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But vanilla, sugar, and chocolate had been replaced with sweat, beer, and too-sweet mixers

A head above most people in the club, at least I had an easier ti on a table in the roped off VIP area—typical And slipping off it and falling into one of the couches lined up against the back wall

I charged through the crowd, not afraid to throw in a few shoulder hits to the people sloshing their drinks all over me A wet stickiness seeped intofuneral for them if he found out

At the velvet rope, the bouncer’s gaze lit up with recognition and went fro to a flicker of confusion to a bro handshake and a pat on the back in the space of five seconds

“I won three hundred bucks on that interception play you ran last season” He let go of rin

“Glad it worked out,” I shouted back and shoved nized always felt aard Nix handled it like an old pro—he probably got tips froht Na another sip of her drink

“Can you help me? I’m here for her” I liftedversion of Alexis

“Girlfriend?”

I shook my head “Nah”

He eyed me up and down and lifted the velvet rope

Standing in front of Alexis, I stared at her picking herself up off the floor and reaching for another drink

“Oh no, you don’t” I lifted it out of her reach

Her gaze narrowed and then brightened when her drink-hazed brain registeredher arms around me and looped them around my neck

I wrapped my arms around her and turneda three foot radius around her “Jesus, Alexis, what the hell are you wearing?” I avertedoffit on her My backpack was in the car or I’d have had a theret you out of here”

“But I want to stay Let’s have some fun, let’s dance” She tried to lift my arm over her head