“Let’s get a drink first.”

The doors opened. “Fuck yeah.”

The space was packed as we entered the two-story club. People stood around the upper deck, mingling, dancing and waiting to order at the upstairs bar. We made our way as I scanned each face looking for Brina, but I didn’t see her. I hoped I didn’t see her because if I did then the situation would be awkward and would throw off the plan.

After waiting ten excruciating minutes and scanning the dark club for Brina, we finally squeezed in between two chicks to order our drinks.

“Hi,” one purred.

“Sugar.” I nodded.

“Whatcha drinkin’?” She eyed my tequila and coke.

“A charro negro.” She looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “I’ve never heard of that. Can I try it?”

Did she just ask to try my drink? “You’re asking for trouble, sugar.”

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?”

I caught the eye of Nick over this chick’s shoulder and took a deep breath. “Not with me.” I nudged my head for Nick to follow and we walked toward the railing where the upstairs looked down onto the dance floor. I was off my game and all thoughts were on Andi. I didn’t want to do the escort shit anymore, even if Andi and I didn’t work out. This wasn’t my scene anymore. As I scanned the bodies gyrating to the music, the lights changing colors and the disco ball reflecting from above, I spotted Brina and a few girls sitting in a booth next to the dance floor.

“See the blonde in the black dress with her hair pulled in a high ponytail?” I shouted over the music, pointing toward where Brina was sitting in the booth. “She just took a shot of whatever that is on the table.”

“Yeah, man. You sure you want to give her up to me? I mean. I’m all for hittin’ that.” He took a sip of his drink.

“I’m going to get out of the game.”

“Aw fuck. You too?” He shook his head in disapproval. “First Gabe and now you?”

I laughed. “Chicks, man.”

He chuckled. “I’m never falling in love.”

“Never say never. I didn’t think I would be in love again.”

“Enough of this love talk. Let’s do this shit so I can get laid.”

“All right. Pound your drink. We’re gonna get dirty on the dance floor.”

“Never say that to me again.” He chugged his drink.

We walked down the stairs then weaved in and out of bodies on the dance floor as we made our way to the table where Brina was. The club was packed. People were all around dancing, kissing—some maybe more. My plan was to tell Brina that I’d noticed her from across the room and ask her to dance, but as I got closer, she stood and joined her friends on the dance floor. I came up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Sugar,” Nick came around to the front of us, caging her in, “this is my friend, Nick.”

Our bodies began to sway to the beat of the music, her head rested on my shoulder, her gaze locked with Nick’s. Normally my hands would be roaming her body, getting her worked up, but I needed Nick to take this one. I wasn’t into it. I caught his eye and motioned for him to do just that. His hands worked up and down her sides, our bodies still gyrating to the music and then my body went rigid.

What the fucking fuck?

It took me a second to register what, better yet who I was looking at. There she was dressed in white—a color I’d always thought I’d see her walk down the aisle in on the day we said “I do.” A sash was across her body that read “Bride to Be”. My gaze darted to hers and everything clicked into place as she stood next to the table that Brina had just left. They were here for her bachelorette party before Vanessa got married—married to someone else.

Vanessa gave me a tight smile and waved. I stood still as Brina rubbed her ass on my crotch. I didn’t know if I could smile or wave back at Vanessa. “Hey!” Nick slapped me on the back of the head. “Are you going to dance or what?”

“I gotta go.”

I started to walk away and Vanessa grabbed my wrist. “PJ, wait!”

I stared down into her dark eyes. “I gotta go.”

“You’re still mad after all this time?”

I reached up and ran my fingers along the hem of the sash. “I don’t know what I am, Ness.”

“Can we talk, please?”

I stared at her, not saying anything. When she left my house our senior year, we’d never spoken again. We’d never had closure. Now she was staring me in the eyes, wanting to talk, and for what? I’d thought about this moment so many times, wondered what I’d say, what I’d do. But now that the moment had arrived, I realized I had nothing to say. None of it mattered anymore. I just wanted to go home and be with Andi.

“PJ…”

“Nothing to talk about, Ness.” I knew what I wanted. What I needed—who I needed. And she wasn’t anywhere in this nightclub. “I gotta go. My girl’s waiting for me.” I smiled a genuine smile. “I really am happy for you, Vanessa. Congratulations.”

I turned toward Nick to give him a head nod, letting him know I was out. I was going home. Fuck the closure. She’d killed us and whatever future we may have had when she’d had the abortion. End of story. We didn’t need to talk. I’d moved on—finally. I didn’t need women, tequila or a pocket full of cash anymore.

I only needed Andi.

I was on autopilot as I pulled into the garage and killed the engine. I didn’t have a plan. My heart was pounding. My throat was tightening. My eyes were stinging, and if Andi walked out because she got the wrong idea, I was going to lose my fucking mind.

I took a deep breath, got out of the Jeep and walked into the house. Andi was laying on the couch watching TV. “Hey. You are home early.”

I didn’t say anything. I still wasn’t sure what I was going to say. I felt as though I was hiding the situation from her, but I just couldn’t come out and tell her. I reached my hand out to her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Come with me.”

She looked down at my hand and then took it. “Are you okay?”

“Just … I need you.”

“Okay.”

She took my hand and I led her to my room and then the en-suite bathroom. I smelled of smoke, sweat, and I wanted her naked.

“Paul …” she uttered.

“Please,” I begged, turning her so her back was against the wood bathroom door. She looked up at me, her beautiful amber colored eyes staring back, questioning me. “We can go slow. No sex. I just want to feel your body against mine.”

She finally nodded and I stripped her of her shirt, followed by mine, then took her mouth. She whimpered, her back pressed against the door, my body aching to be inside her. When I lifted my head, I realized she was wearing a bra.

“Rhinestones?” I smiled.

She bit her lower lip. “Do you like it?”

“You wore this for me?”

“I thought about what you said. About how you used to sleep with clients and since this one was a regular and you—” I silenced her with my mouth. “I’m not sure about sex, though,” she mumbled against my lips.

“That’s okay, gorgeous. We’re gonna go as far as we can.” She nodded and I grabbed the elastic of shorts, looking her in her eyes. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

I pulled her shorts down, revealing black lace panties that matched her black lace bra, minus the rhinestones. It was a sight that I would forever have burned in my memory. “Fuck, baby. You’re beautiful.”

She blushed and I kissed her again, this time softer, emphasizing how much I loved her and not just how much I wanted her body. I pulled back, looking into her eyes again. This was the time. This was the time for me to tell her. I had to tell her before sex—or whatever this led to.

“Andi,” I beamed, my hands on her cheeks.

“Yeah?”

“From the moment your smart mouth barged into my house, I fell in love with you. I had no idea that my new roommate would be the woman I wanted to spend every second of every day with, but she was. We both have a shitty past, but I don’t care. I want you in my future. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”