During the third song, Glory went white and her gaze flicked all over, like she was looking for an escape. Avery tugged my arm and we left the dance floor, moving toward the bathroom. The line was short, and the sounds of music lower.
“What?” I only had to shout a bit.
“Did you see the muscle-bound idiot with the raven-haired girl?” Avery shouted to be heard.
The couple was almost fucking on the dance floor, and it hadn’t been a slow song.
“Glory’s boyfriend.” Avery’s hand was on Glory’s shoulder but she spoke in my ear. “They’re on ‘a break.’” She used air quotes.
“What’s that mean?” My relationships always ended in a nuclear blast of destruction.
“It means we weren’t seeing anyone else.” Glory stamped her foot. “He cheated on me and then came back two days later promising to do anything to make it right. We, uh, kind of got busy with the make-up sex, but then I just couldn’t trust him, so I told him I needed a break to figure shit out. Neither of us was to see anyone else—it was a test, at least that’s how I saw it.”
“He fucking failed.” I hated cheating jerks.
Glory grinned. “Total, epic fail.”
“And we don’t cry over losers, girls.” Avery draped an arm around each of us.
“Girls, we’re all starting over. And I’m on the market again. Stupid asshole.” Glory’s words were hard, but her expression showed the hurt.
We headed back to the table, and barely settled into our chairs when the jerk stormed toward us. Chet and another guy stepped into his path. Glory turned away, and I hurt for her. Eventually he left, but Glory remained ghost white.
“I’ll get you a drink.” I snaked through the crowd until I stood at the glass bar.
How’d they keep drunks from breaking it?
I ordered her a shot and a margarita. Again, I was tempted to do the same but didn’t. I believed alcoholism was inherited and wouldn’t test my luck.
The bartender gave me the twice-over before he sat the drinks in front of me. “I can get you off at two when I close.”
I smirked at his line and gave him a ten. He handed me the change, his fingers lingering on mine.
“Don’t.” A hand tightened on my shoulder.
Leaving the drinks on the bar top, I twisted to see Zayn’s dark eyes hooded in a frown.
“You guys back?” My chest tightened, and I scanned the bar, hoping not to see Dare, or maybe the opposite.
His brow creased. “Except Dare and Jericho, they’re staying until Monday.” He raised his voice to be heard. “You take up drinking?”
I followed his gaze to the shot and the margarita.
I huffed out a chuckle. “These are for a friend.”
His frown deepened. “What kind of friend?”
I leaned in until I spoke in his ear. “Glory. Come meet her.” I grabbed the drinks and wound my way to our table with Zayn on my heels.
Avery’s eyes widened, and she might have squealed. The noise of the bar made it impossible to tell. A few tables away, the jerk scowled in Glory’s direction. She ignored him but was strung tight.
“I come bearing gifts.” I slid over the shot and drink.
She swallowed down the shot of tequila without the lime and then sipped her margarita. She tugged my arm until her lips were at my ear. “Is he mine?”
I bent to her ear. “He’s one night, only. Never more.”
“I need a night of mind-blowing sex. A fool, not let...touch me. Three months...to forgive him...fucking around.”
I’m not sure what she said exactly, but I understood the gist of it. I nodded Zayn over. “This is Glory. My friend.”
“Mama.” He spoke close to my ear. “Take this outside.”
I held up a finger and followed him into the back alley. The alley smelled fragrant, not in a good way. Trash, smoke and the stale scent of sweat combined into a haze of stench.
“How’d you find me?” I propped my hands on my hips, tired of all the biker attitude.
“I’m off tonight.” He grinned at me. “This is my favorite hunting ground.” He pointed toward the club. “There’re three of our guys in there, and I’m sure it’ll be packed, once they figure out you’re here. Rebel, Rock, Vex, and a few more.”
“I don’t like bikers following me around.” This was so frustrating. “Everywhere I go there’s a biker.”
His lips pressed tight. “So pick one.”
“I did.” My words were bitter. “He didn’t want me.”
Zayn stared down at his boots. “Shit’s getting complicated.”
It was time to change the subject. “So my friend, she’s rebounding from a jerk, and might require some sex therapy. Wanna dance with her?”