I wanted to scream at her for leaving me and Jett as third wheels to Brey and Jax, but she knew exactly what she was doing.
I glanced at Jax and Brey who were already in a deep conversation, whispering to one another. I gave in and looked at Jett again. “I guess we’re the odd men out.”
He tilted his head a little. “Are we now, Victory?”
“Can you not call me that?”
“Why not? It’s your name.”
“Yeah, but no one calls me that. Everyone calls me Vick.”
“I’m not everyone.”
“Oh, please. Don’t act like you’re someone to me or I’m someone to you.” I downed the rest of my drink and realized I needed to take a note from Katie and leave. “I should get going, Brey.”
She looked away from Jax like it physically pained her to tear her eyes away. “I’m sorry, Vick. My husband is rude.”
“That’s right.Husband.” He emphasized the word and Brey smiled. She couldn’t help herself, and seeing her that happy made me smile too.
“It isn’t a big deal. I should catch up with work anyway. Steven has a big meeting next week.”
Brey eyed Jett. “Yes. One I hope goes well for every single person in the room.”
Jax glared at Jett. “Don’t be a dick next week, man.”
Jett didn’t respond to either of them. He kept looking at me. “You drive here?”
I grabbed my purse. “No. I didn’t move to Chicago and bring a car. The street is one of the most amazing places in the world.”
His face scrunched up like he was smelling garbage. I rolled my eyes and hugged Brey goodbye, then Jax, who offered his driver to me. I shook my head no, telling them I would get an Uber.
I glanced at Jett and mumbled, “Have a good night.”
With that, I wove through the crowd. No one readily moved for a girl trying to leave, but I swayed in and out of the dancing masses and patted a few backs while I smiled on. I didn’t jostle anyone out of their partying. This was someone’s night to remember and another’s night to forget. I didn’t want to take them away from that.
I made it outside about twenty minutes later after stopping a few times to dance with a stranger or cheer on a few shots being emptied.
I pulled up the Uber app on my phone, but someone grabbed my elbow.
“I’ll take you home,” Jett grumbled behind me, and when I looked up to see his jaw ticking up and down, I tried my best not to be turned on.
“Are you following me?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he ground out as he steered me toward a black SUV.
I attempted to jerk my elbow away from him, but he just tightened his hold and kept pulling me toward the vehicle. “I don’t want a ride.”
“Well, I would have considered that before.”
“Before what?”
“Before I made my guy wait twenty minutes for you to lollygag and mingle with every person in the club.”
“Excuse me?” I shook him off when we reached the SUV. “For your information, I didn’t need nor did I ask for need a ride. I am perfectly capable of getting myself home safely.”
“No woman looking like you and dressed like you at midnight on a Saturday is capable of doing that.” He opened the back door. “Get in.”
I didn’t move one muscle toward that SUV.