Page 60 of With Wine Comes War

I could stay like this forever.

Finally, the heat won out and we left the dance floor for some libations.

As much as the drinks were free flowing, I didn’t feel like drinking too much tonight and I already had a decent buzz going. I was still a little uneasy about my surroundings even though I was completely safe in this group. The only thing they didn’t have in the VIP section was a bathroom.That’s too bad because I had to pee.

“So, how’s it going for you so far? You feeling good??” He had his arms wrapped around my waist and his hands firmly placed on my thighs, probably trying to assess how tight these pants really were. I had my arms wrapped around the back of his neck.

“I’m good, just trying not to have to use the restroom till the last minute.How the hell am I supposed to get these on and off?” He shrugged and shook his head.

“No idea babe, but I’d be happy to help.” He gave me a sexy wink and a quick squeeze of my behind. I leaned in and kissed him, thinking we might have to say goodnight soon, but first I needed to use the restroom.

That would’ve been a simple task before but now it seemed I needed a chaperone just to use the restroom, so Abby and Maggie went with me as an entourage followed behind, comprised of Amelia, Roman and Harrison.

I laughed, grabbing Abby by the arm to pull her close so I could whisper in her ear, “I better be important, or all this is a big waste of time.”

She looked at me confused and I explained, “I just feel like everyone is being, maybe, a little overprotective.”

She wrapped her arm around my waist and informed me, “Honey this is for all of us, not just you. Do you think any of us are going to be allowed out of their sight ever again after what happened to you? Hell no, and I’m fine with that.”

I wrapped my arms around both girls as we made our way through the crowded hall and into the line for the overcrowded restrooms.

When we came out of the restroom, finally, laughing about how long it took me to get these leather pants off.

“I’d really like to thank you girls for tonight. I feel so loved and protected.” I hugged all three of the girls before spotting Roman and Harrison leaning against the wall with their arms crossed over their chests while some girls her trying their best to talk to them with zero success.

Abby, Maggie and I went back down to the dance floor while everyone else stayed up.It was starting to get late and as much fun as we were having, the girls had to get back to the kids sowe’re having one more dance on the floor together and I was looking forward to getting some separation from Roman so he or I or both could calm down.

The three of us laughed as we flailed our arms, jumping up and down to the techno music playing and the strobe lights flashing. Suddenly Maggie’s eyes flew open, and Abby tried to grab my hands right before someone grabbed me around my waist and pulled me close to them, grinding their hips into my ass. It wasn’t Roman from the weird creepy feeling I was getting and the look on Maggie’s face. I spun around to see Luke– my ex-husband.

My hands were trembling as I tried to push away from him. He grabbed my wrists and said, “Come on just one dance.” I tried to pull out of his hands gently while shaking my head. I could feel the frustration coming off of him and the anxiety building up in me. I didn’t want to jerk my hands out here and accidentally hit someone. I could tell from the smell of his breath and the sound of his voice that he was drunk, and I knew how drunk Luke could get. This wasn’t good.

Maggie and Abby came over and Abby said assertively, “Luke just let her go, she doesn’t want to dance.” When she reached out to grab my hand, he pulled me out of her reach. I was worried she’d get hurt out here, so I shook my head. My eyes were wide, and I felt trapped, but I wanted Abby away from this.

“Abby mind your own fucking business, this is between me and Alex.” He shot each of them a dirty look. How times had changed or should Isay him. We all used to be good friends and now none of us associated with him at all.Luke was best friends with Matt and Jack when we were all married then he started drinking too much and staying out late and it wasn’t with any of us. That’s when mean Luke appeared. I sadly would’ve continued to make things work because that’s what my dad did for my mom all those years. I don’t knowwhy he just one day up and said he wanted a divorce. He didn’t want to work it out or anything. That wasn’t like him. He was a control freak and would’ve never let me go that easy. I know I should’ve been grateful because everyone wanted me to divorce him. I mean who the hell stays in a marriage when they’re being verbally and emotionally abused and cheated on. I had some serious self-worth issues. Pretty sure I still do but it’s slowly running its course with these MMA training sessions, and I’m not so sure I don’t want to test my skills out here tonight.If anyone deserves to know how those sessions are going, it’s Luke.

“Luke, there’s nothing between you and I and I already told you I don’t want to talk.” I still kind of felt like he had some control over me, but the girls were here to back me up and I wasn’t trying to make a scene and bring the guys down here and make a bigger mess.

He pulled me closer as I tried to push him away, but he had my wrists pretty tight, and it was starting to hurt. “Yeah, you blocked me. What the fuck’s up with that? Do you still think I’m your stalker? Look, I really need to speak to you. Can we just go somewhere and talk, it’s important.” The girls looked concerned about what he just said but this was no time to have that conversation.

I leaned in and whispered, “Blocking you was a not-so-subtle hint I wish you had taken.” I calmed down a bit and thought about the ways to get out of an attacker's grip from the self-defense classes.Twist both hands inward and down quickly to break the connection.

Before I made the mental decision to do it, someone came up behind me and sternly demanded. “Get the fuck off my woman.” I rolled my lips to keep from laughing because it was Harrison. I mean thank God it wasn’t Roman.

Harrison asked in a tone I’d never heard from him before– protective. “Alex, is this guy bothering you?” With that Luke let go of mywrists and stepped away looking between us skeptically. Thankfully I didn’t need to use force. I rubbed the lingering feel of his hands from my wrists.

I moved closer to Harrison to feel more grounded and said, "Actually he is but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Maggie reached out to grab my hand and I pulled it in, shaking my head. I wanted them to back away and stay out of this. I strategically inched us off the dance floor, so no one gets hurt.

Luke looked up at Harrison then quickly directed his steely eyes back to me, “You’re with this guy?I saw him here last weekend with a different chick. Another tall blond. You either like the cheating type after all or all your men prefer tall blondes to short. Plain. Brunettes.” He made sure to enunciate each word that described me. “Especially when they cheat with big busty blondes huh? I knew you were secretly a freak.”

His demeanor changed quickly from wanting to talk to insults. The insults were the Luke I remember. His eyes averted to Amelia who was on her way over. The heat rose through my body, and I was doing everything I could not to let the anger get the best of me.He was just goading me. My chest was tightening as the fire ripped through my veins. Did he know this would happen or did he just get off on torturing me with humiliation? Most likely it was the alcohol but no more excuses.

“Oh, you mean her?” I reigned in enough control to stand my ground and pick this fight back. “She’s his girlfriend you asshole. He’s myboyfriend’sbrother.” Yep, I said it out loud in front of everyone. “I suggest you just go find some poor sucker to believe your bullshit and leave me alone.”Ok, I guess having backup is making me feel better after all. I rubbed my wrists again and crossed my arms to try and control the feel of my heart beating out of my chest.

Luke laughed pointing just past my head. “I’m guessing that’s your boyfriend now on his way to save the day?”

I snapped my head around.Shit, Luke was one of those people who liked riling people up to fight and Roman looks pissed— I don’t see this ending well.

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