The rest of us follow. Maddox and Ryder stroll out behind Liam with their usual swagger. Dane and Camigo next. I watch my brother wrap Cami’s ponytail around his fist, then drop his mouth to her ear, whispering some secret.
Jake grabs my wrist before I canget to the door. “You cut your hair,” he notices, twirling a piece around his finger.
“It’s time to make some changes,” I nod.
“I hope some of those changes include me.”
“All of those changes include you.”
The grin that spreads across his face is blinding. His expression takes on a boyish quality I don’t think I’ve ever seen in all the years I’ve known him.He drops a sweet kiss to my mouth. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
I nod. “I hope so. As much as I spent on this dress, if I didn’t, it would be a crime.”
“It’s not the dress,” he tells me firmly. “What you wear never has anything to do with your beauty.”
I feel a blush rising from my chest all the way to my ears.I bite my lip with a smile.
Maddox made ourreservations at the most expensive restaurant in Paris. If it wasn’t, it should’ve been.It was the kind of place that would not have let them in the door had they been anyone else. Not when they were all wearing jeans and t-shirtswith tattoos and piercings all on display.
The service was lovely,and the food was amazing.The conversation between all of us flowed easily. Dane and I were teased relentlessly about the day before. I was teased somemore by Ryder and Maddox abouttheir lessons when I was a kid. Dane groaned, Jake growled, and I wanted to crawl under the table.
Now we’re in the VIP section ofL’Arc.We were escorted straight through.People gaped and stared as we moved through the crowd to the sectioned-off space.
Maddox and Ryder waste no time ordering copious amounts of liquor. I’m not sure either one of them can even get drunk anymore, but it never seems to stop them from trying.
They pass one to all of us. Cami throws hers back as quickly as the twowho lead the hedonistic debauchery. Dane watches her, grinning with a shake of his head while he tossesback his own.
When I bring my own to my mouth, Jake stops me. “You taken your medicinetoday?” My look of confusionhas him explaining. “You’re taking benzos. I’m not letting you drink if you’ve taken any.”
My first thought is to argue.The idea that he’s telling me what to do doesn’t sit well. But I know he’s trying to take care of me, and he’s right. My meds and alcohol don’t mix. I learned that the hard way.“I haven’t had any since yesterday,” I tell him truthfully.
He releases my arm, allowing me to toss back the shot. “Just don’tdrink too many. Lyra is with Angel and Josephine, so I can make you scream as loud as I want tonight.”
My eyes go wide with his words. My bellystarts a simmering burn that has nothing to do with the tequila.
Before I can respond, Cami is dragging me to the dancefloor.I feel light and free. For the first time in a very, very long time,I feel like me. We laugh as we bump and grind on each other. Song after song, we dance until we’resweating and panting, and I feel wonderful.
Let Meby Zayn comes onjust as I feel hands grip my hips. I don’t freak out. I don’t have to. I know exactly who it is.
He brings my arm up to wrap behind his head,then trails his fingers down my side.They slide slowly down the side of my breast over my ribsthen my lower belly. It’s a total Swayze move that has me panting.
“What are you doing to me?” I whisper.
I don’t expect him to hear me,but he does. “I’ve asked myself that same question for five years.”
We dance like that for several minutes. Even when the song picks up. It’s justhim and mein our own little bubble.
“Come on,” he whispers,pulling me out of the club.
“Where are we going?” I ask with a giggle. I barely register the security that’s surrounding us as we makeour way out.
“You’ll see.”
He pulls me until we’re out on the street.We walk quickly, Matthew following behind but not too close, making the block until we’re standingat the Arc de Triomphe. Lightning flashesacross the sky and thunder rumblesthough the sky is clear. And it hits me, the thunder booms, and I’m not reacting.Flashbacks aren’t threatening my consciousness.Memories aren’t trying to push their way through. All I see and feel is Jake and my hand in his.
“What are we doing here?” I laugh as I take in the monument.
“Hopefully getting a show before the rain,” he tells me as we move further into the circled path.
