Page 63 of Grand Love

She scoffs. “Seriously, Mason, I just want to enjoy the evening. I don’t want to stand around and listen to you run me into the ground, but thanks for the thought. Here.” She passes me a shot. “Bottoms up, asshole!”

She tilts her head back and swallows the clear liquid down. A small drop leaks from her mouth and runs down her chin and throat. Her hand comes up to wipe her chin, then she looks at my shot. “You have a nice night.” She clashes her empty glass with mine, sending the contents everywhere and all over my hand.

“Cheers,” I mutter, drinking down the remnants of the shot. I watch as she takes her drinks and leaves, her hips swaying with each step she takes.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t missed her fire.

* * *

The girls have beenon and off dancing all night, and they are nowhere to be seen when I spot Lucy making her way through the club. I check my watch and notice it’s still early. Catching Elliot’s eye, I nod my head in her direction. Their eyes meet across the room and Elliot stands. “Alright Luce?” he asks her as she reaches the table.

“Where’s Nina?” she asks, looking past Elliot at me.

I shrug.

Elliot leans in and whispers something in her ear that I can’t hear. She shakes her head, looking close to tears.

Sensing she needs a female, I go to the dance floor and search for Nina, spotting her on a podium wedged between Scarlet and Megan. Shaking my head, I step up to them and tap her leg.

“Fuck off!” She waves me off, smiling down at me. “I’m having fun and you’re ruining it.” She wobbles on her heels and starts to fall backwards grabbing on to the girls. They laugh amongst themselves as if it’s the funniest thing in the world.

“You’re going to have to get her down,” the bouncer tells me, pointing up at Nina.

“Come on.” I grab her at the waist and throw her over my shoulder, knowing it’s the only way to get her off the podium.

“Mason!” she shouts, her fist meeting my back once in annoyance.

I slide her down my body when we reach the side of the dance floor, my hands keeping her steady as she finds her feet again.

She glances up at me through her lashes with a look in her eye that I can’t quite decipher.

“Lucy just got here. Something’s up,” I tell her on autopilot, still stuck in our trance.

She blinks, snapping out of it as she looks off to the far side of the room where the boys are seated. Just as she goes to step away from me, I pull her back.

Her hand grips my bicep and I flex involuntary—maybe. Arousal sparks in her eyes and I watch as she fights with herself, her gaze flicking all over my face. “Not now,” she tells me.

* * *

Nina

I’m drunk.

Beyond drunk. But I feel fantastic. That is, until Mason pulls me from the dance floor and tells me Lucy’s here, seducing me with his damn face.

Brushing him off and taking some deep breaths, I make my way to our table, finding Lucy sitting across Elliot’s lap. I spy his hand resting across her legs, and my gaze tightens on them. Elliot is whispering something in her ear, and she is very clearly hanging off his every word.

“Luce,” I shout over the music. “You okay?”

She nods her head, giving me a sad smile. I frown, wondering what could have happened with Miller. It’s early, still. Something isn’t right, and the fact she is sitting on Elliot’s lap says a lot.

“Nina.” Lance taps my shoulder, handing me a drink.

“Thanks.”

“How many’s that?” Mason asks loudly in my ear.

I lean away from him, looking up into his dark eyes. “None of your business.”

---