Club Surprises

EMMA

I step into the penthouse, tears streaming down my face. Levi emerges from his bedroom, already dressed for the club. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he opens his arms wide.

I rush into the comforting embrace of my best friend, my tears showing no signs of stopping.

“What’s wrong, Ems?”

I can’t stop crying. I’m sobbing harder than I ever have before, my body shaking with the force of it. I’m a mess, soaking his shirt with my tears. Levi rubs my back, trying to soothe me.

Eventually, my sobs turn into small hiccups. The tears finally stop. Levi guides me to the couch and gently pushes me to sit.

He turns and heads to the bar cart, pouring a generous amount of whiskey into a glass and hands it to me. I sip it slowly, trying to pull myself together.

I’ll talk when I’m ready. Levi doesn’t push me; he never does. He sits next to me with his own glass of whiskey, the silence wrapping around us as I process what just happened.

I’ve lost the man I love, the man I gave up everything for. All because he’s a self-centered jerk. I even forgave him for cheating on me with Lauren, and this is how he repays me?

I finally break the silence and tell Levi everything that happened between Diablo and me. He’s livid, to say the least.

He wants to storm up to the apartment and tear Diablo apart. The only thing stopping him is me, as always. I know he’ll respect my wishes, but I also know that when he next sees Diablo, he won’t hold back.

Knowing that it will likely be tonight at the club only heightens my anxiety. Seeing my face, Levi knows not to push any further.

I rise from the couch. I need to get ready for the club and pretend like nothing happened.

I don’t feel like going anymore, I just want to crawl into bed and sleep, but I know sleep will probably elude me tonight.

After my shower, I feel a bit better. A small part of me still hopes Diablo will come to his senses and apologize, but deep down, I know he won’t. He’s too stubborn.

He got what he wanted. Losing me won’t mean anything to him. His actions tonight proved that.

When I step out of the bedroom, I’ve managed to pull myself together as best as I can under the circumstances.

I’m wearing a sexy, tight yellow dress that ties in the front, with thin straps from my navel upward showcasing my full breasts. I can’t wear a bra.

The dress is daringly short; it stops just below my butt. I pair it with black stilettos. My hair is in a high ponytail, emphasizing its length, making me look alluring.

I apply charcoal shadow for a smokey eye look; Carly always says it suits me. I finish my look with brown lipstick.

I look stunning, if I do say so myself, but I feel like crap. I don’t think my heart can take another fight with Diablo. It’s a never-ending cycle with that man.

One day he makes me happy; the next he shatters me into a million pieces as if I mean nothing.

Levi looks at me as I exit the bedroom. He knows me so well. My exterior screams confidence but inside, I’m falling apart. Sometimes I think he’s the only man who truly knows me.

He’s my best friend and confidant. I thank my lucky stars every day that Dean introduced me to him.

“Ready to go, Ems? Carly’s been calling non-stop for the past five minutes. She probably thinks you’re not coming.”

“Damn it, I’m only ten minutes late. Let’s just go before I bail on her. I’m not in the mood for any more drama tonight.”

“When we get to the club, I want the usual, Levi. I plan on drinking and dancing until my feet and head hurt.”

“Anything for you, my Ems. I got you,” he says, walking over to me, wrapping me in a bear hug. I love his hugs; they always make me feel safe and cared for, my big teddy bear.

The tears threaten to start again, so I pull away before I give in and let them fall.

As we head down to the club, I notice Levi glancing at me a few times, probably wondering if I’m going to break down and cry again. If there’s one person who knows how much I love Diablo, it’s Levi.

He’s the only one I can confide in about my life. Naturally, he knows what’s going on in my heart too.

The elevator ride to the club feels like it lasts forever. When we finally arrive, I notice two things:

First, Carly is at the bar with Travis’s arm around her waist. I guess everything I told him about not getting frisky while working has gone out the window.

Second, Diablo is talking to them. But that’s not the worst part. He has a tall blonde woman hanging on his arm.

She’s the complete opposite of me. Standing next to Diablo, they seem to...fit together perfectly. She’s a beautiful woman, even more so when she smiles up at Diablo.

He returns her smile with one of his own that I know all too well. He catches sight of me, smirking at me before leaning down to her, planting a hard kiss on her full lips.

He deepens the kiss, knowing it will get under my skin. He’s trying to provoke me, hoping I’ll make a scene and embarrass myself. I refuse to give him the satisfaction by acting like a jealous ex.

I feel Levi tense up next to me. Placing my hands on Levi’s arm, I shake my head no before walking straight to the bar toward Carly and the others. True to form, Levi heads to the bar to get me a drink.

Carly spots me, slips out of Travis’s grip, and rushes over to me. Giving me a tight hug, she whispers that we need to talk later but for now, I should just brush it off and join them.

It looks like Diablo has beaten me to the punch. Everyone already knows we’ve broken up. Drink in hand, thanks to Levi, I join the group with Carly’s hand in mine.

She gives my hand a quick squeeze before letting go to stand close to Travis, who immediately wraps his arm around her waist again.

“Well, well, look who decided to join us, my ex and her lost puppy,” Diablo taunts.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t show up after everything, Diablo?”

“Even if we’re done, it doesn’t faze me. In fact, I’m relieved. Now I can live life on my own terms,” I say, flashing him and his crew the most convincing fake smile I can manage.

“Still got that fire, huh, baby?”

“I’m not your baby, Diablo. You should remember that.”

“Just a figure of speech, Emma. Don’t get ahead of yourself. I call all the women I sleep with ‘baby.’ It gets them to do what I want. You, of all people, should know that.” He’s trying to rile me up.

I want to turn and run, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to hold my head high. I won’t let Diablo tear me down.

I’ve worked too hard to show everyone that I’m emotionally strong, even if I’m shattered inside.

Flashing my most radiant smile at the group, I turn to Diablo. “You should know that your little game will eventually blow up in your face, Diablo. And when it does, don’t come crawling back to me.”

“You’ll never see me crawl or beg, Emma. That’s a promise.”

“Good to know, Diablo. But I’m not here for you anyway.

“Carly, are we having a girls’ night out, or do you want to stick around with Diablo and his latest conquest?” I ask, my voice steady, my smile a clear message to Diablo: go screw yourself.

“Girls’ night!” Carly squeals.

“Great, let’s grab our drinks and hit the dance floor,” I say, taking her hand and leading her away from Diablo and the blonde, towards the other end of the bar.

Levi brings over a tray filled with our usual drinks. We down all the shots, whiskey, and glasses of champagne, then order two more rounds.

I’m starting to feel better. The alcohol is doing its job. I’m a bit tipsy, which helps me forget, at least for a little while, that Diablo and I are over and that he’s moved on so quickly.

I pull Carly onto the dance floor and we lose ourselves in the rhythm of the music. Before long, Diablo’s arm candy joins us. I don’t really mind. She’s just another pawn in his game.

She’s actually pretty nice, and we get along well, shouting over the music as we dance. She can really move. Levi brings another round of drinks for the three of us.

I glance over at Diablo to gauge his reaction. He’s glaring at me while chatting with Travis and Luis, who’ve now joined the guys.

~Take that, you jerk. Even your plaything prefers my company to yours,~ I think, shooting him a triumphant smile.

We continue dancing, drinking, and having a good time.

The blonde, whose name I learn is Crystal, left Carly and me on the dance floor a few songs ago to join Diablo at the bar.

Not that I care, I tell myself, even though I can’t help stealing glances at them.

A sultry song comes on, and Carly and I let loose, showing off our best moves.

Soon, I feel a pair of arms wrap around my waist. They’re not Diablo’s. I’d recognize his touch anywhere. But this touch is familiar.

I need to turn around and confront whoever thinks they can touch me like this. I mean, come on, I’ve been single for barely two hours. I’m not Diablo. I can’t just jump from one person to the next; I’m not wired that way.

I spin around to face the jerk, his hands still on my hips, allowing me to turn and face him.

I’m stunned. Standing before me, looking down at me with a playful grin, is none other than Dean. My Dean. Dean, who wasn’t supposed to be here for another four days. Dean, who I slept with.

~Oh, shit!~

“I’m so glad to see you, Ems. I’ve missed you,” he says, then slowly leans in, pressing his familiar lips against my surprised ones.