MARIA POV
The tequila had turned the world into a kaleidoscope, every color brighter, every beat deeper, every movement amplified. The dance floor was alive, a pulsing organism of bodies and heat, and I was at its center. Val’s fingers dug into my hand as she dragged me further into the chaos, her laughter ringing above the pounding music like a bell.
“Let’s show them how it’s done!” she yelled, her voice barely audible over the bassline that seemed to reverberate in my chest.
I couldn’t help but laugh, her infectious energy pulling me out of my own head. The tequila was a warm bloom in my stomach, loosening my limbs and softening the sharp edges of my thoughts. For once, I didn’t care who was watching, didn’t care if my hips swayed a little too much or if my dress rode up just slig
