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“And me for three.” I added and he sighed, nodding in defeat.

“I just missed my girls, okay?” he defensively said. “I have to get back to work, but I’ll find you later, yeah?” he asked with a kiss on the top of our heads.

“Sure.” I smiled at him as she and I plopped back down.

He turned to leave but turned right back around. “Hey kid.” He called our bartender over. “You charge these girls tonight and I’ll have your head on a stick, you hear me?”

I almost choked on my drink and Silvia threw her arms in the air, screaming.

“Free drinks, let’s go!” she beamed and Marco chuckled before excusing himself and disappearing into the club.

We finished our drinks then ordered three more before finding ourselves on the dancefloor between other dancing bodies. Swim by Chase Atlantic boomed through the speakers.

The alcohol was like electricity in my veins, numbing my brain to the pain that I’d been internally fighting since I’d gotten back. All I could think about was letting go, being free.

I let the music wrap around me, consuming every part of me that needed a release. My mind. My body. My soul.

Hands found my waist and my eyes opened. Before I could turn, a body was pressed to my back, still dancing and moving to the rhythm.

Turning my head, my gaze landed on a smiling Giovanni and my eyes widened. I whipped around, leaping into his arms and he chuckled, his hands resting low on my hips.

“I missed you.” He leaned down to whisper and I pulled back, taking his face in my hands.

“I missed you too!” I screamed over the music and allowed myself to fall back into the rhythm.

His eyes held a soft twinkle as he stared down at me, and suddenly, guilt flooded my mind. I had left so much behind. So many people. People that loved and cared for me.

Gio reached forward, tilting my chin up. “Don’t even think about getting sad.” He scolded, slipping his free arm around my waist as he pulled my body up against his.

His head rested beside mine as he forced me to dance to the music and I chuckled, gripping the sides of his arms. I caught Silvia dancing between strangers and she winked at me, making me shake my head at her.

Gio and I couldn’t stop smiling as we danced, reminiscing about our past. We’d never gone further than being friends because he accepted my decision. I cared for him, deeply, and liked being around him, but that was it. And he respected it.

I ran my hand through his hair, brushing the dark strands back. “Buy a girl a drink, won’t you?” I asked and he chuckled, shaking his head down at me.

“You haven’t changed, have you?”

“Not one bit.” I leaned up to whisper and he took my hand, leading me through the crowd and up to the bar.

We ordered a couple of drinks while catching up until we found ourselves back on the dance floor. I’d been stumbling around but that didn’t stop me from dancing and having fun.

Silvia, on the other hand, had been slumped over a guy’s shoulder as he carried her to one of the booths.

Gio and I rushed over but he assured me she was fine and had just passed out after their game of shots. Whatever the fuck that meant.

I plopped down beside her with a concerned Gio in front of us, arms folded across his chest.

“Silvia?” I gently tapped the side of her face but she didn’t move. “Silvia, you okay?” I grabbed her arms but nothing.

I gripped her face, squeezing her cheeks and she groaned, trying to pull away from me with her eyes barely being able to open.

I pulled my cellphone out of my purse and called Kiryl who showed up immediately.

Koren hauled her up into his arms and I gave Gio a kiss on the cheek as I said goodbye.

I stumbled past him and Kiryl’s hands grabbed my waist, holding me up. “Easy.” He smiled and I giggled, leaning back against him.

“The room, Kiryl.” I reached forward, touching the air.