Page 75 of Delilah In Discretion

I rolled my eyes. “He was a total ass, is what happened. One minute he’s making my heart flutter, and the next, he’s fucking crushing it and blaming me all at the same time when he’s the one who told me he wanted to go on the trip for me. Now he’s punishing me for making it possible for me to actually go?! Yeah, okay, buddy,” I said, rolling my eyes.

Kimi frowned slightly. “I could tell you seemed a bit excited to go out and let go...”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

She shrugged. “You’re hurt. You want to drown your sorrows.”

“Of course I’m hurt, but I can’t just go have fun? The one guy who I take an interest in can’t be with me because of my family and because he’s a total jackass. I’m allowed to have fun, Kimiko.” I looked at her in the mirror, and she nodded, still seeming unconvinced.

“If you say so.”

I stood up after finishing my hair and walked into my closet to get dressed in a cute little black dress and heels. Soon enough, we were in the car on the way to the club, arriving a little after nine. I noticed many of the students were already inside living it up.

Kimiko said, “I guess we have the building tonight.”

“You can thank Sterling for that.” I winked, and she gave me a look as we went inside.

The music was loud, there was a lot of dancing, and I did my best to ignore the… other things going on with a few of the students.

“You know, I didn’t really expect much less. We’re all stressed at school and have insanely high expectations from the facultyand parents. The one time we go to a club… the students dance like they’re insane, get drunk, and dry hump in the corner like there’s no tomorrow,” Kimiko muttered, and she wasn’t wrong.

With all the pressure we feel growing up, it’s good to let loose and live because God knows how long it will be before we can do it again.

We eventually found the bar, and Avery met up with us as he sat beside Kimi. Being the semi-third wheel in the group now, I was lost in my thoughts and didn’t notice the rather handsome bartender placing a drink in front of me.

I looked up at him and smiled. “Is this for me?”I asked him in French, and he bit his lip with a slight chuckle.

“On the house...mon chéri,” he responded.

I gave him a look. “You know, you’re not supposed to speak English to me. If you do, I’m not supposed to respond; words of my chaperone...”

“Well, excuse me for learning the language of the drunken American tourists who frequently end up needing a ride home.”

“But I’m not drunk right now.”

“No, but you’re adorable.”

I smiled. “Is that so?” I asked, and he winked before walking over to the other side of the bar.

Kimiko turned her head over towards me. “You’re awfully friendly tonight.”

Throwing back my shot, I sighed before speaking. “I’m not always a bitch, Kim-Kim.”

“That’s true, but you’re also not always so moody, vulgar, and flirtatious.”

“I have a lot on my mind,” I said, downing her drink too while her face held a disapproving look.

“I bet you do.”

I glared at her, and she tilted her head sarcastically. “I can have a pity party if I want to, Kimiko. I’m dealing with about fourinsane billionaires... If I want to be upset, I think I’m allowed,” I responded.

Kimiko sighed as she pulled me into her embrace and kissed the top of my forehead. “I’ll be with Avery for a moment. I’ll give you some space.”

She walked away, and I sighed as the bartender came back.

“That looked intense,” he commented, and I shrugged.

“It’s my fault, really,” I said softly, and he nodded.

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