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Once we finish our margaritas, we head to the club. It seems Hemi’s already organized bottle service, so we have a table and tequila as soon as we arrive. It’s a busy night, the dance floor full of pulsing bodies. Just try not to wallow for an evening, I tell myself. I need to focus on something other than how impossible it all seems.
After a while, we’ve made our own little dance floor in front of our table. I’m trying to lose myself in the music, but my heart and head are somewhere else.
Dred’s eyes go wide. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Remember that tracking app?”
“Yeah.”
“Flip is here.”
“I told Tristan where we were going,” Rix offers with a chagrined smile. “Not on purpose. I was distracted when he asked.” We all know what that really means.
I scan the bar, searching for Flip and Tristan in the crowd. They’re not hard to find. Both of them are over six feet with broad shoulders, and they look like they own the place. They’re wearing black dress pants and button-downs. Dallas appears behind them, and then, much to my surprise, Hollis.
“Fuck a duck. Hollis is here,” I mutter. Like the rest of the guys, he’s wearing black dress pants, but instead of a light shirt, he’s paired it with a black button-down. My breath catches in my throat. I search the space behind him for my dad, hopeful something has changed. But he’s not here.
Hollis’s gaze locks on me as the guys close in. My palms start to sweat.
“I can tell them to go somewhere else, if you want,” Rix says.
“Let’s see what he does first?” It’s more question than answer. My heart aches in a way that’s become uncomfortably familiar. Hemi and Rix move to flank my sides.
Tristan looks like he’s mentally undressing Rix as he approaches. His gaze shifts to the right for a moment, and he frowns. “Dred?”
“Hey.” She raises her hand in a wave.
“Fuck. You look…not like you.”
“Um…thanks?”
“You look nice!” He gives her an awkward two thumbs-up, then motions behind him. “Hollis wanted to tag along. But if you need him to fuck the hell off, just tell me.”
I nod. “Okay, thanks.”
“But as someone who fucked up royally not so long ago, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to hear him out tonight.” He rubs the back of his neck. “That’s all I’ll say about that.”
Hollis is making a move by being here, which is what I need from him. So I nod. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Willy, you look stunning,” Dallas says.
“Eat a urinal cake, Dallas,” Hemi replies.
“You ladies need anything from the bar?” Flip asks. He high-fives Dred once he’s closer to her.
Dred points to the bottle of tequila. “We’re probably more than good for now.”
Hollis moves around the guys and approaches me, sort of the way someone would a cornered animal. As he gets closer, I notice dark circles under his eyes and uncertainty on his face. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and leans in, his mouth close to my ear, which means I’m huffing his cologne. The music is loud, so we have to shout to hear each other.
He tucks a hand into his pocket, expression full of remorse. “If you’d prefer not to be around me, I also understand, and I’ll leave.”
“I don’t want you to go,” I blurt.
“You tell me what you want, and I’ll do my best to give it to you.”
What do I want from Hollis? Isn’t that the million-dollar question? He’s here, and that means something, but why did it take until now for him to get to this place? “I don’t know what that is right now, but I’m glad you’re here.”
