Chapter 1 ***
Avery Rose
I couldn’t think straight. In fact, I wasn’t thinking at all as I stared down at this handsome stranger whom I landed on.
The music of the club blocked out every possible train of thought that would have gone through my head. Once again my clumsiness got the best of me and the alcohol in my system didn't make matters any better.
Our heartbeats synced and before I could consider the situation, my lips dropped to his. Something in me screamed at me to stop and realize what I was doing but that part was quickly blocked out when the stranger’s arm wrapped around me and he kissed me back.
3 hours ago
“You have to be fucking kidding me!” Melody exclaimed. She threw her hands in the air for the hundredth time while I just prepped the ingredients I was going to use to cook the next day.
“Aren’t you tired yet?” I asked her jokingly and she rolled her eyes. Her blonde hair was tied in a perfect ponytail. Although she insists that the texture was natural, I noticed a few discolored strands. “You should change your shampoo or something.”
Her hands quickly rushed to the ponytail and she brushed it with her fingertips. “I’ll handle it later.” She mumbled. “Don’t change the subject! Let’s go to the club tonight.” She whined.
It was the same conversation we were having over and over again. Her poor attempt to drag me to some exclusive club. She knew me all too well to know that clubs and parties weren’t my thing. After all, she was my childhood friend.
“Mels, Caleb will be back from his month-long business trip tomorrow morning. I have to get everything ready.” I told her. She mockingly repeated my words.
“You guys are always joined at the hip. This is literally your last night as a temporary single woman before your other half comes back and starts breathing down your neck.” She ended with a terrified shiver and I laughed.
Melody was beautiful. There was no doubt about that. Ever since we were kids, she has always stood out. At first, she was mocked a bit because of her height when we were in elementary school.
She stood taller than most of us but as we entered high school, puberty hit and she gained curves in the right places. From then on, she began to bag modeling gigs back and forth. How she remained best friends with me, a certified nobody, was still surprising.
“I’m not complaining, am I?” I asked while closing the Tupperware that contained freshly diced carrots and placing them in the freezer.
“You guys have been together for five years now. You deserve at least a night by yourself.” I opened my mouth to complain but she pouted, “with your best girl.”
“Mels.” I sighed.
“He is taking you away from me. This past month he wasn’t around, you guys spent it talking on the phone and now, he’s back already. When do we spend time together?” She complained. I saw the rim of her eyes turn red and I instantly felt bad.
Maybe she was right. I have been too close to Caleb to notice that I neglected my only friend. Melody never really liked him. She always complained I settled for less but she was so wrong about it. I was lucky to have someone like him and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else.
“Fine, fine. Let’s go.” I watched as she immediately brightened up. She dragged my hands and we headed up to my room to get ready.
An hour later, we found ourselves in a club at the outskirts of town. The place was almost an hour away from my apartment in the city and I wondered how Melody got to know of it. The building was huge and it almost did not look like a club.
The only thing that gave it away was the pumping music that almost sounded like an earthquake was happening.
Our taxi stopped and Melody threw him a couple of bills before hopping out of the car. I thanked the man who already looked annoyed. He drove off the second the door shut.
The cars that drove in and parked did not look like ordinary flashy cars. I watched as cars that were probably worth more than my life parked in front of the club.
“Mels, how did you get an invite here?” I asked as she pulled me inside the club.
“Just someone I know.” She replied nonchalantly.
The club was pumping with music. Unlike the regular clubs, this one was filled with people drinking and doing drugs openly if it were regular food. They must be crazy rich not to care about getting their asses busted by the cops.
“Time to get shit faced drunk on rich people's alcohol,” Melody whispered excitedly.
“Mels, I can’t get drunk,” I told her but she rolled her eyes while taking a shot from a waiter passing by.
“If we get drunk, we can just crash at Zizi’s. Her house is a block away. Tomorrow you run off to your Romeo and leave us alone.” Melody said with finality in her tone making me unable to argue with her.
“Okay.”
She pushed a glass into my hand before heading off to the dance floor. “Let loose Avery.”
Maybe she was right. I barely had a social life apart from random birthday parties Caleb took me to. I was so busy with work and taking care of the apartment that I barely had time for anything or myself. I took the shot Melody gave me and then another.
I don’t know how much time passed but all I could see were blurry lights and I knew my bladder was going to burst at any second. I tried my best to locate the bathroom but I ended up in the private suite.
The people there looked like they were anywhere but a club. Even in my drunken state, I knew I was out of place in Melody’s backless dress that stopped mid-thigh.
Just as I was about to round a corner, I saw a stair and tried climbing up. Turns out the dim lights painted a false picture and I ended up tripping.
I closed my eyes and waited for impact instead I slammed against a wall and the wall went tumbling down with me.
A low groan escaped the wall and I opened my eyes and realized I had actually fallen on someone.
I opened my mouth to apologize but the words were caught in my throat as I stared at one of the most handsome men I have ever seen.
My heart thudded as we looked at each other. He was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.
My eyes dropped to his lips and in just a moment, he licked his lower lip. All sense of caution flew out the window and I found myself leaning downwards. Our lips touched and I froze. A strong arm wrapped around my waist pulling me in and in that second, all I could think about was how good his lips felt on mine.
