Page 71 of Shattered Rhythm

It looks so sexy, and I’m not the only one staring. A little circle has formed around them of people watching in fascination. Liv is now swaying her hips seductively against his front, her back pressed against his chest, his hand is resting on her stomach. If I were him, I would be sporting a massive boner at this point.

“Fuck, I think I got wet just from watching that. She must be fire in bed,” Chris tells me, and Gunner’s words are echoing in my head.‘At least I’m the only friend she has who’s not trying to get into her pants.’I grimace.

We continue to watch them, and I can’t believe how such a big and bulky guy can dance so well, but he has moves and matches Liv step for step. When the song finally ends, Gunner takes Liv’s thigh up to his waist and lets her head fall back, his nose nuzzling her throat before he moves up to her ear to whisper something. She laughs, and I have to physically restrain myself from reacting to what I see. Chris chuckles beside me.

“You know, you look pretty jealous for someone who said they didn’t want her,” she observes.

“Never said I didn’t want her,” I retort.

“To-may-to, to-mah-to. You could have had her, but you pushed her away. Now you have to live with the consequences, just like she does.”

Liv smiles at Gunner as she takes his hand and leads him back to the bar.

“You guys look fire together. That was so hot!” Chris exclaims, and Liv laughs.

“Right?” she agrees “Damn, Gun, I knew you had moves, but you killed it tonight!”

Gun? What a stupid nickname.

“There’s no way anyone could look bad while dancing with you,” he tells Liv as he tucks a lock of her hair back in place. I grit my teeth, feeling the jealousy boiling inside me. I look away and find Chris observing me, but she just smirks.

As the night wears on, the girls drink a lot more and go from tipsy to drunk. When Liv starts to look tired, Chris decides it’s time to head back. I make sure they get into the car safely before getting in myself. As we drive back to her apartment complex, Liv falls asleep with her head on Gunner’s shoulder, while Chris snores beside me in the passenger seat. When we arrive at her building, Gunner gently wakes Liv up and helps her out of the car. I get out myself and take her out of his arms. She leans into me, and I wrap my arm around her waist, supporting her weight.

“Mmm, Jaxon, you smell so good I want to bite you,” she mumbles, inhaling my scent.

“Let’s do that when you’re not drunk and we’re at home,” I tell her with a smile.

Gunner hears me and shoots me a glare.

He leads the way up to her apartment. It’s fucking tiny and messy too. I take off her shoes and tuck her into bed before turning off the lights and heading out, Gunner beside me, watching my every move. I close her door while he moves to the door right next to it, pulling out his keys.

Of course he lives right next to her.

“Thanks for the fun night,” he says, sarcasm lacing his tone, as he steps into his apartment and closes the door.

I walk back to the car and can’t help but feel conflicted. Being with Liv feels so right, but I can’t shake the feeling that it could all come crashing down at any moment.Can I risk it all for her?

Chris is still asleep in the passenger seat as I drive her home, listening to the radio playing quietly while trying to sort out my thoughts.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Olivia

I’ve decided that I need a change, a fresh start. If I continue living like this, I’ll never be able to get over what happened as it’ll always be held against me or shoved in my face. I’ll always be recognized and shunned, and I feel so alone. I don’t want to live like this anymore.

I need a change, or I won’t make it out of this alive.So I came up with a plan. I’m going to start a new life in Florida and study dance at FAU. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I hope it will help me heal.Frank is my only hope to get everything sorted out quickly enough to make it over there in time for the start of the fall semester. I know from our time together when he was my manager that he has connections and can make things happen. I want to legally change my name and need new papers. I also need a student visa and help enrolling last minute.

I knock on Frank’s door, and he invites me in.

“Hey, Olivia. Nice to see you, honey. How are you?” he asks in a gentle tone.

“I’m doing okay, thanks. I hope you are too?” I reply.

“Of course, of course,” he says.

“Did you get it?” I ask, getting straight to the point. Frank nods thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

“Yes, but as I told you, it wasn’t cheap on such short notice.”

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