Page 25 of The Love Penalty
“In this dirty bar surrounded by sleazoids and creeps?” I can’t help the quip. My shoulders are tingling, and I just want to go home.
“They’re not all like that.” Caroline’s voice goes soft, her blue eyes getting all sad and worried again. She wants to know what’s happened to me. What’s changed me. Leaning close, she whispers in my ear, “You used to know how to let loose and have some fun.”
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“I’m serious. We’re out. Let’s go dance.” She leans back with an excited grin. “You love dancing. You love this song. I know you love this song!”
I do, but… “I don’t want to spend my night getting hit on.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Asher pipes up.
I flinch and look over my shoulder to see how serious he is. His gaze is deep and penetrating, and dammit, I believe him.
“Neither will I.” Ethan finishes his drink, then places it on the table with a definitive thump. “If you don’t want any guys going near you, we’ll make sure they stay away.”
“Even I won’t hit on you. I promise.” Asher winks. I give him an unconvinced glare and he laughs, raising both hands. “I swear.”
“Come on.” Caroline grabs my wrist, the look in her eyes downright pleading. “Dance with me. Dance with your bestie.”
I give in with a sigh, letting her drag me off the stool and onto the dance floor. The music is thumping, and my body can’t help but respond to it. I love getting lost in a beat, and as soon as the hockey guys form a circle around us, I start to relax and let myself get into it. Mikayla’s a great dancer, and I mirror her moves so we’re dancing in sync. Caroline joins in, throwing her head back and shouting along to the lyrics. I can’t help joining her. I really do love this song. In fact, the entire set has been awesome so far, and as soon as that song comes to an end, the band cranks into another great number.
It’s quickly obvious which of the guys can move and which of them wish they were anywhere else. But they’re playing bodyguard for me (and probably their girlfriends). It’s actually kinda sweet. Riley soon gives up his post and starts dancing with us. He’s got some moves… and so does Asher. He can’t help himself. Soon he’s right up there alongside me, moving his hips and grooving to the beat.
I get caught up in the moment, raising my arms and shifting my feet. I let the music take me and I’m swept away, forgetting about everything and just enjoying a moment of the old me. The girl who could spend a night on the dance floor, singing and acting silly with her friends.
The girl who let the music take her away.
The girl who didn’t mind a guy’s hand on her hip. Didn’t mind his body gliding in behind hers.
I shuffle closer to Asher without thinking, at first not even noticing his hand lightly brushing my side.
He’s just moving in time with me, smiling at Caroline as she flicks her hair around and laughs at something Casey just said to her. He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her close, resting his chin on her shoulder and saying something else against her ear. She’s grinning and gyrating against him.
I remember that feeling. A guy’s arm securing me against him, my back tucked into his torso. I used to love that feeling. I’d always look for it at parties. A little flirtation on the dance floor.
It was one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday night.
Until it became something different.
Until one guy ruined everything.
Asher’s hand skims my hip again, his body moving in behind mine. My booty wants to back right into him. We could find the rhythm together and sway to the beat…
But something in my brain just clicked.
It’s a sound I’ve been trying to avoid. But I can feel it. The lid of the box I’ve been desperate to keep shut just flew open, and my body is flooded with ugly reminders of that night.
The one that started out with a little flirtation on the dance floor and turned into something completely different.
My body jerks like I’ve just been electrocuted, panic sizzling my entire system as I stumble off the dance floor.
“You okay?” Asher reaches for my arm, no doubt trying to steady me.
I flick him off and barely manage to say, “I have to use the bathroom,” before careening away like I’m being chased by the devil.
Maybe I am.
Little demon memories flutter around me as I fight the sob in my throat and run for the safety of a lockable stall.