The Everlasting Effect 💖

Chapter Ten: Arawn

There's nothing like a club feel to get your blood pumping and your body vibrating to the beat. Neon lights spill everywhere. Despite the club's small size, it was quite intimate inside.

A lighted dance floor encompassed most of the space; disco lights alternated in color as young singles grind against each other. I set a small bar up opposite the entrance, with drinks for sale. After the last couple of days, this is exactly what I need. A distraction and a welcomed one at that. I need to get rid of these feelings and loosen up a little.

It's been one hell of a confusing shit storm after another, dealing with the one that got away or my supposed only love that betrayed me. The haunting frustration of dealing with my brothers and their sworn loyalty to Denara might as well have started a club with pledges to secrecy. Might as well have been a maze.

"Easy man, You seriously want to be hammered before Denara gets here?" My old football friend Theo says.

"Does it matter? I can do whatever the fuck I want! And right now, I want to blow off some steam," I say, downing another bottle of beer and signaling for the waiter to get me another one when I raise the bottle. The burning sensation in my throat made my adrenaline rise.

"Relax a little, get a load off, Live a little. Hakuna Matata a little!" I say, swinging my arm over his shoulder and scanning the crowd. My eyes landed on a blonde woman in a minidress, over at the bar with her friends who had been eyeing me the entire night. I send a wink and they giggle.

"You might just get lucky tonight," I add, still eyeing the girls from earlier before returning my eyes to my group of friends.

"Sure, that's why you invited Denara, right? "I ignored whoever that was that comment, but it didn't go unnoticed by anyone else.

"Lucky Bastard! I guess nothing has changed since then. Still got it going for you." I heard one of my ex-teammates say. He has a smug grin on, but I have no freaking clue who he is. This was supposed to be a boy's night, but some brought their girlfriends.

"Nah, I think he lost it."

"Whatever, dude, one man's loss is another man's gain. Might be time for another to show him how it's done," I hear some guys say in mockery. I could feel my jaw clench with annoyance and my hands ball into fists. A hint of anger made its way through my veins at the way they discussed Denara as if she were some sort of prize. Just as I was about to stand up, I heard someone cut through the conversation.

"Fat chance!" I hear someone snort.

"Okay, Mister Big Shot, I doubt you could ever score anything, let alone someone with standards." I watch as a woman with petite teeth comes up to our table and gives Theo a kick peck on the lips. I'm guessing that that's his girl. Funny how such a tiny person has a lot of bite.

"We all know that Denara wouldn't give you a second glance, let alone you being worth her time. She's too nice to say it, but even she has standards you don't meet, and you, mister," she says, twisting in my direction and pointing a finger.

"That tone of yours will change once you lay eyes on Denara again. You might not act like it now, but we all know that deep down she stirs some old feelings.

I can guarantee you that you both will be back together at some point" I look at the woman sitting on Theo's lap, not recognizing her either. She must be a friend of Denara's. I scoff at her absurd comment. There's no chance in hell that I would ever let myself get used to and heart again.

"Speak of the devil."

I'm about to retaliate, but she smiles in glee and glances at the door. There in all her glory, I watch as Denara and Jamie enter the club, making their way past the bouncer. She nervously tucked a piece of her brunette hair behind her ears and glanced around the place.