Chapter 90

Once we’re done, Ryder hands me his number, telling me to call him if I’m ever in Atlanta. I return to Andy, who’s on the phone.

Hannah is biting her nails, looking worried.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“It’s... Knox. He saw you with the stripper and is threatening to come and get us...” she trails off, biting her upper lip.

I snatch Andy’s phone. “Leave us alone, Knox!” I yell, then hang up. They don’t know which club we’re at or where we’re going next, unless Lauren tells him. But I have a feeling she won’t, because that would mean less attention for her and more for me, Hannah, and Andy.

“Nobody is to answer them! I mean it, unless they text one of us to say someone is in the hospital, then you can answer. Other than that, you’re not to,” I declare, knocking on wood that it doesn’t come to that.

“Now let’s enjoy the girls’ night and celebrate my sister getting married tomorrow,” I say, smiling at them. We order a round of shots and knock them back.

Most of the girls in the group get lap dances. I check my phone and see missed calls from my brothers and Knox, along with several messages. I only read the first one from Kyle, which is quite long.

I roll my eyes and see Knox’s name flashing on my screen. I end the call, but he immediately rings again. After the fifth call, I step outside into a quieter area and answer.

“What?! Stop ruining the fun,” I snap, my words fiery with annoyance. I’m livid at the hypocrisy. They’re probably doing the same thing, if not worse.

“If you do shit like that again, I will come and get you!” Knox threatens.

His anger only fuels mine. He doesn’t get to control what I do or don’t do. He has no say in this.

“This has nothing to do with you, Knox! Stop calling me!” I retort.

“Alex, I swear to god, if I see your mouth on another—”

“Knox, fuck off! I can do what I want, I can kiss whoever I want. Hell, I can fuck whoever I want—”

“ALEX! Shut it now! Say another word like that again, and I’ll be outside the damn club to drive you home and lock you in your room,” he orders.

“Carter, don’t you dare speak to me like that! I’m here to have fun with my sister and best friends tonight, so stop hounding us! Go worry about your own girl!”

I pulled the phone away from my ear, his voice still booming through the speaker.

“I am, Alex—” His protest was cut short as I hung up on him. I silenced my phone, ignoring the barrage of calls and messages that followed. I tucked it back into my purse and rejoined the party.

Across the room, I spotted Hannah with Sam and Andy. I sauntered over to them, ordering another round of drinks.

“Was it that bad?” Sam asked, a cheeky grin playing on her lips.

“You have no idea,” I replied, rolling my eyes as I paid the bartender.

“What did Kyle say? I knew he’d be pissed, but I didn’t think it would be this bad... Can you imagine their reactions when we bring Lena to her first strip club?”

Her teasing remark had us all laughing, even as we winced at the thought of the verbal onslaught we’d likely receive from the guys. Cole, especially.

“Oh, it wasn’t Kyle!” I clarified, prompting them to furrow their brows in confusion. “It was Satan himself, roaring down the phone at me. He threatened to drag me home and—” I made air quotes with my fingers— “‘lock me in my room’ if I dared to make out with anyone else.”

I didn’t need him playing the overprotective bodyguard. “What video are they talking about? Andy, did you send them one?” I asked, watching as she downed a shot.

She shook her head, swallowing before answering. “No, Kyle told me Lauren took a video and sent it to Knox. Kyle’s pissed at Lauren because she called you a slut, which is pretty rich considering her current situation.” We all glanced over to see a guy awkwardly grinding on her while she tried to coax him into more.

Andy whipped out her phone, aiming the camera at Lauren. “Smile, Miss USA,” she murmured, snapping pictures and a short video before tucking her phone away with a satisfied smile.

“Two can play that game, bitch,” she declared, grinning over her drink at Sam, who returned the wink.

We said our goodbyes to the guys and tipped them generously. As we headed back to the bus, my sister pulled me aside. I looked down at her from the bus steps, following her nod to a figure running towards us, hastily pulling on a shirt. I recognized those abs.

“Are you okay?” I asked Ryder as he skidded to a halt by the bus. The girls continued to pile inside, leaving me alone in the darkness with Ryder.

“Just one more kiss,” he murmured, pressing me against the side of the bus and capturing my lips with his. His hand cradled my head, his arms resting above me against the bus, shielding me from the girls. His tongue slipped into my mouth, teasing mine.

As we made out against the bus, my sister banged on the window, apologizing that we had to get going. Ryder backed away with a boyish grin, waving. “Bye, Alex! Nice to meet you.”

I couldn’t help but return his grin. “Bye, Ryder! Nice to meet you too.” I climbed the bus steps to a sudden silence, which was quickly broken by a loud cheer and clapping.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the club my sister had booked. She was still proudly wearing her sash, posing for the cameras with the other WAGS. Lauren, of course, wouldn’t miss an opportunity to be seen with her WAG friends.

“Alex! Over here!” The paparazzi shouted my name over and over, but I ignored them, making my way into the club.

“Is that what it’s like?” Hannah asked, glancing back at the paparazzi swarming outside the club. I nodded, waiting for the rest of the party to join us.

She scrunched up her nose. “That’s so intense.” I agreed. It was intense, having strangers scream at you on the streets just to snap a picture.

Once everyone was inside, we were escorted to the VIP lounge. Drinks were set out on the tables, shots flying all around us. Sam grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor with her and our two best friends.

We danced and laughed, lost in the sea of bodies. I spotted Lauren across the room, surrounded by a group of guys and her friends. I continued to dance, laughing with my sister who was clearly wasted.

“I’m getting married tomorrow! Wooohoooo!” She raised her glass, drawing cheers from the crowd. I clinked my glass with hers, downing shots of whatever was being passed around.

Stumbling back to the VIP area, we clung to railings and walls for support. We were a mess.

The four of us collapsed into a booth, gossiping about the night’s events.

“I’ve been getting so many texts and calls from Kyle asking where I am. He gets so jealous so easily. God, they’re all so protective!” Andy sounded surprisingly sober.

Perhaps it’s the alcohol talking.

“You didn’t get the brunt of Carter’s wrath! Damn it, he won’t leave me alone…” My words are slurred, struggling to form a coherent sentence.

Sam nods in agreement, “Yeah, Knox is ten times worse, Andy. When those two fought, he used to really get under Alex’s skin…”

“And apparently her skirt too,” Andy mumbles into her drink, a smug smile playing on her lips.

She breaks eye contact with me and looks down at the table. I cross my legs, the memory of that night in the pantry flooding back.

“Andy!” I hiss, lobbing a balled-up napkin at her.

“Wait a minute! What am I missing?” Sam holds her hands out in front of her, drawing our attention back to her. “Did you and Knox… you know…”

I rest my head on an open palm, bracing myself for the inevitable. I see Hannah’s lips press into a tight line, as if she’s trying to keep the secret. But I know better. I give her two minutes before she spills everything.

If she doesn’t, Andy certainly will.

“Alex! Spill it! Did Knox go down on you?” Sam prods, gripping my upper arm. Her mouth hangs open in anticipation.

“Yes! Yes, he did! The night before the fitting when he called her beautiful in front of everyone! He went down on her in the pantry,” Hannah blurts out.

She claps her hands over her mouth, mumbling an “I’m sorry.” She didn’t even last two minutes. I gave her too much credit.

“WHAT! And you kept that detail from me?! What the hell, Alex!” She smacks my arm, earning a glare and a retaliatory smack from me.

“It’s not a big deal… We’re both over it,” I shrug, taking a gulp of the liquid courage Hannah had bought. I don’t know what it is, but it tastes good. It’s strong.

“Not a big deal?! Are you kidding me! Hang on, let me process this!... Was he good?” I smile at the memory but quickly shake it off. I nod in reply, maintaining my best poker face.

“Oh my god…” she whispers. “Oh my god…” she repeats, and my best friends lean in, their hands reaching out to me while I sit there, utterly confused.

My eyes dart around to each of them, waiting for someone to break the silence.

“Oh my god, what?” I ask, feeling my sister’s touch on my arm.

“You still like him—”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Sam. I never liked him and I never will. It was a fling, nothing more. End of story. I’ve moved on.”

“You’re lying, Alex!” She pushes my buttons once more.

“No, I’m not, Sam. I’m over it, and so is he. Let me make this crystal clear. I. Was. A. Fling. To. Him. And. He. Was. To. Me. Understand?

Okay, moving on,” I tell her slowly, hoping she’ll finally get it through her thick skull that I meant nothing to him.

“I think you meant more to him, sis. You’ve always meant more to him than you think. As much as I wanted to castrate him for getting back with that witch, I can still see it.

I think he more than likes you—”

“Let me stop you right there. If I meant more to him than any other girl he’s been with, why aren’t we together, huh? Yeah, so save your sermon, Sam. He doesn’t like me enough to be with me…”

Leaving them all speechless, they knew I was right. He didn’t like me enough to be with me, and that’s something I have to learn to accept and move on from.

It’s exhausting thinking about it all the time. I’ve done my share of crying over him. It’s time to move on.

Andy swiftly changes the topic, and the lighthearted banter picks up again, leaving the brief downward spiral about me and Knox behind.

Drinks are flowing, and I watch Lauren dancing with different guys, flirting with them. We’re all sitting in the booth together, and I see her chatting with a guy at the bar.

I make brief eye contact with him a few times, but quickly return my attention to the conversation at the table. We’re filling Andy in on the many embarrassing stories about Kyle.

The one where he thought his little friend downstairs was a worm that would forever be stuck to him when he was three. Sam was the mastermind behind that one.

“Well, I can safely tell you that it looks like a—”

“Stop!!” Sam, Hannah, and I scream, covering our ears. No one wants to hear about their brother’s penis. Ever! Andy starts to giggle.

My eyes scan the room and lock with the attractive guy Lauren is talking to. He smiles at me, and I return the gesture. Blonde hair, blue shirt, and beige slacks.

His body is muscular, and he looks like he hits the gym regularly. He catches the bartender’s attention and orders something, making Lauren bat her eyelashes at him. He’s probably buying her a drink.

“Want to do one more shot and then head back and order some food to the hotel room? Hey, Zara!” Andy suggests, and we all nod in agreement.

Zara slides into the booth next to her best friend, my sister. They’ve been through thick and thin together.

“Hey, girls! What are we gossiping about?”

“We’re telling Andy embarrassing stories about Kyle,” Hannah laughs, but we’re interrupted by the bartender who was talking to the hot guy at the bar.

She sets down a round of shots and then slides a drink over to me. But only to me.

“Uh, I didn’t order this?” I point to the drink in front of me.

“The gentleman at the bar sent these over,” she says, nodding toward a man in a blue shirt who’s engaged in conversation with Lauren and her friends.

He lifts his beer in a silent toast, and I raise the drink he’s bought me, mouthing a silent ~thank you~.

Lauren turns to see who’s caught his attention and spots me, glass raised. Her eyes narrow into slits that feel like they could slice me in two. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.

“Could you maybe tell him he and his friends are welcome to join us for the shots he bought?” I ask the waitress. She nods and heads over to deliver the message. We watch as she speaks to him, his smile broadening as he turns to look at our booth.

He leans back, elbows resting on the bar, and turns away from Lauren to speak to his friends, who are chatting with the other girls in Lauren’s group.

“You just love getting under her skin,” Andy observes, watching the men. I can’t help but smile, knowing I’ve successfully ruffled Lauren’s feathers.

The men glance our way, sharing a few words before breaking away from the girls they were talking to and heading toward our booth.

“She does not look happy,” Sam notes, turning back to me with a mischievous grin. As the men reach our booth, they slide chairs over and introduce themselves.

We spend the rest of the night with them. Zara ends up making out with one, while the rest of us enjoy their company. Chad, the man who bought me the drink, is particularly charming.

They keep the drinks coming, noticing that Sam is the bride-to-be. All in all, it’s a great night. They’re a fun group.

We take shots, flirt, and laugh. Well, I flirt. The others are more reserved, and Zara is otherwise occupied. When it’s time to leave, they escort us out of the club and help us onto the bus.

“Here, take my card. If you’re ever in town again, give me a call. Or if you’re ever in Florida. Maybe I could take you out to dinner sometime,” Chad offers.

I accept the card, tucking it into my clutch. “Maybe. Thanks for all the drinks. It was very kind of you! We’ll be paying for it tomorrow, though,” I say, clutching my purse in my lap.

I look up at him, and his gaze drops to my lips. I lick them instinctively.

“You have the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen... And I’m so tempted to kiss you, but I have a feeling your boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate it,” he says, testing the waters.

~One kiss wouldn’t hurt, would it?~

“You’re in luck, Chad. I don’t have a boyfriend,” I say, glancing at my friends who are waiting by the bus, silently cheering me on.

“So Carter isn’t your boyfriend?” he asks. I shake my head, and he steps closer.

“Well, in that case...” He leans in, and our lips meet. I taste the beer on his breath as his tongue slips into my mouth. It feels rushed, unnatural, forced.

~It’s not him.~

I pull back and offer a smile. After thanking him and his friends once more, we manage to drag Zara onto the bus.

As I settle in next to my sister, I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath. The night’s excitement still tingles in my veins, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing.