Page 77 of The Lessons

At one point, I spotted Paulina dancing on a table with a ring of men cheering her on. I had to admit, I was slightly envious of her ability to let loose, but I summoned the bartender for another shot and went back to dancing by myself. I was happy doing just that when a man came up behind me and pressed himself against me, pulling my hips into his.

“Uh, hey,” I said, turning around. He was tall, huge really, with bleached blond hair and a leather choker.

“Hey,” he said, his voice barely audible above the music.

I tried to push his hands off. “I’m dancing by myself.”

“What?” he asked again, cupping his hand around his ear.

I made an ‘x’ with my hands. “No dance!”

He finally got the point and shrugged off without saying another word, dancing into the crowd in search of another bump-and-grind mate.

I shook my head and made my way toward the main entrance. I needed a breather.

Outside, the sidewalk was crowded with men waiting to get inside, all dressed in various degrees of club wear.

Genius that I was, I’d worn heels, and my feet were throbbing, so I sat down on the curb and I pulled out my cell phone to check the time.

On the screen were three missed calls and four texts from Ryan.

My heart froze. I debated whether or not to read on, but finally curiosity got the best of me.

Natalie, please call me. We need to discuss this.

Why aren’t you answering your phone?

Please call me when you get this.

Hello?

I sighed. The tequila had served both to dull my anger at him and to increase my openness for confrontation. He wanted to talk? Then we’d talk. I hit the call button as I took my feet out of my heels and rested them on top of my shoes.

“Natalie, thank God.” He answered before I’d even had a chance to hear the phone ring. “Why weren’t you picking up? Are you okay? You seemed really upset when you left.”

I snorted as an ambulance rushed by with its siren on. “Why do you care? What is it, Andrews? What do you want?”

“Wait. Where are you? Did I just hear a siren?”

“Why do you care where I am?” I scoffed, looking behind me at the crowd surrounding the entrance to the club.

“What are you doing out? It’s almost two in the morning. Where are you?”

“I’m at a club with a friend if youmustknow. I do have a life outside you, Ryan. What did you think? That I’d be sitting home, waiting for you to call?” Man, I was being a real asshole, but he deserved it.

Ryan

I looked down at my watch again. “Natalie, the clubs are all closing in ten minutes. How are you getting home?”

“Taxi, genius,” she slurred.

Oh, boy, she was really fucking drunk. The thought of her out there inebriated and vulnerable made me— Well, it made me sick.

“I’m going to come pick you up. Where are you?”

“You’re going to come pick me up on your motorcycle?”

“How’d you know I have a motorcycle?”

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