That first night at Club Sound was exactly what I needed with Lily. Dancing and drinking the night away until Rebel was just a distant memory. It was so much fun that I didn't even remember walking back to my place and sleeping in the same bed.
I woke up to a hammering headache. I poked Lily to get up but she just rolled over and groaned. It took some convincing and Lily finally got out of bed and dragged herself home.
But one night wasn't enough. The distraction helped keep my mind off Rebel and his rock-hard abs. I called Lily and she answered in the shower. I barely got to ask about going back to the club when she enthusiastically answered yes.
My hangover be damned.
Lily showed up at my door wearing the sluttiest thing ever. A tight black dress with a plunging neckline of straps that showed off all of her tits. “Trying to send out a message tonight, Lily?”
“Yeah, my legs are open for business. I haven't been laid in a week and I desperately need a man.”
My mind flashed back to Rebel taking me in my bedroom. I could still feel his sweaty skin sticking to mine as he pumped in and out. It gave me goosebumps all over my arms.
“Where did you find that sexy dress?” Lily asked, twirling me around. I picked out a short red off-the-shoulder that didn't show as much skin as Lily but still made me look really good. “You're going to be fighting off the men tonight.”
Not exactly what I had in mind.
We took a cab over to Club Sound which was the only place of its kind in Saint Marks. The building used to be an old meat-packing plant that they converted. Outside, a red carpet with a line of men were waiting to get in. Girls didn't have to wait in line so we strolled right by the bouncer.
“Hey Mama” by David Guetta was blasting through the speakers. The bass rumbled through my chest as Lily led me through the crowd and to the bar. She ordered us two watermelon mojitos and I stood to the side and watched the crowd dance.
“Here you are,” Lily yelled over the noise.
I tasted the watermelon through the straw and instantly felt good. Lily tossed the straw and gulped the entire drink down. I copied her but couldn't handle all the liquid. Lily laughed and almost blew snot through her nose. Tonight was going to get crazy.
The DJ mixed in Rihanna's “Cheers.” “This song is my jam!” Lily screamed at me. She had to get out there and shake her ass.
The dance floor was a large wooden square set in the middle with the DJ raised up at a station in the front. Green lasers beamed through the club. The floor was packed like sardines and it took us awhile to cram our way to the middle. But once we got there, Lily and I let loose. I acted like I was the only one out there dancing, swaying my hips side to side to the beats.
A hand rested on my waist, squeezing my hips from behind. I imagined that it was Rebel grinding up against me, his hard manliness pressed between my cheeks. But Rebel wasn't here. My eyes shot open and I spun around to find a stranger behind me. He had a dirty mustache that reminded me of the gross Sheriff Buckley.
“Don't touch me,” I yelled, tearing his hand off my side.
The man pulled me close to him. “Come on, baby, just one dance. An ass like yours can't be ignored.” I struggled in his grasp but couldn't escape. I glanced over at Lily and she came to my aid.
“Get your fucking hands off her, you creep.” She tried to pry his hands off me but the guy was too strong.
He wrestled me away from Lily and we were lost in a sea of people. I kept calling out her name but she was gone.
“We're going to have some fun tonight,” he breathed, his hand running up my bare thigh. I had to do something before he got any further. I raised my knee as hard as I could between his legs. The man just laughed and kicked my leg to the side. “I like 'em when they squirm.” I looked for a security guard but there were only people dancing around, too caught up in the music to notice what was happening.
Was this it? Was this when my life ended? At some stupid club?
“Let the girl go,” a deep voice growled behind me.
The stranger turned around with me still in his clutches. Rebel was standing there looking better than ever. I stopped squirming in the man's arms. I knew everything was going to be all right.
Rebel cocked his arm back and sent his fist flying into the man's mustache. I saw some teeth fly out as the stranger finally let go of me.
But it wasn't over yet.
The man rushed at Rebel, knocking them both to the ground. The crowd of dancers moved out of the way like a school of fish but continued dancing. Lily caught up with me and held me close as we watched the two men battle it out.
Rebel kicked the man in the groin where I failed. As the stranger doubled over, Rebel swung with all his might and uppercut him, knocking him onto the ground unconscious.
Security had finally been alerted and rushed over. Rebel grabbed my arm. “Let's get the hell out of here.”
I followed him through the crowd and out the back door. “Wait, what about Lily?”
“Lily will be fine. She can take care of herself.”
The alley behind the club was dark and filled with dumpsters. The outside air chilled me to the bone and the short dress was looking like a bad decision. Rebel took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around me. His chivalrous act didn't distract me from the craziness that just happened.
“What are you doing here, Rebel? Were you following me?” The buzz from the mojitos was making it hard to concentrate.
“I was looking for you. Lily's roommate told me she was going to this club. I knew you'd be tagging along. Good thing I showed up too.”
“I didn't need you, Rebel. Security would have shown up and thrown the guy out.” I knew it was a lie the instant it passed my lips. If Rebel wasn't there, that man could have done anything to me. My phone buzzed in my clutch.
I pulled it out to see a text message from Lily.
Lily: WHERE ARE YOU?!?!
Writing in all caps made her sound hysterical which she probably was. I wrote her a quick reply that I was safe with Rebel and I'd call her later.
I started to walk out of the alley when Rebel stopped me. “We need to talk, Kayla.”
I planted my feet on the ground and crossed my arms. I shouldn't be mad at him after he saved my life but I couldn't help it. “I don't want to have the same conversation over and over again, Rebel.”
“This is about your father.”
My arms fell to my sides. “What about him?” The worst came to mind.
Rebel put both hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.“He's the reason I went to jail, Kayla.”