Unsocial (38 page)

The bar is packed, and judging by the line we luckily got to
bypass, we would never have gotten in here. They even have a table reserved for
us.  This is why I love Trevor.  He always leaves a good impression and every
club owner happy so there are favors that can be called in for later, like
tonight.  Obviously, Alex had talked to Trevor who in turn had called the owner
of the club who set everything up all nice and tight for us. 
Awesome.

I slip my coat off and hang it on the back of my stool. Just as I
sit down Alex’s eyes go wide, and she freezes in mid-sit.  "Oh shit. Do
not look behind you. If you do, it will ruin our entire night."

I swear my heart stops for a minute. No way can it be Dylan.  What
would be the chances of him showing up at this club the same night that Alex
and me? I shake away that thought because I'm sure he's with the kids tonight,
or if he is going to a bar, I'm sure it's one of the larger ones in the Power
and Light District. No matter, I, of course, have to turn and look.

The butterflies in my stomach instantly die when I lay eyes on my
ex-boyfriend, Will. And he's not alone.  I take in his companion.  She’s
wearing one of the shortest dresses I’ve ever seen someone in person wear.  I
can tell it’s expensive and as slutty as it looks; she makes it look good.  If
this weren't Kansas, and one of the last places on earth a famous model would
be on New Year’s Eve, I would swear she stepped off the pages of
Vogue
and right inside this club on the arm of…..oh, shit, is that my stuffy
ex-boyfriend? A laugh escapes me as I take him in after being distracted by his
date who is in the process of sucking his neck as they make their way toward
us.  He’s wearing a pair of skinny jeans with rips, in no way a good look for
him.  He has on a faded t-shirt with a distressed jean jacket.  His hair is
mussed; I’m guessing from the hands of the Barbie hanging all over his arm.  She
has to bend to accomplish all the sucking and hanging because she’s taller than
him by at least three inches.

I turn back to Alex, "Oh my God, do you think Will had a twin
out there all this time, and we never knew? And what the hell is he doing here
in a club?”

She looks as shocked as me, "I have no idea. He used to whine
like a huge fucking baby every time you wanted to go out until you just quit.
And what about the cheap trick he’s with? What in the hell? You think his mommy
and daddy approve?"

Will's father and grandfather were rich lawyers, and his father
never approved of Will dating a poor, orphaned girl. "Ugh, please don't
remind me about his parents."

"Oh shit, Brooke, they’re heading this way."

No, no, no. Please go left, or right, just not straight.
Unfortunately, someone missed my plea because I hear Will's voice
behind me, "Brooke?"

Shit. Was his voice always that nasally? I know I have to be
polite and turn around and more importantly not laugh at
this
Will up
close. "Hi, Will. What are you doing here?"

His giggling doll answers for him, "Oh, we come here a lot.
Billy just loves the whole vibe here.”

Did she just call him Billy? I look over to him and look at his
beaming face. He looks like a little boy dressed in someone else’s grown-up
clothes and preening because he thinks he looks handsome.  Alex snorts when she
hears what Blondie says.  "Really? Billy loves it here?" You can’t
miss the disbelief in her voice.

I crack a small smile at Alex’s blatant taunting, and I see a
flash of irritation at her words cross his face.  "Yes, it's a totally
happening place, so Bianca and I come as often as we can.  Don’t we, darling.”

A laugh escapes which I try to disguise as a cough. Everyone’s
eyes turn to me at the sound, “Oh, excuse me. I swallowed wrong.”

Alex takes a bite from a complementary pretzel on the table,
"Well, isn't that sweet."

Bianca isn't picking up on Alex’s tone at all and nods way too
enthusiastically, "Yeah, Billy's just the sweetest guy ever."

She pinches his cheek and gives him a big kiss on the lips. His
smile is so big I’m afraid his face is going to break. What the hell is going
on? Am I in the Twilight Zone or something? When she finally removes her lips
from his he smiles and clears his throat, "Well it’s good to see you
again, Brooke." He nods curtly at Alex and grumbles something I can only guess
is rude before leading Bianca away by the hand to the table reserved right next
to ours. 
Oh, joy.

I turn around slowly and face Alex, "What the hell was
that?" I shout in a whisper.

Her eyes are wide as she shakes her head. "I don't have any
fucking idea. She called him Billy and didn't get a lecture. She kissed him in
public and didn't get a lecture. I think she must have a spell on him. What’s
that thing guys say, magic pussy."

“Ewww, that’s gross, Alex.” But seriously, Will is the most
uptight guy I have ever known. He hates bars because of the loud music, smoke,
and crowds.  "Okay, screw this.  We need to drink, so I’m heading to the
bar. Be right back.”

"Yeah, work that dress and get us free drinks,” she orders.
“Make mine strong, because I need it after witnessing that crazy shit.”

I laugh and head up to the crowded bar. Just as I finish giving my
order, I feel electricity jolt through my body and all the oxygen leaves my
lungs. The noises of the club dim at the same time the lights brighten. All
this because of the two strong arms circling my waist and the clean, masculine
smell that I recognize as belonging to only one man, Dylan.

Then he speaks in a gruff, sexy voice right in my ear, tightening
his grip on my hips, "Miss me?"

My mouth is dry when I turn around slowly to take him in.
“Absolutely, yes,” I answer him. He leans in close enough that we share our
breath which causes my breathing to speed up even more. I have only one last
thought before lips meet for just the briefest of touches.

My life is going to irrevocably change tonight.

Dylan

Brooke being here can’t be a
coincidence. 
No, this is divine intervention.  I
spotted
her heading toward the bar while half listening to Jax and a
couple of the guys from the shop describe every potential New Year’s Eve
take-out dish in the club, and that doesn’t mean food.  Jax, being friends with
douchebag Trevor, happened to get us passes back to the same club I ran into
her before, where things could have gotten out of control but instead had
gotten interrupted.  Tonight there will be no interruptions.  I slide my empty
to the middle of the table and head for the bar right behind her. She’s here,
I’m here, but we are leaving together. Just as soon as I figure out how. 
First, I must make contact. I slide up right behind her, so I know that she
knows there’s a hard body crowding her and slip my arms around her tiny waist,
then lean in.

“Miss me?” I ask directly into her ear.  I feel her whole body
shudder against mine.

She turns in my arms and looks up at me with eyes wide and shiny
with instant recognition and surprise, “Absolutely, yes,” she whispers back.
She doesn’t have to yell or try to speak above the noise of the club because
I’m so focused on her that everything else around us has faded to nothing. 
She
wants me.
  Just to warm her up to how I want this night to go, I lean in
and buff my lips against hers.  Her response is exactly what I’m looking for,
she sways toward me and grasp my belt loops. “Dylan, what are you doing here?”

"Trevor got Jax four passes for tonight, so we’re here with a
couple of guys.  What about you?”

She laughs softly, “Same.  He got passes for Alex and me as well.”

I narrow my eyes
, suddenly jealous
and worried that he might be here. I
ask,
“Trevor isn't playing here tonight or anything, right?"
Jesus, calm the
fuck down.

“No, he's in Chicago I think. It's just a DJ tonight, but he's
pretty good."

I nod relieved, not that I would have let that get in my way.
"So are you just here with Alex?"

She nods over to a small table where Alex is sitting, but she
hasn't noticed us together yet. "Yep. So how was Christmas? Did the kids
have a good time? And how was playing Santa?"

I know Brooke loves the kids, and, trust me, I love that about
her, but tonight that's not what is on my mind. Right now I just want to be me
again. I pull her closer to me so she can hear me, "How about for one
night we forget what we are and concentrate on who we are, just Dylan and
Brooke.  Two people who met here a couple of months ago but were interrupted. 
Tonight is our chance to finish that. Tonight, it’s just us.”

She swallows hard, and her breath speeds up, she likes that idea.
"But...”

I put one finger to her lips, "Just us, baby. Just two people
who’ve wanted to fuck the hell out of each for way too long. That’s all.”

She smiles and nods once, "I like that idea."

I return her smile with my own pleased one. Now I need to plan a
disappearing act with her. We need to distract Alex. "Why don't you get
your friend and join us over there?” I point to where Jax is sitting with two
of our employees who do body work. “I'll get your drinks and meet you over
there." I lean back in and nip her earlobe. “Hurry,” I urge her in a
whisper.

She slips past me and makes her way quickly through the growing
crowd, and I’m admiring her determination as well as her ass in the shiny
silver dress. When I catch sight of those boots, though, a really dirty plan
begins forming.  This is going to work. Finally, I’m going to do really bad
things to Brooke.

I get the drinks and head over to the large table where our party
is still surveying the crowd and weighing all their options. Alex and Brooke walk
over, and I pull out a chair for Brooke. Jax looks a little suspicious as
always, but he pulls out the chair next to him for Alex. I hand Brooke her Rum
and Coke, and she thanks me. She's trembling a little, but my instincts tell me
it's from excitement and not fear of consequences.

The music is loud, and we are all talking and drinking. Everyone
seems to be having a good time.  My mind is working overtime trying to keep up
with conversation and planning how in the hell to get Brooke out of here
because I can’t wait much longer. Jax has been laying it on pretty thick with
Alex, and I'm pretty sure he has bigger plans tonight than fucking up my chance
with Brooke. Alex seems to be eating it the fuck up, so my plan is going
beautifully.

Alex finishes her drink, and Jax stands up putting a hand on my
shoulder, “Dylan and I are going for another round.” I stand up and look at
Brooke’s drink which is still half full and smile because I want her sober. 
"You want water or anything?"

She nods gratefully, "Yes, please."

I follow Jax to the bar knowing he wants to give me a last-minute
warning.  But I’m not in the fucking mood to be lectured.  We get to the bar
where Jax orders Alex’s Red Bull and vodka, another beer for him, and a round
of shots. I ask for two bottles of water, and when the bartender turns away to
work on our order Jax asks, “So, what’s the plan?”

Alright, this isn’t exactly what I thought he would say, but it
looks like my wingman is on point tonight.  His tone doesn’t have that warning
that is usually part of a conversation about Brooke.  Right now it’s more
amused.  I just go with it. "I'm going to do what you said
, get her out of my system. First,
I’ve got to get her out of here, and I need you to distract Alex.”

He's nods thinking about it. "I can distract Alex. That part
I'm fucking fine with, and honestly, I'm cool with you fucking Brooke. You fuck
her out of your mind, and then it’s back to the old Dylan. Make sure she knows
what this is or you’re fucked. But if you think for a minute that you have
feelings for this girl I'm begging you to reconsider. Falling for your social
worker who has the power to fuck up
your
whole life is not good.
”

I keep my face impassive and calm.  I’m not thinking right now of
anything but taking this opportunity to do what I’ve been dying to do for
nearly six months. I’m not thinking social worker or client. One-night stand or
relationship.  All I have to give or can think about is this one night that I
can have with Brooke. I’m not entertaining thoughts of some future that will
never be because I
know nothing
about relationships or falling for someone.  Jax knows this, so I
don’t have a fucking clue why something like that is even on his mind.

I don’t know what repercussions this is going to bring, and right
now I don’t give two shits.  Nothing is going to get in our way tonight.  This
is my chance to end this need I have to fuck Brooke so my life can get back to
what I hope will be the new normal for Dylan Monroe. I won’t have the freedom
for all the random hookups I used to have because of my home situation, but I
will have the freedom to take care of my needs whenever I want to. But first
I’ve got to get Brooke out of my system.  Until I do, I can’t think about
fucking another chick. The last time I tried just made me feel like shit, and
I’ve never had that feeling before. The guilty feeling was some fucked up
foreign shit for me, so if I plan on being able to pick up random chicks again,
I need to get fucking
her
out of the way first. Right now, I just want
her.

"It's just this time. You're right
. Just scratching an itch, that's been there for far too long.
So be a good wingman will ya?"

He smirks, and I know he's in. He's been warning me against this,
but maybe he believes this will "fix" things. Maybe he just really
wants to get into Alex’s pants or both, who cares? We head back to the table,
and everyone except for Brooke and I take the shots.

Alex is watching us, but Jax is doing a pretty good job of
distracting her.  Brooke and I have been keeping it casual, mostly just sinking
into the surroundings until we can find our way out of here.  Finally the
D.J.’s voice booms over the speakers, "Alright everyone, we have about an
hour before midnight, and we have a guy here with a very important message for
the special lady in his life.”

A goofy-looking guy stumbles on stage, and I notice Alex and
Brooke sit up for a closer look.

Alex looks over at Brooke with wide eyes, "Holy shit! That's
Will."

Brooke nods, "I see."

Will? Brooke’s ex-boyfriend, Will? What the fuck is he doing here?
From what Brooke’s mentioned about him, he was too uptight to go to a bar.

The DJ hands him the mic, and he speaks in the most annoying nasal
tone I’ve ever heard on a grown-ass man, “Bianca, I know we’ve only known each
other a short time, but I've never met anyone like you. You bring out the very
best in me. I want to be the best for you forever."
Holy shit, is this
some kind of fucked up marriage proposal?
I watch Brooke as he drops down
on one knee and pulls out a huge diamond ring, "Will you marry me, my
darling?"

A fake, platinum blonde chick with huge fake tits flies up to the
stage to complete this cheesy-ass proposal by squealing, "Yes, Billy, oh,
yes, yes, yes!" He stands and tries to pick her up, but he fails
spectacularly.  Instead, they end up jumping up and down like a couple of 10-year-olds.

Alex bursts out laughing, which causes Brooke to do the same
thing. I look at Brooke, "Is that your ex?"

Brooke is still laughing. "As embarrassing as it is to admit,
yep.”

"And you think it's funny that he just got engaged?"

“Not as funny as it is that I actually dated him for three years.”
She shakes her head, “What was I thinking?”

Jax shakes his head, "That shit right there is fucking
crazy.” He looks over at me in all seriousness, “If I ever plan something like
this, please remind me of this point in time, or better yet, just shoot my
ass.”

Brooke wipes a small tear that had formed from laughing so hard
then addresses me, "Sorry, it's just so bizarre. I mean this is the guy
that nearly had a seizure when I left two buttons undone on my blouse because
it made me look trashy.” She gestures toward the now kissing couple, who look
like they need a room, and soon, “And now look who’s he marrying.”

She and Alex starting laughing all over again.  Jax watches them
for a second before taking a drink of his beer, “Sounds like a real winner.”

I can't for the life of me understand why she ever dated him in
the first place, but who the fuck cares now,  She isn’t jealous or upset, so
that’s okay by me. She's laughing, so I'm good with that. "Sounds like you
dodged a bullet."

She breathes trying to stop laughing, "You have no
idea."

Alex holds her glass up and toasts Brooke, "Here's to ditching
that loser."

They clink their glasses together before getting up to go to the
dance floor. Jax and I take a second to look at each other, shrug and follow. I
need to tell Brooke the plan I came up with, and what better way than when
we’re cheek to cheek. Jax keeps Alex occupied, and I dance as close to Brooke
as I can without raising suspicion. I don't need Alex thinking something is
going on and deciding to lecture Brooke, making her back out.

A slow song comes on, and I pull Brooke a little closer, "So
you're okay with him proposing to her?”

She laughs a little again, "Yes, why wouldn’t I be? I have no
feelings for him. I have to admit,
though,
part of me is just a little curious how what he sees in her."

"Fake tits, fake tan, fake enthusiasm,…."

She chuckles again, "Yeah, it's weird. I have no idea what
even attracted him to me in the first place or vice versa.  With me, he wanted
this girlfriend who would devote herself 24 hours a day to being perfect and
demure, and he just asked a Playboy Bunny to be his wife. I don’t even know how
something like that happens.” She looks at me seriously for a moment. “You
know, I had the wild-child boyfriend in high school who just wanted me to play
fast and loose all the time with him.  In college, I had the super-serious, law
student boyfriend who wanted me to look perfect, act perfect, and be perfect
while I hung proudly on his arm. I’m beginning to think I’m nobody’s type
unless there’s one somewhere in the middle I don’t know about.”

I have no idea what to say to that. I would rather not think of
her as anybody’s type because that just makes me want to kick someone’s ass,
and since I missed my chance to do that with Trevor, I could ruin this ex’s
night and kick his. I give myself a mental shake because I’m just thinking all
kinds of fucked up shit right now. “Yeah, I can’t imagine you with someone like
him either.”

"I guess he's what I thought I needed at the time to get my
life under control, but I think I gave him too much control and lost some of
myself.” She looks up at me teasingly. “I have just enough wild child in me to
make me bad with just enough angel in me to be a good.” She bats her eyes at me
and licks her lips, and my knees, I swear, my knees get weak.

I pull her close to me, "I’m going to get real up close and
personal with bad Brooke tonight. Let's get out of here."