Page 15 of Rush

Nora had never been to an actual dance club. The idea was kind of exciting. “I’m in but I really didn’t pack for dance clubs and I don’t want to wear my new dress before the trip.”

“Whoop whoop!” Ivy raised a fist then tugged Nora to her side. “You can wear something of mine. Emerson, you go get changed. I’m stealing Nora for makeover fun time. We’ll meet back at my place and all go together.”

***

Having waited nearly a half hour in line, Nora eagerly showed her ID to a man who would make her brother look petite. He waved them all in with one massive arm, Ivy taking the lead with Emerson on her heels and Nora bringing up the rear.

The music hit her first, so loud it vibrated the floor and left her ears ringing, but it was the crowded press of bodies that had her rethinking her enthusiasm over the whole dance clubscene. Clutching at Emerson’s arm as they shuffled along, Nora carefully concentrated on not plowing into her sister-in-law’s back as she was bumped and jostled by enthusiastic partiers.

Just as Nora was about to throw in the towel and go running back out the front door, the crowd thinned and a cluster of tables beckoned. And either she was losing her ability to hear or the half walls with the raised partitions that surrounded the area were doing their job because even the music didn’t sound quite as loud.

Ivy hiked herself up on a stool and draped herself across the table to shout, “What does everyone want to drink?”

Nora wasn’t sure what to order. She’d been legal to drink for almost a year, but the passing of her dad and leaving school to take care of her mom had made the milestone birthday pretty much unimportant. Not that she’d been a saint before that but with beer and cheap wine being the only options at the parties she’d attended, cocktails weren’t something she was overly familiar with. Embarrassed to admit her naivety and not wanting to take a chance and end up with something awful, she opted for the easy way out. “I’ll just have whatever you’re having.”

“Margaritas all around,” Ivy cried jovially.

“I’ll go with you to help carry,” Emerson volunteered before turning to Nora. “Watch the table.” She held up her phone. “I’ve got this on vibrate. If you need me, for anything, text 911 and I’ll come running.”

Nora held up a hand and vowed, “I’ll guard the table with my life.”

Bored after a few minutes of people-watching, Nora pulled out her phone while she waited for Ivy and Emerson to get back and flipped through the photos she’d taken recently.She was smiling over a picture of Linc and Sophie making silly faces when she felt a presence beside her that didn’t immediately go away, she looked up to see a good-looking twenty-something guy smiling at her.

He held up a hand. “Hi, I’m Levi.”

“Nora.” She politely waved back.

“Would you like to dance, Nora?”

“Thank you, but I’m waiting for my friends.”

“What?” He tipped his head closer in order to hear.

Nora shouted into the vicinity of his ear, “I’m waiting for friends.”

“A boyfriend?”

She shook her head and his smile broadened to a grin. “Maybe later then.” He winked and set off, disappearing into the crowd.

“Who was that?” Ivy appeared at her side, setting a cocktail glass full of light-green liquid and with salt stuck around the rim down in front of her.

“Just some guy asking me to dance. I said, no.”

“Why? He was cute.”

Nora shrugged. “Just not feeling it.”

“Do you have a boyfriend back home?” Ivy asked after taking a hefty sip of her margarita.

Nora took a tentative sip of her own drink and was surprised by the strong kick of citrus. Licking her lips, she made a mental note—margaritas were safe to order the next time she was at a bar. “No, nothing like that,” she said, setting her glass back down. “He just wasn’t my type.”

“I get that,” Emerson said, backing her up. “Besides, I’d probably never hear the end of it from Oz if he ever found out.” Emerson rolled her eyes and Nora laughed.

“Speak of the devil.” Ivy raised an arm above her head and waved at someone.

Nora twisted in her seat to see Oz, Colt, and a guy she’d never seen before approaching their table. Or they were trying to. The trio caused quite a stir. Fans from all walks of life circled. Men wanted autographs and handshakes. Women oohed and aahed, huddling around them and trying to get as close as possible. The whole scene created quite the roadblock.

“Does that ever bother you,” Nora jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, “all the women gushing over your men?”

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