Fever (Breathless #2)(100)

“Like you don’t get that at home,” Gina grumbled as she took Brandon’s hand.

They all piled out and Brandon escorted them inside.

Music vibrated the walls and a cascade of neon and flashing lights nearly hurt Bethany’s eyes. It wasn’t her first time inside a club. She’d met up with a lot of men in her days of meaningless sex. For a moment, the memory robbed her of breath as hurt and shame crowded into her chest.

The clubs she’d visited hadn’t been as classy as this one. More like seedy bars and places that women like her went to hook up for the night.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Mia yelled close to her ear.

Bethany smiled. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

She shook the past from her mind, determined not to let it interfere with tonight’s fun. She was a different person now. She had Jace. Jace, who knew about her past and accepted her anyway. She didn’t have to be that person anymore. She could be who she’d always wanted to be.

When they got to the table, a smiling waitress immediately appeared and Bethany noticed that two bouncers took position near their table. Brandon hadn’t lied when he said they’d be well taken care of.

When the waitress got to Mia and Bethany, Bethany put out her hand to Mia.

“Let’s have a drink. I know you planned to drink water with me but why not have fun?”

Mia’s expression became troubled. “Are you sure? I don’t mind having sparkling water with you.”

“I never had problems with alcohol addiction,” Bethany said gently. “I know Jace worries, but he doesn’t have to. I’m not that person anymore. I’m so glad you invited me here with your girls. Let’s have a good time. You said someone will get us home afterward, right?”

Mia grinned. “Oh absolutely. Look for Gabe to make an appearance in a few hours. The man is still pissed about the one time I went out with the girls and took a cab home alone, drunk off my ass. He’s cool with me drinking. He just makes sure he’s around to get me home afterward.”

“Then let’s do it!” Bethany said.

Mia turned to the waitress. “I want a Cosmo. What do you want, Bethany?”

“Amaretto sour, please.”

A few minutes later, the waitress returned with a tray of drinks and Mia held up her glass in a toast. “Drink up, girls. Tonight we’re going to have fun!”

“And get plastered!” Chessy interjected.

“I’ll drink to that,” Gina said, holding up her glass.

Bethany joined in the fun, holding her glass to clink with the others. They all laughed and chugged down their first drink.

The sweet drink hit Bethany’s tongue and blazed a warm trail into her belly. She put the empty down, surprised when the waitress immediately passed out another round.

Mia laughed. “She always gets our table when we’re here and she knows we always toast and down the first one immediately, so she double orders for us. She knows us now.”

“Works for me,” Bethany said, reaching for the next drink.

“Let’s dance!” Chessy yelled. “The night is young and there are men waiting.”

“You can be my dance partner,” Mia yelled to Bethany over the music. “Well, you, me and Caro will split off. Brandon would have a kitten if she danced with another guy. The others are on their own.”

“Sounds good!” Bethany returned.

They hit the dance floor and Bethany allowed the music to take over. For the space of a few hours, she could forget Jack and her worries. She embraced the newness of having girlfriends and fun and having a wonderful, loving man to go home to at the end of the night.

She, Mia and Caroline danced in a tight circle, laughing and letting loose. They shimmied up close, teasing the crowd as they bumped and grinded, gyrating in time with the frenetic beat of the music.

After dancing four songs, they returned to their table, where new drinks were waiting. Brandon was standing there, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes.

He put his arm around Caroline, pulling her in close to his side. “Babe, I gotta tell you, if you and your girls don’t stop that sexy shit, me and the boys are going to have a hard time pulling the guys off you.”

Caroline laughed and turned her face up for his kiss.

“I have rounds to make. I’ll be back later to check in on you.”

After that, he kissed her and it wasn’t just a simple peck. It was a sexy as sin, tongue-kissing mark of possession. Bethany wasn’t fooled. He’d done it to let anyone watching know that Caroline was his and to keep their hands off. It also helped that the man was built. No one in their right mind would take him on in a bar fight.

Caroline sighed and her eyes were slightly glazed—the alcohol having nothing to do with the slighty drunk look.

“He’s amazing,” she yelled to Mia and Bethany.

“We see that,” Mia teased.

“Drink up!” Caroline said. “Tina is coming back with more. No alcohol goes to waste here!”

Mia and Bethany laughed and quickly downed their drinks.

By the time two hours passed, Bethany was buzzing on alcohol and laughing ridiculously at everything the girls said. They danced more, getting bolder in their shenanigans and occasionally returning to the table to down more drinks.

The third time they went onto the dance floor, Bethany was definitely drunk. Mia wasn’t in any better shape from what Bethany could ascertain and they were giggling madly as they bumped and swayed, getting more provocative in their movements.