Platinum (All That Glitters #3)(70)

They followed the group to a giant stretch limo that Chloe had waiting for them. It just barely fit their entire entourage as it whisked them down the Strip and to a private club where Chloe had reserved a booth with bottle service.

The place was a standard nightclub with high-tech lights and loud music. Girls were dancing on platforms scattered throughout the room, and scantily clad girls were taking drink orders and pouring drinks at tables. This place was exceptionally elite. Trihn could see a dozen other celebrities in the VIP area, and everyone seemed to be in their element.

Trihn took a seat next to Damon, and Chloe plopped down on the other side of him. Across from them in the booth, Bryna was talking rapidly with Gates. His date didn’t even seem to mind. She and her friends were standing around and dancing with drinks in their hands. Stacia was eyeing Chloe’s bodyguard, who was pretending not to notice the attention.

Chloe had a girl pour out tequila shots, and everyone took one. Chloe nudged Damon and winked. He laughed at her and just shook his head.

Chloe raised her glass high. “To Trihn and her amazing clothes!”

Trihn raised her glass with a smile. Her boyfriend was here. She had just won a major fashion show. She was on top of the world.

Yet when she looked between Damon and Chloe, Trihn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

She tipped the shot back without a second thought, ignoring the burn in her throat. She gestured for the girl to pour another round as Chloe leaned in and whispered something in Damon’s ear. He smiled down at her and said something back that Trihn couldn’t quite hear. Chloe laughed and nodded back.

“I think now is perfect,” Chloe said with a coy smile.

Trihn’s stomach plummeted, and she tried to remind herself that they were just friends. That was all.

Trihn quickly reached for her shot and stood, raising her own glass. “To Chloe and Damon’s new single.”

Everyone reached for their glasses and took the shot with her. Bryna kept glancing between Chloe and Trihn with concern on her face. It was bad when even Bryna was worried.

Trihn plopped back down in her seat and looked away from Damon and Chloe. She was about to get up and join Gates’s date when she felt Damon touch her arm. “Trihn, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He laced their fingers together and kissed the top of her hand. “I’m sorry that you heard the new song on the radio first, but I thought you’d like to hear it again with me.”

Trihn’s eyes flickered to Chloe, who seemed preoccupied with staring at Bryna and Gates. Her eyes were wide with wonder and something else Trihn couldn’t quite place. At least she wasn’t staring at Damon.

“And with Chloe?” she asked.

He shrugged. “She requested it.”

Just then, the DJ started speaking, “And with a special request put in, here’s the new one by Damon Stone and Chloe Avana, ‘We Never Met.’”

Damon started singing the song directly to Trihn. He only had eyes for her. It was as if they were sitting in his apartment again with him strumming along on his acoustic guitar as he poured out his heart and soul. She stared into the endless depths of his dark eyes and felt herself melting all over again. Just hearing him sing it to her changed everything.

Then, Chloe tugged on his arm, leaning into him with big puppy-dog eyes. “Damon, come on. Sing with me.”

He shrugged Chloe off, never tearing his eyes from Trihn, as he continued singing. Trihn’s eyes darted to Chloe behind him, and she just looked annoyed that she wasn’t the center of attention. Her eyes kept shifting around the booth from Damon to Bryna and Gates, as if she wanted everyone to pay attention to her.

Chloe leaned into Damon and tried to pull him toward her again, but Damon simply ignored her.

He stood and held his hand out for Trihn. She placed her hand in his, ignoring Chloe’s frustrated expression. When she stood, he twirled her in place, despite the intense backbeat and the dance music. He lightly held her in his arms, and their bodies moved together, as if they had been made to. Their movements had always been synchronized. They’d danced together long before they had fallen in love.

This felt right to Trihn, being in his arms like this with just his body pressed against hers, her hand in his, and him singing to her.

The song ended, and the people around them applauded Chloe and Damon’s new song. Chloe smiled all around, happily taking the praise. Damon never broke eye contact with Trihn. There was so much in that unspoken communication.

“I’m so excited that Damon is going to be coming on tour with me!” Chloe announced casually.

Trihn tore her eyes away from Damon to look at Chloe. “What?”

“Christ, Chloe,” Damon growled.

“What?” she asked, seemingly oblivious.

“You’re going on tour?” Trihn asked.

“Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “Let’s go somewhere and talk.” He glared at Chloe as he pulled Trihn from their booth.

Trihn could hear Bryna shrieking at Chloe before she and Damon were even out of VIP. Trihn would not want to be the one the other end of that conversation.

Damon pulled her out to the outdoor patio, which was mostly abandoned because of the heat. There was a bartender at a bar, and a few people were scattered around. Damon wasn’t recognizable yet, like Chloe and Gates were, so they were fine to grab their own couch and fend off the staff who wanted to get them drinks.