Page 6 of When love and Hate Collide

When I walk outside, I see my boys, Kaleb, Joe and Alex already parked up in an electric blue BMW M3 series right in front of my house, the music thundering through the speakers. They all cheer and hoot when they see me. “Shut the fuck up, you bell ends.” I laugh opening the door and sliding into the backseat.

“Lieutenant,” They all salute pressing their hands to their temples, grinning like a bunch of morons. “Fuck, Kaleb turn the car around. I’m going to need to go home and change, because I’m not pulling shit tonight with this fucker standing near me.” Joe states jabbing his thumb in my direction.

The boys and I laugh, “Oh please, as if you were going to pull anyway. I’ve told you this many times brother, it doesn’t matter what you look like as long as you’ve got the gift of the gab, unfortunately for you though my friend, you happen to fall short in that department as well.” I express light-heartedlyand Joe punches my shoulder playfully.

“Ahh, it’s good to have you back bro, you’ve been missed.” He cackles.

I sigh and nod, “It’s good to be back.”

Later that night,Ashlyn, myself and a few other girls rock up to Azure, the hottest club in central London. There’s a line around the corner of people waiting to get in. Thankfully our friend Hailee has connections and got our names on the list. As I approach the entrance, I can feel the bass of the music inside vibrating through the floor under me. I had my doubts as we pulled up to the place because looking at the outside the club it looks like an old-fashioned Victorian style building, but once we step inside it’s deceptively big and chic. The dance floor is filled with people grinding heatedly with one another.

The girls and I make our way over to the bar and ordered the first rounds of tequila shots before finding an empty table where we sat down and caught up with what’s been happening back home in Ashlyn and my absence.

An hour and a half in, three of the girls are on the dance floor dancing with a few guys they met. Ashlyn hooked up with a gorgeous blond guy and has disappeared with him to do God only knows what somewhere in the club.

An hour of dancing with random guys left me more than a little worn-out and my feet throbbing unpleasantly in the five-inch heels I’m wearing. “I’m going to go to the bathroom!” I shout to my dance partner over the music when his hands begin to wander under the white lace crop top I’m wearing. After I manage to use the bathroom, I push my way through the crowd toward the bar to get myself another drink. My throat felt so dry it was beginning to hurt each time I tried to swallow.

It took about five unsuccessful attempts to get the barman’s attention to order myself a vodka red bull, but that first sip felt like heaven as the cool liquid washes down my throat. While I’m swaying to the music thundering through the speakers from where I’m sat at the bar, I gingerly sip on my drink people watching when my eye caught three guys walking over to the bar, each one as good-looking as the other. One of them notices me looking in their direction and quickly narrows in on me like a fly on hot shit.

Oh great.

I watch as he approaches me smiling handsomely. He’s definitely a bit of me, so handsome my heart did a little flutter. That was until he opened his mouth, of course. “Hey there, baby. Here’s ten pence,” he drawls and drops a coin on the bar and pushes it toward me. “Call your mother and tell her you’re not coming home tonight.” He finishes, his dark chocolate eyes gazing lustfully into my green ones.

Oh, good God, is this guy for real?

I stare at him blankly for the longest moment, and I tried, I really did, but I couldn’t contain the bubble of laughter that erupts from within me.

As attractive as he appeared to me a few seconds ago, he gave me the ick just as quick.

I force myself to stop laughing and look him in the eyes, “I’ll tell you what, darling. Keep your money and buy yourself some new pick-up lines because I’m sure that’s the line my dad used to pick up my mum,” I sneer with a chuckle.

His dark brow arches and he promptly turns his attention to another girl standing at the bar—who also laughs and walks off. Shaking my head amusedly, I peer into my drink, stirring the ice with the swizzle stick when I felt someone sidle up beside me. The woody and spicy notes of his aftershave surround me, momentarily scrambling my inebriated senses. I feel a pair of eyes on me, and it sent a mass of tingles cascading down my spine.

Well, that’s new.

Despite the delicious scent of the guy standing beside me, I speak without bothering to lift my gaze from my glass as I speak, “If you’re here to sprout unoriginal and tasteless pick-up lines you can save your breath and follow your little friend.” I say jadedly.

“Actually,” My ears perk at the sound of his deep mellifluous voice. “I was going to apologize on behalf of my friend,” he finishes with a drawl instantly gaining my interest. “He’s had more to drink than he’s equipped to handle and unfortunately vodka tends to amplify the idiot in him when he’s had one too many. He meant no harm.”

I turn my head and look up at him and almost gasp. Jesus Christ, his eyes are the first thing that catches my attention and my breath. I swallow the gasp that was ready to slip out when our gazes lock. Why does he look so familiar? I see a frown appear on his face for a split second, almost as if he’s a little taken back but it vanishes too quickly for me to scrutinize. “It’s fine and no harm done.” I answer, forcing myself to return my gaze to my drink.

Lord almighty, you sure took your special time with this one.

“Have we met before?” he questions and when I look at him sharply, he starts laughing holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Not a line, I swear,” he promises, placing his hand over his heart. My gaze softens and I couldn’t fight off the urge to smile. “I feel like I’ve seen you someplace before. You seemveryfamiliar.”

Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing.

Instead of voicing my thoughts, I shrug. “I think I would remember meeting you.” I reply with a smile when he grins, flashing me his perfect set of pearly white teeth, evidently satisfied by my response.

“I was thinking the exact same thing a few minutes ago when I saw you walking to the bar. I woulddefinitelyremember meeting you.” He asserts his eyes lingering on mine for a touch too long.

Dang. My cheeks start to burn under his gaze, so I quickly veer my eyes elsewhere and shrug indifferently. “Maybe I just have one of those faces.”

“Maybe,” he agrees, shifting beside me once more and clears his throat to draw my attention back to him. “Here alone?”

I smile a little, nibbling on my straw, “Nope, out with my girlfriends.” I utter, glancing around the bar. Sure, he’s effing hot, but I don’t want to come across too keen or interested. “I just got back this afternoon for the summer.”

“Oh?” he drawls intrigued, “So you’re not a Londoner, then?” he questions his emerald eyes narrowing slightly.

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