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“I mean…maybe,” he shrugs.
I laugh.
“Seriously, you look great, Frey. And those fuckers Ulkan and Valon are dead. Why not live a little?”
I clear my throat, glancing down at myself.
Okay, Idolook hot, thanks to Damian, who made me go back upstairs when he picked me up and change out of my black jeans and hoodie into “something that they’ll actually let through the door”.
I decided to take that idea and run with it, coming back down half an hour later in my current ensemble: a short, strapless, shiny black vinyl dress with matching vinyl thigh-high boots and black choker.
I sigh, glaring at Damian as I take another sip of my drink. “I’m just saying, you don’t need to prove anything by drinking the bar dry.”
Damian laughs, leaning back in his seat. “Don’t worry about me, sis. I’m fine.”
I sigh, shaking my head, pushing whatever lingering thoughts I have concerning Mal away to focus on the moment and enjoy the night. I ignore the rest of these people Damian’s dragged along with us…whoever they are…and just focus on the fact that he and I are out, sharing some drinks, maybe even having a good time.
The alcohol is doing its job, making everything feel lighter. I even find myself laughing at a seriouslygrossjoke one of Damian’savtoritetsmakes.
But after another two hours or so, I notice Damian gritting his jaw a little tighter, his face a little paler. I march over, giving my most withering “goth chick” look to the girl sitting draped all over him. She swallows, looking nervously at him. Even Damian nods for her to take a hike.
“You’re going home,” I mutter. “Don’t even try to fight me on this. You look like you’re in pain.”
He grimaces. “I’m…”
I glare right at him. Damian sighs.
“Fine, fuck,” he grunts. “Okay, it might be time to call it. Let’s bounce.”
I snort. “What’s this ‘we’ shit? You dragged me out and forced me to have fun. I’m staying.”
He sighs, rolling his eyes. “I’m not just leaving you here, Frey.”
“I’m a big girl, D. I think I can survive a little dancing without you.”
His brow furrows. “Fine, but I’m leaving half my men here.”
I sigh. “Oh, well, yes that soundsveryrelaxing and definitely not intrusive at all.”
He rolls his eyes. “Try to stay out of trouble, Freya.”
Once he’s gone, the empty seat beside me feelstooempty. His entourage also seems to fade away, having no interest in hanging out with yours-truly without the crown prince himself being here too. The laughter that was bubbling up inside me moments ago fades, replaced with the familiar heaviness. Without Damian here, it’s like the club is overwhelming me, the noise too loud, the lights too harsh.
I take another sip of my drink, trying to drown out the tangled mess of thoughts swirling in my mind. But there’s no escaping them. Not tonight.
Scowling to myself, I pull out my phone. But before I can navigate to Takeshi Mori’s Insta again to glare at the picture of Mal withthat fucking girl, I stop myself.
I mean, seriously. This is pathetic.
I put the phone away, taking a heavier gulp of my drink as I try to push Mal from my mind. But it’s like he’s there in the shadows, looming over me even when he’s nowhere to be found. Even when he’s made it abundantly clear by flying to the other side of the fucking world without so much as a goodbye that whatever we had is over and done with.
Ihatehow much space he takes up in my head.
Soon after Damian leaves, I start to feelsuperweird sitting alone in the VIP booth. I make my way through the crowd, dancing a little on my way to the bar for another drink.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
I start, turning to see Dimitri grinning down into my face.
