Page 45 of Fifty

“Hey there. I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. How are you holding up?” she asks, but it’s nothing I plan to talk about tonight.

“I’m feelin’ pretty damn good, darlin’,” I grin back, lifting my now full glass to my lips.

“You’re a bad liar,” she replies and her long lashes blink back at me.

I’ve been avoiding her and this is why. Somehow, she knows me. She can see more than my brothers can, and she’s definitely not buying my shitty act.

“You’re thinking too much. It’s a fuckin’ party. Have a little fun,” I tell her with a wink, hoping she’ll just let it go.

“Fine. I get it. I won’t push it tonight, but we will be having a conversation soon,” she answers back. “Come sit with us while you enjoy your drink,” she offers, giving a small nod in the direction of the pool tables.

“Nah, not tonight. I’ve got a friend waiting for me,” I share, glancing back towards the heavy black door. She swallows hard and her face goes pale.

“Hey, Fifty,” a voice coos on my left. My eyes swivel and I find Tess. She’s another club regular who’s always up for a little fun.

“Tess, are you having a good time?” I drawl, fully aware that Ayla’s eyes are still on me.

“I am, but it’s better now that I’ve found you,” she lays it on thick. “I noticed you were in the dark room, so you must be having a good time,” she adds, lightly running her fingers down my bicep.

“You know it. Ash is waiting for me to come back, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you want to join us,” I offer and her eyes light up.

“I’ll catch up with you later, Ay,” I utter, barely looking back in Ayla’s direction as Tess loops her arm with mine.

“Really? That’s it??” she fumes back and I stop, quickly turning back in her direction.

“It’s a lot of fun in there. I’m sure Kane could tell you some stories,” I spit out, my gut twisting as the words leave my mouth.

I know the history she has with that room, and now I’m using it against her. I watch the color drain from her face as she stares back at me with wide glassy eyes, completely frozen. I’m an asshole for doing that to her, but tonight I don’t fucking care. I just want to disappear.

“C’mon, Fifty,” Tess begs, tugging at my arm. And I turn away from my friend, moving back towards the dark as it calls me home.

Twenty-Nine

Jade

“Are you really leaving today?” Ali asks as we both reach for a blueberry muffin.

“I have to. It’s time I get back to the real world, but you know I’ll be back to help you with wedding stuff whenever you need me,” I offer a smile to my sister across the kitchen island.

“I know, I know… It’s just been really nice having you home again,” she shares. And honestly, I’m surprised at how much I’ve liked being back here. I know I have to go back to Rock Hill, but leaving this time isn’t going to be as easy.

I’ve been back in Georgia for a month. Mom and Dad didn’t give me much of a choice after Fifty rode off, leaving me in the dust, and they had to peel me off the ground. He never even called or texted. It’s been complete silence.

Gloria called. She told me he came into the diner about a week after I left. She said he looked rough, but I didn’t want to hear it, and thankfully she didn’t push the subject.

It’s been a month, but it still feels raw. And while it’s been nice to get away and take some time to reflect on everything that happened between us and allow myself to start to heal, I know that this isn’t really my home. I’ll go back to Rock Hill, but I won’t go back to the diner or to my apartment. I’m starting over.

I’ve decided to take a couple classes at Winthrop University. After finally taking the time to look, I found they actually offer a degree in both dance and dance education, and all this time it’s only been minutes away. Now I’ll be able to enjoy dance and hopefully find a job in dance that doesn’t require taking my clothes off.

“You were just thinking about him again, weren’t you?” Ali observes and I nod.

“Was it that obvious?” my question falls out softly.

“You just had that faraway look, like you weren’t really here for a minute,” she answers.

“I wish I could make it all just go away, but it’s not that easy. He’s definitely a hard one to forget,” I offer feeling heat rise in my cheeks.

“At least now you can smile and joke about it,” she says.