Zoe and her friends couldnât help but share a laugh at Laurenâs expense.
Lauren was darting around the room like a lost kite. Drunk customers shoved and pulled her around.
Some perverted patrons even groped her. *
Her attempts at dodging the unwanted advances were met with reprimands.
That was better entertainment than any comedy.
âHahaha! That retard! Why has she not changed from junior high at all? Did she stop growing by then?â
Zoe laughed and pointed at the screen. âBetty, Iâm dying to know. Where did you stash that stupid bear?â
âI hid it atâ¦â Betty laughed and whispered something into Zoeâs ears.
Zoe laughed loudly. âWhat a brilliant idea! That dimwit wonât stand a chance of finding it anytime soon.â
Lauren desperately scoured the space beneath the tables and was kicked multiple times by the customers. She suffered bruises all over her body.
She stood there, dazed and trembling, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. Her mind went blank at the funny looks of the strangers around her. Her breathing became labored with each passing second.
All of a sudden, the lighting changed. Confetti materialized in mid-air and cascaded down. The erupted in cheers and danced the night away on the dance floor.
âMy teddy bear ⦠Lauren remained focused on her search for the toy and leaned down to look around.
Suddenly, her sweaty face bumped into a warm body. She was left feeling dizzy and numb from the collision, which prompted tears to roll down her face.
âI-Iâm sorry.â Lauren hung her head and was ready to run when the figure stood in her way.
âI-Iâm really s-sorry!â she stammered.
âLaurie?â
Her heart was beating like crazy. She covered her button nose and carefully lifted her gaze. She stared right into Landonâs tipsy and bottomless eyes.
He exclaimed, âIs this a dream? Itâs you!â
In the next moment, he pulled her into a hug. There was a noticeable change in his eyes. He wrapped one arm around her waist and gently placed the other on her nape to shield her from the frenzy on the dance floor.
The adrenaline-charged patrons would not care about her safety when they were riding the high.
She felt her heart drumming against her chest as she pressed a shaky hand on his sleeve.
Initially, she had wanted to push him away, but in that very moment, she yearned for a brief respite after a night of feeling adrift in the crowd.
She shouldnât have done this, she repeatedly reminded herself. He was a decent man, but at the end of the day, he was still Zoe Harperâs brother.
The people on the dance floor gasped at Landonâs entrance as if they were witnessing the descent of a deity. His alluring face was the object of adulation of countless women and the misery of many a man.
In Solana City, his upturned eyes were infamous for bearing a sultry and erotic quality.
However, Landonâs gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on the young woman cradled in his arms. All the hustle and bustle of the world seemed distant. At that moment, they were alone in their world of two âWhy are you here alone?â he said in a volume that was only audible between them.
She nodded before shaking her head again.
âWhat happened? Tell me,â he coaxed her gently with a gleam in his eyes.
âI-I lost my teddy bear. She had wanted to keep that a secret from him, but his patience broke dow defenses.
Tears streamed down her face as she stammered, âLandon, itâs missing⦠It was a gift from Alyssaâ¦
My favorite teddy bearâ¦.â