Page 211 of Steeling Her
TJ toasts his glass with mine. I know both our drinks are free from alcohol. He has the same one in his hand while Haley holds a martini glass in hers. She sips on it, enjoying herself and the atmosphere that surrounds all of us. The heavy bass coming from the vibrating speakers hovers around us. Gyrating bodies sway back and forth to the beat with a few hands in the air as people are taken to another dimension while they feel the music. They let it sink into their pores and drink it up just as fast as the cocktails they have in their hands.
People are enjoying this.
They are so engrossed in the vibe of the club, and the strobe lights are adding to the effect. I used to enjoy this, but now, it’s become the one place where I get bothered the most.
“Excuse me.” I feel a finger tap my shoulder. I sigh to myself and shut my eyes before turning around to prepare my ‘I’m not interested’ speech.
I’m met with a pair of green eyes that stare back at me. Red hair and freckles dot across her nose. “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested,” I explain bluntly and watch her eyes widen in shock, then she smiles.
“Good to know, but I bat for the other team.” She chuckles and I almost choke on my drink.
“I’m so sorry—”
“Don’t be, it’s cool. I was just going to ask if you wouldn’t mind stepping off my bag strap? Your standing on it and I need to leave.” She points down to my foot. I quickly move it out of her way and apologize again.
“I’m sorry. Here, let me buy you a drink as a repayment for me being . . .”
“A dick?” she asks with a huge grin. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary. Like I said, I was just heading out now.” She nods to the door and just as I look towards it, I feel my breath get taken away again.
Carter enters in a pink top and black leather pants paired with heels. Her brown hair runs past her shoulders in long waves, framing her beautiful face as she enters with her arms fidgeting in front of her.
She hasn’t changed a bit.
“My God,” I whisper at the sight of her. She still acts the same when she’s nervous. Still beautiful as—shit. Ted enters not too far behind her, slipping his slimy arm around her waist. I notice it because it was an action that was only for me to see and was paired with a smug smirk on his face. A real “fuck you” to me.
“Go get her.” The stranger winks at me as she lifts her bag from the floor. “If you won’t, I will.” She chuckles before waving to me as she leaves. I couldn’t help but laugh at the joke as I shake my head. While I’m still smiling, I make eye contact with Carter before she turns on her heel and watches the girl leave. Swiftly, she rotates her body around and greets everyone with hugs. Until she gets to me.
“Hi, Nick.” All I get is a small wave.
“Hey, Carter . . .” I greet her back when she finally gives me her attention. All it took was for me to say her name and I would say it over and over again just to have her look at me like that for eternity.
“Nick.” I sigh when I hear his sick voice, the taunting tone of her boyfriend as he greets me. To be honest, I forgot he was even here for a second; it was pure bliss. Then he made himself known and it all came crashing down.
I grunt as a response and chug back the contents of the liquid in the glass. Now, I wish it was a proper beverage with alcohol in it.
“Okay, so, we’re going to get more drinks.” My sister ushers Carter and Danielle down to a gap in the bar. I wanted to grab her by the hair and yank her back.
“You already have one!” I tell her and point at the martini in her hand.
“I need another!” she hollers back and smirks as she drifts with the two girls into the crowd. I send her a scornful look for moving Carter away from me.
“Just leave them to it, Nick.” TJ begins to laugh and I turn my focus back to my teammates and the village idiot, I mean, Ted. “She’ll be back shortly,” he assures me. He knows that I was only wondering if one person in particular would return to me.
And not just for tonight.
He nods curtly, speaking a language only the two of us understand. It’s been this way since we were kids.
“Mr. and Mrs. Steel!” TJ flicks his eyes to the two people over my shoulder. I greet both of them along with the others, but I begin to smile at the tense state Ted is in with his girlfriend’s father in attendance. At least I have one up on him on this.
I play football and her dad is a coach.
Ted hates football and her dad hates Ted.
Simple math, even if Rodger won’t say it out loud.
“How are you?” TJ asks as Chris kisses his mother’s cheek.
“We’re good, TJ. How are you? The aches and pains aren’t too bad, are they?” Elaine chuckles as she reaches for her husband’s hand once more.
