Kira just shakes her head, looking guilty.
Quinn stomps off, and Anna hops off Domhn’s lap to follow her. I jump up, too. No sex for me tonight, but who cares? I’m trying this friendship gig, right?
At the bar, I lean on a stool while Quinn orders a round of shots.
“Maybe we should all go bar-hopping together. Just us girls,” I suggest, buzzing with the idea of this whole girl bonding thing.
Kira pops up beside me. “Or we could have a night in and do mani-pedis.”
I stick my finger in my mouth and fake gag. “Barf. Who’s gonna fuck me in the bathroom during mani-pedi night?”
Kira laughs like I’m joking. I just stare at her, head tilted. Bitch is literally wearing a cardigan to a sex club. It’s like she grew up in a two-parent household or some shit.
Then she waves a fluttering hand. “I mean, I can’t anyway until this stalker thing calms down.”
I pat her awkwardly on the shoulder. Am I…comforting someone? “I trust Isaak. He’ll keep you safe.”
Quinn slides shots into our hands. “Slippery nipple. Bottoms up.”
I slam mine back, enjoying the warm burn. “Aye!”
Quinn and Anna do the same, and finally,finally, Kira downs hers, only to start coughing and sputtering like she just swallowed pure lava.
I laugh so hard that I nearly fall off my stool.Now this—this is what I needed.
Maybe I don’t need my brother’s approval. Maybe I don’t need the past to stop hurting. Maybe I just need…this.
Then I shake my head.
Nah.
“Shut up, shut up!” Quinn hisses, waving her next shot in the air. “Jinx and Gemini are on stage. I want to support them.”
I look up to see Jinx bending Gemini over a spanking bench, a wicked-looking leather whip in hand.
“Jesus,” I whisper.
“I know,” Quinn breathes, eyes glinting as she hurries back toward the lounge.
Kira follows her, and I’m about to when Anna suddenly grabs my forearm.
I look at her questioningly, but she just keeps tugging on my arm as she nods toward a hallway, quickly glancing back at Domhnall. I do, too. His attention is momentarily taken by what’s happening on stage, so Anna tugs me even more urgently until I turn back and follow her out of the main room.
“What’s up?” I ask.
Anna just shakes out her shoulders and her hair like she’s shuddering. “Fuck, it’s exhausting when I pretend to be her. She’s such a fucking Pollyanna.”
My eyes widen. “Mads?”
Oh, yay, I love it when Mads pops out. I like Mads. Mads is fun.
She nods as she breathes and slouches against the wall, eyes sliding my way. “Hey. Missed you, kid.”
A million questions clog my throat, all of them fighting to be first. What manages to stumble out is, “How come you’re here?”
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a joint, rolling her shoulders as she lights up.
I laugh in surprise. “You can’t smoke in here!”