AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 14 - ALL MY FRIENDS ARE WASTED by SNAKEHIPS

I would like to take a moment to celebrate the completion of The His Promise (HP3) trilogy by @Diablolita. This is a huge accomplishment, and I know you're aware of how much I idolize her as a writer. She's top tier, but she's also a dear friend. If you haven't read all of her books, you haven't lived a true RIREN life.
Here is her link:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/DiabLolita
Congratulations, honey!

I love you!

SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/track/6TaqooOXAEcijL6G1AWS2K?si=e07414163cc8492e

They turned the corner. No one in their right mind would walk through these darkened downtown streets, except a meth head's son and a couple of former homeless kids. Levi heard the muffled laughter and heavy breaths of the two brats running to catch up with him. It was remarkable that his short legs could carry him so much faster than taller people. He'd always been a fast walker. "Walk like you're heading off to beat somebody's ass," Kenny used to say.

They reached the door of the club with the neon "L" next to it.. It's the only way anyone would know there wasn't just an empty warehouse sitting dormant on the block. When the large man in the entrance caught sight of Levi, he pulled the velvet rope back and gestured for the three of them to move in front of the line and come through. He caught sight of Eren's smile, the boy obviously impressed with the treatment. The place was wall to wall with writhing bodies and the sharp smell of alcohol. A lateral move from jamming sweaty bodies and the smell of beer. It was fucking loud, but Levi loved it for its anonymity. Dark and shadowy, he felt his body start to pulse with the bass of the music.

Eren's voice came from behind, close to his ear. "I'll get the drinks. You find a table." Levi frowned at him, as Isabel pulled him in the direction of the booths. "You don't even know what I like," he yelled.

Eren winked and yelled back, "It's my goal in life to figure that out."

The man felt his face and neck grow hot, and he cursed to himself, as he watched the tall, brunette man get swallowed by the crowd around the bar. Turning back to the girl, he let himself be led to the outskirts of the dance floor to a flower shaped high top. He could still see the top of Eren's head at the bar from where they sat.

He didn't realize he was staring until Isabel's giggle brought him back. She smiled at him. "He's not hard to look at, huh, Lee?"

Levi scowled at her and feigned to look around the bar. Everything was painted silver, bathing the place in an industrial, electric look from the lights incessantly swirling.

"You know it might not be so bad if you gave him a try?"

He narrowed his eyes on her. "It's none of your business, twerp."

Isabel let her head fall back in laughter. "It's everybody's business, honey."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Everyone can see how you two look at each other." Before she could say another word, "Playing With Fire" bled through the end of the last song and the girl next to him squealed. "Our song!" She scuttled from behind the table and threw her hands out to him. "Please, we need to dance."

The piano punched through him, and truly, he wouldn't have been able to keep still if he'd wanted to. He'd turned the girl on to Black Pink the summer before Farlan had returned, and as a result, they'd spent hours in their socks, dancing in his living room. Shaking his head, he got up and backed her onto the floor and into an effortless spin. She brought her hands to his shoulders and the two of them started to step to a watered down salsa, his hands steering deftly from her waist. Drenched in white paisley light, he turned her around, but almost ground to a complete halt when he saw the gorgeous, green-eyed man watching him steadily from the side of the dance floor. A small smile played around his mouth, but there was no mistaking the heat in his fluid, bright eyes. Levi felt stripped of all defenses, holding his gaze over Isabel's shoulder.