The Midnight Room by Ronica Black

Author:Ronica Black [Black, Ronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Lesbian, General
ISBN: 9781602827660
Google: 8L2ztgAACAAJ
Amazon: 1602827664
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2012-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Audrey usually loved nights like these. The club so full you could hardly move, the music so loud you could hardly hear. The strobes slicing through the crowd, sweat reflecting off red, blue, and green lit skin. It all felt so primal to her, women dancing and moving, trying to lure a partner, the beat encouraging them all. She usually loved it. Most nights even lived for it.

But tonight and every night since she’d last seen Lillian had been different. She felt defeated, uninspired, lost. What was the point of it all?

Was she just going to go through the motions until she finally found someone else she liked? What were the odds of that happening considering it had never happened until Lillian?

She was at a complete loss, and yet all she could do was return to the club and try to behave as if everything were okay. At least here she could see Lillian, pretend things were different, live in a fantasy world. She could catch a glimpse of her and try not to remember the hurtful things she’d said. But then again she was good at that. Hurtful things had been said to her all her life. She was good at pushing past them and moving on.

So she entered with her head held high, wearing a tight black T-shirt and worn jeans. Her motorcycle boots matched her belt and thick wristband. All purposely done, of course. As was her carefully sprayed-on cologne, black thong underwear, and lack of a bra. Though she wasn’t on the hunt tonight, she wanted to make damn sure it looked like she was.

She made her way to the bar and ordered a beer. She positioned herself on the stool and stared across the bar trying not to look into the far corner where Lillian usually sat. But she did a brief scan anyway. Lillian was nowhere to be seen. She blew out a long breath and focused on the bartender, motioning her over.

“Beer,” she said. “Heineken.”

The beer was slid across the bar to her and her gaze traveled back over to Lillian’s table. Lillian’s friends were there, talking and laughing as usual. It was getting late, though, and she wondered if Lillian was coming tonight at all.

She downed her beer quickly, taking in nearly half the bottle. She had to do something to get her mind off Lillian. Where the hell was she?

“Be careful with that one,” the bartender said, getting in her line of sight.

Audrey leaned the other direction in order to keep looking. “What?” She was only half-paying attention.

“I said—” the bartender said again.

“I heard you. I just didn’t understand.”

A thick hand encircled Audrey’s wrist. “No, I don’t think you heard me.”

Audrey yanked her arm away and glared into her eyes. It was the same bartender who had given her countless dirty looks.

“What’s your problem?” Audrey asked, ready to fight if need be even if the bartender had way more muscle than she did.

“You.” She yanked her thumb back toward Lillian’s group.

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