Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Messing with my hair, I said, “I’m fine, in fact, I feel better than I have in a while. That spa day must have been just what I needed. I’m finally sleeping through the night, and I haven’t had any panic attacks.”
And I wasn’t lying. This morning when I’d woken up, it wasn’t a struggle to get out of bed and face the day. I felt a new sense of…peace for lack of a better term, and hope. Like maybe the world wasn’t as scary and dangerous as I thought, that maybe it wouldn’t try to destroy me the second I left the safety of Mark’s home. My thoughts seemed clearer, like all the doubts and bullshit that had been weighing me down were no longer there. I’d even gone out and started to explore the surrounding area on my own—well, kind of my own. Tino was still my constant companion, and I was glad for his company.
Hannah got a weird look on her face before she turned away to peer into the mirror of her big vanity and put some mascara on. “Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. You look great, by the way. I love that dress on you.”
I smiled and examined the cool black, white, and red abstract print dress that I was wearing to make sure I hadn’t gotten any makeup on it. “Thanks, and thank you again for getting me out of the house, and for talking with me. I feel a thousand percent better.”
Hannah turned to me and took my hands in hers, an unexpected sadness on her face. “You know I love you, right?”
“Uh, yeah.” I frowned at her. “Why do I feel like you’re about to throw a ‘but’ in there?”
Closing her eyes, grey shadow sparkling on her lids, she shook her head. “No, no buts. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you and I’d do anything to keep you safe. You’re my sister from another mister.”
I pulled my hands from hers and waved at my face. “Bitch, you’re going to make me cry and I’m wearing waaayyyy too much makeup for that.”
Hannah’s phone chimed, and she tensed while she looked at the screen. “Leo says it’s time to go.”
With an excitement I’d hadn’t felt in too long, I said, “All right, my beautiful bitch, let’s go get our party on!”
When we arrived at Obsession, the three-story club was packed as usual on a Saturday night, but we didn’t have to wait in line to get in.
No, we got to stroll past the masses and head right up to the front door, where the big bouncers were practically falling all over themselves in difference to Leo.
Purple neon lights lined the doorway and as we walked in the pulse of the music hit me almost like a physical blow.
While the club was well air conditioned, there was still a heaviness to the atmosphere that came from hundreds of people dancing and sweating at once, an almost undetectable smell of humanity. It wasn’t bad, like BO or anything, just a combination of musk, perfume, and cologne mixed with alcohol. My heart began to beat faster, and I tapped my high heel clad foot in time with the music, my hips wiggling a little bit to one of my favorite songs.
Hannah grabbed my hand as we were led to the second level VIP floor of the club, the walk up the steps giving us a great view of the dancefloor below.
Normally, I’d be scanning for a hot guy to dance with, but I really had no desire to have some stranger pawing at me.
I only wanted one man’s hands on me, and he seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Determined to not let thoughts of Ramón ruin my night, I chugged down my first glass of complimentary champagne, the bubbles tickling my tongue and throat.
“Take it easy,” Hannah said as she fidgeted and watched me from across the table.
The white leather couches in the VIP section were set up in U shapes, with sheer white drapes separating the seating sections. A smaller dance floor took up one half of the area, with a long glass and stainless steel bar on the other side. Beautiful women and men ground against each other, and I tapped my toe along to the music. Part of me wanted to get up and dance, but Leo was already refilling my glass with champagne, so I decided to sit back for a minute and scope things out.
Leo and Hannah began to whisper to each other, and I sipped my champagne as she got increasingly pissed. Feeling like I was intruding, I angled my body away from them and gave them as much privacy as possible. Thankfully, the music was loud enough that I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was still awkward as hell, especially when Leo decided to shut her up by grabbing her face with both of his hands and kissing the hell out of her. I couldn’t help but feel sad that I had no one to kiss me like that. I finished off my second drink in record time, considering going for my third until I saw someone familiar.