Chapter 24

Ally

The vibe in Aqua was electric. An energetic DJ bobbed away in the elevated glass box which hung over the parquet dance floor. Men and women swarmed the area, gyrating in time to the beat and clutching each other. Grinding and laughing, drinks in hand as they lit up the cold, winter night with their glowing passion.

I sat on a chair in the corner and gazed out at the couples, their faces bright and happy. It was hard not to look like a lovesick puppy as I tapped my foot on the barstool in time to the music. Kelly stood next to me for impromptu girls’ night, sipping a Cosmopolitan through a bar straw. Like an amateur.

“This place is not my scene,” I yelled at Kelly over the ear-achingly loud music. Seriously, it was a million decibels over my limit. I hated the blender in my own kitchen so this pumping, sweaty mix was torture. “And you’re not supposed to drink booze out of a straw.”

“Oh come on,” Kelly bantered back, “sit back, relax and enjoy your margarita. We’ll hit the floor later, if you’re up to it.”

I swigged more of the tart drink, chased it with some salt from the rim and frowned at the wall of human flesh. Some of the women wore dresses that looked like string held together with band aids rather than fabric. I brushed an imaginary wrinkle off the plain, tight-fitting red cocktail dress I’d chosen for the night’s ‘festivities’. It was winter and still technically the holiday season.

“I definitely don’t want to dance,” I said with a shake of my long hair.

She rolled her eyes and threw back more of her own drink. Sans straw. “Look, we came here to forget about a certain someone, right? So, what better way than to rub up against a few smokin’ hot male specimens?”

I stared at her. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?” I’d never seen this side of Kelly before. “Seriously, this is not our scene.”

“That’s exactly why we came here, sister. We need to change it up. This is going to be a total shock to your system.” Kelly grinned at me and turned her attention to the light casting strobes on the overflowing dance floor.

“All right,” I relented, and finished the last of my margarita. “Let’s do this.” The music took the opportunity to dull at that exact moment. A few of the dancers actually looked over at us.

I blushed, not that anyone could tell in the weird light.

Kelly burst out laughing and grabbed my hand. We stood together and hobbled out into the massive crowd. The music swelled again and we soon became buried beneath a human sea, complete with men leering and women shaking what God gave them. A couple college age guys gave me and my curvaceous figure the stink eye.

I turned to leave, but Kelly stayed me with a strong grip to my forearm. Another hip-hop song blared over the speakers and the crowd went wild. Kelly let go of my hand to clap in time with the beat. I looked up at the DJ who fired the already frantic crowd by pumping his fist up and down in the air.

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Ah well, if you can’t beat ‘em,” I murmured to myself, but I didn’t hear a word of it over the music.

I turned back to Kelly, but she was gone, swept off to an unknown corner of the dance floor, no doubt. Which meant I was stuck without her.

An arm slid around my waist and a body pressed against my back. My stomach flipped and I spun, pushing against the man’s chest. “What the hell —?” I mouthed.

Matthew stared back at me. He cocked his head to one side and grinned, then beckoned for me to dance with him.

Christ. Could this day get any worse?

I shook my head at him, then turned my back to search for Kelly. Or a savior. Or even a hole in the ground. And trust my luck to run into my scumbag ex in this posh club. I couldn’t believe that he’d pay ten dollars for a bottle of beer unless he was sure it would get him laid. This place was for rich narcissists and the women brave enough to snag them.

Matthew’s arm slid around my waist again and he ground his crotch into my ass.

I tugged free, growling in my throat. What the hell was wrong with him? Hadn’t I made myself perfectly clear in the restaurant the last time I saw him? I spun on my heel again and widened my eyes.

“Fuck off,” I screamed in his face.

He laughed at me. The asshole actually laughed at me.

I pushed past him and swam through the sea of flesh and sweat. I had to get to higher ground or I’d never find Kelly. That or get the hell out of this godforsaken club. I made for the door. I’d send her a text and tell her I was outside and wanted to go home. She could be angry all she liked, but I wouldn’t stay another second in a club with Matthew.

I burst out of the front door and ignored the bouncers, ropes and queues. I walked to the corner of the street and stood there, clutching at my arms and trying to hold back another torrent of tears. I’d forgotten my damn long, wool coat in the club and apparently, the ice age had decided to descend on the city. An uncontrollable shiver ripped through my body.

“Why are you running away from me, Ally?” Matthew appeared beside me, wearing his coat and blowing steam into the night air. “You always liked to dance when we were together.”

“Not anymore. Not with you,” I said, sliding the thin strap of my bag off my shoulder. I opened the bag and brought my phone out, then constructed a text to Kelly.

“You look upset,” he said, buffering his tone with concern he definitely didn’t feel. “Is it because of the bakery? Or that shithead, Gabe?”

“None of your damn business, Hugh Hefner.” I grunted, then locked my smartphone and put it back in my bag. “Look, I’m going home in a few minutes. You should go back inside and enjoy the selection.” I waved him off with my left hand.

He stepped closer. “All I’ve ever wanted is you, Ally. Everything else is a lie.”

“Just leave me alone,” I snapped.

A corner of his mouth lifted. “You realize I still have control of your arson case, right? And I’m not going to leave until you agree to go on another date with me.” Matthew was obsequious. He ruffled his brown hair and blinked at me, pulling his best attempt at puppy dog eyes.

I whipped my phone out again and checked for messages. Nothing. Where the hell was Kelly?

“Come on, just one date. And I promise, I’ll squash the case. I won’t even ask you out again.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just one date? One and you’ll leave me alone?”

“That’s right,” he replied, and his lips twitched into a victorious smile. “Just one date.”

I licked my lips and shivered, rubbing my arms and staring at his warm jacket. No chance in hell would I ask him for it. No chance in hell he’d offer it.

“Fine,” I replied. “Just one damn date.”

“Tomorrow at eight.” He grabbed my hand and brushed his lips across the back of it. I couldn’t keep the disgust from travelling up my skin in a tremble.

“No. Eleven. At Kelly and Pat’s.”

Kelly popped out of the front door of the club a second later, carrying both our coats. She eyed me, then Matthew before turning her concerned gaze back to me. “There you are, Ally. Let’s go home.”