Chapter 50

Chapter 50

“Are you sure you're supposed to be off bed rest?”

Timothy sighed and adjusted his shirt collar, cringing as the material rubbed against his sore shoulder. Ethan had been in his ear

the whole night, hesitant about Timothy going out so soon after the incident.

Still, Timothy insisted on taking both David and Ethan out for a night at the club. Despite the lingering pain in his shoulder, he

needed to escape the suffocating thoughts that had plagued him ever since the incident with Bruce. He also hadn't seen Evie

ever since then, but he wasn’t too sure how to approach her either.

His time in the hospital had been a blur. They had pumped him with enough medication to put an elephant to sleep, so he

gathered brief memories. He could especially recall Evie dragging him there in the first place, his blood smeared all over her.

He wanted more than anything to keep pummeling Bruce. There were details about him that he could've guessed just from

seeing him all those years ago, and he hadn’t changed a bit.

There were approaching the front of the line to the club and Timothy reached for his ID. Fortunately, David stepped in for him this

time around.

“He said he just wants to have a good time tonight,” he told Ethan. “He'll be fine. Right, Timothy?”

“Right,” Timothy said absently, flashing his ID at the bouncer. He gave him a nod and removed the velvet rope..

“Sure.” Ethan rolled his eyes and showed his ID through his wallet before following the others inside..

The club was alive with energy as the group entered, the thumping music and colorful lights engulfing them in a world of

hedonism and excitement. They made their way to the bar and took up three of the stools. The bartender turned to them. and

took their orders.

After three shots of vodka, Timothy felt his limbs start to numb and the world. around him dissolved into a kaleidoscope of

glimmering lights. His head bobbed to the music and eventually the rest of his body followed, moving to the rhythm.

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David snorted beside him. “Easy there, Tim. Save the ladies for the rest of us!”

“I'm going to dance,” Timothy said absently, slipping out of his seat. As he turned, he felt a hand grip his arm. Ethan shot him a

warning look.

“Don't strain yourself,” Ethan shouted over the music.

“You heading out to the floor?” David butted in, setting down his drink. “Wait for me!”

As he watched them head off to the dance floor, Ethan sighed. Eventually, he relented and chased after them. “Hold on!”

The three of them joined the crowd on the dance floor, trying to lose himself in the rhythm and movement. For a brief moment,

Timothy felt the weight of his worries lift, replaced by the pulsating beats and the euphoria of the moment.

As the night went on, he let go of his inhibitions, laughing and dancing with his friends, momentarily forgetting the troubles that

had haunted him. It was almost therapeutic.

The hours passed in a blur, and as the night wore on, Timothy’s exhaustion started to catch up with him. His shoulder throbbed

with every movement, and he knew he should probably call it a night.

Reluctantly, Timothy made his way to a booth where Ethan and David were sitting. “I think I’ve had enough for tonight,” he

admitted with a tired smile.

As he sat down, Timothy tried to distract himself, focusing on the laughter and chatter around him. But his eyes wandered, and

his heart nearly seized when he saw Lucas dancing closely with another man on the dance floor. Anger surged within him, and

he balled his hands into fists.

Lucas was all over the other man, grinding on him without care. When he started whispering into the man’s ear, Timothy’s plan to

forget about his troubles. evaporated.

He couldn't ignore what he saw, nor could he pretend that everything was fine. Lucas was supposedly all over Evie, but in

private, he was rubbing up against random men at a club. Timothy doubted that this was something Evie could approve of

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Timothy left his friends at the booth. As he

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reached Lucas, the music seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.

He tapped Lucas on the shoulder, interrupting his dance.

Timothy's jaw clenched, and he forced himself to keep his voice steady as he spoke. “What the hell do you think you’re doing,

Lucas?”

Lucas turned around, his face registering surprise. “Timothy? What are you doing here?” he asked, slightly slurring his words.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” Timothy snapped. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Lucas’s confusion morphed into a realization, and he scoffed. “Oh, right. You're still hung up on Evie.”

“That’s not the point, Timothy retorted, clenching his fists. “YOU are with Evie, asshole! Yet here you are draping yourself on

some dude!”

The man Lucas had been dancing with started backing away, clearly wanting no part of the conversation. Lucas waved him

away, not taking his eyes away from Timothy’s as a sly grin took over his face.

Lucas chuckled, his nonchalant attitude infuriating Timothy even more. “Come on, Timothy. What Evie and I do is none of your

concern.

“It is if you hurt her!” Timothy growled, inching toward him. “All that talk about her body...I should’ve known you didn’t give a

damn about her.”

Lucas pursed his lips. “Oh? And you're such a saint, right? Considering you'll screw anything that moves!”

Timothy's anger intensified and banished any thought of controlling himself. With a sudden burst of energy, he swung his fist at

Lucas, landing a punch squarely on his jaw. The force knocked Lucas back, and he stumbled before catching himself.

“What the hell, man?” Lucas rubbed his jaw, his eyes wide with shock.

“You stay away from Evie,” Timothy warned, his voice low and dangerous. “Shel deserves better than you.”

Lucas glared at Timothy. “What are you going to do about it? Tell her? Go ahead, she won't care.”

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Chapter 50

Timothy's heart twisted at Lucas’s words, but he stood his ground. “I won’t tell her if you leave her alone. Break up with her, and I

won't interfere.”

For a moment, Lucas seemed to consider the offer, but then he cracked a smile. “No way. If she wants to be with me, that’s her

choice.”

Timothy's patience wore thin, and he shook his head in disbelief. “You're unbelievable.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Timothy's eyes bore into Lucas!

“I'm not going to ask you again, Lucas. If you hurt her, I will glad set you straight,” Timothy pressed.

Lucas snickered. “Too late for that one, buddy!”

Timothy shoved him, which wiped the smirk right off of Lucas‘ face. He looked taken aback by the intensity of Timothy’s

expression.

“You think this shit is funny?” Timothy hissed. “Break up with Evie, for your own sake.”

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