Page 63 of Prove You Wrong

And tonight … he’s made me curious about a path I had always thought was off the cards for me, something more. But here, seeing him in his element like this, it’s like I’m flying too close to the sun. I’m nervous.

I slide into the empty booth with Nate following closely behind me. His eyes burn with an intensity; like his gaze alone might devour me.

His hand traces up my arm, leaving a trail of fiery tingles. He loops his fingers into my hair, a move I’ve come to recognise, to crave. He pulls me in for a kiss, possessive yet somehow restrained.

Slowly, he pulls away. ‘Damn, your lips do things to me.’

They’d like to. I don’t say it aloud, settling for grasping his collar and drawing his mouth to mine again.

Nate lifts me onto his lap and resumes his work, kissing and sucking, nibbling my bottom lip while his hands roam over my silky top. My concerns from moments before entirely forgotten.

His fingers play with the lace on my camisole before slipping up inside it.

‘I’m a big fan of your … wardrobe change,’ he growls, his lips against the skin of my neck.

‘Didn’t want to look out of place,’ I reply, breathless.

‘You look perfect.’ His thumb grazes over my nipple and I gasp, clenching my thighs together, as his hands slide down to encircle my waist.

It’s my turn to pull away a little. ‘As much as I lovetalkinglike this with you … ’ I touch my forehead to his, not really wanting to break us apart. ‘We might end up like Angel and that guy if we’re not careful.’

Nate’s face darkens and he gently releases me. I slide off, onto the bench next to him, and take a sip of my drink. We take in the pulsating mob on the dance floor, writhing, moving almost like one living organism.

‘This place is epic.’ My eyes widen as I take it all in. ‘Can’t believe I’ve never been.’

‘They don’t do cocktails.’ He quirks a smile.

‘Look.’ I nod in the direction of the stage. Some machines are blasting out fake, eerie smoke and four figures are returning to their instruments.

‘Band’s coming back on. You want to do some more dancing?’ His fingers stroke over the silk of my top again, hypnotising.

‘I’m not going to say no to that.’ I bite my lip, hesitant to say the next sentence. Reluctant to leave. ‘But I need to head to the ladies. Please watch my drink.’

Nate

Ella walks off, getting swallowed into the very club where I used to come to lose myself. Her butt swivels sexily and already I miss her. I want her back here where I can touch her. Smell her. See her pupils dilate.

Perhaps coming here was a stupid idea.

The bistro wasn’t really me, and, although she enjoyed it, I don’t think it was Ella either. Swept along with the night, I didn't think this through. I thought she’d like the retro rock music and I figured dancing might be a good way to get her more relaxed, before I roll out the rest of my plan to show her she can trust me.

Admittedly, the bonus of being close to her swayed me, too.

I peel at the corner of the label on my bottle and consider maybe we should have gone somewhere else.

Since I started sorting my life out, I haven’t had the compulsion to come back here. This is somewhere the old me would come to get drunk and fuck around. Careful fucking around, but fucking around nonetheless.

My eyes flick to the crew at the bar. Fake friends. I'm so fucking lucky to have my brother and Chunk. These old drinking buddies are pretty much strangers, and an unwanted reminder of my past. Not that I’m trying to keep my past a secret, but I’m not especially proud of the things I used to get up to. I know now that I’m not the bad guy Ella has me pegged for, but the old me was. That guy was a dick.

A heartbroken dick with his confidence in his boots. The shit I used to pull … feeling I didn’t deserve either love or respect, so I didn’t give them either. I didn’t give a shit, full stop. I’d numbed myself.

I puff out my cheeks, forcing an exhale as I think of the hell I put Chunk and Scott through worrying where I was, what the fuck I was doing. They got me out of my pit of despair, them and my bike buddies helped me start seeing my worth; to have a modicum of self-respect …

A tap on the arm pulls me out of my reverie and I glance up to see a familiar but unexpected face.

‘Dee?’

Dee giggles, her giant blonde hair-do askew. ‘Itisyou.’ She hiccups and half staggers.

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