“I say we dance first then hit up the bar,” she yells over the music. Joey and I both nod in agreement, making our way toward the middle of the dance floor.

By some miracle, I’m able to dance without any problem in my sky-high heels, and I do just that with Joey, Juls, and Brooke dancing next to me. Even though there are tons of people around us, the dance floor is so large we all have plenty of room to move. Joey uses that to his advantage and spins around in a way only he does. I hold my hair off my neck and move my body to some remixed version of “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake. It becomes a competition, the three of us all trying to out-dance the other for what feels like hours. My feet at one point become numb, and I don’t care in the least that I’ll probably have blisters; I’m having too much fun to care. As one song blends in to another, I glance around and realize Brooke is missing.

I wave my hands out in front of me, getting the attention of Juls and Joey. “Where’s Brooke?”

They both glance around, Juls spinning in a circle and looking over the heads of the other dancers. She shrugs when she turns back to both of us. “Bathroom, maybe?”

“Who cares where she is? Ooooo, this is my jam!” Joey squeals.

“Single Ladies” by Beyoncé comes on, and Joey begins to do the entire dance routine from memory, probably better than Mrs. Carter herself, and that’s saying a lot. Juls and I buckle over in laughter as he nails it, not caring what the hell anyone thinks of him. Because it’s Joey we’re talking about; the man has zero shame and I love him for it.

Not wanting to interrupt my best friend’s dance number, I wait ‘til after the song is over to demand a break. I grab his arm, motioning to Juls, and give them the universal hand gesture for ‘let’s go get a drink’. They both nod, Joey reaching up and wiping the sweat off his forehead and Juls resituating her dress, which shifted on her body.

We all walk up to the bar, and Joey motions for one of the four bartenders. “Helloooooo. Seriously? How can you ignore this?” Juls and I chuckle as he frantically waves his hand out, desperately trying to get someone’s attention. Just then, Brooke comes stumbling up to the group, rubbing her left eye.

“Does anyone have any Visine?” she asks, dropping her hand down and blinking rapidly.

“Where have you been?” Juls asks. “And why the hell do you need Visine?”

She rolls her one eye that isn’t being rubbed. “I got semen in my eye.”

I don’t know what the hell I was expecting her to say, but it definitely wasn’t that. And given Juls’ and Joey’s reaction, they weren’t expecting it either. I slap my hand over my mouth to contain my hysteria while Juls throws her head back, unashamedly laughing her ass off. Joey covers his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking with his laughter.

Brooke’s face turns bright red as she rubs her eye with the heel of her hand. “Oh, like none of you have ever had a face shot go wrong. This really fucking burns. I’ve been flushing it out for the past hour.”

“Oh, my God, Brooke,” I barely get out through my chuckles. “Why did you let him shoot it on your face?”

She stares at me like I’ve just asked her the most ridiculous question. “I’m not swallowing a stranger’s load. It was either that or on my dress, and this shit was expensive.” She takes note of the laughter around her and huffs loudly. “It was an executive decision I’m seriously regretting. Someone Google whether or not it’s possible to get permanent damage from this.” The three of us are too busy roaring with laughter to be able to Google anything. Brooke surveys us with annoyance. “Asses. Next time you get cum in your eye, you’re on your own.”

“Finally,” Joey says through a giggle as one of the bartenders walk up to where we’re standing. He’s holding a bright pink cocktail and places it on the table in front of us. “Uh, I didn’t order yet. Although, that looks delicious.”

“It’s for her.” The bartender motions at me with his head. “From the guy at the end of the bar.”

The four of us all turn toward where he has directed, the laughter fading out as we all seemingly focus on the same individual.

Fucking motherfucker.

Bryce is staring at me with that same smug smirk, which is apparently a permanent fixture on his face. He’s as eerie looking as I remember, with those yellow eyes that seem to glow in the bar, like a stalking reptile.

“What is that fucker doing here?” Joey asks, moving closer to me. I register his question but can’t seem to find the words. I’m too busy coming up with ways to lay this asshole out.

“Damn. He’s hot. Who is that guy?”

The three of us all turn to see a very horny-looking, one-eyed Brooke.

“Really, Brooke? You just gave some stranger head and you’re patrolling for more ass? Maybe you should pace yourself,” Joey says before returning his gaze back to Bryce. Brooke simply shrugs her response as he continues. “He must have a death wish to be in the same building as you. Reese is going to freak out.”

“Is that Bryce?” Juls asks. I nod and see her eyes widen. “Shit. You were right, sweets; he is creepy looking.”

Creepy seems to downplay it. The man makes my skin crawl, and this is only the third time I’m seeing him. I step up to the bar and grab the drink off the counter. There’s a possibility that what I’m about to do will get me kicked out of this pristine club, but right now, I don’t care. I’ve had an amazing time with my friends and if it ends now, I’m fine with that.

“Dylan! Hold up!”

I hear Joey’s voice behind me as I move between the patrons. Bryce keeps his chilling smile on me as I inch closer, either not knowing or not caring how his gesture is being received. In fact, if anything, his stupid face seems to break into an even-bigger grin as I step next to him.

“Dylan, it’s been too damn long since I laid my eyes on that tight body of yours. Remind me to thank your fiancé for bringing you along on this little trip,” he spews through his venomous grin. His eyes slowly rake over my body, giving extra attention to my breasts. “Damn, girl, that dress belongs on my bedroom floor. Wanna get out of here and make that happen?”

I waste no time in drenching his face in my bright-pink cocktail, placing my now-empty glass down on the bar and gaining the attention of everyone around us. “Go fuck yourself, Bryce. Even if I wasn’t with Reese, I would never go anywhere with you. The dickhead vibe you got going on doesn’t really do anything for me. Nor do your lame-as-shit pick-up lines.” I feel movement at my back as Juls, Joey, and a stunned-looking Brooke flank my side.

Bryce wipes the drink from his eyes, not dropping his smile even the slightest. “I heard you had a bit of a temper. Does Reese like that? Do you fuck him angry?”

“Oh, no, you did not just say that,” Joey spits, stepping closer to Bryce.

I hold my arm out and stop him from getting in Bryce’s face. “Don’t, Joey. He isn’t worth getting arrested over.” Because that’s exactly what would happen. Bryce is such a punk, he’d press charges instead of manning up and actually fighting back.

Joey looks down at me, nostrils flaring. “He’s not going to talk to you like that. Let me handle this.”