She turned her head to look at the rush of bodies to her right, but she was pushed over by someone knocking into her. Her drink spilled, splashing onto the floor, but aside from her, everyone around her seemed oblivious.
“God, sorry.”
She turned and looked at the person who’d knocked into her. He was younger, with this preppy boy look going on. He looked just as out of place in here as she probably appeared.
“It’s fine.” Alexa wiped some of the beer off her shirt. Her drink was nothing but a puddle on the floor, her jeans, and even on her shoes, but Vasilisa’s had managed to stay intact.
Probably because I was smart enough to put my thumb over the opening.
“I really am sorry,” the guy said again.
She looked over and smiled. “It’s fine, really.”
“Let me buy you another one?”
“It’s okay.” She shook her head. “I probably needed to toss that one away anyway.”
He was reaching for his wallet. “Please?”
“Okay.” He sounded pretty earnest, and she didn’t like to be rude.
He turned and ordered another beer for her and one for him from the bartender, and she set the now empty beer bottle on the counter. Grabbing a few napkins off the counter, she wiped herself off, still holding on to Vasilisa’s drink.
“Here we go,” he said, and she straightened. But just as he handed her the beer, he dropped his wallet.
“I’ll get it,” she said and bent down. Standing again, she saw him straighten, a smile instantly on his face as he took his wallet and handed her the beer. He all but shoved it at her chest. She took the beer and grinned wider.
“I’m Blake.” He held out his hand in greeting, but she lifted both of hers, which held beers. She laughed, although she couldn’t hear it too well because of the music.
Looking behind her, she tried to see if Vasilisa was coming back. She saw her speaking to the same bouncer again.
“A toast?”
She jumped as she felt his breath along her flesh, and felt the vibrations move along her ear. Looking at the guy again, she took a step back. He held the beer up.
“To accidents but meeting new people.” He lifted his beer bottle a little higher and gestured for her to do the same. “Come on. You’re going to leave a guy hanging like this? One toast, one drink, and I’ll leave you alone. I promise not to be one of those creepy guys that is up your ass all night.”
God, she felt like a bitch. She smiled, forced herself to relax, and tapped the neck of her bottle with his. She’d just finished swallowing a mouthful of beer when she felt Vasilisa place her hand on her shoulder.
“Having a good time?”
Alexa shrugged and leaned in to say in her ear, “As good a time as I can feeling like I’m the oldest person in here.” They both started laughing. She handed Vasilisa’s drink back to her. She took a long drink right away as she stared at the crowd.
When Alexa looked to the other side the guy that had bought her a drink was now gone, swallowed by the crowd of gyrating people.
“Let’s finish this beer and get out of here.”
Alexa looked at Vasilisa. “You sure?”
Vasilisa nodded. “To be honest, we both needed to get out, but I hoped to see Aleczander here.”
That surprised Alexa, but she didn’t pry, even if she was curious about it all.
Alexa took another sip from her beer. Vasilisa did the same, and they stood there watching the dancers.
“If I could get into this music, or maybe was drunk, I’d be all over that dance floor.”
Alexa nearly spit out her beer at that. She swallowed and laughed. “Yeah, me too.”
They finished off their beers and pushed their way through the people toward the front doors. Once outside, the cold air hit Alexa’s face, and she felt a rush of heat fill her. Sweat bloomed on her forehead, and she wiped it away.
“God, it was hot in there,” she said idly.
Vasilisa nodded. “I know. I’m sweating in places I didn’t even know I could sweat.”
Alexa chuckled, but a wave of dizziness slammed into her. “I think I shouldn’t have drunk so much.”
Vasilisa turned to face her, her eyebrows furrowed. “You only had like three beers.”
Alexa nodded. “I don’t ever drink, though.”
“Well, come on. We’ll get you home.”
One of Yvgeny’s men was taking them home, and as they made their way toward the parking lot where the Mercedes was, Alexa felt another wave hit her. She placed her hand on the brick wall beside her, the nausea slamming into her especially hard.
“Hey, are you okay?” Vasilisa asked and placed her hand on Alexa’s shoulder.
Alexa lifted her head and stared at the redhead. She saw two of Vasilisa right before another wave of dizziness slammed into her. She turned her head, thinking she might throw up, but she just dry heaved. Vasilisa grabbed her arm and tried to help Alexa stand straight, but doing so had the dizziness intensifying.