Page 40 of Loving the Sinner
“Love you, Els.” I hear her sniffle.
“Love you, Iz.” And then she hangs up.
Gently wiping my eyes to make sure my makeup doesn’t run, I make my way back into the club. Sav and Robin immediately wrap me in a hug when I get back, no explanation needed.
“No sadness tonight! More drinks!” I declare, slapping my hand on the table before downing my gin and tonic in one go. The tonic water tickles my nose, and the gin burns going down, but I feel even floatier now.
A cute guy, I think his name is Brad? I don’t know. He’s tall and muscular and blonde and smells like alcohol, but he asked me to dance, and I said yes, determined not to think about Wes. Right as I’m about to walk away after our dance, he grabs my hips and pulls me against him. He leans in to whisper in my ear, and his hot breath makes me shiver, and not in a good way.
“Let’s go to a dark corner, yeah? Maybe you can show me what’s underneath this tight little skirt.”
I shove him back, “Fuck off.”
He grabs my wrist before I can get far enough away pushing my hand into his erection, “Don’t be a cocktease. C’mon. I can make you feel so good.”
I don’t think too much before I knee him in the crotch and shove him back into the crowd of people on the dance floor. I make a beeline for Robin and Sav to tell them what happened, and that I’m ready to leave.
Chapter 17
Wes
“What’s up Robs?” I can hear the pulsing music from the club, and I’m already grabbing my keys because I know she’s going to ask me to come get her.
“You need to come to Midnight Luxuries and get Elli. She hasn’t stopped talking about you all night, and there’s a beefy gym bro who won’t take his hands off of her and I think she would rather be comforted by you than by us or Drew.” She sounds surprisingly sober, which is unusual when she goes out, so I know she’s being serious.
My heart flutters hearing Elli hasn’t stopped talking about me, and then a white hot rage fills me when I remember some asshole has his meaty paws on my girl. I mean Elli.
The fifteen minute drive to the club feels like hours, and as soon as I park at the curb, I see Robs and Sav huddled around Elli outside on a bench.
Elli sees me first and smiles so big her eyes crinkle in the corners. “Wes!” She stands and wraps her arms around my waist. “I had alcohol.”
I tentatively wrap my arms around her shoulders, “I can tell. I heard some gym bro tried to get handsy with you.”
She leans back so I can see her face. “Yeah, he smelled gross and was really sweaty,” she scrunches her nose, “but I kneed him in the balls.”
I can’t help but chuckle, “Atta girl. C’mon let’s get you home.” I resist the urge to kiss her forehead.
“What about Robs and Sav?”
“Drew just got here, he’ll make sure they get home safely.”
She hums some type of acknowledgment, but doesn’t let go of my waist. I finally break free, but keep my arm around her back to help guide her to the car.
The car ride to her apartment is quiet, and at first I think she’s asleep, but when I turn to check on her, she’s staring at me half-lidded and sleepy. I don’t want to say anything, not that I would know what to say, because I don’t trust that I’ll be able to keep my feelings in if I start talking, and I definitely don’t want her to be drunk when we talk about that.
Once inside her apartment, I tell her to go change while I set out to get her some type of painkiller and water. I rifle through the kitchen cabinets and find a bottle of Advil, and then I hear a groan coming from the direction of her room.
Then, “Weeeees. Help meeeee.”
I take the glass of water and the Advil with me, and I don’t know what I’m expecting to find, but it’s definitelynot Elli tangled up in her shirt. She already has her skirt off, so she’s just in a pair of panties.
“Whatcha doin’ Elli?” I lean up against the doorframe, trying not to laugh or stare at her bare thighs.
Elli stomps her foot like a toddler throwing a tantrum and grumbles, “I can’t get my shirt off. It’s too confusing. Help me, please?”
“Alright.” I set the water and Advil on her nightstand and go stand behind her, feeling a sense of de javu. This shirt is confusing, but I figure if I pull the big knot in the back, I can unwrap her, like a present. Pushingthattrain of thought out of my head, I succeed in getting the strappy piece of fabric undone.
I assume Elli’s going to hold it to her chest until I’m out of the room, but she lets the fabric fall to the ground. I swallow thickly, looking around the room at literally anything other than Elli in only panties. I hear her dresser open and shut, and when she comes back into view she has on the shortest shorts known to man, and a tank top.
