Page 17 of Salvatore

Two men, who’ve had way too much to drink or too much of something else, stumble past us. If Sal hadn’t moved me, they would have crashed into me, their inebriated state making them careless.

“First time here?” he asks, well aware I’m not used to seeing grown men so wrecked.

“Clubs aren’t really my thing,” I admit. I hold out a hand. “Not that I don’t appreciate it.” His frown deepens, as if he doesn’t understand. “We’re having fun,” I add. At least my friends are. “And we’re receiving a lot of attention.”

“I’ll bet,” he says, taking me in again, but sounding annoyed.

When he says nothing more, I take a moment to build my courage, reminding myself that if he didn’t want to see me, he wouldn’t have invited me. “Um. Would you like to go someplace quieter?”

He straightens, regarding me as if I asked him an outrageous question. “You want to go someplace quiet. With me?” he repeats.

I’m obviously saying all the wrong things. “We can have a drink first,” I offer, even though I’ve already had enough. “Unless you’d rather dance.”

“I don’t dance,” he says. “And I rarely drink.”

I angle my head. “Then what are we doing here?” I ask. I should be relieved he doesn’t appear to want to be here anymore than I do, but mostly I’m confused and my tone reflects it.

“What do you mean, we?”

“What?” Although I heard him, it’s all I can think to say. Salvatore is livid, but I don’t understand why.

He closes in, his immense form practically swallowing me whole. “You said ‘we.’ We’re not together, Aedry. And I didn’t come here for you.”

My heart sinks, and I swear it’s all I can do not to find the nearest hole to crawl into. “I’m sorry. When you gave me the passes?”

“What are you talking about?” he snaps.

“The VIP passes you gave me with your note,” I say, so quietly I’m not sure he hears me over the music and escalating clamor surrounding us.

When his jaw tightens, I realize he heard every word. “I didn’t write you a note?and those passes didn’t come from me.”

The door to the ladies’ room opens and the supermodel blonde glides out. Her steps slow when she finds me with Salvatore, but she keeps her smile as she wraps two arms around one of his. “Ready, Sal?” she purrs at him.

The humiliation heating my face spreads to encompass my entire body.

“I didn’t invite you,” he bites out. “You shouldn’t be here, Aedry.”

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