Replacing my ex

Chapter 6

“Oh my God! Lila!” she said, sighing in relief.

“Are you okay?” I asked, reaching out to hug her.

She was pale, her professional posture completely gone. She collapsed into my arms, still shaking.

“I - I think so,” Sam breathed, letting out a shaky exhale.

She straightened, having regained some of her composure.

“My friend met some guy maybe ten minutes ago and completely abandoned me. This creep came out of nowhere and wouldn’t let me leave …” she explained.

“Your friend is trash, and that guy was disgusting,” Viola declared firmly, throwing a protective arm around Sam’s shoulders. “But never fear, Superman is here.”

A weak smile broke across Sam’s face. She looked between Viola and me.

“You guys barely know me, you didn’t have to do that.”

“Are you kidding?” Viola snorted, linking her arm through Sam’s left side while I linked mine through her right. “Us girlies have to stick together.”

“Sam’s my lawyer, by the way, Vi,” I said, trying and failing to crane my head above Sam.

“Which can only mean, she’s part of the squad now,” Viola said, nodding.

“Sam, this is my bestie Viola.”

We were glued to her side after that. The three of us formed an unshakeable trio on the dance floor, taking turns swigging from our bottle and swatting away any stray guy hands that tried to get too close.

Eventually, I started to feel a bit lightheaded. The alcohol was definitely taking the driver’s seat.

“I’m heading outside for some air,”I yelled to Viola. “Back in five!”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just need a breather. And I have the pepper spray you gave me!” I said, holding it up.

Viola placed a dramatic hand over her heart, pretending to wipe away tears. “You make me so proud.”

Sam and I burst out laughing, and I ducked through a side door marked exit.

The moment the heavy soundproof doors shut behind me, the sudden silence threw me for a loop. I bent forward, taking deep gulps of the crisp night air until I felt more stable. I walked towards the wall and leaned on it.

A few minutes later, the club door swung open.

A man stepped out, holding a phone to his ear. I couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Damn, that voice is the sexiest thing this side of the Atlantic. And I’ll be damned if he isn’t the hottest guy to walk this earth.

“Excuse me?” he asked me with an amused smile, stopping in his tracks and ending his call

My face instantly flushed bright red as horror washed over me. Did I say that out loud?

“Oh! Um … what? Who said that?” I said, looking left and right.

There’s literally no one else here, Lila

“I know,” he said, his voice laced with rich amusement, and walked toward me.

“I said that out loud again, didn’t I?” I groaned, pressing my back into the wall.

“What? That there’s no one else out here? Yeah, you did,” he replied, stopping just a few inches to my right and leaning against the wall alongside me.

And he smells yummy too! What kind of sick joke is this?

He let out a low laugh.

“Thanks. Why would it be a sick joke though?”

I gasped, slamming both my hands over my mouth. My entire face felt like it was on fire. Why on earth had my internal thoughts completely merged with my mouth?

“Oh my God! What are these people putting in their drinks?” I groaned

“Is it really the drinks?” he teased softly, his dark eyes sparkling. “Couldn’t it be my charming good looks? Or the sexy timbre of my voice? Or the intoxicating-“

“Shut up!” I laughed, swatting his arm.

He put his hands up in mock surrender, chuckling.

“So,” he said playfully, standing up straight.“First of all, permission to speak, sir!” He stomped his shoe against the pavement and brought an open palm up to his forehead in a crisp sharp military salute.

“Granted. At ease, soldier,” I responded, saluting him back.

“Sir, yes sir!” he said, and we collapsed into a fit of laughter.

“Man, are we high!” he said, smiling softly.

After a quiet moment, he slipped his jacket off his shoulders.

“So… what’s a gorgeous woman like you doing out here all alone in the cold?”

Before I could answer, he draped the heavy jacket over my shoulders, gently helping me slide my arms through the sleeves and pulling the zipper up to my neck. It smelled like him, expensive cedarwood and rain.

“I just needed some air,” I whispered, looking at my shoes. “My life is a complete dumpster fire right now.”

“Hey,” he said gently. He reached out, his warm thumb wiping away a stray tear I hadn't realised had fallen. “You’re okay.”

He pulled me into a hug, and I let myself melt into the embrace of this strong protective stranger.

Just as we stepped back, the club door burst open again.

Viola walked out, shouting, “Lila! How much air do you possibly -”

Viola paused mid-sentence, Sam right on her heels.

“Oops! Did we interrupt something?” Viola grinned, and both she and Sam erupted into hysterical laughter.

I turned around to roll my eyes at them playfully.

“Goodnight, Lila,” I heard a voice murmur behind me.

I whipped back around, but he was already moving fast, slipping into the dark shadows.

“Wait,” I called out, waving my arms like some demented traffic controller.

But he was already gone, swallowed by the night.