The Perfect Spiral (by Ashley Constantine) novel Chapter 84

I down the rest of my drink and pour another, this time straight Jack. I down that one too. I can feel eyes on me and meet his gaze. He’s sipping from the end of his beer bottle, watching me.

I’m caught in his stare, then glance to the left to see Wes doing the same. Wes is smirking.

“Cabs here!” Sam imitates the Jersey Shore accent as best she can. We fill up water bottles with drinks and head outside, the boys trailing behind us.

I don’t look back, but I can feel their stares boring into the back of my head.

I slide into the cab and glance out the window to see James biting his lip as he watches me. Knox and Wes stand behind my brothers, their gazes just as intense.

As the rest of the girls pile into the car, we head towards the club.

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We’re let in immediately and make our way to the bar. Andy orders a round of whiskey shots, and we knock them back, ready to hit the dance floor.

The music is heavy, the lights strobe across the floor, and the air is thick and hot with bodies moving to

the beat.

For the first time since the whole thing with my father happened, I find myself genuinely smiling. I just need to get wasted and let loose.

The DJ is killing it, playing throwback hits and mixing in chart–toppers. Andy takes my hand, twirls me around, and then pulls me into a hug. We dance and laugh with Hannah.

When a guy comes up behind Hannah, she shoots us a pleading look. Andy switches places with her to ward him off. I shout to Andy and Hannah that I’m heading back to the bar for a drink.

They follow me, and we ascend the steps to the bar where my sister is perched, sipping a cocktail and spinning on her stool like a child.

“Alex! Picture!” She demands, pointing to her iPhone. We pose for a few shots together.

“Come on, have you seen any guys yet? We need to piss Carter off!” She tries to whisper, but fails.

“No, no, we’re not pissing anyone off!” I warn her. I know what she’s trying to do–make him jealous

so he cracks. But he won’t. I know he won’t.

I leave my sister singing along to the music and rejoin Andy and Hannah. Midway, I spot him leaning against the railing opposite the bar. He’s in a white t–shirt and grey jeans, talking to a girl who’s flirting shamelessly with him. His tattoo is more prominent against the white of his shirt, the black ink contrasting sharply.

His smile is directed at her, but as if sensing my gaze, he glances up. His eyes flicker over me without recognition, then snap back in a double–take. His eyes widen, mirroring the grin that spreads across his

face.

“Alex?”

“Matt?”

I approach him, wrapping him in a warm hug. “I hope I’m not interrupting. How are you?” I apologize to the girl he was talking to, receiving a glare in return.

“I’m good… Wow! You look amazing. Haven’t seen you on the beach recently?” His question is laced with a playful smirk.

“Yeah, uh, long story… I didn’t mean to interrupt you and your girlfriend! I just wasn’t sure if it was you,” I reply, offering him an awkward smile.

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He shakes his head, laughing. “I’ve got time… and she’s not my girlfriend, so don’t worry.” He winks, his teeth gleaming white.

“Come here, let me buy you a drink!”

“Oh, you don’t have to, it’s cool-”

“I want to…”

“Okay, thank you. Next one’s on me!” I smile, placing my order. Then my sister, drunk and obnoxious, decides to make her presence known.

“Alex! Who’s this sexy guy? This the guy you’re going to get dick from?” She winks, her words slurred.

Oh, God. I cover my face, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“I’m so sorry, Matt. That’s my sister–she’s an awful drunk-” I spin around to face her, catching Matt’s chuckle out of the corner of my eye. I bury my face in my hands again.

“Would you believe me if I told you that she’s getting married the week after next?” His laughter grows louder as he pays for our drinks and leads me away from the bar.

“Your sister’s funny. But I can’t help but ask… is that why you’re out tonight? To pick up a guy?” He sips the drink he bought me as he guides me upstairs to a quieter area in the back, filled with plush seats. It has a VIP vibe.

“Ugh, Matt, I’m not a VIP…”

“It’s alright, my uncle owns this place. I can do whatever I want here…” He gestures to a free table and we slide in. I was going to sit opposite him, but he gently guides me to sit next to him.

“And the answer to your question is ño. My sister made that plan up in her head. She thinks I need a guy… I don’t. I’m perfectly fine just having fun with my friends.”

I take a sip of my drink, feeling the sting as it slides down my throat.

“So what you’re saying is that if a guy wanted to get with you, you’d turn him down?” He smirks, clearly teasing me.

I shrug in response. I don’t know what I want. He studies me, his arm resting on the back of the booth behind me.

“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” He sets his drink down on the coaster. The booming bass from downstairs is a distant throb up here. We sit in our booth, watching the crowd below.

“24. How old are you?”

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“24? I’m 28…” He laughs at my wide–eyed surprise. “28? Really? You don’t look 28! You look much younger…” He nods, taking another sip of his drink.

“Yeah, I get that a lot. Must be my good looks,” he winks at me. I bite my lower lip.

This no–guys rule isn’t really working out well for me right now. Matt looks so hot, especially with his tattoos. I can’t help but admire them.

“You must get a lot of girls with your sleeve,” I comment, pointing to his ink–covered arm.

“Yeah, well, I’m quite picky when it comes to girls. But I do get approached a lot. Not to sound big- headed or anything.”

“Trust me, you don’t. I live in a house with huge egos! You’re normal compared to those idiots…”

“I forgot you know Knox Carter! Shit!”

“I find it funny that when I said huge egos you immediately thought of him! I like you!” I raise my glass to clink with his.

“I like you too. I’d say it gets pretty annoying with the number of girls he has around him?”

I nod, replying, “You don’t know the half of it…” I take another sip of my drink, resting my head back

against his arm.

“That bad, huh?… Isn’t he back with… what’s–her–face?”

“Lauren?”

“That’s her name? I thought it was Lacey… whoops!” His mistake makes me laugh. He reminds me a bit of Ben. He slides closer to me, causing a blush to creep up my cheeks. He looks so hot tonight.

We continue to order drinks on his tab, and despite my protests, he insists. My phone keeps buzzing with messages. I ignore it until the buzzing becomes too frequent.

“I’m sorry, my… stupid… phone won’t… stop buzzing,” I fumble for it in my clutch.

“The girls? I can take you back down to them if you want-”

“No, no! I’m perfectly fine up here… away from them… m–mostly my sister,” I manage to get out, my words starting to blur together. I feel drunk. Very drunk.

“Are you okay? Do you want me to get you some water or ”

“No! I need to get f–fucked up, like wasted and whatnot…”

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