for, lover (Completed; editing)

Chapter 12

We get to Thrive a couple of minutes after 8. For a Thursday, they're a little busy but the line looks like it's going fast. I follow behind Maddy and Ben to get in the back of it. Tony is pressed up against the brick wall away from the crowd watching the sidewalk. He perks up when his eyes meet mine.

"Hey! You made it!"

He strides on over to us and looks at Maddy first, then Ben.

"Hey, yeah. I brought some friends if that's okay. You might remember Maddy and this is her boyfriend."

He waves to Maddy and shakes Ben's hand.

"It's nice to see you again and nice to meet you, I'm Tony."

"You're way hotter than I remember." Maddy says making Ben shoot her a questionable look.

"Probably because you were almost blackout drunk the last time we came here." I tell her.

"Ah, yes. That will do it for sure. That's not the plan for tonight but who knows what will happen."

The line moves up a little and Tony keeps his feet parallel from mine. Maddy hooks her arm around Ben's waist, pulling him close to her side. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"I better not have to carry you out tonight. Go easy for me, please." He pleads.

Hopefully she'll listen because I don't want to get stuck caring for her again when she's like that. She's been going a little overboard lately.

"I'll limit myself. I have to work in the morning anyway." She sighs.

The bouncer checks our IDs at the door and lets us through their fancy velvet rope. It looks just as busy tonight as it did the last time we were here except the music is much louder and there's more LED lights flashing everywhere.

We find an empty table to hang around. Maddy wanders off to the bar and Ben follows her like a lost puppy.

"Did you bring your friends to keep an eye out for you?" Tony asks and plops down in the chair next to mine.

"Not really."

That's exactly what I did. Tony seems nice and all but you can never be too careful when it comes to random guys you meet at a club. I'm also hoping this will make him see this as anything besides a date.

"I don't mind either way. They seem pretty cool."

"Maddy's a little crazy sometimes but she's good company."

He laughs and taps his fingers down on the table. He keeps his eyes on the bar and turns his head when I catch him looking.

"Did you want a drink?" I ask.

"Up to you. I can wait unless you want to start now."

I chuckle and pat his hand as I rise up from my chair.

"I definitely want to start now."

It's been a long day. I'll start off with something small and work my way up like I usually do until I hit my limit. Tony follows me over to where Maddy and Ben are waiting. She's already taking a couple of shots.

"Holy shit Maddy you're going to be falling over in the next half hour."

She cackles maniacally as she bites down into a lime slice. Tony orders a couple of drinks for us before I'm able to.

"I was going to have my own tab. What are you doing?" I ask him.

"I invited you out here tonight so I'm obligated to buy you a couple of drinks."

"That's sweet but you really don't have to do that."

He shakes his head and holds out one of the margaritas the bartender had placed in his hands.

"Shut up and enjoy."

I lift the glass up to his and tap the edges together.

"Cheers."

We both take a pretty large gulp from our glasses. The bartender loaded mine with tequila that it was almost hard to swallow. Tony laughs at the expression on my face and walks me back to our table where Maddy and Ben had already taken their seats.

"What song is this? I like it!" Maddy yells over the music.

It's sounds like a remix of a pop song but I don't listen to the radio enough to know which one.

"I have no idea but it's shit."

She giggles and throws her arms in the air.

"You don't like anything upbeat!"

She isn't wrong. I'm just a huge fan of slower music. I've never been fond of the dance music playlists they play in places like these. It's more enjoyable when I'm drunk. If I'm sober I'd rather be listening to soft beats to make me feel calm.

Tony laughs and finishes off his drink.

"I'm going to get another drink. Do you want one?"

I hadn't even finished on the first one. I politely decline and watch him go back over to the bar.

"I'm going to get another one too." Ben says and walks off.

"Wow, how is he going to judge me when he's already onto his next drink?" Maddy asks.

I chuckle and take a small sip from my glass. I didn't hear Tony ask for this extra strong but holy shit. I might not even need another one after this.

"You two better not be driving tonight."

"Thank you, mom. If he's not sobered up by the time we leave then I'll just call an Uber. You better take one too if he keeps going like that."

I look across the room at Tony who seems to have struck up a conversation with Ben. My nosy ass is so curious to what they could be talking about.

"He's really hot." Maddy blurts.

"Damn then you go out with him!" I tease her since she keeps talking about it.

She laughs and swats her hand at my shoulder.

"I'm just saying! You deserve to let loose and have some fun with a hot guy."

"I'm trying to."

"Real fun, Bree. Do what you want tonight. Quit worrying what anyone might think and definitely quit thinking about your former flame who wasn't worth a cent of your time."

I can't just say Mile's wasn't worth my time. Those moments are irreplaceable to me and it's hard to try and forget like it meant nothing to me. Hell, I wish I could. It would make this a lot easier.

Drinking more would too so I down the rest of the drink contents as Tony and Ben make their way back over to us.

"I should've gotten you another one!" Tony says and laughs as he takes his seat.

"I can buy my own drinks! I'm not letting you spend that much on me."

"Don't worry about the money. From what I can tell you deserve to be treated sometimes and it must have been awhile since the last."

I smile and get up from my seat.

"Come dance with me."