Page 18 of Choke

The dance floor is crowded. I spot Alice dancing with another one of the guy’s girlfriends. I scan the area and spot Lex. She is leaning into a blonde woman, speaking into her ear. Nate is behind her, trying to encourage her to dance. I watch her eyes. They go from her friend to the surrounding area. She looks tense. I can tell she’s asking her friend to leave. Her friend shakes her head and leans back into Ronan.

Fucking, of course.

I consider my options. I could, and should, go to Alice, but know that’s not where I'm heading. I push through the crowd toward Lex, the blonde, Ronan, and Nate. Ronan hasn’t even noticed who’s standing in front of him. He’s fixated on the blonde, wearing practically nothing, grinding against his dick. I take in Lex’s attire as I move toward her. The dress is short, and leaning into her friend puts too much of her body on display; meaning everyone else in this club can see too much of her body.

The fire in my chest blazes hotter.

This isn’t jealousy.

I’m not jealous.

She gently grabs her friend’s hand, and when her gaze sweeps the room and lands on me, her eyes widen. She leans back to her friend, whose eyes pop open. She straightens up off Ronan, and his eyes shift from her ass up to see what has her attention—landing on me. He smiles and throws his hands in the air, pointing at the blonde and mouthing, “Oh my god.”

Nate pulls Lex back against him despite her attempts to pull away. Ronan has seen this look on my face before. He knows when I’m about to start something. His smile fades, and he follows my gaze to Nate and Lex. His expression shifts from confusion to surprise to what can only be described as,‘Oh shit.’

There is no hesitation this time.

She’s mine.

Alice is on the other side of the massive room, far enough away that I’m not worried she’ll see this. I stalk straight to Lex and Nate, my breathing rate increasing with each step, hands clenched at my sides. She’s laughing nervously as his arms wrap around her body, and I seefucking red. When I reach them, I grab her arm and rip her away from him, barely noticing the‘oof’of the guy she collides with behind me.

Nate steps forward and manages to say, “Liberty, what is your fucking probl—” Just before I swing.

There is a sickening crack as my fist hits the side of his jaw, cutting him off mid-sentence. This is not a warning shot. It’s five years of desperate frustration packed into one ruthless punch. His head snaps to the side, and blood from his nose sprays the blonde.

She immediately screams as all hell breaks loose.

Nate and I have fought before—always on the ice.

This is different.

He returns the punch and then tackles me to the grimy club floor. My fist slams into his face and ribs repeatedly. He barely lands a hit and the ones he does feel like fucking pillows. I feel a bouncer grab me, a feeble attempt to break us apart, and I slam my elbow back into his face, sending him stumbling backward. It’s only when Ronan hoists me up off the ground, his usual smile missing and pure rage in his eyes, that I see the surrounding destruction.

Nate is on the floor, covered in his own blood.

The bouncer is holding a cut that drips from his eyebrow.

Alice is sobbing in the arms of some other chick.

None of it matters.

I couldn’t care less.

It’s those stormy eyes. Her eyes blaze with intensity as she pulls her friend out of the club that has an impact.

I’m so fucking done watching her walk away from me.

Private Account

Lex

5 Years Ago

The back door of the bar swings open. Jay’s smiling face greets me, and I can’t deny the small joy it brings me. I haven’t worked with him in two weeks, and tonight is my last shift. We’re not friends, but he’s been one of the best bartenders I’ve worked with these past few months, and I’ll miss him. He pulls me into a warm hug. He already smells like the kitchen. I wrinkle my nose but return the embrace.

“I heard your last shift was coming up. Was worried we wouldn’t get to say a proper goodbye.” He says.

I push out of the hug. I’ve never been an overly touchy person. I offer a small smile.

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