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oman who had been on my mind since the night we met. My heart raced as the clock ticked closer to 9:00 p.m. I'd sent her the club's address, and now

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ocation tugged at a distant memory, but I couldn't place it. My phone buzzed with a message from Emma,

lurred past as we sped toward the club. My mind was full of questions-who could have sent m

pped out, my mind preoccupied. I didn't notice that my phone ha

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was loud, and the dance floor was packed with bodies moving to the beat.

myself she was probably running late. I had sent the a

d to waiting. Women were always on time for me-eager, if anythi

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he music was a little too loud for my taste, but I kept my eyes peeled,

om my thoughts. I reached into my bag, but it wasn't there. Pani

me like a train: my mom. She had called earlier, a

n't know what was happening, but I needed to be with my family. As the cab sped of

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mail. I told myself to be patient, but it wasn't like me to wait for anyone. My fingers drum

their gazes full of promise. I wasn't in the mood for

ess, sauntered up to me. "Need some com

doubt. But she wasn't *her*. "Sure," I said

dmirers. We drank, laughed, and let the night take over. But no matter how much I t

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y chest. I rushed inside, asking for Olivia. They led me to her

ing her hand. Emma was there

" I asked, my v

mom whispered. "They

had been at some club, clueless, wh

er is going to be fine," he said. "She has Peptic Ulcer Disea

s of my mind. I had almost missed this-my sister's health

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ed by women who wanted my attention. But I wasn't feeling it. My mind was stu

girls around me were fun, no doubt, but none of them compared to the

to be wasted. I leaned into the chaos, letting the alcohol d

n't forget *her*-the one who

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st my phone, but Emma had suggested I go to the studios in person to follow u

ey had called me, and when I didn't an

e to tell her everything. When I expl

r you," she said. "But it'

sked, ready to ta

how do you feel about wo