“You got condoms?”

“What? I don’t –”

“I don’t want you bringing any babies in here.”

I’m tempted to tell her to go fuck herself, but the lights pulling into the driveway catch my attention. I leave without a word. The nerve of the bitch. Ron whistles in appreciation when I slide in next to him, and I forget all about Lonnie.

“Goddamn!”

“You like?” I ask with a grin.

“You look hot! Prez would shit bricks if he saw you right now.”

“Well, luckily he isn’t here.”

“Lucky for you.”

“Whatever. Let’s go.”

We pull up to Chrissy’s house and Ron checks his phone. “I texted Chrissy to meet us outside, but she didn’t answer.”

“I’ll get her.”

I grab the gift bags and walk up the driveway to the door. The lights are on, so I know Mr. and Mrs. Contreras are still up. I ring the bell and wait for someone to answer. The door opens and I come face to face with Christopher. I don’t know what to do or say. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since that night.

“Hi,” I say awkwardly.

He steps outside and closes the door behind him.

“Hi.” His eyes travel the length of my body before he meets my gaze. “You look…beautiful. As always.”

“Thank you. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

“I got you something,” I tell him, handing him the gift bag. “It’s not much…just wanted you to know I was thinking of you.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

He looks down at the bag and an uncomfortable silence stretches between us. One of us needs to say something. “How are you?”

“I’ve been better, but I’m getting there.”

“Chris –”

“It’s okay. I’ve been thinking and Chrissy’s helped some. I know you love me…just not the way I love you. There’s nothing I can do about that. I just wish I’d lost you to a better man.”

I know there’s no use in trying to defend Gage, so I don’t. Besides, that would just be rubbing salt in his wound. “I know we can’t be friends, but…I don’t want you to hate me, either.”

He takes a deep breath and cups my cheek, stroking it with his thumb. “I could never hate you, Raven.”

I throw my arms around him before the look in his eyes reduces me to tears. Real, raw love that everyone searches their whole lives for – that’s what I saw there. The little tinge of hurt behind it grabs my heart, squeezing like a fist. Will Gage ever look at me like that? Or will his four-letter “L word” forever be “lust”?

“I’m here for you, Raven…if you ever need me.”

“I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

The door opens and we release each other. Chrissy and three other girls stand in the doorway uncomfortably.

“Are we interrupting?” His sister asks.

“No. We’re good,” Chris answers.

He smiles at me and steps back inside. We’re good. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for, so I’ll take it.

“You ladies have fun.”

Chrissy takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” I reply. “You ready?”

“Yup.”

“Happy birthday. You look awesome.”

Her black and gold sequined, chevron dress clings to every curve of her body. As a matter of fact, they all look awesome.

She pulls me into a bear hug and rocks side to side. I return her embrace, thinking she’s more of a sister to me than Lonnie’s ever been. She takes the gift bag and places it inside then introduces me to the other girls – Morgan, Rachel, and Brandi. We cram into the Charger and Chrissy pulls Ron to her, planting a wet kiss on him.

“Happy birthday, gorgeous. Fuck, you look amazing.”

“Thanks. Now, let’s go raise some hell!”

There’s a line around the block when we get to the club. Ron pulls over at the curb and tells us to wait for him while he parks. The name of the club shines in red neon above the door, the “S” a double-edged scythe.

“You sure we can get in?” Morgan asks. Apparently, I’m not the only one under eighteen. I look to Chrissy, hoping she hasn’t told them exactly how we’re getting in.

“I told you, Ron talked to Gage. We’ll be fine.”

Thank God. They still look apprehensive but accept her explanation. Ron returns and hooks his arm around Chrissy’s neck.

“How the fuck I get so lucky? Five gorgeous ladies on my arms.”

The other girls giggle and I roll my eyes. “Let’s go, Casanova.”

He ushers us to the front of the line and the security guy moves aside. Another guy stamps our wrists with a skull and crossbones symbol that glows in the dark. Ron explains that it indicates we can’t be served alcohol. He disappears to get us drinks and we head straight to the middle of the dance floor. The club reminds me of the Mustang – black and red, reapers and scythes all over. The strobe lights flash red and machines cover the floor with smoke. In the middle of “Touchin’ Lovin’,” the DJ scratches the record and the song stops.

“Chrissy, where you at?” He shouts. “Come on up!”

She turns to me wide-eyed, hopping with excitement, then screams and grabs my hand, pulling me up to the DJ booth with her.

“So…today is this lovely lady’s birthday. Everyone wish her a happy birthday!” The DJ says.

Noise erupts from the crowd, and Chrissy waves at everyone enthusiastically. When the noise dies down, the DJ hands her an envelope.

“Courtesy of Scythe…a year’s free admission and unlimited, non-alcoholic drinks from the bar.”

She screams again and jumps into the DJ’s arms.

“Oh! I need to give stuff away more often!”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She squeals.

“Next song…your pick, baby girl.”

“Nicki Minaj, ‘Anaconda’!”

“You got it.”

She launches herself at me, laughing excitedly.

“Ray, did you do this?”

“Nope. I had no idea.”

“Shit. You’re gonna have to give Papi Chulo some head on my behalf.”

“Whatever. Come on.”

She drags me back to the dance floor, demanding twerking lessons. I did promise her and it is her birthday, so I give in. I pull up my skirt a little, bend my knees, lean forward, and shake my ass. It’s not long before the others join in. Two strong hands grab my waist and pull me up against a hard crotch. For a second, I think it’s Gage but then he starts to move. Definitely not Gage. Before I can push him off, Ron shows up and gets in the guy’s face. Dude backs off and Ron takes my hand. He leads me away from the crowd and up some back stairs.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see.”

He opens a door and motions for me to enter. Once I’m inside, he closes it behind me. What the hell? There’s a dim light at the door shining down on me, but the rest of the room is in darkness. I can make out a desk and someone sitting behind it. Behind him, there’s a glass wall I bet gives a view of the dance floor.

“Who’s there?” I ask nervously.

“Turn around.”

Fuck. Gage. What’s he doing here? He told me he wouldn’t be here. I can hear the strain in his voice. He must have seen or heard about what just happened.

“Gage –”

“Turn. Around.”

I swallow hard and turn my back to him.

“Put your hands on the wall.”

My breathing accelerates at the tone of his voice. It’s that voice. I drop my clutch on the couch next to me, place my palms on the wall, and wait.

“Legs. Spread ‘em.”

I shuffle my feet apart until he tells me to stop. My body trembles with uncertainty. What’s he going to do to me? It’s quiet. He doesn’t make a sound, but I can feel him getting closer. He stops behind me, his body flush against mine.

“What did I tell you?” He growls in my ear.

A shiver runs through my body. “About what?”

He grabs my ass, squeezing the cheek as his breaths come hard and heavy in my ear.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t flay your ass right now.”

“What did I do?”

“First, you show off your sweet little body in that dress, and then you let some fucker touch what’s mine.”