Affliction

“It’s so on,” she agrees and I can’t help the giddiness settling inside of me. I haven’t felt like this in such a long time. A feeling of awareness settles over me like I’ve stepped out in the cool brisk air on an autumn morning. And I realize that this moment outweighs the ugliness. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.

***

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Kadence seethes when we walk into a packed clubhouse ten minutes later. My earlier happiness in the cab ride comes crashing down when I realize who she means.

Tina.

The club whore who happens to be sitting so close to Sy, she’s practically humping his lap. I don’t make eye contact at first, unsure how to play this out. Sy and I haven’t given a name to what is going on with us, and we sure as hell haven’t told anyone about us. Us? Shit, I don’t even know if there is an us, or if I should be losing my shit right now because she just put her grubby paws on his chest. What I do know is that I’m drunk, feeling for the first time in a long time that I don’t even have to fake happiness, and the thought of dealing with this right now in front of a clubhouse of people I barely know has me wanting to retreat. I know I'm stronger now and letting this whore ruin my night is not on the table. I want to make this feeling last forever. So, instead of staking my claim, I turn and try to ignore Sy and focus on keeping the buzz I’ve got happening.

“Let’s do some shots,” I say, trying to keep up the hype. I drag the girls over to the bar.

“What are you ladies doing here?” Nix asks, pulling Kadence to him and claiming her mouth.

“We needed to surround ourselves with some sexy men after the gifts you sent us,” I inform them, smiling over at Brooks and Beau, before finally turning my gaze to Sy and glaring. His eyes narrow, watching me carefully, but he doesn’t respond. The whore has now moved in close to another guy, but that’s beside the point.

“You like the naughty nurse we hired for you?” Nix laughs. “It was Jesse’s idea,” he adds. Of course, it was fucking Jesse’s idea.

“I’m serious, Nix. Why the fuck is Tina here?” Kadence says, becoming more pissed off by the minute. I look over at Tina to catch her glaring at my best friend and decide she needs to be gone.

“If I were you, I would be leaving right now,” I call out, getting her attention.

“Well, luckily, you’re not me,” she sneers back and I take a step forward, ready to show her just how much she wishes she were me.

“Tina, take a hike,” Nix says, looking down at Kadence, but ordering it loud enough she gets the hint. Tina stands at Nix’s command and walks outside, probably to go and bother some other guy.

“Oh look, she’s like a pet, obeying your command,” Kadence says when Tina’s gone, making us all giggle at her snide remark.

“You’re fuckin’ hot when you’re jealous,” I hear Nix tell Kadence and I can already see her caving.

“Oh, no you don’t, Kadence. One, he ruined our sexy stripper experience and two, it’s still technically your bachelorette party. No Nix-fix for you.” I take her hand and drag her away from him.

“But he’s so sexy,” she complains while I shove a shot her way.

“Don’t be swayed by the sexiness. We are still pissy,” I remind her, but she has that love look in her eyes, and I know I’m speaking to a brick wall. Payback was a stupid idea.

“Right, we are pissy.” She shakes herself out of it, giving me a little hope.

“I’m stepping out on the payback. My man looks sexy as hell over there, and I need me some of that,” Kelly says, moving away to go to her husband.

“She’s weak. Don’t listen to her,” I tell Kadence, but even as I say it, I know she's torn. I look over at Nix and see him smirking at her. I know she’s a goner when he crooks a finger at her. She holds steady before I let her off the hook.

“Go,” I sigh, defeated. She doesn’t even skip a beat and goes to her man. Dammit.

I look over at Sy and he’s still watching me. Fuck. Coming here was a bad idea. I should have just gone back to my place. Not wanting to out our friendship tonight, I turn back to the bar and force myself to ignore him.

“Hunter, my main man.” I smile at him and take a seat. “So, how is your night going?” I ask, hoping he will play along. I know I’m playing a dangerous game with Sy; ignoring him while he sits there watching me, but what does he expect me to do?

Hunter leans in and whispers so only I can hear, “I’m not fucking dumb. I nearly got my ass beat last time you played this game, Holly.” I don’t know how to respond at first. Is Sy watching right now? Tilting my head back, I let out a laugh pretending he just said something funny. Hunter simply shakes his head.

“You fucking owe me for that, Holly,” he warns before stepping away. Shit. Quickly turning back to the room, I see Sy move from the sofa and stalk over to where I sit. I don’t have time to run away before he’s in my space.

“You better hope you’re drunk right now, ‘cause if you’re fucking playing games sober, you’re gonna have a sore ass tomorrow,” Sy’s voice caresses my ear.

Oh. My. God.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply, standing and excusing myself. I can’t be around him at the moment, especially when he says things like that in my ear. Walking away is the only option, until he follows me and drags me into the hallway, trapping me against the wall, and bringing my hands above my head.