Page 136 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

I took the second shot quickly, seeing that my friends already had, then picked up my mojito to sip at it.

Imogen had her red lips wrapped around her bottle of beer, her hips swaying to the music as she drank. I smiled, watching her, vowing to myself that I would have as much fun as her tonight.

“Birthday girl!” the blonde man next to us said. “Let me buy you another drink.” He nodded at the almost empty glass in my hands.

“Um,” I hesitated, looking over my shoulder at Imogen.

I didn’t know how to navigate someone offering to buy me a drink. I’d never been to a club, and I wasn’t a huge drinker, anyway.

“He’s harmless,” the brunette girl sitting near us said, taking a swig of her beer. “And you’re not his type,” she added with a smirk, tossing her hair behind her, revealing her bare neck and shoulders exposed by her red off-the-shoulder dress.

“What is his type?”

“Male.” She chuckled, and my lips twitched.

Ramón shifted, turning to check out our neighbor, and I closed my eyes to hide them rolling.

“Ramón,” he said, holding his hand out to the man.

“Riven,” he replied, shaking it. “So, another drink?” he said, peering around at me.

“Sure,” I said with a shrug. “Why not? I’m here to have fun and forget about dumb boys, anyway.”

“That’s the spirit!” the girl exclaimed. “Sarina,” she added, holding her hand out to me.

“Haven,” I replied, taking it, and she smiled as we exchanged a quick shake.

“When you’re done with your next drink, you and your friend should join me on the dance floor,” she said.

“Sure,” I replied, and Imogen lifted her arms in the air, screaming out a cheer at my response.

“YES! DANCING! No ballet!” she added, pointing at me.

“I know how to dance other styles, Immy,” I replied, taking the second drink from the bartender.

“Then chug that so you can prove it to me!”

I sighed but relented, downing my second mojito in just a few gulps. I smacked my lips as I finished, slamming the glass down onto the counter.

“Yes!” Imogen squealed, grabbing my hand and Sarina’s and dragging us to the dance floor.

As we reached our destination, the beat of the club music resonated deep in my body, awakening my senses and my soul. I loved ballet—loved the structure, precision, and gracefulness of the art form. But dancing like this—dancing like this was so freeing and exhilarating.

There were no rules with the type of movement evoked by club music. No specific way I had to hold or move my body. I could just move how I wanted, move with the beat and the feel of the music.

I was alive, alive in a way I hadn’t been since the night I’d spent with Wes. The weight of my worries and concerns slipped away, and I let the music take me to a place where nothing else mattered.

My body and hips swayed and twisted to the music, Imogen and our new friend Sarina moving right along with me. Sarina’s movements were wild and more exuberant than mine, while Imogen was more reserved with her dancing.

Others from the company came and went as we danced, greeting me and dancing with us and then going on their way with their own groups of friends.

I could feel eyes from every corner of the club watching the three of us. But it wasn’t much different from being onstage, and I was too caught up in the rhythm and the atmosphere to care.

Time seemed to flow differently on the dance floor, and before I knew it, Imogen said, “Havie, I need a break! My feet are getting tired!”

I wasn’t ready to take a break, but I also didn’t want to be left alone among a slew of people I didn’t know. So I followed Imogen and Sarina to the edge of the dance floor and back to where Ramón and Riven still stood at the bar.

“Ramón!” I yelled, hooking my arm through his and leaning my cheek against his arm. He’d removed his jacket, and his cool skin was soothing against my flushed skin. “Dance with me!”

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