Page 28 of Inside the Penalty Box

“Illusions. Sophie wants to check the place, out and Mila, well, she just wants to get out and party. So get yourself up! Get dressed! Put some makeup on and feel human. They will be here shortly.”

* * *

It was a little after ten by the time we’d finished getting ready to go out. We waited in line outside of Illusions for half an hour before finally making it to the door. The doorman checked our IDs and then let us inside. The place was packed, and the music was so loud I could barely hear myself think. I just followed Lorelai and the girls through the crowd and over to the bar.

While we waited for our drinks, I turned and looked around at the multi-layered club. It was the first time we’d been here. I scanned the room and then glanced up at the upper floors. It was dark and hard to see, but someone caught my eye. This guy stood there staring down at me. Out of the entire club, I was almost certain he was staring at me. I moved, his head moved in my direction, then I looked a little closer. I was sure it was Dylan. He was there with a few other guys, standing and looking over the ledge. I tore my eyes from him, looked around, and then glanced up again, only to see he was gone.

“Here’s your drink!” Lorelai yelled in my ear as she handed me my glass.

“Let’s get out of here,” I yelled, following Mila and Sophie through the crowd to a spot on the dance floor.

They all began dancing and laughing while I stood there looking around. If it was him, I was certain he’d be down here after me as soon as he could be, but I hoped I was wrong.

“Loosen up!” Mila screamed. “At least look like you are having fun!” she said, coming up and wiggling against me.

Lorelai and Sophie both laughed as they joined her, dancing up against me.

I took a long sip of my drink and forced myself to start dancing. We’d danced to three or four songs and had just ordered our fourth round of drinks when I leaned over and told Lorelai I was going to the washroom.

I’d waited in line for what felt like forever, then started making my way back to my friends. I was just about there when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw a man I didn’t recognize smile at me. He wore an expensive-looking suit and had an earpiece in his ear. “Aurora Barlowe?”

“What?” I yelled back, not sure I heard him correctly.

This time, he leaned in closer. “Are you Aurora Barlowe?”

I nodded and smiled, feeling slightly confused. It must have been the alcohol. He couldn’t have possibly known me. I’d never seen him before.

“You and your friends have been invited up to the VIP area,” he said, once again leaning into my ear.

I frowned. I didn’t know what was going on. I caught sight of Lorelai watching me. She held out her hands and shrugged her shoulders, no doubt wondering what was going on. I looked at the man who wore the earpiece. “No, I think you have the wrong Aurora Barlowe.”

I went to walk past him and over to the girls, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. “I don’t think I do.”

I glared at the man, and the next thing I knew, Lorelai was beside me.

“Aurora, what’s going on?” she questioned. “Are you okay?”

Once again, the man in the suit smiled. “The party I’m with has asked me to notify Miss Barlowe and her friends to come up to the VIP lounge. So why don’t you follow me?” he said.

Lorelai looked at me and smiled. “I’ll get the girls.” She screamed and took off over to where they were dancing. She whispered in each of their ears and returned to us. We followed the man up to the second floor, down the hall, to a doorway covered with a curtain. Immediately, I noticed the Vancouver Dominators written on a plaque just beside the curtain and knew that my mind hadn’t conjured up Dylan. He was actually here.

The man parted the curtain and waited for me to step through. Three guys I didn’t recognize sat there, while Dylan leaned up against the table that held a pile of food and drinks. One look at him and I noticed his sexy smile as his eyes washed over me. He unscrewed a cap on one of the water bottles and took a drink.

“Oh, my god!” Mila screamed with excitement. “How the hell do you know these guys, Aurora? Keeping secrets from us?” she questioned with excitement.

“Aurora is full of many secrets.” Lorelai winked.

I looked at my best friend and rolled my eyes.

“Ask Lorelai. You all know her brother plays for the Dominators,” I said, trying to take some of the attention off me, only no one paid any attention to what I’d said.

“Hey, girls, why don’t you come on over here and take a seat? We have some food on the way.”

“Ladies, this is Knox Evans, Lucas Clark, and Clay Harris,” Dylan said as he pushed himself off the table. “I’m Dylan Hayes.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and held his other hand out to Lorelai.

Once she shook his hand, she met my eyes. I knew the look she was giving me.

“So, Aurora, how do you know these guys?” Sophie questioned, sitting down beside Lucas and taking a bottle of beer from his hand.

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