Love in the Mix (Love in the Mix #1)

Chapter 3

three

LUNA

T he bass reverberates through the floorboards of Club Nero, sending vibrations up my legs as I stand near the entrance. Multicolored lights sweep across the dance floor, illuminating a sea of writhing bodies. The air is thick with the smell of sweat, perfume, and alcohol.

“You’re fucking lucky this thing is black. My sweat has sweat,” I scream at Jeri over the music. The club isn’t even that hot. My nerves have my heart racing and sweat is pouring from every pore on my body.

Jeri grabs my arm, her touch cool against my clammy skin. She pulls me towards the sleek, chrome-topped bar that runs along one wall of the club. "You've got to relax dude, you've done this a million times. You started playing in this club at twenty-one. What the hell are you worried about?" she questions, her voice barely audible over the thumping beat.

The strobe lights flash, momentarily blinding me. When my vision clears, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirrored wall behind the bar. The gothic cowgirl outfit Jeri picked out makes me look like a stranger. "I haven't released any new music in over a year. What if they hate all of it?"

"Jesse!" Jeri screams to our favorite bartender, slamming her fist down on the polished bar surface to get his attention. The impact sends ripples through the drinks nearby, causing their owners to turn and look at us curiously.

Jesse's gaze swings over to both of us, his white teeth gleaming in the neon bar lights as he smiles wide. "DJ Luna Sparks in the house!" he yells over the crowd, making his way to us quickly. The music seems to dim for a moment as the eyes of the crowd follow him, a hundred faces turning in unison to stare at me. I would love for the ground to swallow me whole.

"Ladies! What can I get you? What are you feeling tonight, Loon?" Jesse asks, leaning in close so we can hear him over the resumed roar of the music.

"She's got nerves, Jess! She'll take two lemon drops, and then she'll have another two about halfway through the set."

"I—"

"Don't fight me," she says quickly. Jesse's blue eyes flick between the two of us, settling on mine before raising a questioning brow.

"Apparently, I'm having two lemon drops now. Can you make the second round blueberry drops instead?" I ask, assuring him it's something I'm wanting.

"Anything you want. What about you?" he says, glancing back at Jeri.

"I'm feeling a mojito tonight, and keep them coming. We are Ubering tonight, bitch!" she says, pointing at me. As Jesse moves away to prepare our drinks, I take in the bar around us. Overly crowded, people pushing and shoving their way to the front.

"What are you doing, dude? What is up with you tonight?" The constant press of bodies and the relentless beat of the music are making me feel claustrophobic.

"You need this! You thrive up there," she says, pointing to the empty DJ booth onstage. It sits elevated above the crowd, bathed in a soft blue light. It looks both inviting and terrifying. “Ruby is a cunt, and she stole your music. She fucked your fiancé. I’m sorry. I know it took everything from you.” Her hands rest on my shoulder as she looks me in the eyes. “Stop letting her fucking win.” She shakes me roughly with every word. Her voice cuts through the noise of the club, sharp and clear. "Tonight is about you. Not them. Just let yourself enjoy it. You're not meant to stay here. You need to start making music again." My shots appear just as she finishes, the cloudy liquid inside catching the light. "Now, fucking drink those and go have some fun! I see a very cute group of gays and theys over there, so I'll see you later." She tips her glass towards me before walking off to join the group, disappearing into the crowd.

I take the first shot from in front of me and knock it back quickly. The lemon taste explodes on my tongue, a sharp contrast to the sweet syrup. I try to keep the sour look off my face, but my eyes instantly shut as the burn makes its way from the back of my throat directly to my gut. I waste no time and quickly throw the second one back, the alcohol warming me from the inside out.

“That’s my girl,” Jesse says with a wink as he removes the glasses from in front of me. “You’ve been missed.”

As the alcohol begins to take effect, the club seems to come into sharper focus. The beats of the music sync with my heartbeat, and the energy of the crowd becomes less overwhelming and more invigorating. I take a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scents of the club—a mix of spirits, sweat, and excitement. For the first time in a long while, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.