It’s been years since I’ve worn one, but it feels right as I place it on top of my head. Nostalgia combined with happiness floods my body.
Soon after, while Val and Gabriel make conversation about the weekend with me, a knock on the door interrupts us. I open it to see Adrian dressed in a pair of jeans combined with a flannel shirt that makes me laugh.
He’s not wearing cowboy boots but a hat rests on his head.
“And? How do I look?” he asks with a sweet smile, and I shake my head at him as his eyes trail down my body. Adrian has clearly lost his train of thought as he tugs his bottom lip between his teeth while an appreciative smirk settles on his face. “Gabriel, Val, get out of the room. Nevaeh and I are going to need a few minutes,” Adrian says, and my knees go a little weak at the lust in his gaze.
“Well, we were just leaving to go change anyway,” Valentina says and grabs Gabriel’s hand to guide him out of the room. “See you at the bar,” she adds, and I watch them kiss all the way down the hallway. Adrian grabs my attention by slipping inside my hotel room with me, kissing me until I forget about the rest of the world.
“I’m sorry about your race,” I say as he wraps his arms around me and just hugs me for a while.
“Next one will be better,” is all he replies, leaning back to grab my chin between his thumb and index finger. “How do you feel about going tonight?” His other hand lifts to my bracelet, rubbing the blue heart to let me understand what he means.
“Surprisingly okay.” He smiles down at me, gliding his nose over mine for a moment. “Thank you for the boots and hat,” I say.
“My pleasure. You look like thedésseeyou are,” he replies, forcing a blush to settle on my cheeks. No matter how desperately I try to control it, my body responds however it wants to to Adrian, and I can’t stop it. “Let’s go?” he asks and holds out his hand for me.
“Yes, but no touching tonight,” I remind him, and he groans with displeasure.
“Hardest task of my life.” I snort at his dramatics.
James, Leonard, Cameron, and Cameron’s boyfriend, Elijah, are all waiting for us outside of the bar already. Adrian keeps his distance and I keep my cowboy hat low on my head when I hear a very familiar voice appear behind me.
“Nevaeh!” I turn around to see Scarlette approaching with a very attractive man walking beside her.
He has dark golden skin, wavy brown hair, two differently-colored eyes, a muscular build, and a scowl resting on his face. A birthmark is painted across his cheek, and I realize this is her husband. She showed me a picture of her MotoGP championship-winning man a few weeks ago.
“Nevaeh, this is Julián. Julián, this is Nevaeh.” I shake the stoic man’s hand and he gives me a curt nod.
“Pleasure to meet you,” he says before wrapping an arm around Scarlette’s waist and bringing her against his chest.
“Good to see you, mate,” Adrian says and shakes Julián’s hand, too. “Everyone ready?” he adds and spins around to look at his other friends.
They all give an agreeing hum, so we step through the old, wooden doors and into a crowded space filled with laughing and cheerful people. There’s a neon sign right above the bar that reads “Bourbon House.” The ground is sticky, the music blares through the speakers, and laughter flows through the room in waves. It’s crowded in here, everyone enjoying their Sunday night.
“I beg of you, if you don’t want me to break anyone’s face tonight, stay close to me, yeah?” Adrian says while we make our way past men who can’t stop staring at my chest. I step in front of him before flashing him a promising smile and leading him toward the bar to get drinks. He’s right next to me, scanning the crowd of people around us with a frightening intensity.
“Relax, would you?” I ask right as the bartender turns to ask me what I want.
I decide on something non-alcoholic because Adrian doesn’t drink and I’m not the biggest alcohol drinker either. The occasional beer is more than enough for me. Adrian asks for water, and both our drinks are pushed toward us a minute later. Leonard and Cameron carry drinks for the rest of our group, and we follow them to a high table.
“Now, what do you want to do?” I ask. I take a sip of my iced tea while Adrian takes one of his water.
“Let’s enjoy our drinks and then dance our asses off,” he suggests, and I let out a chuckle before watching Leonard scoff in horror and Julián look at Scarlette with a begging expression. It says, “Don’t make me do this” and I’m laughing so hard, it catches his attention.
“I’m not dancing,” Leonard says, and Julián gives an agreeing nod.
“Oh, you’re dancing,” Cameron chimes in, and I notice he’s put on cowboy boots and a hat too. He looks incredible.
“You’re not my wife, so I don’t have to do as you say,” Julián replies, and Leonard snorts in response.
“My sentiments exactly.” They’re both so grumpy, complete contrasts to the shining bright light standing beside me. Adrian is close but keeps his respectful distance, as always.
We spend a while at a high table near the dance floor, laughing and talking about the most random things. The weight of my anxiety slowly lifts off my shoulders as I start to get swept into the moment.
My anxiety is always more difficult before an event but during it? I get lost in the now, in the carefreeness.
Valentina and Gabriel join us half an hour later, Val dressed in a short, red dress and Gabriel in a matching red polo shirt.
