Page 36 of Refuel

I hugged everyone one more time before I headed back to change clothes and head home to get dressed for the club tonight. Maybe I’d even find a guy to take home and relieve some second-place sex.

The club was bumping. Yeonce by Beyonce was playing, and Essence, Rylee, and I were dancing in the middle of the floor. I felt good, the energy was fun and positive, no stress. My hair was down in curls, I was wearing gold shorts and a black crop top with gladiator heels. I was rocking large hoop earrings with full lips popping from the red lipstick.

“Go, Rylee! Go, Rylee!” I screamed. Rylee was swaying her hips and bouncing her ass, showing off her curves.

“I’m glad Colton didn’t come,” I shouted over the music.

“Me too,” Ry joked, and we slapped hands.

“Let’s get a drink,” Essence mentioned, fanning herself.

“Okay,” I said, walking behind her, holding Rylee’s hand as we pushed through the crowd.

We walked up to the bar and ordered more shots and a bottle of champagne. Rylee set up a VIP area for us, with a sign and balloons. The DJ even shouted me out when we got here earlier.

“On the count of three, we take the shots,” I said.

“One, Two, Three!” Rylee and I spoke.

My chest burned, and I felt even nicer from the shot. I asked the bartender for three bottles of water to go with the champagne.

“I’m ready to sit for a minute. I’m hot, and my curls are falling,” I spoke up.

Essence nodded and led the way to our section. She started up the steps and paused, causing me to bump into her back.

“Essence, what’s wrong?”

“Ummm, we’re not alone,” she said, and I looked around her at Kamden sitting in our section with Colton and some other guys.

A scowl crossed my face. I nudged her to get behind me, and I stomped toward him.

“Hey, there she is!” Kamden yelled, clapping his hands.

“This is my section that I paid for. Get out!” I snapped.

12

Arianna

I tilted my head and tapped my foot, pissed as he sat there smiling at me like I was joking.

“Hey, baby,” Rylee said.

“Rylee, it’s girl’s night. Leave Colton alone,” I said.

She waved me off and sat on Colton’s lap.

“What happened to girl code?” I questioned.

“I’m still your best friend, Ari. With the guys here, it means we save our money and spend theirs,” Rylee said.

“I like that logic,” Essence said and came to sit between the two guys that I remembered were from Kamden’s crew.

“Ari, you remember Tennessee and Ronald,” Kamden said.

“Hi,” I said as I plopped down on the couch next to Kash and opened the bottled water; my high was blown now that the men came to watch us.

Kamden leaned over and whispered in my ear.

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