Chapter 2
1301 Words
"Isa... Isa!”
I jerk my head up, blinking fast as Eddie stares at me, wide-eyed and waiting.
"I'm going to accept it,” I say, nodding like I’m trying to convince myself. “I... I have to, Eddie. This could be it.”
Eddie sits up straighter, excitement all over her face. “Well, go for it,” she says with a wide smile.
My hands tremble slightly as I take a deep breath and type out the acceptance email. My heart pounds as I hit send.
They reply almost immediately.
“I start Monday,” I say, still staring at the screen, stunned.
“What? Wow,” Eddie says, then her eyes flicker with mischief. I already know that look.
“You know what this means, Isa...”
Eddie jumps to her feet.
“Party time!” she shrieks, grabbing my hands and dragging me up from the sofa.
“Eddie,” I groan, “I just had possibly the most hectic day ever. I can’t just up and go to a club.”
“Yes, you can,” Eddie insists, “Isa, we have to celebrate. Your exposé blew up beyond anything we imagined, and now you’ve got an in with the company. This is your moment. You said it yourself.”
I let out a breath and glance down at my phone, my inbox still open. The weight of what just happened still on my mind
“I guess you’re right,” I admit. “I’d better have fun now before I’m launched into full-on work life.”
Eddie bounces on her fert “That’s the spirit!” she grins. “You go get ready. I’ll round up the other girls.”
****************
An hour and a half later, the four of us step into Club Noir, glammed in stilettos, sparkly mini gowns and faces full of makeup, ready to party.
The thump of bass vibrates up my legs as soon as we step inside, and the air is thick with perfume, sweat, and the smell of alcohol.
“First stop,” Eddie announces, eyes gleaming, “the bar.”
She leads the way, weaving through the crowd of people on the dance floor.
The music pounds around us.
“Four shots of vodka!” I shout to the bartender, who flashes me a grin and a thumbs-up.
“Someone’s going all in,” Jessie says with a smirk, nudging my arm.
“It’s...” I roll my eyes, “it’s not for me, silly.”
Eddie chuckles. “Hey, hey, no one’s judging.”
I brush off the teasing with a half-laugh and hand out the shots as the bartender slides them over.
We raise our glasses together.
“Cheers,” we say in unison before throwing the drinks into our mouths in one go.
“To a new beginning!” Eddie calls out.
“To Isa,” Jessie adds, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “And her successful exposé.”
I shush her quickly, my eyes looking around, “Trying to get me exposed?”
“Oh, come on,” Jessie waves me off. “Who’s gonna know?”
I shake my head.
“Let's make a bet,” Eddie perks up, breaking the tension.
“What kind of bet?” I ask, geniuely excited.
“First to bag a hot looking man toy to ride for the night,” Eddie says, she wiggles her shoulders.
My other friends and I instantly agree.
“May the best woman win,” I say, raising my empty glass to my friends.
There are plenty of cute guys, the first one I meet at the bar is a tall blonde named Jake but I quickly realize he's not the one because he has an ego bigger than the size of his head. And the second one on the dance floor just isn't it for me, he is nice and all, he even makes me laugh but my eyes keep wandering past his shoulder to check if my friends are getting better luck, Eddie is shamelessly grinding on one guy while making out with another. Jessie's still at the bar, now with a tall guy leaning in close. Even shy Lisa is dancing with a guy, we all want to win this bet and get bragging rights.
As my eyes scan the crowd again, I catch glimpse of someone across the floor, watching me. He's dressed in black, leaning casually against the wall. He looks Iike he just walked out of a men's fashion magazine.
I try to focus on the guy in front of me but I can't take my eyes off the stranger in the corner.
He hasn’t moved. He’s just watching me, like he already knows how this night ends.
My stomach flutters, I feel heat between my thighs, and I know I’m getting wet. I bite my lip, breathing slow, trying to stay grounded.
“Sorry,” I say, cutting off the guy in front of me mid-sentence. “I have to go.”
I walk away before he can reply, heart pounding harder with every step. I make my way back to the bar and order a Cosmo, trying to look casual.
I’m halfway through my drink when a voice stops me
“I could see how red you were turning from across the room.”
I know who it is before I turn.
“Maybe it was the lighting,” I say, keeping my eyes on the glass, sipping slowly, playing it cool even as my pulse races.
“Mmm... or maybe you just weren’t expecting to be watched that closely.”
I finally turn and our eyes meet.
He’s breathtaking. I hate how fast my body reacts.
“I saw you watching,” I say, voice low. “You weren’t exactly subtle.”
I scoff.
“I wasn’t trying to be.” he says, giving me a one sided smile.
Damn, that does something to my lady parts
“That’s bold,” I breathe, feeling heat creep up my neck. It must be the alcohol.
“You look pinker than you did on the dance floor.”
I turn away, trying to hide the obvious blush across my cheeks. “I’m drinking alcohol, duh.”
He chuckles and I feel it between my legs.
“Or...,” he murmurs. “Maybe your body’s trying to tell you something.”
I scoff, flustered. “Oh, and you know my body that well?”
Fuck, I just realized how that sounded and so does the handsome stranger because he smiles, eyes flashing with mischief.
“Not yet,” he says, voice low and slow. “But I plan to.”
My chest tightens. My thighs squeeze together.
“You sure are bold, mister,” I whisper.
My mind is screaming at me to grab his collar and kiss him.
But he beats me to it.
He leans in and presses his lips to mine, firm and slow. My mind goes blank.
We kiss like we’ve been waiting all night for this moment. It starts slow, teasing, until his tongue slides into my mouth, claiming every inch like he owns it.
I moan, pressing closer, feeling the heat of his body and the way he needs this just as much as I do.
Time seems to slow down, his hands are everywhere, my waist, back, hair, like he’s trying to memorize me. But it’s not enough. I want more, I want him, now.
I pull away, breathless. “Let’s get out of here.”
He grins.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
We’re out of the club and in his car in under a minute.
My back hits the seat, and every part of me screams yes before I can even say the word.
- Writer
