Page 113 of Fear of Falling

While she went to take a picture, probably to send to Bryton, I went over to my closet to grab my heels.

“Everything okay?” I asked Lydia as I held onto my dresser for balance. I already knew I’d regret wearing them, but they matched my peach-colored dress perfectly. The fabric clung to me, and I knew if Wyatt were here, I wouldn’t make it out of the apartment.

“Yeah, just a last-minute printing thing,” Lydia waved me off. I was glad she’d decided to join us tonight. She’d been so busy running the magazine, trying to expand our readership, and I knew she needed a night out to just let go. And who knew? Maybe she’d meet someone. Looking the way she did, in her red silk dress that showed plenty of cleavage and leg, she’d be warding men off tonight for sure.

It only took us all a few more minutes to get ready, but we spent a good twenty minutes taking pictures. It was an unwritten rule that you can’t get dressed up without taking at least one good photo. Plus, I wanted to send Wyatt a picture to congratulate him on his win.

A million and a half photos later, we gathered by the front door.

“The Uber is downstairs waiting for us. We all have our purses, phones, money?” Tasha rattled off as we each nodded. “Remember we keep an eye on each other. If someone needs to use the bathroom, we all go.” Her tone left no room for argument.

As the others started filtering out the door I stayed back with Tasha. The others wouldn’t have noticed, but I had—her hands shook slightly as she held onto her clutch.

“You okay to go? We can always stay home?” I knew that her decision to go to the club with us was a huge deal, and there was a good reason why she was so adamant we stay close to one another. Yet, it was her story to tell, not mine.

“I’m good,” Tasha said with a forced smile, but I let it slide.

“I’ll be by your side all night. I’d like to see anyone try and get through me.” I lifted my arm and flexed. Tasha laughed a little and hooked her arm with mine.

“Best bodyguard ever.” Arm in arm we walked out of my apartment, following the girls.

“Let’s go have fun.”

“Shake that ass!”Mila screamed as Tasha practically twerked on her. I threw my head back and laughed as my hips moved to the beat of the music.

The four shots of tequila I’d downed helped me relax and have fun with my friends. Sweat trickled down my back from all the dancing and bodies crowding the dance floor.

While Tasha and Mila danced together, Lydia and I grabbed hands. We kept a tight grip on each other as the crowd jostled us. Even though the club was jammed packed, I was having a blast. It’d been so long since I just let go and had fun—it was exactly what I needed.

“Shots!” Tasha yelled over to us. The other two agreed and tugged me after them.

One more shot, but that’s it. Any more than that, and I knew I’d be logging some serious time in front of the toilet.

Tasha leaned over the bar and shouted at the bartender to give us four shots. I narrowed my eyes at the way the bartender ogled her and stared right at her chest. I’d said I would be Tasha’s bodyguard, and I meant it. I gently moved Tasha back and stood in her place. It was no surprise I didn’t get the same reaction from the bartender as he slid four shots towards us.

I didn’t say a word as I grabbed them and turned my back on him to pass the shots out to our group.

“To a girl’s night out,” I shouted over the music, all four of us huddled together.

“To making new friends,” Mila added, flashing a grin. In one go, I knocked the shot of tequila back. Swallowing the burning liquid, I tried not to cough as it slid down my throat.

Damn, there’s a reason I hate tequila. No matter how many times you drink it, it still tastes like shit.

Lydia, Tasha, and Mila let out a loud ‘whoop’ and we headed back out onto the dance floor.

With the new shot in my system, I found myself grinding back against Tasha. As she laughed, I was certain she’d recalled the same memory as me. The two of us at a club, back in Uni pretending to be lovers when guys wouldn’t leave us alone.

Listening to the music I closed my eyes, my hands running through my hair. It took a second for my brain to register the new pair of hands at my hips. Hands that were larger than Tasha’s and tugging me backwards. My eyes opened and my head snapped to the side to see a random guy grinding against my ass, his hands gripping my hips tightly.

I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, disgusted by his touch. Sure, it's a club and dancing with strangers isn’t new to me, but I wasn’t here for that. I had a boyfriend, and I was there with my girlfriends.

“Not interested,” I yelled over my shoulders, wiggling out of his hold but his grip was firm. I think he was drunk and mistook my getting away as me wiggling my ass back against him. He ground against me harder, and I clenched my teeth.

Now angry, I jerked my entire body away and stomped my heel on his foot. This time he let me go with a yelp. I spun around and glared at him. “I said I’m not interested.”

“Then why were you grinding against me? You want it.” He advanced forward but the glare on my face seemed to stop him in his tracks. When I wanted, I could have the biggest resting bitch face known to man.

“Go find another girl to grind against.”

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