“At least you’re not high-fiving,” Embry said under her breath. When Brett nudged her ribs, she knew she’d been caught.

“What do you have against high fives?” he asked.

“Nothing, they’re awesome,” Embry said with fake enthusiasm.

“Come on. Brendan’s a nice enough dude.”

“Not as sexy as us though,” Jeremy added.

“Well, who is as sexy as we are? It’s not a fair competition,” Brett said.

“Seriously, Embry”—Jeremy put his arm around her and pulled her toward him—”you really should be honored to be in the middle of this man-meat sandwich.”

“Hmm, I could go for a sandwich,” Brett mused.

Morgan craned her neck from the front seat. “Really, babe? Jeremy talking about man meat made you hungry?”

Embry burst into a fit of laughter, and her friends followed. All thoughts of Luke drifted to the back of her mind as she laughed with her friends. She was having fun.

The cab pulled up to the curb outside the club. Morgan took care of the cab fare while Jeremy hopped out and held out a hand for Embry. She took his hand, climbed from the cab, and stretched her legs. She had tamed her long waves into a sleek ponytail with a small bouffant at the front. The top half of her face was covered by a black mask with an intricate lace design. Jewels accented the arch of each brow, their sparkle casting more attention on Embry’s green eyes. Her lips were a deep red and glossed to perfection, and her dress was to die for. While out with Morgan, she’d come across a little black dress she couldn’t pass up. Strapless and short, it hugged every one of her curves and showed off her toned legs. Jeremy didn’t bother to hide his appreciation as his eyes traveled up and down her body.

“You look gorgeous, B,” he said, pulling her hand to his lips in a rare show of genuine affection.

“Thanks, Jer.” She tugged on the collar of his dress shirt. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.”

Morgan marched right up to the bouncer, whispered something in his ear, and he waved them into the club. Smoke from the DJ booth covered the crowd in a light mist as warm bodies moved together to the electric dance beat. Embry felt the bass in her chest, and the familiar vibrations brought her back to another time, standing in a similar spot in Scandal.

“Deja vu?” asked Morgan, sliding her arm through Embry’s.

Embry nodded, looking out over the dance floor. She could almost feel Luke. That was where it had all started for them. She wished that for one night, they could forget everything, ignore all the reasons keeping them apart, and just be.

“Deja don’t,” Morgan warned, pointing a finger in Embry’s face. She tried hard to school her face into a stern look to match her voice.

Embry laughed.

“I’m serious! No thinking about southern sexy tonight. This is our night. Fun only. No downers allowed!”

“Aye-aye, captain,” she replied, mock saluting. “Let’s go get some drinks.”

“That’s more like it,” Morgan responded.

Embry rolled the moment over in her head while they followed the guys toward the bar. “How’d you know?”

Morgan stared at her. They stood on the outskirts of the dance floor, waiting for Jeremy and Brett to push their way through with drinks. Embry looked around the club.

“That I was thinking about Luke,” she amended.

“You get this wistful, dreamy look in your eyes anytime Luke is on your mind or nearby,” Morgan answered.

Embry’s eyes gravitated toward the lounge where she first met him. She couldn’t help herself. She wanted to look into the room and not see him. To know he wasn’t sitting there waiting for her. She scanned the lounge, taking in all the different people standing at the bar. It was more crowded than the last time, but the majority of the patrons weren’t wearing masks so she could see them clearly. No Luke. The weight lifted off her chest just a little. She didn’t have to think about him. She could enjoy herself, just like Morgan had suggested.

Speaking of Morgan, she’d ignored her statement. “What do you mean, a look?” Still distracted by the lounge and drawn by some unknown force, Embry continued to scan the room. Just as she began to turn back toward Morgan, the crowd parted.

Morgan was talking again. “What look? That look. You’re doing it right now. That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Bree. Embry?”

Embry heard her. She knew that Morgan was speaking to her, but she couldn’t respond. She couldn’t even breathe.

“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Morgan spit as Luke came into view.

Embry stared across the club, unable to take her eyes from Luke. What is he doing here? He sat at the lounge bar talking to a man she didn’t recognize, swirling a drink in his hand. She watched him tip the glass back, empty the contents into his mouth, and push the glass toward the bartender. A frown marred Luke’s perfectly sculpted lips, and she saw the tension in his shoulders. The other man had a sympathetic look on his face as he talked to Luke. Part of her wanted to go and ease Luke’s tension; another part knew she was probably the cause.

Morgan grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. “I know what you’re thinking. I can see it in those dreamy doe-eyes you’re giving me, but I’m not letting you do it. Tonight is about you. Do what you have to do, pretend he isn’t here, but don’t let this ruin your night.”

Morgan’s pep talk snapped Embry out of her daze. She was conflicted over Luke, but nothing would be solved in a noisy club with alcohol involved. She grabbed Morgan’s drink, tossed it back, and called to Jeremy and Brett. “Let’s go dance!”

They made their way across the club, past the lounge, and up the stairs to the second floor. The energy upstairs was completely different. A slow, sexy beat thumped through the speakers as the people on the dance floor writhed in one large mass. Muted lighting illuminated the dance floor and cast shadows across the crowd. Everyone was in masks, making the mood more sensual and mysterious.

“Now this is a masquerade party,” Morgan said, dragging Embry out onto the dance floor.

Brett and Jeremy followed, and soon they all melted into the crowd, just more bodies moving to the beat. A club remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” played in the background as Jeremy pulled Embry toward him. His hands landed on her hips as she shimmied around in front of him. He was a surprisingly good dancer and kept up with her easily as she spun around the dance floor. She was finally loosening up and enjoying herself.

“Let’s grab another drink,” she suggested after they’d been dancing for a while.

She and Jeremy left Morgan and Brett on the dance floor and headed to the bar. Jeremy paid for their drinks, and they leaned against the bar to talk.

“So I have a question,” he said.

“Nope. No questions,” Embry teased. A mischievous smile crept across Jeremy’s face.

“What’s your deal?” he asked.

“This sounds eerily reminiscent of the first time we met,” she said.

He leaned in close to speak over the music, and his proximity made her squirm. “It is. But I mean, really, B. You’re beautiful. Why don’t you date anyone?”

Embry hadn’t expected Jeremy to go there. He’d become one of her best friends, and they never crossed that line. As she looked into his handsome face, she couldn’t help wishing she could just fall for him. He was sweet, good-looking and had an amazing sense of humor, but she couldn’t force herself to feel something that wasn’t there. She couldn’t feel anything for anyone other than Luke. Things would be so much easier if she could.

She let out a long sigh. “It’s complicated, Jer. I had a rough relationship. I’m just focusing on me right now.” At least that was partially true. That was her plan when she got to law school. Unfortunately, she hadn’t planned for Luke Brody.