Let’s pin it in Las Vegas

Jane’s POV

Kodaline’s Moving On was pulsing through the walls of the club when we stepped in. Me, in an incredibly short black dress that Shawn must never see me in, and my best friend, Laura, in something much worse.

A slutty red dress that hid practically nothing. Her cleavage gleamed with the neon lights as she held on to my hand, pushing me further through the crowd.

“Wooo!” She cheered excitedly. Her pitch was infectious, and soon, I found myself laughing. “Now, I don’t get why they have a song this slow on, but we are in Vegas, baby!”

“Right,” I chuckled, rolling my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. But I knew nothing escaped Laura because as soon as we reached the bar, she let go of my hand and tilted her head in my direction.

“What’s with the tone?”

“Nothing,” I drawled. “I am just…”

“You are in a club in Vegas, Jane, and that is the only thing that matters right now. Not your stupid husband, Shawn, or his Lydia, his bitch of a secretary. You are going to enjoy every second of tonight because who the hell knows when next we will be able to do this, considering the fact that you have refused to divorce him.”

“Come on, Lau,” I muttered, turning to the bartender who appeared around the corner. And he was … oh! Shirtless. Wow! Those tattoos and muscles could definitely push Shawn back on the list of hot, but then again, I wasn’t here to cheat on the man I loved.

Even if a part of me knew it was what my best friend hoped for.

“Shawn is…”

“Probably fucking her right now.”

“No!” Even I didn’t believe it. “He said they had some contract to bid for.”

“And you said you had a legal appearance in Arizona.”

My lips parted and then closed shut when I realized I had nothing to defend myself with. “Right. I shouldn’t have lied, Laura. I should have just…”

She sighed loudly and maybe a bit on the dramatic side, pressing a palm against her forehead. “I meant he lied to you, too, Jane. I can bet my head that there isn’t any contract to bid on. He probably has her legs parted on his desk in the office and….”

“Okay, I get it, Lau! You don’t have to give me all the sordid details.” A part of me desperately wanted to hold on to the possibility of my best friend being wrong. Shawn was the love of my life. He would never hurt me that way.

At least, not purposely.

But the last two years had left me in nothing but silence and neglect. I wanted to be seen. To be heard. To be loved. Was that so hard to understand? Was Shawn right? He called me a nagger, and that was exactly what I was doing.

“And what would these pretty ladies care for?” The bartender drawled as he placed two empty glasses in front of me. Laura pushed a stray curl behind her ear and leaned forward on the counter, but the bartender had his eyes on me.

He winked as he filled the glasses up, pushing them in our direction. “You look like you need a little push.” His voice was dark, like the room. “I’m happy to be of help.”

Laura giggled awkwardly, grabbing her glass. “I am going to be out of here.”

“No, wait!” I held out my hand to her, but Laura was long gone, leaving me alone with the sexy bartender who was yet to take his eyes off me.

“Where are you from?” he asked, his grey eyes peering up at me. “You don’t look like you’re from around here, so I’m guessing Georgia.”

“California.”

“With the husband.”

“What?”

“I couldn’t help but listen to you and your friend.” He took my glass and brought it to his lips. His lashes framed his eyes perfectly, batting gently before he took a sip. He was flirting. I should go ahead with it.

After all, it was the reason I agreed to be in Vegas with Laura.

“That’s rude,” I said, pushing away from the bar. “Learn to act better.”

He must have been shocked, but I didn’t care enough to look back at him. The dance floor was still crowded. The music had changed into something more funky, and the sweat and cheers were clinging to me.

Suffocating me.

I tried to look for Laura, but she was nowhere to be found. Not her wild hair or those piercing eyes. But I kept walking, grabbing a bottle of beer from an empty table and sprawling out into the night air.

I didn’t know where I was going. It was my first time here. But I needed space to think. Laura was wrong. A night at a club wasn’t what I needed. I should be home right now, talking to my husband and making him see me.

Not this.

I stopped when I heard the crash of waves in the distance. A small smile on my lips, I pushed forward, the smell of the sea reaching me. The sand dug into my shoes, so I pulled them off without thinking, holding the strappy heels in one hand and the beer in the other.

The waters were close. Just a few more steps and I would be on the shores. But before I could blink, rough hands held on to mine, the nails clawing deep into my skin.

“Who let you in?”

I peered up at the stunning woman in front of me, all limbs and hair. It was a fucking beach. Did I need a pass or something? Was it a private experience of the club?

“I have had the worst day,” I muttered, pulling my gaze away from the angel. “I really don’t want it to get any worse, so can I just enjoy the peace of the waves?”

Her fingers dug deeper. “Ouch! You are hurting me!”

“Then you'd better start talking.”

“I don’t get it. I ..”

“How did you get in?”

And in that split moment, the whole earth could have stopped when he spoke.

“Let her be, Rebecca.”