Page 383 of Dark Love

“No one. I went to a club alone.”

Max’s spoon clatters into his bowl, splashing broth onto the marble. “You went to a club alone?”

“I know. It wasn’t smart, but I didn’t plan on being there long. If I could go back and do it again, I never would have walked in the door.”

“What club was it?”

Do I tell him? Vex seems to like to live a quiet life. But Max isn’t going to let this go.

“You know what club you went to.”

“Yes. It’s just that nothing happened. I passed out on the bathroom floor. Then a friend took care of me this weekend.”

Max reaches over and places a hand on mine. “Something happened. And even if you want to pretend it didn’t happen, it did. If you don’t tell me for yourself, you need to tell me to protect the next woman.”

“Night Dreams.”

“You got drugged at Night Dreams? That club is one of the safest in Urbium.”

I shrug. “It seems I can find creeps anywhere.”

He chuckles, but his eyes stay hard.

“You need to make sure Hope and Fire don’t do the same thing.”

“Those two will never be alone in a club. As it is, they never go anywhere without a cousin or close friend. They know better.”

Hopefully, they do, but girls do stupid things.

“My mom is a doctor if you want some—”

“I’m fine.” And that’s only sort of a lie.

“If something changes—”

“I’ll reach out.” That’s a lie, but this all needs to be over.

A nightmare that you finally wake up from.

***

A nightmare would be good at this point. Anything would be better than staring up at the ceiling.

Maybe I need some fresh air and a distraction… a little work wouldn’t hurt. I grab my laptop and a blanket and head to my backyard.

“Knock knock neighbor.” Max pretends to knock on the wrought-iron fence twenty minutes later.

What is he doing here? “Come on in.” I gesture to the empty lounge chair next to me.

“You do know most people sleep at two in the morning.” He sits on the edge, staring at me.

“What are you doing up walking the neighborhood at this time?” I parry the question back.

“Jet lag. My system still thinks I’m on the other side of the world. What’s your excuse?”

I shrug. It’s not like I can say that I’ve gotten used to the safe feeling of having Vex next to me in two days and now my body won’t go to sleep.

“Want some company?” He lifts a laptop out of his bag.

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