Page 16 of Safe and Sound

With a playful roll of my eyes, I replied, “Seriously? It’s too dark in here any alleged shine.”

“I still want to go to the bathroom.”

Dani hopped off her stool. “Come on. I’ll take you.”

As the two of them started to go to the bathrooms, I crooked my finger at Nick. “Let’s dance.”

“Hold that thought.”

“Don’t tell me you’re shiny too?”

He snorted. “Nope. But I do have to take a leak,”

A frustrated grunt puffed from my lips. “Fine. I’ll go back to dancing by myself.”

“I promise I’ll find you again.”

“Mm hmm, you say that now, but what if you come across a tall, dark and handsome man in the bathroom?”

“You know blondes are my type.”

“I might argue anything with a dick is your type,” I teased.

“You bitch! You definitely need to get laid,” Nick shot back.

“Whatever,” I laughed.

Nick held out his pinky. “I’ll find you on the dance floor asap.”

Since we were kids, we’d pinky swear on almost everything. After linking mine with his, I said, “Don’t make me come find you.”

“I won’t.”

Although I found myself once again alone, I didn’t let it stop me from having fun. With the fresh alcohol coursing through me, I once again stepped into the fray of people.

Ignoring the others around me, I closed my eyes and let the music flow through me. Occasionally, I would feel others slide against me. When I didn’t engage them, they’d move on.

But then I felt a warm breath against my earlobe. “Took you long enough,” I said as I whirled around.

Instead of Nick, a slick stock broker type loomed over me. “Sorry. I thought you were someone else,” I apologized.

He flashed me a shark-like smile. One that made him look like Christian Bale inAmerican Psycho. “I’ll be anybody you want me to be, sweetheart.”

“Wow, there’s a line I’ve never heard before,” I mused.

“Sassy mouth and sexy moves. You’re a ball buster, aren’t you?”

“If you say so.”

“I’m Kirk.”

Since I wasn’t going to give him my name, I replied, “Nice to meet you.”

“Dance with me.”

Most women would’ve swooned at his command, but that bravado did nothing for me. “Thanks but I’m waiting for my friends to come back from the bathroom.”

One his hands slithered around my waist, yanking me against him. “Come on now. Just a little dance.”

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