Chapter 10

the club was beautiful on the inside, and was exactly how I anticipated it to look. Everything about Lakyn gave off a sleek, in control, yet almost dangerous vibe. There was a mysterious aura that surrounded him and it was evident in his club.

The back wall was completely dedicated to an enormous bar, all neatly organised with all assortments of liquor. The oaky wood used for the bar top and shelving gave off an old style gentleman's vibe that was further accentuated by the silver steel fittings used for sinks and ice basins.

There were Chesterfield style leather couches splayed out around the back corners of the enormous room, and a plant wall was used to seperate seating from dancing. The dim lighting gave the bar an almost seedy look, but with modern artwork placed strategically around the room, it was a mash up between elegant and rough; Lakyn.

"How the fuck have we never come here?" Vanessa whispers next to me as Lakyn continues to walk us through the club to a back corner at a luxury booth.

"This is usually for VIP but when Charlie mentioned coming I held off on selling it for the night so you guys would have somewhere to sit..." Lakyn trails off sheepishly.

I can't help the blush that starts on my face and Vanessa and Nate been at Lakyn. We all take a seat on the leather couches.

"Well I would love to stay with you all but I have a club to run, but someone will be over in a bit to bring you a bottle of Grey Goose and ask what mixers you want" Lakyn says, and before I can protest he's gone.

"Wow. Lover boy must really like you. Skipping the line. VIP, Grey Goose." Nate says with a raised eyebrow.

"He's just being nice." I defend. I don't want to read too much into this. It's way too early to be falling for Lakyn. I can't get hurt again.

As promised a waiter comes out with a bucket of ice and some Grey Goose. We choose Coke Zero and Cranberry juice for our mixers and begin our night. I can't help but fall into easy chatter with Vanessa and Nate and slowly my nerves over where I am and why I'm here begins to fall away into nothing.

"So Nate, shall I wingman you? I mean you crashed a girls night so we may as well help you get out of this little slump with your girlfriend and you can flirt a little." Vanessa says.

"Ah, um, I don't think that's a good idea. We may be having a rough patch but I don't want to cheat on her or anything..." Nate looks down at his hands, beginning to fidget.

"Come on! What's your type at least? Can I see a photo of your girl?" Vanessa begins to fire off questions as Nate continues to stumble on how to find the answers.

"Vanessa." I groan, "Give the guy a break, he's going through a rough patch just let him enjoy a night without thinking about it." I defend.

She seems to take this answer on board because she drops the issue. We continue to drink the bottle of vodka; 1 shot turns into 2, 2 into 4, and before I know it I feel the usual buzz of contentment that alcohol seems to bring me, as well as the unwarranted confidence it seems.

I turn round in my seat hoping to catch a glimpse of Lakyn but I can't seem to find him. I continue to scan the room in hopes of seeing him, when I spot him.

I quickly turn back around in my seat. I grab the bottle of vodka and pour myself a double shot, and before Vanessa or Nate can say anything I down it. I slump lower in my seat in hopes of melting into the leather couch and disappearing altogether. Vanessa looks at me questioningly, and then begins to trace my actions. She sits up higher in her seat across from me and begins to scan the room. Her eyes widen as they make contact with the man I noticed just seconds before.

"Oh shit." She half whispers.

"Ok what the fuck did I miss?" Nate says, noticing both of our body languages shift and the mood alter from one of carefree to one of... fear.

"Do you want to get out of here Charlie? We can go? You don't have to be around him?" Vanessa attempts to console me.

"No, no. I was always going to see him. If I leave now it's pointed right? Let's just hide in the booth and avoid him." I respond.

"Ok now someone definitely has to tell me what's going on." Nate begins to get impatient next to me but neither of us can seem to answer.

After a long minute, Vanessa finally breaks the silence and answers for me, thank god.

"That guy, over there, in the salmon dress shirt and chinos is Charlie's ex, and let's just say it wasn't exactly a positive relationship, or break up for that matter."

"Ohhh," Nate begins to scan the room until he finds him, "He looks like a douchebag."

I burst into laughter and Vanessa turns to me with a worried look. Why am I laughing? this man put me through hell, the things he did to me were... unspeakable, and yet I can't help but laugh at the initial assumption from Nate. Douchebag didn't even begin to cover the words I could use for this man.

"I'm fine ok. We're in a VIP booth, I'm here with Lakyn... kind of. It'll be fine. We'll just avoid him and continue to enjoy our night." I tell them.

Nate accepts my answer but Vanessa doesn't seem convinced at all. I can't blame her. She saw the repercussions of this man and she knows me too well; she knows this is a ticking time bomb, and so do I. But I refuse to leave MY night for THAT man anymore.

We continue to drink and have fun, but there's a constant elephant in the room at the back of me. I find myself turning around regularly to catch a glimpse of him and make sure he's still where he was, where he should be, away from me.

I'm startled out of my regular scan when I hear Lakyn's voice on the other side of me. I half squeal before I cover the sound with my mouth and just about fall out of my chair.

'Hey..." Lakyn trails off. A puzzled look on his face.

I take the hand off my mouth and sheepishly smile at him, "You just started me, sorry".

He half nods, not accepting my answer and begins to look in the same direction I was before he interrupted. He looks back at me, obviously unable to figure out what I was looking at, and seems to decide against asking me, for now, anyway.

"So, I was hoping you wouldn't mind if my friends crash your night in here? I know I had the booth for you guys but you seemed to get along well the other time and well-" before he can even finish Seb crashes into the seat beside me.

"And well we're already here!" He finishes for Lakyn.

Nicks and Cal slowly follow suit and take a seat on the couches opposite and beside me.

"It's so lovely to see you again Charlie." Cal says while Nicks agrees with him.

I beam at the boys, slowly feeling better about my surroundings; feeling safer.

I introduce the boys to Nate and everyone flows into conversation. Lakyn decides to take a minute to sit with us.

"Busy night, I'm pretty exhausted so I hope you don't mind if the owner crashes your private booth?" He questions me.

"I suppose we can allow it this one time, but I'll be putting in a complaint unfortunately, it seems incredibly unprofessional to flirt with your patrons." I fire back, giving him a wink.

He laughs, standing up from his seat next to Nate.

"Move Seb." He demands.

Seb gives him a sly smile, "And what if I don't? I am enjoying the company of Charlie, and she smells like lavender and bubblegum, I'm not sure I'm willing to give her up."

I can't help but laugh, lightly smacking Seb on the leg. Lakyn's eyes narrow in on the action and he almost seems to growl at Seb. "Move." is all he says.

With that Seb lifts his hands in defeat and stands up, giving his seat to Lakyn and taking the one next to Nate. He looks at me, shooting me a small wink and covers his mouth to hide a laugh.

I just shake my head at the two men before me.

As I relax back into my seat, I feel Lakyn's arm go to the back of my seat, draping slightly across my chest. He uses one of his hands to grab my legs and pull me closer. I drape my legs into his lap so I'm half sitting on him. My heart flutters at the close contact and I can't help but nuzzle into Lakyn.

"So where are you headed after this boring club?" Lakyn whispers in my ear, his breath hot against my neck. His hand slowly trailing up my thigh to rest under my skirt just above my knee. He starts to do small circles on my skin, setting it on fire. He smiles down at me mischievously, obviously knowing what he's doing to me.

My heart is going a million miles a minute, and all the liquid courage that seemed to come from the vodka seems to dissipate into thin air. My mind won't seem to work, and I can't find the right witty answer anymore. Before I can begin to put the words together Vanessa pulls me out of my trance.

"Charlie..." She whispers at me, urgency in her voice. "He's coming over."

My heart drops and my stomach begins to do 180's. He's coming over.

Before I can process the emotions of having to confront him, of having to see the six month red flag and trauma, he's standing off to the side of the couch Lakyn and I are on.

"Charlie, so nice to see you!"