Strobe lights lit up the sweaty, grinding bodies on the dance floor. I could feel the beat of the music vibrate off the walls and my ribcage. Sweat clung to my forehead and curled the baby hairs I had tried so hard to lay flat against my scalp. I could feel the sweat at the small of my back whenever his hand touched me. And the sweat now between my thighs. My feet were aching.
But so was my heart.
I was probably beyond tipsy....I mean I had let this random man get close to me and allow him to touch me. But, here I was. Sweating off every shot I had taken as I moved against this stranger.
Was I trying to prove something to myself? Or did I honestly think I could make the man haunting my thoughts jealous? How many times did I have to remind myself that we were nothing beyond close friends?
I only seemed to confuse myself further the more I hung out with him. Ever since Lexi moved back home, it has only been us two. Sometimes I would tag along with him and his roommates if they went out somewhere. I would sit through boring basketball games just to drink with him.
Get over him, Cas. He doesn't want you.
My eyes, although half shut, moved to my best friend of three years. Gabriel Trevonte Ward. He went by Trey because he claimed Trevonte was a mouthful and Gabriel did not suit him. Born to Sandra Richardson and Tyrone Ward, who divorced when he was only a few years old. He accredited his physical appeal to being a light-skinned black man. Not that anyone could argue with that. He was the friend I did not know I needed. The one I did not even know I was looking for in the first place.
We were far too similar to one another to not become friends. The more we talked, the closer we grew. There were often unspoken words between us. We were both rather reserved until you got alcohol into our systems and had very similar love languages. It was not words that felt important to us, but actions.
My stomach began twisting with nausea after hands slid under my dress. They were hot and rough and grew slick from my sweat. And of all times to make eye contact with my best friend, it was when someone had their hands in places they shouldn't.
Trey was easy to read most of the time. I say that because there are still things he will not let me in on. He does not share as much as I do and I accept it as it is. Because at the end of the night, he is the best friend that is always there for me. And I'm sure he can read me very well by now. It's either he could see it in my eyes or just the fact my face was turning green from the bile rising in my throat.
Although Trey was not that tall, barely an inch taller than me, the way he was walking right now felt like he was my friendly giant. His eyes were concerned but his face read murder. As soon as the stranger's hand grazed my panties, Trey had hauled me out of his grasp. Problem here was that the stranger was well over 6 feet tall and Trey was barely 5 foot 9 on a good day.
"Stop touching my friend," he warned lowly.
The stranger just smirked, his hand grabbing me roughly, "She invited me to dance. Get your own bitch."
My eyes widened, "The fuck did you call me?"
Trey looked pissed as soon as he called me a bitch.
A large hand grabbed my ass roughly and I yelped, "You're gonna be a good little girl right? You were rubbing up on my dick, so you're gonna take care of me, aren't you?"
I scowled at him and Trey stepped forward again, his arm sliding around my waist and hauling me back away from the stranger.
"I think my friend is done with you for the night, bro," Trey said tightly.
The stranger reached for me again but this time an unfamiliar large figure stepped in front of me. His broad back and thick biceps stretched the fabric of his shirt. Jeans fit his hips snug and cupped his nice ass.
"Do we have a problem?" He asked the stranger, his voice deep and making my thighs clench.
The stranger looked at him stiffly, "Mind your business, bro."
A sexy chuckle came out of the tall, dark drink of coffee, "I am. These are my friends. And I don't like when men manhandle women like that." His voice grew dangerous.
The stranger glanced at me, "Fine then. I'll find a better hole anyway. She's too fat."
Trey rubbed my arm, his arm still locked around me.
"She okay?" The deep voice asked. And when I looked up I found a pair of chocolate brown eyes, face sculpted from onyx, and a chest that gave me ideas.
"I had it under control, Rome," Trey muttered.
"You know each other?" I asked.
Rome sent me a charming grin, "Roman and you are?"
"I'm-"
"Not interested, go away," Trey answered for me.
I frowned at him.
"If she's yours you could have just said. But you gotta take better care of her if she is. Guys are always gonna want to snatch her away," Rome winked at me.
"We're not together," I corrected him.
Trey's fingers twitched on my arm.
"So how do you two know each other?" I asked.
"He's my neighbor," my best friend answered moodily.
"Never seen him before," I commented.
"I'm usually sleeping between breakfast and lunch then I have lectures between lunch and dinner. I'm a bouncer at night. Although that's just for some extra change for school." Roman explained.
My eyes moved over his muscles, "Makes sense."
He chuckled, eyes twinkling with amazement, "Maybe you'll see more of me now."
I flushed and Trey groaned, "Let's go."
"I can give her a ride if she wants to stick around a little longer,"Â Roman offers, winking at me.
"Don't fuck with my best friend, Rome. I've seen how you leave girls." Trey warns him.
I frown at that. And Roman bites his lip.
"Can't help that they all want more than I can give," and there it was.
It all made sense now.
"Take me home, Trey, " I turned on my heel, starting to walk away.
I heard a low whistle and didn't need to turn around to know it was Roman.
Trey kept up behind me, "I was trying to tell you he was a douchebag, Cas."
"I know. You usually have my better interests in mind." I sigh as we exit the club. The street freezing cold.
"I have a blanket in my car," Trey offers.
I raise a brow, "For what exactly, T?"
He shakes his head, "Get your mind out of the gutter, Cas."
I snort a laugh and he chuckles loudly.
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I stared at the ceiling lights while I sat on the couch. Trey was making himself at home and grabbing food from my fridge.
"You should've got food on the way back," I said.
He chuckles, "Why? You usually never eat your leftovers anyway."
I shake my head at my best friend.
"Are you good, Cas?"
My eyes slide over to him as he sits down on the opposite end of the couch. His eyes look genuinely concerned.
"I'll be fine." I force a smile.
He frowns, "Cassandra."
I sigh, "I'm being honest. I won't fall apart over one night, Trey. Promise."
"I'm still staying the night."
I smile in amusement at that, "You just like my couch better."
"So what?"
I roll my eyes at him. "I'm gonna take a shower, I'll join you after if we watch some movies."
"Alright then. Hurry your ass."
I laugh at that. Just like he's made me laugh dozens of times before when I feel low. I should not want to ruin my friendship with Trey.
But it's so hard not to want more.
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