Page 65 of Hate To Love You

“Nothing,” Lainey shrugs suspiciously. “Let’s go, I want to get a good table!”

Lainey casually strolls out of the house, hopping into the passenger seat of my old beetle. I look back to Ellie who just shrugs her shoulders, hooking her arm through mine and leading me out of the house.

What they’re up to, I have no idea. But I have a feeling I’m not going to be too happy about it if they’re being so secretive about it.

The parking lot of Party Glowers is packed, which is to be expected on a Saturday night. The building is a large two story with an exclusive upstairs area and a huge dancefloor with a stage on the lower level.

They provide glow sticks, glow necklaces and bracelets, and glow paint for their patrons. There are colorful flashing lights that shoot across the space, and the dancefloor lights up with different colors while people dance.

It’s a pretty cool concept, and it’s right between the colleges, so both Groverland and Ellington U students congregate here.

The nice thing about the club is that Holland and Ellie’s father owns it, so we get free entry and free drinks when we come.

I’m usually the DD since I don’t drink too much if and when I do go out. Lainey and Ellie typically get shitfaced, and I end up having to drag their asses out of whatever club or party they’ve dragged me to.

I can usually get out of it since a lot of the parties they go to are over at the Elite mansion. I’m not really sure why they wanted to come here tonight.

Lainey heads straight to the bar, Ellie and I following close behind. With a swift wave of her hand, a handsome bartender with tattoos up his arms and muscles that make your jaw drop comes over to take her order. She orders her signature drink of choice, a whiskey sour, and Ellie gets a gin and tonic.

I of course opt for a water.

Lainey leads us over to a corner booth, away from the huge throngs of drunk patrons.

Taking a sip of her drink, Lainey leans in to yell something in my ear over the thumping of the bass.

“You should get a drink! One won’t kill you,” she urges. I shake my head.

“I’m good for now, maybe later.”

Lainey rolls her eyes and takes another sip. I catch a glimpse of Ellie staring up toward the exclusive area above us and notice a few familiar faces. My stomach flips and my nerves skyrocket. My eyes catch with emerald green ones that I’ve come to know over the last few weeks.

He cocks his head, narrowing his eyes as he takes me in.

I avert my gaze quickly, feeling my cheeks burn. I turn slowly to see Lainey watching me for a reaction. So this is what they were hiding.

“What are they doing here?” I seethe. I was not planning on running into Ryker tonight. Lainey shrugs.

“Holland texted and said they’d be here. I figured it would give you and Ryker a chance to talk,” Lainey explains simply. I try to tamp down the annoyance that’s boiling deep in chest, but it’s proving to be rather difficult.

“We don’t need to talk, Lainey. There’s nothing to talk about,” I explain.

That’s a lie. There are some things we should probably talk about. Like, I don’t know what Ryker and I even are. Are we friends? Are we fuck buddies? Do we even actually like each other?

But I’m not about to be the one to bring that up. I don’t need him thinking I want a label on us or anything. Because I don’t. Do I?

“You should ask him if his brother is single. He’s like, really freaking hot, in an ‘innocent rich boy’ kind of way. I could teach him a thing or two,” Lainey winks.

“Teach who what?” a male voice asks. Our heads turn to see Holland, Ryker, Mason, and a guy that looks vaguely familiar, standing at the edge of our table.

Ryker’s green eyes watch me as I take a sip of my water.Ellie glares at Holland and he just smirks, knowing his presence bothers her. Holland’s gaze skips over to Lainey, who is looking at him over the rim of her glass.

“Hey, Barkley,” Holland nods toward Lainey. Lainey rolls her eyes, looking seductive and bored all at the same time.

“I knew you were going to be here, but I was still hoping you wouldn’t show,” she says cooly.

“What’d they put in that drink? You’re bitchier than usual,” Holland comments, rolling his eyes.

“Why don’t you crawl back down to Hell where you belong?” Lainey questions sarcastically, glaring at him.

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