ryder
The lightsin the club pulse in time to the driving beat. The effect is dizzying, especially when you’ve had as much whiskey as I have tonight. I lean back against the couch in the VIP section where Linc and I have been camped out for the past few hours. The music here is total shit, wordless EDM crap I can’t stand, but the guys are on the prowl for pussy. Since I’ve been relegated to the bench in a strictly wingman capacity, I don’t get to make the call about their playing arena.
A lazy smile moves over my face as I think of Felicity, waiting for me at home. I wish she’d come out with us more often, but to be honest, I can’t even see her standing in a place like this, let alone enjoying it. It would be like putting a Picasso in a subway station bathroom. A total fucking waste.
The screen of my phone informs me it’s past two. She’s probably fast asleep. It’s my favorite time to hold her — when I get home and find her there, curled around one of my pillows. She always looks so peaceful. Serene. And I’m usually buzzing with too much energy to keep my eyes closed.
I watch Linc snort a line of coke off the table — his third of the night, if I’m keeping proper track.
“That shit is terrible for you, you know,” I yell over the thumping bass beat.
“Like those little white pills I see you popping are doctor approved?” He laughs lazily.
“They’re just to take the edge off.” My voice is defensive. “It’s not even a high — they relax me.”
He scoffs and shoots me a doubtful look. I ignore him.
Aiden’s already disappeared, headed home with some girl he met on the dance floor. At least one of them will be in a good mood tomorrow.
“You ‘bout ready to get out of here?” I call to Linc, my words slurring a bit. “They’re closing in a few.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” He stumbles to his feet, laughing. His pupils are the size of saucers. “Dude, did you see that chick Aiden left with? I think she was taller than him in those heels.”
I snort. “As long as she makes him happy.”
“When did you become such a sap, man?” He shoves me lightly. “You’re fucking domesticated.”
“Don’t make me hit you, Linc. I’m drunk, I might miss a few times before my fist makes contact with your face… but I’ll do it.”
We stumble out the side entrance to the street. Linc is weaving a bit, too obliterated to walk a straight path. I have a feeling he’ll be hugging a toilet bowl before the night is through.
I can feel the whiskey in my system, but it’s suppressed beneath the buzz of the pills I popped earlier. Just to help me relax, not to get me high. Aiden, who somehow has a hookup in every city he finds himself in, managed to get me a refill when I ran out of my original supply. I’m not entirely sure he got the same kind, though, because these don’t seem as strong. I’m taking three at a time just to feel the same buzz I got from one of the originals.
Bullshit, considering what I paid for the little white bastards.
Linc and I stagger through the door into the dark loft around three. I try to keep him quiet as I steer him toward his bedroom, but he’s laughing like a fucking hyena. I’m almost positive he’s going to wake Felicity, but when I let myself into our bedroom, she’s lying totally still with her back to the door, her breaths deep and even.
I strip to my skin and crawl into bed beside her, feeling the room spin around me. It was a shitty day of nonstop meetings about the album, then an even shittier night at that club babysitting Linc and Aiden while they did rail after rail of coke.
I pull Felicity into my arms, feeling my world slowly right itself again.
As long as I have her to come home to, nothing else matters.