Page 65 of Scrubbing In
Jace sits up, more alert than I’d seen him all night. “Do we need to go rescue them? I mean her. Leena. Do we need to go rescue her?”
I stare blankly at him for a moment while contemplating his suggestion. “I don’t know.” But then I shake my head. So what if she gets hit on? She’s coming home to me. “It's fine. It’s not like any guy has a chance with her.”
My attention goes back to the text thread. But the seed has been planted, and a niggling sense of uncertainty has me typing out a message to Quinn.
Me: Is someone giving her trouble? Are you guys ok?
My eyes are glued to the screen, waiting for a reply. I hold my breath when the three dots begin bouncing, then disappear. They do not reappear. That small abandoned blip waters the seed Jace neatly planted.
After less than five minutes of waiting for a response from my sister that never comes, I drain my beer, plop the bottle on the coffee table, and get to my feet. “Fuck it, let’s go make sure they’re okay,” I say as I turn for the entry way.
The sound of Jace surging to his feet follows me. “Right behind you, dude.”
I immediately spotLeena through the throng of people on the dance floor when we enter the darkened bar she and her friends chose for tonight. She is dancing with Quinn and Charlie next to a high-top table her sister and wife are sitting at. I’m relieved no one appears to be dancing with them, but there are plenty of men ogling them.
Narrowing my eyes, I jerk a glance over at Jace to see he is scanning the dance floor. I slap my hand against his chest and indicate where the girls are with my head. His swivels in that direction and his entire demeanor relaxes, shoulders falling and a carefree smirk turns up his lips.
I’m a little surprised and confused by his concern for my girlfriend as he watches her dance with Quinn. However, he did grow up with me—maybe he’s feeling protective of my sister theway we all did when she was younger. But right now isn’t the time to dwell on that, we need to find a place I can covertly watch out for my girl. On the way over, I made it clear to Jace that I was only here to look out for Leena. Our relationship is still under wraps.
In unspoken agreement, we move towards the bar, but I remain zeroed in on Leena. A spot opens up at the crowded bar and we slide in to wait for a bartender.
“Two beers.” Jace points at one of the taps.
“Just a soda for me,” I say distractedly. My friend’s quizzical look flashes in the corner of my eye. Turning to him, I explain, “I need to be clearheaded.”
Jace shakes his head at me and slams half his beer before he spins and leans his forearms back on the bar top to watch the girls with me.
Leena throws her head back, laughing at something Charlie says in her ear.
I tug at my collar, understanding but hating the attention she is receiving. Leena’s hips sway to the beat of the music, the fabric of her dress stretching over her tight ass, inching up her thighs with each movement.
Damn, she really is killing me in that dress. My mouth goes dry, imagining being free to dance with her one day. Her ass brushing my groin as I move with her. I adjust myself under the bar, knowing it’s pointless with her on display like that. Leena constantly has me hard.
Resigned to being uncomfortable, I lean back on the barstool and carry on watching.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Leena
Slurpingdown my entire fruity cocktail while batting away Mina’s hands makes me almost choke. Laughing at her, I pluck the cup down and reach for her water glass and napkin. I down half the liquid, then wipe my lips and chin.
Tipsy, relaxed, and enjoying the evening, I do a little shimmy at the table. “It’s been too long since we’ve been out!”
Mina lifts her glass and says, “I definitely needed tonight!”
Everyone else raises their glasses and agrees.
“It’s too bad you scheduled Sarina on call tonight. She would have been so much fun.” Charlie pulls her lips into a faux scowl, but then immediately throws an arm around Quinn. “But I’ll forgive you since Quinn is fucking awesome!”
I enfold both women in my arms, squeezing Quinn between us. The red beading and sequins on her shirt snags at my curls. “Oh my god, right?” I gush as I pull strands of my hair free.
Quinn and I start giggling and she says, “Thank you for inviting me. I’m so glad I came down. I seriously haven’t been out in so long. School is sucking my will to live!”
Quinn is hilarious, sassy, and sarcastic. So much like Charlie. And I love that she has fit in seamlessly with our group because they are my ride or dies.
Throwing my hands up in the air, I do a twirl, then circle my hips to the beat. “Now you’re stuck with us, babe. Regardless of Julian.”
“Don’t let my brother hear you say that. He is so down bad for you.”
