“Club H?” I question, and he nods.
Club Hypnotic is the eighteen and older club downtown, and the most laid back one around. No one cares if you smoke a blunt, get drunk off your ass, or even throw a few punches. It's only a matter of time before they get shut down, but for tonight, it's perfect.
“Six p.m. Should I tell her and Grayson the plan?”
He raises his brows at me, but we're already on the same page. “Hypnotic, it is.”
PULLING UP TO THE club, you'd think we brought an entire entourage with us. We all climb out of our cars, and I look around at everyone who came. Knox, Delaney, and Tessa all rode with me, but in the other cars are Gage, Stone, Savannah, Grayson, and their friends Lennon and Cade. I've met those two a few times, and I have to say, they're not the worst. Although, one very familiar face is missing.
“Where's Easton?” Knox asks before I have a chance.
Stone shrugs, but Gage is the one with the answers. “He's waiting for his sister to be ready. She's coming with him.”
My brows furrow. “Amelia's home?”
The last time I saw that girl, she was thirteen and following us around like a little puppy. From what I know, she got some crazy scholarship to a boarding school in North Carolina. I'm sure she's been back for visits, but her and I haven't crossed paths since her 8th grade graduation party.
“Yeah. She enrolled at NHU,” Gage tells me. “Easton didn't tell you?”
I shake my head. “I guess it hasn't come up. I've been busy lately.”
Thoughts of what he's going to be like with his little sister on campus flood my mind. To say he's protective of her would be an understatement. She may only be a year or so younger than us, but to him, she's the baby. In middle school, he found out some kid called her ugly and made her upset. Easton tied him to the flagpole in his underwear with a sign that said, “I disrespect girls.” It earned him a five-day suspension, but it definitely scared anyone else away from messing with her.
We all make our way inside, and Tess leads us through to one of the VIP tables. “Asher's sorry he couldn't make it, but he wanted us to have fun tonight, so it's on him.”
It's a little shocking, but then again, if I was a professional football player, spending a few grand on a club night probably wouldn't make me bat an eyelash either. Delaney shrugs like it's totally normal, and Knox grabs an already-poured shot off the table.
“To one unforgettable night.”
We all grab a shot glass and toast to that before pouring the liquor down our throats. It burns the whole way but in the best way. There's nothing better than memorable nights with friends. Especially when your friends are as kick-ass as mine.
I'M DRINKING A BEER and talking to Knox when Easton finally shows up. He looks like he spent longer than necessary on his appearance, which I'm guessing is for Tessa's sake, but to each their own. If he wants to pine after someone as unavailable as she is, I can't stop him.
“Took you long enough,” I tease.
He rolls his eyes. “Sorry. I forgot how long it takes chicks to get ready.”
“Oh, like you were much better,” a voice chastises him.
I'm mid-sip when Amelia steps out from behind him. Her long, blonde hair flows down and across her shoulders, contrasting against the black dress she's wearing. It rests on her skin but still accentuates her whole body. What the hell happened to the little brace-face I remember? She's nowhere to be found in the gorgeous girl standing in front of me.
In one idiotically embarrassing move, I inhale quickly with a mouth full of beer. I guess it's better than spitting it all over her, but they all watch as I break into a coughing fit. My fist pounds against my chest in an effort to catch my breath.
“Uh, you good?” Easton asks.
I nod. “Wrong pipe.”
My voice croaks out as I get a handle on myself. Before I can say anything else, Tessa pushes herself between me and Knox.
“Can I just say how much I've missed you?”
Amelia lights up at the sight of Tess. “Oh my God, hey!”
They hug, and while I never knew they ever met, it shouldn't surprise me. Tess and Easton liked to act as if they were just fooling around, but I also know she went to his house for just about every holiday. I assume that's where she met Amelia.
Easton watches Tessa with a love-struck look on his face that makes even Knox sigh. As much as they made a pretty good couple, she moved on. That's just something he needs to accept. Still, he all but melts as she hugs him hello before focusing back on his sister.
“Come on. Let's go dance.”