Page 6 of Beautiful Storm

“Right?” She bites her lip as he wraps his arms around her, waving me off when I walk away. I may need a breather, but that doesn’t mean I have to ruin her fun.

The line for the bathroom is relatively short, but it gives me enough time to think, and…What the hell am I doing?Thinking is my problem. It’s a one-night stand, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’tbe thinking; I should be living in the moment. Enjoying myself and letting the night flow. So what if he’s faking it? As long as he gives me a very real orgasm and helps me get over my reluctance to get back out there, why should I care?

Mind made up, I fix my hair and stand tall, ready to lose my mind and have fun. After straightening out my dress,again, I confidently stride back to the main room, ready to make a move.

It’s my time. I deserve this.

I’ve just reached the dance floor, my eyes searching the sweaty masses, when I’m spun around and a familiar body blocks my view.

Luke.

“Ugh.” I don’t bother to hide my groan.

“You dodged a bullet,” he says, his gaze drifting over my shoulder as he smirks.

“What do you want, Luke?”For over ten years I’ve managed to avoid him and now…

“I’m saving you from humiliation.”

Stepping back, I fold my arms over my chest and pop my hip, smiling when Luke’s eyes flash to my cleavage. “Eyes are up here, asshole.”

“You know what,Joy? Dance away. As you were.” He spins me back around before I have the chance to outwardly react to my nickname. God, I hate that name. He started calling me that when our friendship first began to crumble, reminding me that of all the students at our school, he alone knew me intimately. I despised my middle name—Joy—preferring to call myself Amelia J, and he used that against me. He said it was fitting, since I was such ajoyto be around.

As a twelve-year-old, the sarcasm still dripped from his words.

I shiver when he moves to stand beside me, his hands barely touching my arms as he repositions me, putting Chase directlyin our line of sight. And he’s sucking face with someone new.Great.

I smile like it’s no big deal. There’s no one to blame but myself. I may have told him I’d be back, but I know my expression screamed “you blew it, buddy.”

“Oh well.” I step out of Luke’s grasp. “You win some, you lose some.” I shrug when in reality…I am not cut out for this.

“Told you,” Luke gloats, his smug expression boring into the side of my face.

My smile widens while I mentally flip him off, imagining myself slamming the heel of my stiletto down onto his foot. Then, satisfied with that visual, I walk away, beelining to the bar to buy myself some time.

But of course, Luke follows behind me, never one to let something go.

“Go away, Luke,” I call out over my shoulder, hoping he can hear me over the noise. “I’ve had enough of douchebag strangers for one night.”

“So we’re strangers now?” he rasps into my ear, making me jump as his breath warms my skin, with himmuchcloser than I thought he was.

“We haven’t seen each other inyears,” I say without turning around, refusing to give him any more than I have to. “And we haven’t spoken for longer than that. So yes, I would consider you a stranger.”

I keep walking, as if I don’t know him, but he doesn’t take the hint, and when I reach the bar, he settles in beside me, casually resting his elbows on the counter. His biceps bulge and my stupid traitorous eyes flash to the strained muscles, noting the hint of a tattoo peeking out from below his rolled-up shirtsleeve. My heart races, and for some messed-up reason that can only be explained by a complete lapse in my sanity or maybe alcohol, Ipicture him pressing me against a wall as I squeeze my legs shut, silently cursing Hayley for putting the idea in my head.

“But I tried to help you,” Luke responds with a raised eyebrow, as if he knowsexactlywhat I’m thinking, and I hate that he usually does. At least, he used to.

“Oh please.” I huff, keeping my cool. “You wanted to be there to witness my embarrassment. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’mfine. I don’tneedanyone’s help. Especially yours.”

“Yeah. You made that clear,” he snaps out of nowhere, startling me.

“What?” I shake my head before I continue. I’m supposed to be ignoring him. True, that’s harder with the sudden venom in his tone, but still, I need to try. I can’t let him get to me again.

The server comes over, and I use that as my excuse to turn away. “I’ll take a cider, please,” I say with a warm smile. “Whatever you have closest to you.”

He reaches below the bar and grabs me a bottle from Australia, making me giggle, before handing over the card reader and smiling. The second I’ve paid, I turn to walk away, preemptively readying myself to give Luke one last scowl.

But he’s gone. He disappeared without a trace. And I’m alone. Just like I wanted.

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