Page 37 of Stick Handled

He glances over at Sarah with a not-so-subtle look of gratitude.

“Have fun and stay safe.” He reaches out to give me a quick hug and a kiss on the head. “And drink plenty of water. And no boys,” he calls out as I walk past him. “No, I mean you can talk to them, but—” He pauses, his eyebrows sinking. “Just… do you want me to come with you?” he finally asks, turning his whole body toward us.

“Rowan, I’ll be fine,” I say, my hand resting on the handle. And I actually mean it. It finally feels like I’m not going to implode once I step out of my comfort zone.

The club is packed, filled with a pulsing energy that thrums through my body the moment I step inside. The low, sultry beat of the music mingles with people shouting and singing. I glance around, trying to take it all in, but the dizzying array of lights and people swirling around makes it feel almost dreamlike.

Sarah grabs my hand, pulling me close so I can hear her over the music.

“Isn’t this fun?” She beams, looking like she was born to be here—confident and at ease, her eyes already scanning the room with excitement.

I nod, even though my insides are fluttering.

“It’s a lot,” I admit, trying to sound as casual as possible.

She laughs, giving me a quick squeeze. “Just relax! Have fun! We’re here to dance and enjoy ourselves.”

Her words echo in my head as we weave through the crowd toward the bar. Around us, people are swaying and moving to the beat, their bodies pressed close, laughter and shouts punctuating the music. Some are dancing as if they don’t have a care in the world, eyes closed, grinning. I try to picture myself letting go like that, just melting into the moment, but the thought alone feels so foreign.

Sarah turns to me as she orders two drinks. “Tonight’s all about forgetting your worries, okay?” she says with a wink, passing me a glass.

“What is this?” I shout over the music and take a sniff.

“Liquid courage,” she replies, dinging her glass to mine.

I raise it with a small smile, even though my nerves make my hand tremble just slightly. The drink is sweet with a hint of something stronger, warming me from the inside out. I take a few more sips, trying to ignore how out of place I feel, forcing myself to take in the vibrant, infectious energy around me.

Sarah pulls me onto the dancefloor, her laughter ringing out as she starts moving, carefree and radiant. I try to keep up, but I can’t shake the feeling that everyone around us can somehow tell I don’t belong here. I glance at Sarah, admiring the ease with which she moves, and I give myself a silent pep talk.

Just have fun, Avery. No one’s watching you.

With another sip, I sway to the music, closing my eyes for just a second to let myself feel the beat. It’s different than anything I’m used to, the noise, the press of bodies around me, but slowly, I start to relax, letting the drink and music loosen my limbs.

Another drink and almost an hour later, just as I start feeling a tiny bit more at ease, I hear a familiar voice over my shoulder.

“Avery?”

I turn, startled, to see the blond guy… What was his name?

“Jake,” he answered my unvoiced question.

“Oh, hi.” I give him a small smile as he stands there, a faint smirk on his face as he looks me over. He’s dressed a little differently tonight in a fitted beige shirt that clings to his broad shoulders.

“You didn’t call me,” he leans in to shout in my ear. “Yet, here you are.”

“I lost the card,” I lie and glance over at Sarah, who’s watching me with an excited smile.

“I thought clubs weren’t your thing.” He leans closer so I can hear him, his eyes lingering on me a little too long, making me feel a bit self-conscious.

“They’re not, really,” I admit, glancing down for a moment. “My friend convinced me to come.”

“Good friend.” He laughs, his eyes trailing over me in a way that sends a weird prickling sensation down my spine. “Glad she did. You look incredible tonight.”

“Thanks.” My voice comes out quieter than intended.

“We’re at the VIP booth upstairs.” He points at the second floor, which I’m just now noticing. “Wanna get your friend and come join us?”

“Oh, I… that’s fine.” I shake my head and take a step back, trying to create some distance.

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