Page 14 of From Us, Forever

“Girls, run! Now!” Gabe screeched, tugging us toward the exit. It was only then we saw two big bouncers heading toward us.

We squeezed through the masses of bodies, our thundering hearts matching the beat of the music and sweat gliding down our backs as we ran toward the exit.

I turned to look behind me, and the two men were still chasing us, screaming for us to stop.

“The back exit, now.” Katy’s eyes were frantic as she led us through the crowd and to a hallway that was thankfully empty other than the few people making out.

“Fuck, do you think we lost them?” Lily wheezed, her face red as she leaned over, clutching her knees.

“Nope, I don’t think so.” Gabe’s eyes widened as he looked behind us.

“Hey! Stop. Get back here,” shouted the bouncer, his face fixed in an angry frown as he weaved through the crowd. Fuck, he was closing in on us.

“Guys, through here.” Katy’s face was etched withalarm as she pointed atadoor atthe end of the hallway.

I grasped Lily’s hand, and we rushed through the door. A blast of cold NYC wind slapped our faces, but we didn’t have any time to waste.

“Girls, now really run,” Gabe shouted, dashing off toward the streets.

We ran like fools without looking back while the two men chased after us. But we didn’t spare a second as our feetpounded on the sidewalk. I couldn’t even feel the pain in my knees as I tried my best to keep up with everyone.

It felt like we’d been running for hours when we slowed down and darted into a quiet alley, dropping like a heap on the ground.

My lungs were flaming, and every breath burned like I was inhaling fire. Lily collapsed by my side, her head on my shoulder as she hyperventilated. I rubbed her back in soft circles while she caught her breath.

“Okay, thegood news is that they are not chasing us anymore,” Gabe announced, peeking out at the alley, breathing hard. “The bad news is I have no idea where we are.”

Katy’s wide eyes volleyed between us. A moment of silence passed before we all laughed so hard that whatever air we forced into our lungs went right back out.

“That’s the most fun I’ve had in a while,” Katy spewed through her laughter.

“Me too,” Gabe replied, his eyes gleaming under the street lights.

After giggling like fools, it took us a while to retrieve our bodies off the ground. My heart was light when we trudged out of that empty alley. Somehow, it felt like my haunting memories of alleyways were erased and replaced by this moment right here. The happy glow on my friends’ faces and the rush of the feeling, maybe it was all coming full circle.

“Let’s get the night started, bitches.” Gabe wiggled his brow, his hand gesturing to the neon light right out the alley that said Cherry’s Cat—a hole-in-the-wall, dingy dive bar.

We ended up spending a couple more hours in Cherry’s Cat, drinking our body weight of alcohol while we talked about anything and everything.

Though the journey was hard, I was indeed lucky after all.

Maybe the universe was still rooting for me.

“Jay!” I collapsed into his arms when he opened the door later that night. “I AM DRUNK!” I yelled in his ear.

“Fuck,” he muttered, holding my rolling head in place. “That you clearly are.”

“Lily?” he questioned someone behind me.

I frowned, twisting behind me to see a tall figure casting a shadow on the doorway.

“She’s with Ms. Evans, sir. Mr. Gabriel is also home,” said the figure.

“Thanks, Tyler,” Jay replied.

Ah, that’s who it was.“Tyler,” I shrieked. “When did you get here?”

Jay shook his head, closing the door behind us.

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