Need a , ride?

St. Paul's bus stop came into view, and sure enough, Richie was there, leaning against a lamp post with his usual easygoing demeanor. He looked up as she approached, his face breaking into a broad grin. He hadn't changed much over the years—still tall, still a little scruffy, still the kind of guy who could make anyone feel at ease with just a smile.

"Right on time," Richie said as Cara pulled up beside him. "Need a lift?"

Cara rolled her eyes playfully. "You're the one who needed the ride, remember? Hop on."

Richie chuckled, climbing onto the bike behind her. "Yeah, yeah. Always a lifesaver, Cara. Where to? The Lounge?"

Cara nodded, already calculating the best route to get them there without delay. "Cathie and Mara are already on their way."

Cara smirked, a hint of warmth breaking through her focused exterior. "I'm not sure that narrows it down much, Richie." With that, she revved the engine and sped off towards the club.

Here's the spell-checked version of your text:

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Cara Bennett lounged back in the plush seat of the club, the bass of the music vibrating heavily through her bones. The lights flickered in time with the beat, casting everyone in shades of neon pinks and blues. It was chaotic, loud, and crowded—just the way she liked it.

Beside her, Mara, her older sister, sat with a drink in hand, her expression as unreadable as always. Despite the noise, the frenzy of movement, and the clashing beats, Mara seemed to be in her own world, lost in thoughts Cara could only guess at.

On Cara's other side, Cathy and Richie, who had joined them for the night, were already halfway through her second cocktail. She was a whirlwind of energy, Cathie's laughter cutting through the music, catching the attention of more than a few nearby patrons. Cathie was always the life of the party, the perfect partner in crime for a night of drinks and free-spirited fun.

Cara sipped her own drink—a vibrant concoction the bartender had assured her was the "special of the night"—and glanced at her phone, where the earlier text message still glowed on the screen.

"Come out! Drinks on me at Club Fuego! Let's paint the town red!" The message was from Richie, someone Cara hadn't seen in months but who always knew how to draw her out of hiding. She wasn't even shaken from the murder she'd just committed a few minutes ago.

Cara smirked. The promise of free drinks and food was too good to pass up. Besides, the stress of the past week losing her job was starting to wear on her, and she needed an outlet. There was only so much tension a girl could handle before she snapped.

"Another round?" Cara shouted over the music to Mara and Cathie, raising her glass.

Cathie responded with an enthusiastic nod, her red curls bouncing wildly as she did so. "Absolutely! I'm not even close to done yet!"

Mara, still reserved, merely lifted her glass in a silent toast, her lips quirking into the barest hint of a smile. For someone who usually avoided the club scene, she seemed oddly at ease tonight, thanks to her ended relationship. Richie didn't want to intervene with Cara, as he'd also seen Mara was gloomy, afraid it could make it obvious that she was hurting.

"That's the spirit!" Cara laughed, motioning to a passing waiter who barely caught her wave amid the sea of patrons.

When the waiter approached, Cara put on her most charming smile, one that had gotten her many things in life—including several free drinks. "Hey, could we get another round? And maybe some of those appetizers I saw earlier? We're celebrating tonight."

The waiter, a young man who was clearly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people in the club, nodded quickly, his eyes darting between the three women. "Of course, miss. Coming right up."

As the waiter disappeared into the crowd, Cara turned back to Cathie and Mara, leaning in conspiratorially. "I give him ten minutes before he either forgets or gets lost in the chaos."

Cathie snorted. "If that happens, I'm storming the bar myself. No way am I missing out on those mozzarella sticks!"

Mara shook her head, though the amusement in her eyes was clear. "You two are incorrigible."

"And proud of it!" Cara shot back, laughing. "Besides, where's the harm in a little fun? We deserve it after the week we've had."

The truth was, the past few days had been a whirlwind of tension for the Bennett sisters. Between Ethan's investigation, Maya's increasingly suspicious behavior, and the ever-looming specter of Cara's own… extracurricular activities, the stress had been mounting. Tonight was a much-needed escape from all that.

As if one of them had the same thoughts, Cathie downed the rest of her drink and slammed the glass down on the table. "Alright, ladies, let's dance! No point in coming to a club like this if we're just going to sit around!"

Cara grinned, already feeling the alcohol loosening her limbs and her inhibitions. "You're on! Mara, you coming?"

It was about time they even tried to drag Richie to the dance floor, but unfortunately, he left before they could.

Mara hesitated, but Cathie grabbed her hand before she could protest. "Come on, Mara! Just one song. You can't say no to one song!"

Mara looked like she was about to argue, but Cathie was relentless, practically dragging her out of the booth and onto the dance floor. Cara followed, laughing as Mara tried and failed to resist.

The music hit them like a wave as they joined the throng of bodies on the dance floor. Cathie immediately began to move with wild abandon, her energy infectious as she twirled and swayed to the beat. Cara, more practiced in the art of club dancing, let herself get lost in the rhythm, her body moving fluidly in time with the music.

Mara, for her part, was more reserved, her movements smaller, more controlled. But she was there, and that was all that mattered.

The three of them danced like they had no chaos in their lives. Cara felt the stress of the week start to melt away. The music, the lights, the laughter—it was all a perfect distraction from the darker thoughts lurking at the back of her mind.

But even as she tried to lose herself in the moment, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder where Ethan was and what he was doing right now. She hadn't expected to run into him earlier at the hotpot place, and their exchange had left her feeling… unsettled. There was something about the way he looked at her, something that made her feel exposed, as if he could see right through her charming facade.

Shaking the thought from her mind, Cara refocused on the present, on the feel of the music in her veins, on the sight of her sisters and her best friend dancing beside her. Tonight was about freedom, about forgetting the world outside the club, if only for a few hours.

As the night wore on, the club grew even more crowded, the air thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol. By the time they stumbled back to their booth, breathless and laughing, the waiter had finally returned with their drinks and appetizers.

Cathie plopped down in her seat, immediately reaching for a mozzarella stick. "I told you I wasn't missing out on these!"

Cara grinned, taking a sip of her drink as she watched Cathie devour the appetizer. "Worth the wait?"

Cathie gave her a thumbs-up, too busy chewing to respond.

Mara, who had opted for a glass of water instead of another cocktail, glanced around the club, her gaze distant. "This place is packed. I didn't think it would be this crowded on a Thursday night."

"It's the hottest club in the city," Cara replied, leaning back in her seat. "And Thursday's the new Friday, didn't you know?"

Mara rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she took a sip of her water, her expression thoughtful. "So, what's the plan for the rest of the night? Are we staying here, or are we going to check out another place?"

Before Cara could answer, Cathie cut in, her voice slurred from the alcohol. "Why go anywhere else? We've got free drinks, good food, and the best company right here! I say we stay until they kick us out!"

Cara laughed. "That sounds like a solid plan to me."

Mara, however, seemed less convinced. "Are you sure? It's getting late, and you know we have to be up early tomorrow."

"Lighten up, Mara," Cara teased, nudging her sister with her elbow. "We're here to have fun, remember? Just let loose for once."

Mara sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Alright, alright. But only for a little while longer."

"That's the spirit!" Cathy cheered, raising her glass in a toast. "To us! The best damn group of ladies in this whole city!"

Cara and Mara clinked their glasses against Cathy's, the three of them laughing as they downed their drinks. For a moment, everything felt right. The worries of the world outside the club melted away, leaving only the warmth of friendship and the thrill of the night.

But just as Cara was about to relax fully into the moment, she felt a familiar presence behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she turned around, her heart skipping a beat when she saw who it was.

Ethan Graves stood just a few feet away, his eyes locked on hers. He looked out of place in the chaotic club, his serious demeanor contrasting sharply with the carefree atmosphere around him.

Cara's breath caught in her throat. What was he doing here? Had he followed them from the hotpot place? Or was this just a coincidence?

Before she could say anything, Cathy noticed Ethan and let out a loud whoop. "Hey! It's the detective from earlier! What are you doing here, handsome?"

Ethan's lips twitched into a faint smile as he approached their booth. "I could ask you the same thing. Looks like you're having quite the night."

Cathy grinned, clearly tipsy, as she scooted over to make room for Ethan.