The bass hit me before anything else—a deep, rolling throb that pulsed straight through my sternum and spread warm little tremors down my spine. It was like the sound reached inside and flipped a switch. When I pushed through The Rhapsody's heavy velvet curtain, the club opened up in a flood of heat, scent, and color. Neon lights cut the dark like sharp little knives, slicing across bodies moving in chaotic rhythm on the dance floor. Smoke blew from a fog machine and softened everything. The place had a dreamlike blur, as if reality had been smudged at the edges.

Perfect. Exactly what I came for.

The place smelled of spilt cocktail and expensive cologne, giving the intoxicating sense of want and possibility. People pressed against each other on the dance floor. Hands wandered, mouths brushed, and bodies grinded. A DJ perched above them all like some manic deity, whose head bobbed under his headphones as he pushed the crowd into a frenzy.

No deeper meaning here. No longing for connection. Just fun. Casual, uncomplicated fun.

I shoved a strand of hair out of my face and headed for the bar, weaving between clusters of dancers and a group of guys already half-drunk, shouting-laughing at something one of them said. I felt eyes slide over me as I passed—some hungry, some curious. It sent a light thrill down my skin.

The bar was a long stretch of glossy black, lit underneath by soft violet LEDs that made every drink look more glamorous than it actually was. I slipped into an open spot and leaned forward. The cool surface chilled my forearms. The bartender—a tall guy with a man-bun and tattoo sleeves—gave me a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning to finish mixing something aggressively neon.

While I waited, I scanned the room.

It didn't take long to spot the usual selection of potential hookups. A broad-shouldered guy in a fitted white shirt leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, looking like he'd been carved out of something expensive. Another—a bit younger, all jawline and dimples—was laughing with friends at a high-top table. There were plenty: handsome, toned, dressed to impress, and clearly on the prowl.

Good. I had options.

I was still deciding who I wanted to orbit toward when I heard a voice at my side—soft, feminine, and far too close for me to have noticed someone approaching.

"You look like someone who needs a drink."

I turned fast. A woman stood beside me—slender, sharp-featured, with dark red lipstick and glossy black hair pinned up in a twist that probably took black magic to hold. She wore a fitted emerald dress that hugged her like it had been tailored specifically for her body. Confidence radiated off her, smooth and effortless.

Before I could object, she lifted two fingers toward the bartender.

"Two of the house specials," she said, smiling like she owned the place.

I blinked. "Oh—I wasn't—"

"Don't worry. My treat." She stuck out a hand. "I'm Lilly."

Her smile was friendly enough, but something about it made the tiny hairs at the back of my neck take notice. Not fear. More like awareness. She was... intense. Beautiful, yes, but with an energy like she was watching everything, calculating small things I hadn't even noticed yet.

Still, she'd bought the drinks, so I took her hand.

"Angel," I said.

"A fitting name," she murmured, almost to herself. She didn't let go of my hand immediately—not in a creepy way, just a lingering softness. Then she released it and leaned an elbow against the bar like we'd known each other for years.

I took a sip of the drink the bartender slid my way. Sweet, citrusy, with a kick. Good enough.

Lilly studied me over the rim of her glass. She had a good poker face. I couldn't read a single thing from her relaxed expression. She may as well have been wearing a mask.

"So," she said, "you here alone?"

"Yeah."

"You a regular?"

"Nope."

"You moved like one," she said with a little smirk. "Like you already know how the night's supposed to go. Most people walk in here looking lost. You walked in like you had a mission."

A mission. Sure. If finding a hot guy to take home counted.

I shrugged. "I like to keep things simple."

"Simple is underrated." Lilly tapped her glass lightly against mine. "Cheers to that."

We drank. I found myself still watching the room behind her shoulder, scanning the clusters of men again. I wasn't here to make a new best friend.

But Lilly didn't seem to mind that my attention drifted. In fact, she seemed to be observing me observing the crowd. There was something amused in her gaze, almost like she already knew how I'd answer the question she finally posed.

"So what brings you here tonight?" she asked casually, swirling the ice in her glass. "Fun? Dancing? People-watching? Troubles you're trying to drink away?"

I laughed a little. She wasn't shy, I'd give her that. Normally, I'd swat pests that asked too many questions. However, I decided to drop my guard a bit and humor her.

"No troubles," I said. "Just... looking for a man to hook up with."

Straightforward. No reason to dance around it.

Lilly's smile widened—surprise flickering across her features, but in an approving way. "Well, that was refreshingly honest."

"Honesty makes things easier," I said. The words were casual, but in my head I added: And keeps things uncomplicated.

She nodded toward the crowd. "Any prospects?"

"A few."

"Hm." She shifted her stance, peered over her shoulder, then back at me. "Tell me what you're into tonight. Tall? Built? Pretty-boy? Rough around the edges?"

I felt my eyebrows lift. "You're... helping?"

Lilly laughed—a soft, velvety sound that seemed a bit too deliberate. "Why not? Women should look out for each other. Besides, it's fun playing matchmaker."

Right. Sure. Totally normal.

But I couldn't exactly argue that having a wing woman—especially one this perceptive—didn't help.

"Well," I said, "tall is a good start. Preferably someone who can hold a conversation for at least five minutes before we inevitably skip the rest."

Lilly nodded, scanning the room with laser precision. "Okay... tall... handsome... capable of pretending to be charming..."

She hummed thoughtfully, eyes roaming until they landed on someone across the bar—a man with sandy hair, a lean muscular build, and a smile like he knew exactly when to use it. He was laughing with another guy, hand wrapped around a beer bottle, posture relaxed.

Lilly nudged me. "What about him? He's got the shoulders, the looks, and I'm guessing he's the type who likes to please."

Heat curled low in my stomach. He was exactly my type—almost suspiciously so.

"He's... definitely cute," I admitted. "But I haven't even made eye contact with him yet."

"Then let me fix that."

"Wait—"

But Lilly was already gliding away from the bar, her steps effortless, her dress catching the light in little glints as she moved. I watched in frozen surprise as she approached the man, tapped him lightly on the arm, and said something that made him straighten, turn, and look directly at me across the room.

Oh. Wow.

He smiled—slow, warm, appreciative.

Then he nodded to Lilly, said something to his friend, and headed toward me with the kind of purposeful stride that made my heartbeat hitch.

I turned back to the bar, trying to pretend I hadn't just been entirely orchestrated like a puppet show. Lilly slipped back into place beside me just as he reached us.

"You must be Angel," he said, voice low and nice in a way that promised even nicer things later.

"I am," I said, smiling. "And you are...?"

"Daniel."

We exchanged a few lines—easy, flirty, natural. He was charming. Not annoyingly so. Confident without being a jerk. A perfect find.

When he asked if I wanted to step away from the bar with him, see if we could find a quieter corner or maybe hit the dance floor first, I didn't hesitate.

"Yeah," I said. "I'd like that."

He offered his hand. I took it.

Before we walked away, I glanced back at Lilly. She stood with her elbow against the bar, head tilted, eyes warm with something unreadable. She lifted her fingers in a small wave and gave me a slow, knowing wink.

A flicker of curiosity tugged at me.

Why help me? Why go so out of her way?

But Daniel gently tugged my hand, pulling my attention back to him, and the question slid to the back of my mind for later—maybe.

Fun first. Wondering later.

With one last look over my shoulder, I saw Lilly wink and turn to the bartender for another drink. I then let Daniel lead me away, heat blooming pleasantly in my chest at the thought of the night ahead.