“Right. I thought you said you weren’t a party girl.” I couldn’t tell if he was teasing me again or offended I was leaving.
“I’m not. I just wanted to see what the big deal is.”
I couldn’t tell him I needed a break from him. That if I stayed in my room tonight, I’d just think about last night.
He dropped the smile from his lips. “Well, be careful. It’s a big crowd and things get a little crazy down there.”
“So you’ve been before?” I tried to imagine Cole in a dance club. Should I ask him to go with me?
“I’m not that old. Yeah, I’ve been before. It’s not really my scene. I like Peabody’s.” He picked up the ladder.
I hesitated in the walkway, hoping for a sign of familiarity between us—a smile, a wink, anything. “Ok. See you around, I guess.”
I tucked the palm tree key into my purse and walked away from Cole. I liked Peabody’s too. If he had asked me, I would have gladly ditched my Bottoms Up plan to go have a drink with him at the bar, but he didn’t. Instead, he acted as if nothing happened last night.
The bouncer at the door barely looked at my ID before shuttling me through the gate that led into Bottoms Up. I was wedged against the back wall by a crowd of people in line for drinks at the bar. I edged along the wall, taking in my surroundings. There were cages dangling from the ceiling with bikini-clad girls dancing, a rapper I had never heard of performing on stage, and girls with beer logos strategically placed over their breasts handing out free drink samples.
Everything was flashing and the bass was so loud that I couldn’t think. Bottoms Up was all wrong for me. I knew it within my first two minutes inside the club. Why did I think this was a good idea?
“Can I buy you a shot?” An overly muscled guy wrapped his hand around my waist and shouted into my ear. He had doused himself with at least half a bottle of cologne and was wearing a tight tank top.
I tried to push back a little from him. “No, thanks. I was just leaving.”
I could still make it to Peabody’s and have a margarita. This evening didn’t have to be a total waste.
“You here alone?” His hand was attached to my waist, and I didn’t have much room to move.
“I’m meeting someone, so thanks for the offer.” I tried to smile and brush past him, but he was like a solid statue I couldn’t escape. I looked around his sculpted arms, pretending to search for my imaginary friend.
“I’d like to buy you a drink.”
The guy was really pissing me off. “I already said no thank you.” I dropped my sweet girl act.
This time I made no hesitation in my attempt to breakaway from him. I pressed my hand against his chest and shoved. It was like pushing against a rock.
“Hey, bitch. Watch it.”
He grabbed me by my wrist and twisted it. If he was trying to get me to cave to my knees, he knew what he was doing. I looked around to see if anyone noticed what was happening, but the energy was frenetic in the club and no one saw the dick who now had me in a mercy hold.
“Let her go.” From out of nowhere, Cole appeared.
He towered over the guy. Before he had a chance to negotiate whatever he was thinking, I raised my knee and brought it straight up with as much force as I could.
“Aww. Bitch!” The asshole let go of my wrist and crumpled to the floor.
I rubbed my wrist and stood over the guy who was writhing in pain.
“Wait, you didn’t even let me hit him.” Cole looked pissed.
“I didn’t need you to hit him. I took care of it.” I placed my hands on my hips.
The guy rolled on his side into a fetal position.
“But I was going to hit him.” Cole watched as he shifted to his knees and started to crawl away.
“I had it under control.” I glanced at Cole. “I already have one big brother.” I realized how bitter and nasty the words sounded.
“I can see that.” He rubbed the side of his jaw and shook his head.