Chapter 9 9

Nina's POV

Two weeks have passed since my engagement with Kevin was called off. My world feels like a wreckage site, with me lying right in the center of it. The door to my hotel room bursts open, and in stomps Alice, her brown eyes blazing with determination. "Get up and stop wallowing in sorrow!"

I groan, yanking the blanket over my head. "I hate life."

Some might call me dramatic. I don't care. I deserve to drown in misery. My heart is in pieces, and I'm entitled to a mourning period.

Alice and Neilson had been staying in the hotel room next door ever since they found out about my breakup. We grew up together, practically siblings in everything but blood.

Neilson had casually offered to arrange for Kevin to have an unfortunate accident, while Alice volunteered to handle the beatdown herself-though she admitted it might land her in jail, again.

A few years back, Alice got into a bar fight with some off-duty cops. Let's just say, a slightly tipsy, furious woman with access to a gun doesn't lead to the best possible outcomes.

She yanks my blanket away and pounces onto my bed. "You know what you need?"

"Kevin," I mumble into my pillow, suffocating in my own self-pity.

"No! You need a night out! Away from this room!" She tugs at my arm. "Your ass has been on this bed so long, it's permanently attached."

"Let me rot in peace," I moan as she attempts to physically drag me up.

Alice, never one to be gentle, grabs my ankle and hauls me off the bed. My head knocks against the nightstand before my face meets the floor. I just lie there. "Ow."

"Meh, you're fine." She waves off my pain. "Muffin! Matt!" she yells.

Neilson appears in the doorway, running a hand through his dark hair. "What now?"

Behind him stands Matt, arms crossed, his white shirt doing absolutely nothing to hide the muscle beneath it.

Alice smirks. "Get ready, we're going clubbing."

I latch onto Matt's ankle like a lifeline. "Don't let her take me."

Matt chuckles as Alice pries my fingers off him.

"Nooo!" I wail as she drags me across the carpet. My skin burns, but she doesn't stop until I'm in her hotel room, where she's already picked out my outfit-a dark blue dress that is way too tight and five-inch heels that are basically instruments of torture.

Alice herself wears a dangerously short black dress, accessorized with Neilson's oversized sweater. It took him two hours of arguing before she caved and agreed to wear it.

Neilson and Matt show up in their usual polished attire-white button-ups and dark jeans. The contrast between their elegance and Alice's chaos is almost comical.

The club is a whirlwind of flashing lights and deafening music. A staff member leads us to a private booth in the corner. I collapse onto the table, face down.

"Still drowning in sorrow?" Justin shouts over the music.

I flip him the bird before turning my face into Matt's shoulder. He lets me stay there, rubbing circles on my back.

At some point, I lose track of time. When I finally lift my head, everyone is gone. "They left me!" I cry, throwing myself onto the table again.

Matt sighs. "In their defense, they tried talking to you for an hour, but you ignored them."

"I'm sad." I pout. He pats my head like I'm some tragic puppy.

I jolt upright and grab a shot. Down it goes. Another. And another. The third is intercepted by Matt's hand.

"That's enough, Nina."

"No, it's not, Matt! I can still feel the pain." I throw myself into his arms, sobbing. "I just want to forget."

"Hey, it'll be okay, Short Stack," he murmurs, his voice gentle.

I curl into his lap, uncaring of the stares from passersby. Matt doesn't push me away, just holds me steady as I fall apart.

Alice appears again, and I throw myself onto her. "Men are stupid!"

"I agree!" Alice yells, spitting directly into Neilson's face. He groans but doesn't shove her away.

"Maybe you two should slow down," Matt suggests hesitantly.

I flip my hair, attempting what I assume is a sexy look. "There's nothing wrong with alcohol. It makes people feel good."

Alice hiccups. "Did you know ethanol is made by yeast? It eats sugar and excretes carbon dioxide and ethanol." She waves a finger in the air, swaying.

I nod solemnly. "Ethanol releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins-the happy chemicals."

"Our ape ancestors ate fermented fruit," Alice slurs, "which means we are preadapted for alcohol!"

We clink glasses and take another shot.

Matt sighs. "Yeah, they're completely wasted."

"Let's dance!" I shout.

Alice jumps onto Neilson's lap. "Muffin, dance with me or I dance with someone else!"

Neilson groans but takes her hand, leading her to the dance floor. He keeps his arms locked around her, preventing any other man from getting close as she slinks against him.

I turn to Matt, pouting. "I wanna dance too."

"Not a good idea," he says firmly.

I climb onto his lap, bouncing slightly in frustration. His icy blue eyes darken as the club lights flicker against his sharp features. His hands find my hips, holding me still.

"Matt, why not?" I whine, pressing against him.

He tilts his head, his breath hot against my lips. A hand slides to my lower back, pulling me in. My heart stutters. He licks his lips, the motion slow, deliberate. Then he bites down gently.

I stop breathing.

His grip tightens on the back of my dress. "Careful, Nina," he murmurs, voice husky.

I should pull away. But I don't. Instead, I whisper, "Make me forget, Matt."

His eyes burn into mine. And then, everything changes.