Page 32 of Evading Fate

Chapter Twelve

Addilyn

I strut into the dark bar like I own it, feeling better almost instantly. This is exactly what I needed. I’ve found in the past week that keeping myself busy is the best way to avoid all these thoughts that I don’t want to have. My dad’s letter hit me harder than I thought it would, and when I’m idle, I can’t stop thinking about how disappointed he would be in the way my life turned out. He had all these dreams for me, and they won’t ever happen. For the first time in my life, I’m glad that he’s not around to see it.

Searching through the crowd, I find Trey behind the bar just a second before he looks up and locks eyes on me, an easy grin pulling at his lips. I start walking toward him, working my way through the packed bar, and he only looks away from me once to deliver a drink to a guy sitting at the bar. I don’t know how he does it but he manages to make me feel like we’re the only two people here, and it makes me forget about all the shit piling up in my life. He just makes me happy.

“Hey, gorgeous, what are you doin’ here?” he asks when I slide onto a bar stool.

“What? A girl can’t just come down here and hang out?”

He smirks, flashing me a flirtatious look. Yeah, this is exactly what I needed. “Of course you can.”

“Good. Now why don’t you get me a drink, barkeep,” I say, and he laughs, bowing in front of me.

“Yes, Miss Burke. What are you in the mood for tonight?”

I look behind him, eyeing the different bottles of alcohol before pointing to one. “Tequila.”

“Ad…” he starts but I cut him off quickly.

“Oh, no. Don’t give me that look. I’m a paying customer,” I say, slapping a twenty-dollar bill down on the bar, “and I want tequila.”

He sighs, filling the shot glass before setting it down in front of me. I down it before he can even give me the salt or limes, scrunching my face up as the burn slides down my throat. I push the glass toward him and motion for him to fill it up again.

“Addilyn,” he warns, his voice taking on an edge that has goose bumps rushing across my skin.

“I’m fine, Trey. Just want to have a little fun.”

I can tell that he’s not fond of the idea but he fills the glass with a heavy sigh and sets it in front of me. I down it just as fast as the first one before turning to look out at the crowd.

“Since when did Moe get a live band?” I ask, watching the guys on stage who are actually pretty damn good.

“He’s trying something new. Said there were lots of talented bands around here and we should give them a shot. This is the first night we’re doin’ it.”

“It seems to be working,” I muse, almost to myself. I jerk back in surprise when Trey jumps over the bar and stands next to me.

“Yeah, it was a pretty good idea.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” I ask, letting my gaze linger on the way the dark gray Henley he’s wearing molds around his body.

“I am working but there’s no one ordering drinks right now.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, someone calls for a refill, and he sighs before hopping back over the bar with a fluid grace that reminds me of our night together.

Nope, not thinking about that.

I motion to my glass and he starts filling it up again, shaking his head, before going to help other patrons. I down the shot and turn back to the dance floor, unable to stop myself from dancing along to the band. They actually are really good.

“You wanna dance?” someone asks from beside me, and I glance over. He flashes me a charming smile and I nod, pushing down the little twinges of guilt I feel for leaving Trey. This is what I came here for. I needed to have fun and let loose. He grabs my hand and leads me out into the crowd of people before throwing my arms over his shoulders and grabbing my hips. I spin so I’m facing the bar again and start shaking my hips against his crotch.

It feels good to just forget everything for a night, and as the alcohol starts to hit me, I close my eyes and really get into it. I throw my hands above my head and let the guy behind me slide his hands down my sides. When I open my eyes again, I’m met by a very angry looking Trey behind the bar, and for some reason it turns me on. Keeping my gaze locked on him, I grab the guy’s hands and wrap them around my waist, really throwing myself into the dancing.

When I close my eyes again, I can almost pretend that it’s Trey behind me, rubbing his hands on my body. Memories of our night together come rushing back – his lips pressed to my neck, his hands roaming every inch of my body, and the way he moved inside me like he was made especially for me. My body aches with need but I know that only Trey will be able to satisfy me. He’s the one I want – the one I need.

Opening my eyes, I look up just in time to see Trey reach out and grab my wrist before he starts pulling me toward the back of the bar. Some people turn to look as he drags me off like an errant toddler, and the guy I was dancing with looks an equal mixture of baffled and pissed off. Trey pulls me into the storeroom and slams the door behind us, locking it.

He turns toward me with fire in his eyes, and I back up a step, unable to decide if I love or hate this look on his face. He rushes forward, catching me before I can retreat and crushes me to his body, sliding his hand into my hair and pressing our faces together so we’re nose to nose.

“Why, Addy? Why are you trying to drive me crazy?” he asks, and his fingers dig into my scalp a little too hard.