PROLOGUE

“Another shot!”

I laughed as I raised my glass with my friends, kahit halos hindi ko na maramdaman kung gaano kalakas yung music o kung ilang beses na akong nakasayaw sa parehong spot. The club was packed tonight, flashing lights were everywhere, and the bass was so loud that I could feel it in my chest. Maybe I had one drink too many—or five—but honestly, wala akong pakialam. Tonight was supposed to be fun.

“THEA!” sigaw ni Dani mula sa tabi ko, halos matabunan ng music ang boses niya. “You're already drunk!”

“I am not!” I shouted back, then immediately stumbled against her shoulder.

She stared at me for two seconds before bursting out laughing. “Girl, you literally almost fell!”

“I was dancing.”

“You were standing!”

“Same thing.”

Tumawa kami pareho bago ako muling uminom, enjoying the warmth spreading through my body. Ever since my mom died, everyone had suddenly become obsessed with telling me what I should and shouldn't do. My dad wanted me home earlier. My relatives wanted me to behave. Even my friends occasionally tried to keep me from doing something stupid.

But tonight? I didn't want to think about any of that.

I wanted to dance. I wanted to drink. I wanted to forget.

And apparently, the universe had decided to give me another distraction.

I turned around without looking and bumped straight into someone. My glass nearly slipped from my hand, but before it could fall, a strong hand caught my wrist.

“Careful.”

The voice alone made me look up.

And holy shit.

The man standing in front of me was gorgeous. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair, sharp features, and eyes that immediately made me forget what I was supposed to say. He looked completely out of place in the chaos of the club—too composed, too calm, too damn attractive.

“Sorry,” I said, although my eyes were still shamelessly roaming over his face.

His lips curved slightly. “You're fine.”

I should've walked away. Instead, I smiled.

“You're hot.”

His eyebrows lifted, clearly caught off guard by my bluntness. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

I didn't even give myself enough time to reconsider what I was doing. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the music. Maybe I was simply being me.

Whatever the reason, I grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him.

For one second, he didn't move. Then his hand settled at my waist as he returned the kiss, and suddenly the entire club seemed to disappear around us.

When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless and grinning like an idiot.

“Hi,” I whispered.

He stared at me as though he couldn't decide whether I was crazy. “H-hi?”

I glanced toward the VIP area, then back at him. “Come with me.”

His gaze lingered on my face before he gave a quiet, almost amused laugh. “You don't even know me.”

I shrugged, taking his hand anyway. “That's kind of the point.”

He looked at our joined hands, then at me, but he didn't let go.

And with the music pounding behind us and my friends screaming somewhere in the crowd, I pulled him toward the VIP room without giving myself a single second to think about tomorrow.