Page 71 of Electric Touch

“Oh yeah, everything is great,” Nash says with a fake smile.

“Women,” Jordan jokes. It falls a little flat. “I’m gonna go back over there,” he points to the table he was at with Archer and leaves.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

I understand why Apollo is asking. He’s my best friend, and he saw a woman tearing into me over a guy he isn’t a hundred percent convinced I should give my time to.

“I’ll understand if you want to,” Nash says.

Disappointment unfurls inside me at that statement.

“But if you do, I’ll be taking you,” he says, giving Apollo a look.

I’m a little impressed and take back that earlier thought of discontent.

“No, I’m not ready to go yet,” I state, shocking them both. “I don’t have anywhere to be tomorrow and I was having fun. If you want to go, that’s fine. I’ll go with you, but I am happy to stay.”

“You sure?” Nash looks as if he doesn’t believe me.

“Perfectly. Let’s go get another drink,” I spin around and walk towards the bar. When I get there, I lean against it and the bartender comes over. He lifts his chin in the altercation's direction.

“Everything alright?” He raises a brow.

“Everything is fine. I’m sure you’ve witnessed worse.”

“No doubt,” he grins. “What can I get you?”

Nash appears beside me.

“How about a cocktail?” I say. “Surprise us.”

“Coming up.” He steps back and goes to grab a shaker and some bottles.

“You sure you’re alright? I’m fucking sorry about that. I don’t even know where the guy is, the asshole she’s with. No one can find him.”

I feel bad for Riley, but only for a second. She doesn’t know me, has no right to make comments about me, drunk or not. She should know she is in the wrong over this. I hope she realises that tomorrow. I’m not shocked Nash is concerned. They were together for a long time, but I am glad he didn’t go after her. He stayed. For me.

Which is why I stay too, even if I want to leave. Even if I hate having people looking at us. I won’t let anyone force me out of here. I can’t help but think it isn’t over. Not after seeing the way Riley looked at Nash and the way she spoke to me.

I have much bigger things going on in my life right now. This is a drama I could do without. I catch Apollo’s gaze as I take my cocktail from the bartender. Nash stands beside me with his head down, brooding and distracted.

This thing with Riley and Nash isn’t over. Silently, from across the room, my best friend is asking me the same question I’m thinking.

Do I really want to get in the middle of this?

Chapter Twenty

“Nash?”

The car has come to a stop at her apartment. At the club, I kept a smile painted on my face. I didn’t want anyone to think what happened with Riley got to me.

But it did. I never expected her to do anything like that. That isn’t who she is. Plus, she insulted Adrestia. Even if she is putting a brave face on it. It affected her. Who wouldn’t be affected by having someone throw that shit in their face?

I keep alternating between being pissed at and sad for Riley. I’m concerned about her state of mind. That pisses me off all over again, because she is messing with me. Showing up and saying she still loves me. Verbally abusing the woman I’m seeing.

What even is this thing with Adrestia? I don’t know. Which makes the way she was spoken to tonight that much harder to bear. I don’t want to saddle her with my issues and need to figure out what is going on with Riley. Where the fuck was the asshole she is dating? He was with her earlier on. But nowhere to be seen when she got drunk and made a complete fool of herself.

“Did you want to come up?” she asks.