Chapter 8
Knix and Texas talked quietly in the front seat of the SUV as Erika and I sat in the back. Erika didn’t even bat an eyelash at the guys. She knew I was living with them now, and that my mom was in the cancer center. Her eyes flashed between them and me every so often though, and I know the moment we got away from the guys and into the dance club, she would be asking me all sorts of questions. Like whether or not I had kissed Bellamy, Knix, or Marv again. Or if I’d kissed Texas too. I had no clue what I was supposed to tellher.
I sighed as I thought about it, drawing Texas’ attention. He glanced back at us. “You okay there,Princess?”
“You got it, whiz-kid.”
He frowned before whipping his head to Knix, who chuckled under his breath. “Who told her that nickname?” hedemanded.
Using the rearview mirror as a spyglass, because I was sitting right behind him, I could see that Knix was trying valiantly to keep his lips pressed together in a mulish line to keep from laughing. Texas narrowed his eyes before swinging back tome.
“Let’s hear it,” he directed his attention to me fully. “Who gave you thatnickname?”
I shrugged and blinked at him innocently while Erika stared at the both of us with a raised brow. “I have no clue what you’re talking about,” I said as seriously as I could muster. Bellamy would not be happy if I ousted him. Texas growled low in his throat, all of his usual teasing-sun- shininess forgotten as he reached down to unbuckle himself. For what, I didn’t know. What could he do in a movingcar?
He didn’t even get the chance to finish though, before Knix barked out a command. “Car moving. Seat belt stayson.”
“You know they’re serious when they forget to use ‘the’ or ‘is,’” Erika leaned over and whisper-talked to me. I snickered and turned to look out mywindow.
Knix slowed the SUV as we arrived at a large brick building that looked like it could have been a warehouse at some point but was now settled between a high-class boutique with a glass façade and a quiet Irish sounding bar calledMadra Rua. Knix and Texas turned to face the building, both frowning as they took in the line of people waiting – girls in short skirts and guys in jeans trying too hard to lookbored.
“This is the place?” Knix nodded towards thewarehouse.
I turned to Erika; she nodded enthusiastically. “It sure is. Oh my god, I’m so freakingpumped! Let’s go!” She grabbed my arm and dragged me along behind her. “Thanks for the ride!” she called behind her as she pulled me out of the SUV and onto thesidewalk.
“Call me if you need a ride!” Knix holleredback.
“I will.” I closed the door behind me and Erika jerked me towards the end of theline.
“Hurry up,” she said. “I don’t want anyone else getting in before us.” From the looks of it, several people would be getting in before us, but I guessed she meant in line before we got there. I looked over my shoulder at the dark SUV. Knix waited a few beats before the turn signal came on and he pulled back onto the busystreet.
Cars rushed past the building, the wind from their velocity sent skirts flying up and girls cursing. I was so glad I had chosen a pair of shorts tonight. Erika had taken one look at them and scoffed, but I hadn’t let her convince me to change them. I was going to a stupid dance club because she asked, not because I really wanted to go. I would have much rather been at home sitting between Knix and Marv, scarfing popcorn and watching amovie.
Surprisingly the line didn’t take too long. Within twenty minutes we were the next to be let in and when we showed our IDs, the doorman uncapped a black sharpie and slashed X’s over the back of each of our hands. Erika grumbled, but let them do it and we were suddenly in the club. It was darker than it had been outside with all the street lamps and car headlights. Smoke lingered above the dance club – I was surprised. I thought there were laws saying you couldn’t smoke in public buildingsanymore.
As we moved further into the big, converted space, I realized that there were smoke machines by the DJ stand and up in the balconies. There were...so many balconies. Four wraparounds overlooking the dance floor, the bars, and the DJ stand. People were dressed a lot nicer than I was in my dark jean shorts. I looked down at the frayed ends and wished I had let Erika convince me to change. She noticed my preoccupation and looked down at my shorts as well before smirking atme.
“I told you,” shesaid.
I rolled my eyes and released the hem. “Come on,” I said, grabbing her hand. “I want to grab a bottle of water.” I could already feel the heat of the mash of bodies pressed against one another even though we weren’t anywhere near the dance floor yet. I knew I would need thehydration.
“Hold on, slow your roll.” Erika pulled back, stoppingme.
“What?”
“You’re acting like it’s not going to be there for much longer,” she snapped. “Look around.” She punctuated that with a gesture to our outrageous surroundings – the thumping music that reverberated up through the floor and walls. “This is aclub. Everyone’s drinking. We shouldtoo!”
I raised a brow at her and looked at her like she was crazy. “Um, that’s going to be a little hard to do.” I raised my hand, the back facing towards her. “They know we’reunderage.”
Erika smirked at me and shook her head. “Oh, Harlow.” She sighed. “Have I taught you nothing?” I frowned at her. What the hell did that mean? “The bouncers out front know we’re underage, but they see hundreds of people in a night. Do you really think they’re going to remember us? We can just go to the bathroom and wipe this shit off. No one else willknow!”
“Don’t they card you at the bar too?” This did not seem like a goodplan.
Erika rolled her eyes at me. “We’renot going to buy us drinks,” she said. “Guysare going to buy usdrinks.”
“I don’t know–” Ibegan.
“It’ll be fine,” she interrupted. “We’ll flirt a little and then bam, freedrinks.”