on his instructions. Sometimes old habits died hard. She really had spent way too long as a waitress.

Aiden got up and let Kai slide in next to Mera before sitting back down and taking a sip of his whiskey sour.

Blaire sat back down and took a long pull from the straw in her drink, her eyes lighting up at the dance of tropical flavors over her tongue, both tart and sweet. “This is delicious!”

Aiden chuckled. “Never had it before?”

She shook her head quickly as she took another sip.

“I thought it was something you liked,” Kai said as he took a drink from his beer.

“Oh. Well, no. I saw a picture of it before. It looked like it might taste good, so I figured I’d try it.” Blaire squirmed in her seat.

Seth returned, taking the attention away from her. “That girl is fucking insatiable!” He threw his hands up in the air.

Aiden laughed and got up, patting Seth on the back as he slid into the booth next to Kai. Seth took a long drink of his beer and lay his head back against the booth as Riley rushed up and grabbed hold of Blaire’s good arm, surprising her.

“Come dance with me!”

Blaire laughed and shook her head. “I’m not very good.”

“Whatever. Just shake your ass and you’ll be fine. Come dance with me.” Riley pouted and flashed her best puppy dog eyes, looking ridiculous.

Blaire laughed again and held up a hand. “Okay, okay. If you’ll stop looking at me like that, I’ll come.” She took another long drink of the delicious blend of pineapple, orange, and coconut bliss before sitting it down on the table. She hopped up and straightened her dress before disappearing into the crowd with Riley onto the dance floor.

It took a few measures of the song for Blaire to warm up on the dance floor, but thanks to the comfortable buzz from the rum in her drink, she began to get into the music. They danced together like no one was watching, giggling, and tossing their hair around to the wild beat. Blaire was having the time of her life, when the lights suddenly dimmed further, and a sensual song began to play, a quarter of the bodies on the dance floor leaving.

Riley leaned in, talking loudly enough to be heard. “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

Blaire shrugged as she swayed her body, her long hair cascading down her back. She glanced toward their table, able to see everyone now that bodies had moved. Everyone was talking, but Lukas. He stared at her with narrowed eyes as she continued to move. His intense gaze made delicious shivers pass through her body, and she liked knowing his entire focus was on her. After taking a sip of his drink, he ran his tongue across his lower lip and Blaire felt the sensation on her own lip, recalling their last kiss.

Bodies moved between them, blocking her vision, and she breathed out the knot that had worked itself up in her chest. The song changed, but the sensual rhythm continued. Blaire was completely caught up in the music and the haze of alcohol over her mind. She lifted her arms into the air, losing herself in the beat as she swayed her hips with her eyes closed until she felt a body move up behind her, hands landing on her hips.