Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(36)

vibrate in case we lose each other. You won’t hear it, but you’ll feel it.” Zach seems very sure of his plan, so I relax a

little.

“Let’s just not lose each other,” I offer weakly. “Laney, this is going to be fun, I promise!” Bennett adds from the backseat.

She really has no fear.

There’s a huge dude at the door who barely even looks at my ID, but looks at me thoroughly, and just like that—we’re in. I can

feel the pulse of the music all through me. I smell smoke and sweat, but I can see very little—this place is dark. I shiver and

slide my arm through Zach’s, trusting him to lead the way. He reaches up and pats my hand, making me feel a little better.

“Bennett?!” I all but scream. “Right here.”

“Okay, don’t you dare run off.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Don’t call me that, and stay around, B, I mean it.” I don’t care if I’m a pain in the ass. If she doesn’t like it, she can

quit making me go with her.

Visibility improves slightly the further in we get, so I take my first good look around. I’m pretty sure Boogie Nights 2 will be

shot here. The back wall is lined with dark leather, with circular booths and tables that glow blue from underneath. The DJ is up

on an elevated stage with so many different lights I can’t look right at it. The dance floor is huge and obviously made to be the

main attraction, and the U shaped bar, under lit with red, sits right in the middle of it.

I can barely see the south end, it’s pretty far away, but it appears to have pool tables, darts and is that skeeball?! In the far

corner, tucked almost behind the DJ stage, is a staircase. I look up to see balcony seating; must be the VIP section. Are there

VIPs in college? I wonder if P Diddy is up there.

Bennett pulls us over to a table on the edge of the dance floor. I scoot my stool as close to Zach as I can without sitting in his

lap. We’re quickly approached by a blonde in a Catholic school girl outfit; poor thing lost half of it, for our drink orders. I

glance around, taking it all in, and find myself in awe.

I’ve seen people dance and grind, but it was G-rated compared to what some of the couples on the floor are doing now. The music is

a little loud, and ew...no elbows on the table, it’s sticky. But other than that, I can start to see the appeal of it. The place

is alive, electric, and no doubt better than sitting in your dorm room.

The blonde brings back Zach’s beer and Bennett’s pink thing, and then sets a tall, thin glass in front of me. “Um, what’s that?

”

“It’s a champagne spritzer, they’re good.”

“But I ordered water.”

“It’s on the house,” she says with a shrug and walks away.

I look at Zach with confusion, “Did you order this for me?”

“Not me,” he shakes his head, and a quick shoulder shrug from Bennett confirms it wasn’t her either.

“Guys send drinks over for pretty girls all the time, Laney, don’t worry about it,” Bennett explains nonchalantly, flipping her

hair over her shoulder.

“She didn’t say from the gentleman over there, she said on the house. Either way, I’m not drinking that, no way.”

Zach offers to trade me. “No one put anything in my beer I assure you, plus it’s free champagne.” He tosses back a big gulp of

the free bubbly. “She’s right, it’s good. You wanna dance?”

“Um, I’ve never really fast danced outside of my room, I don’t want to embarrass you,” I mumble, blushing slightly.

“Don’t worry, Laney, I’m an excellent teacher.” He starts to pull me to the floor and I grab Bennett’s hand and pull her with

us.

Three songs in and I’m having a blast! I feel bad I wouldn’t dance like this with Evan at prom, but I hated those spectators. I

don’t know anyone here—and they don’t know me. Zach’s a great dancer and he moves with me, but not in a handsy slimeball way.

He dips me, and while upside down, I see Tate approaching behind Bennett.

Zach pulls me up and I turn, Tate giving me the “shh” sign as he slips right up to her backside, hands going to her hips. She

turns slightly to see it’s him and wraps her arms around his neck. They’re cute together, really, but I thought Tate couldn’t

come? Oh well. I turn to Zach.

“You ready for a break?!” I yell over the music.

He nods and leads us back to our table, hand at the small of my back. Eventually Bennett and Tate make their way over for a

breather.

“Tate, I thought you couldn’t make it. What a nice surprise.”

“Well, I got done early, so I came to find this beauty.” He looks over and smiles a Bennett. “Couldn’t have her here alone now,

could I?”

Bennett blushes and kisses his cheek.

“Where are Sawyer and Dane?” I ask as I look around the room.

“I’m not sure,” he says with a smirk. “I could text them.”

“No, that’s okay, just asking.” I don’t want him texting that I was asking about them! Can you say “mortifying”? I’m really