Chapter 4 Midnight Adventures

"I ran into him last week," Kate said, smirking. "He asked about you."

I snorted. "Let me guess-he's single again and looking for a rebound."

"Bingo," Kate said, stepping back to admire her work. "But don't worry. I told him you were way out of his league."

"Good," I said, standing up and looking at myself in the mirror. Kate had gone heavy on the smoky eye and bold red lip, and I had to admit, I looked good. "What about you? Any exes you want to rant about?"

Kate sighed, plopping down in front of the mirror so I could do her makeup. "Ugh, just the usual crap. You remember Josh, right? The guy who thought it was totally fine to share every detail of our sex life with his idiot friends like it was some kind of locker room victory chant?

"Yeah, I remember Josh." I said, sighing. "I hope he trips over his own ego, falls down a mountain, and lands in a pile of wolf poop. Preferably face-first."

"Men are trash," I said, laughing and applying a shimmery eyeshadow to her lids. "But at least we look good."

"Damn right," Kate said, grinning. "Now, let's finish these drinks and hit the club."

Kate and I stumbled into the club, the bass from the music vibrating through the floor and up into my bones. The club was everything I needed-loud, crowded, and exactly the kind of distraction I was looking for.

"This is exactly what you needed," Kate shouted over the music, dragging me toward the bar. The bass thumped through my chest, the neon lights casting everything in a hazy glow.

She flagged down the bartender and ordered two tequila shots, slamming them down on the counter with a grin. "Bottoms up, babe. Tonight, we forget about Tomford, Southern View, and all the other crap."

I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed the shot, clinked it against hers, and threw it back. The burn was sharp and immediate, warming me from the inside out. "Another," I said, already feeling the edges of my anxiety blur.

Kate laughed, ordering another round. "That's more like it," Kate said, grinning as she handed me a cocktail. "Now, let's find a table."

We snagged a spot near the dance floor; the music was so loud we had to shout to hear each other. Kate leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. "So, what's the plan? Are we getting a lot more wasted, or are we getting laid?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Wasted, definitely. I'm not in the mood for anything else."

"Fair enough," Kate said, raising her glass. "To forgetting men and having fun."

"Cheers to that," I said, clinking my glass against hers. We were already tipsy, the alcohol loosening our inhibitions and making everything funnier than it should have been. We laughed until our sides hurt, reminiscing about old boyfriends and the ridiculous things they'd done.

At one point, a guy approached our table, his eyes locked on me. He was decent-looking, but his confidence was off-putting. "Hey," he said, leaning in way too close. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. You're stunning."

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And?"

He blinked, clearly thrown off by my lack of enthusiasm. "Uh, I was wondering if I could buy you a drink."

"No, thanks," I said, turning back to Kate. "I'm good."

He hesitated, clearly not used to being rejected. "Come on, don't be like that. I'm just trying to be nice."

I turned back to him, my smile sharp. "And I'm just trying to enjoy my night. So, unless you're planning to disappear into thin air, I suggest you leave."

He scowled, muttering something under his breath as he walked away. Kate burst out laughing, nearly spilling her drink. "Oh my God, Vanessa. You're ruthless."

"He had it coming," I said, shrugging. "Now, let's dance."

Kate laughed, throwing her arm around my shoulders. "Let's dance."

We pushed our way onto the dance floor, the crowd parting just enough to let us through. The music was louder here, the bass thumping in my chest like a second heartbeat. Kate spun around, her shiny dress catching the light as she moved.

I followed her lead, letting the rhythm take over. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't thinking about work, or Tomford, or the mess I'd gotten myself into. I was just here, in the moment, with my best friend.

Peace never seemed to like me. I felt it-a pair of eyes on me, intense and unwavering. I turned, scanning the room, and my gaze landed on him.

He was standing near the VIP section, tall and impossibly handsome, with dark hair that fell just right over his forehead. His suit was tailored to perfection, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and tapered waist. He held a glass of whisky in one hand; the amber liquid caught the light as he swirled it slowly. But it was his eyes that caught me-dark, troubled, piercing, and focused entirely on me.

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the rest of the club faded away. The music, the crowd, the neon lights-it all disappeared, leaving just the two of us. He raised his glass in a silent toast, his lips curving into a smirk as he took a slow, deliberate sip. The way he looked at me-like he could see straight through me-sent a shiver down my spine.

I didn't look away. I couldn't. There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled me in even as my instincts screamed at me to run. He was dangerous, I could tell, but that only made him more intriguing.

Kate nudged me, snapping me out of my trance. "Who's that?" she asked, following my gaze. "I don't know," I said, my voice barely audible over the music. "But he's been staring at me all night."

Kate grinned, raising her glass in his direction. "Well, he's definitely your type. Maybe you should go say hi."

I shook my head, tearing my eyes away from him. "Not tonight. I'm not in the mood for games."

But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me. Every time I glanced in his direction, he was there, his gaze intense and unyielding. It was unsettling, but there was something about him that drew me in, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned to face him fully, my movements slow and deliberate as I danced. Our eyes met again, and this time, I didn't look away. He raised his glass once more, his smirk widening as he winked at me. Then he took a slow, deliberate gulp of his whisky, his eyes never leaving mine.

My breath hitched, my heart pounding in my chest. Who was this guy? And why did he have this effect on me?

Before I could overthink it, he set his glass down and stood, his movements smooth and confident. He started walking toward me, his eyes locked on mine like a predator stalking its prey. The crowd seemed to part for him, as if they could sense the power radiating off him.

My stomach flipped, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside me. I didn't know what was about to happen, but one thing was certain-this night was far from over.