Robert and Darrell were at the club but neither of them were dancing. Darrell had never really cared for it, only going on the dance floor when Betsy was desperate for someone to dance with and forced him. Robert normally loved to dance, but he wasn't in the mood tonight. The two of them had been lucky and scored a small table in the bar, far from the dance floor. It was the quietest spot in the club but they weren't chatting either. They sat in their usual silence, listening to the music and watching people. Or at least that was what Darrell was doing.

The only thing Robert was intent on doing was getting as pissed as he could before the night ended. He'd already had three pints and was thinking about a fourth one when he noticed Bridget, the last girlfriend he'd had before Georgie walking by. When she saw him, she stopped suddenly and did a double take.

"Alright, Robbie?" she said with obvious surprise, walking up to their table.

"Bridget," he said, with a nod.

She looked over at Darrell and said curtly, "Darrell." Darrell crossed his arms over his chest and looked away without saying anything. They'd never got on. Bridget had been the sort of girlfriend who saw his mates as competition in their relationship, and didn't bother trying to hide how she felt.

She started looking around, like she was trying to find someone. Even though he wasn't seeing that well, Robert recognized her usual clubbing outfit of black leggings, a large loose blouse, and the impossibly high heels she used to add inches to her short stature. She'd straightened her dyed blonde hair so it hung limply with no life in it at all and gone heavy on the eye makeup, trying to make her brown eyes look smoky but it just overwhelmed them. She'd looked exactly the same a year ago when they'd been dating. He hadn't cared for the look much then either but he knew enough about girls to keep his mouth shut.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Robbie. You haven't been around much," Bridget said, looking back at him after not spotting whoever she was looking for.

"Been busy," he said. He tried to focus on her face, but it looked like there were two of her.

"Where's your American girlfriend?" He looked away from her, glaring off into space.

"In 'merica! We're finished!" he said angrily. Couldn't people just give it a fucking rest already? How the hell was he supposed to get over her if everyone kept bringing her up every two seconds?

"Oh, Robbie," she moaned, oozing sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

She immediately turned to the nearest table and asked for their empty chair. Much to Darrell's disgust, she pulled the chair over next to Robert's and sat without asking if it was alright if she joined them. She leaned so close to him her breast was pressed against his arm. He knew it was intentional. It was close enough he got a whiff of the cloyingly sweet perfume she always wore.

"I'm glad you're here," she cooed. "I've missed you." He looked at her to see if she was being serious but it didn't work because she was all out of focus from being too close.

"It's true, Robbie. Y'know I still fancy you," she said plaintively. He snorted and looked away.

"You don't' believe me? Ask any of the girls!" she exclaimed loudly, sitting up straighter so she could face him. "When I thought you'd died, I cried for weeks!" He looked at her again, closing one eye this time, hoping it would make her come more into focus but it didn't work.

"For weeks, Robbie!" she added emphatically.

Then she leaned against his arm again, and murmured in his ear, "C'mon, let's not fight about the past." Who was fighting, he wondered, jerking his head away as he felt her hot breath on his ear.

"Let's have some fun!" she said excitedly, sitting up straighter again. "Just like old times, yeah? How 'bout I buy us some shots!" That suddenly sounded like a very good idea.

"Alrigh'!" he said enthusiastically. "Darrell? You in, mate?"

Darrell was leaning back in his chair with his arms still crossed over his chest, looking at them. He was far enough away that Robert could clearly see both of his faces. He looked angry.

"No!" he said sharply, and looked away.

Right. If he didn't want to have any fun, that was his loss, Robert thought. Before he knew it, Bridget was back with four shots, two for each of them. They went down pretty quick and then they sat back, listening to the music.

Bridget started rubbing her hand across his chest and he realized she'd shifted in her chair so that she was nearly sitting on him with her leg crossed over one of his legs. Somehow his arm had got round the back of her chair and she was leaning against him with her head on his shoulder.

"You look freakin' hot tonight, Robbie," she said as she looked up at him, continuing to rub his chest. "I can tell you've been workin' out," she said, practically purring as she shifted her body, pressing herself against him more. "You look absolutely yummy. I could eat you up with a spoon."

Then she started running her fingers through his hair and he closed his eyes. After a while, he relaxed against her with a sigh, laying his cheek on the top of her head, feeling her silky hair. It felt wonderful to feel her fingers in his hair, like time was standing still and all that mattered was the two of them. She was soothing him like she always did.

She shifted her body even closer to him, burying her face in his neck and he felt her warm breath on his skin. She started kissing his neck, moving her lips over him, tasting him. Then her hand was on his cheek, pulling his face towards her. When he felt her soft lips on his, he kissed her back hungrily, desperate for her. He'd missed her so much. He put his arms around her to pull her tight against him, but somehow it was all wrong, she felt different. He opened his eyes and even though he could barely focus, he could see enough to know it was Bridget. He let go of her with disappointment.

She pulled on his arms, trying to get him to hold her again, crying quietly, "No, Robbie! Don't stop!"

He tried to push her hands away, saying, "Mon, Bridge. Y'know we shoun't."

"No, Robbie!" she pleaded desperately. "Remember how good it used to be? We can be like that again!" He tried to snort but it didn't work.

"Mon, Bridge, were crap 'n' you know it!" he said. She leaned against him and began rubbing her hand across his chest again.

"You know one part that always used to be good," she breathed in his ear as she moved her hand lower. "C'mon, Robbie," she moaned quietly. "Let's just do it. I want you so freakin' bad. I know you want it too. C'mon. We'll do it for old time's sake, yeah? Just this once, yeah?"

Her hand was on his lap, pressing and rubbing a little and it felt good, really good. Then he suddenly felt guilty and pushed her hand away. This was wrong, he thought desperately. He couldn't cheat on Georgie. He wouldn't do it. He wouldn't betray her like that. And then he remembered – she'd fucking left him. He was alone now. If he wanted to fuck someone else that was his business, wasn't it? If she didn't like it, maybe she shouldn't have tossed him aside like he was yesterday's rubbish.

He put his arms around Bridget and pulled her to him, kissing her hungrily. She moaned and climbed on his lap, straddling him, rubbing her hands all over his chest as they kissed passionately. Then she did that thing she always used to do, hooking her fingers in his hair and pulling his head back suddenly, forcing him to release her, taking control of the kiss. She hesitated a moment while she looked in his eyes, both of them panting slightly before she pulled her to him, allowing him to kiss her again, wiggling on his lap and making him want it more.

When Robert woke up, he wasn't sure where he was. He tried to open his eyes, but the light in the room began drilling holes into them with a piercing pain that bored straight into the back of his brain. He immediately squeezed them shut and groaned. He heard someone move near him and his heart stopped for a moment. Who the hell was with him? He forced his eyes open despite the pain. He was in his bedroom. He rolled over feeling his stomach lurch in the process and saw Darrell lying on the camping bed a few feet from him.

"So you're alive, after all," Darrell said humorlessly.

"Am I? I wish I wasn't," he groaned.

Darrell was looking at him with the same angry expression he remembered from the night before. The night before – when he'd been at the club – with Bridget.

Shit.

Robert rolled onto his back and put his arm over his eyes, shutting out the light that pierced him while his head throbbed and his stomach roiled. As he tried to remember what happened, he got to the part where he was making out with Bridget, and then it all went black.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Did Bridge – and I –." He couldn't say the rest. It would be too awful if it turned out to be true.

"No," Darrell said curtly, and Robert let out a sigh of relief.

"You came to your senses and told her you didn't want to go through with it. But by that time you were so far gone, you couldn't fight her off. I had a hell of a time getting you away from her. She had you all the way outside the club before I could convince her to give up."

Robert couldn't say anything. He was too ashamed.

"If you want to hook up with Bridget, that's your business, but I reckoned you shouldn't be making that decision when you're pissed," Darrell said angrily.

"I don't want to hook up with her!"

"Well, you could've fooled me, the way you were carrying on with her," he muttered, making Robert feel even more ashamed.

He couldn't believe he'd gotten so drunk that he'd lost control like that – and with Bridget of all girls. The last thing he needed was to draw her back into his life. The first go round was plenty for him. And not only that, he couldn't believe he'd been so pissed he hadn't remembered how angry he was with her for what she'd done the night he'd taken Georgie to the club. That night was a fucking disaster and she was entirely to blame for what happened.

---Then---

Betsy, Robert and Georgie rode to the club in Darrell's car. Betsy and Darrell were up front while Robert and Georgie were in the back seat, holding hands. Robert couldn't stop looking at her.

"What?" she asked him, smiling when she'd noticed him staring.

"You just look so pretty, that's all," he said quietly. Even though it was dark in the car, he could tell she was blushing.

"Stop it, Robert," she said, waving her hand at him as if she didn't believe him. "You better be careful. If you make me cry again, Betsy will get mad at you," she said quietly, laughing a little. Then she quickly looked at Betsy and Darrell, like she was checking to make sure they weren't paying attention. When she looked back at him, she had a wicked gleam in her eye and a grin on her face.

"Look, Robert," she whispered conspiratorially, pulling up the bottom of her dress a little. "Boy knickers," she said quietly as she uncovered the bottom of black knickers that looked like they gave her pretty good coverage.

"It's boy short knickers, Georgie," Betsy said loudly from the front seat, and Georgie quickly pushed the hem of her dress down as if she'd just been caught doing something naughty while the two of them giggled like little children.

Then Robert had a thought. "Darrell, I'll drive us home tonight, yeah?" Since Georgie wouldn't be drinking, he wouldn't either.

"Cheers, Robbie," he said, and then turned the car radio up as one of their favorite songs came on. Darrell began singing and Robert joined him, singing the words to Georgie. It was about a bloke not wanting to lose the girl he loves as their relationship is on the verge of falling apart. Betsy joined in at the chorus, the only part she knew, but it was so simple Georgie was soon singing the chorus too. As everyone sang in the car, Robert's heart was swelling with happiness.

When they got to the club, they could hear the music pounding as soon as they got out of the car. Georgie was so excited she was practically jumping up and down. Robert led her by the hand to the entrance and when he looked back at her, she was smiling happily at him.

As soon as he walked inside the club, there were shouts of "Robbie!" and he was grabbed by many hands and pulled forward. He lost hold of Georgie's hand as he was surrounded by mates who were slapping his back, clasping his hands, or hugging him. He was immediately concerned for Georgie, worried she'd be frightened being separated from him in a crowd of strangers. He tried to go back for her but it was impossible, he was surrounded by so many people, he not only couldn't turn around he was being pushed forward.

He was starting to panic, when he felt a pair of strong hands grab onto his shoulders, holding him in place, it was Darrell. Then he saw Georgie. She looked scared as Betsy held her while pushing through the crowd with a determined look on her face, shouting, "Out of the way, you lot! This is Robbie's girlfriend!"

He grabbed onto Georgie and pulled her to him. She looked relieved as soon as she saw him and put her arms around him, hugging him tight and burying her face in his chest. "Alright now?" he asked in her ear, and she looked up at him with a shaky smile and nodded.

Darrell let go of him and he held onto her as he made his way over to the bar surrounded by his mates who continued to greet him. He found a high table near the dance floor and Betsy and Darrell soon joined them. Betsy leaned in close to Robert's ear so he could hear her over the music.

"Sorry about that, Robbie. I let everyone know you'd be here. I thought I'd surprise ya with it, like a welcome home party. I didn't think they'd attack ya like that!"

"It's alright, Betsy. Cheers," he said in her ear and laughed a little. Now that the fright had passed, he was grateful she'd done it. Until that moment, he hadn't realized he'd been so busy since he'd returned home he hadn't had the chance to see most of his mates yet.

Almost right away, Georgie had her hands over her ears because of how loud the music was and he fished the ear plugs out of his pocket. He showed her how to put them in and once she had them in place, she smiled happily at him. She turned to watch the dancers with her back pressed against him while he, Darrell, and Betsy chatted to their mates as they came up to greet him. He tried to introduce her a few times, but she was so distracted she could barely manage to say more than a vague 'Hi' as her eyes stayed glued to the dance floor.

They'd been there for a while when she turned to him while he was in the middle of a conversation, and said excitedly, "I want to dance now, Robert!" He made his apologies as she took his hand and pulled him to the dance floor. He wasn't sure how dancing would go for her. Dance styles and music had changed, and Georgie had been so young when she lost her freedom, but she completely surprised him, dancing like she'd been clubbing for years. He realized that while he'd been chatting with his mates, she'd been watching the girls dance until she'd figured out how they moved.

He already loved dancing but dancing with Georgie was even better. The feeling it gave him was just like when they ran together for the first time, like they were truly a couple now. He loved watching the way she moved, her body sinuous and beautiful, and he loved seeing how much fun she was having.

When the DJ played a slower song, Georgie surprised him by turning around and pressing her back against him. He put his hand on her stomach, holding her to him while their bodies moved together perfectly. With the music pounding through his body and Georgie pressed against him, he felt like they were joined together as one, like they were always meant to be that way. It was the best feeling in the world.

After they'd been dancing for nearly an hour, Robert was thirsty and ready for a break. He got them some water and they joined Darrell and Betsy back at the high table. While they rested, mates continued to come over as they arrived at the club, greeting him and chatting with all of them. Georgie stood with her back against him again so she could continue to watch the dancers, but this time she was moving to the music and her body rubbing against him was making it a bit harder for him to follow conversations.

It wasn't long before she was ready to dance again, but he asked her to wait. He was still tired and wanted to catch up with his mates. When she asked him again a while later, he took her hand and they started towards the dance floor but before they got very far, a bunch of his mates from his old swim team arrived, surrounding him as they greeted him. He was so busy greeting all of them he didn't notice Georgie standing off to the side looking a little lost until Betsy came up to them.

"C'mon, Georgie. I'll dance with ya. We'll let Robbie chat with his mates, yeah?" she said, holding her hand out to Georgie.

"Okay," she said, taking Betsy's hand as they went to the dance floor.

They danced near the edge of the dance floor, keeping in sight of the table while Robert chatted with Darrell and his mates. At one point, he noticed Georgie had got behind Betsy and pressed herself against Betsy's back while they danced, even putting her hand on Betsy's stomach like he'd done with her. They weren't the only girls in the club who were dancing like that but they were certainly among the prettiest and Robert noticed they were drawing a lot of looks. Then he noticed even Darrell seemed to be in a trance and he had to laugh.

He leaned toward him, saying, "Hey, stop watching my sister and girlfriend like that!" To his surprise, Darrell looked guilty and turned away, making him laugh even harder. Just as he was telling Darrell he'd been joking, a girl's fingers went over his eyes from behind and he realized Georgie had snuck up on him. She turned him around by his shoulders while his eyes were still closed, and threw her arms around his neck so she could kiss him.

It took about a half a second for him to realize that whoever had her lips pressed against his was too short to be Georgie. He opened his eyes and was horrified to see Bridget. He tried to pull her arms off his neck at the same time he looked towards the dance floor. Georgie was standing perfectly still, staring at him with horror, her mouth open. Betsy was standing in front of her, glaring at Robert like she wanted to throttle him.

Then Bridget tightened her arms around his neck and tried to pull him down for another kiss crying, "Robbie, oh my God! You're back!"

"Bridget, let go!" he shouted as he struggled to get her off him.

"Robbie, I thought you died! I can't believe you're back!" He realized she was completely pissed.

"Bridget, stop it!" he shouted, desperately pulling on her arms.

"I love you, Robbie!" she cried, hanging on him. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Bridget, it's over!" he shouted, pulling harder in an attempt to get her to release him. "I'm with someone else now! I have a girlfriend!" With that, she finally released him and he stepped away from her.

He looked back at the dance floor but Georgie and Betsy were gone. He looked around frantically but didn't see them anywhere. He turned towards Darrell and found him holding up Bridget who looked like she wasn't sure what was going on.

"Where'd they go?" Robert shouted over the music.

"Ladies!" Darrell replied, looking like he felt sorry for him.

Robert went to the girls' loo as quickly as he could. He stood outside and was dismayed. He could clearly hear Georgie crying inside. In desperation, he opened the door and called out, "Georgie, please come out so I can talk to you!"

He couldn't see inside, but he heard her cry, "Go away, Robert! I don't want to talk to you!"

As he held the door open, girls walked in and out either looking daggers at him or smiling at him in a bemused way. Sobbing girls in the loo was pretty standard for a night at the club. Betsy appeared in the doorway, still looking like she could throttle him.

"What the hell, Robbie! Could you be more of a wanker?" He sighed deeply. He was used to his sisters browbeating him about how he always seemed to fuck things up with girls.

"Can you please try to get her to come out so I can explain?" he begged her. She rolled her eyes at him like it was the last thing on earth she'd want to do and turned to go back to Georgie.

He let go of the door and waited, feeling angry as hell at Bridget for causing this. It was so typical of her, always causing drama of some kind and creating havoc in her wake. Why he'd ever thought it was a good idea to be in a relationship with her, he had no idea.

Then he couldn't help remembering the time he'd been sitting with Georgie at the piano in the flat the first day they were a couple, and the look on her face when she'd asked him if he'd loved his other girlfriends. He knew she felt insecure back then, when it was just the two of them in their own world. What must she be feeling now having seen him look like he was kissing another girl?

After a few minutes, the door opened and Georgie appeared. As soon as she saw him, she looked devastated and burst into tears, making him feel terrible.

"C'mon, Georgie. Just let him explain, yeah?" Betsy said gently, pressing a wad of paper into her hand.

Robert put his arm around her waist led her over to a narrow corridor that led to a back storage room where a few couples were quietly snogging. Georgie turned her back to him and leaned against the wall, wiping her eyes with the wad of paper as she cried. Robert leaned in a little, gently pressing against her back and pulled an earplug out so she could hear him.

He rubbed her upper arm and said quietly in her ear, "I'm sorry that happened, Georgie. I didn't mean to kiss that girl. For a second I thought it was you because my eyes were closed." He waited but she didn't respond, just continued to wipe her eyes and sniffle.

"Y'know I love you, yeah? I only love you," he said quietly.

When she still didn't say anything, he pleaded, "Please don't be mad at me." That worked and she finally turned around.

"Oh, Robert," she said sadly, and he hugged her, trying to comfort her as she cried quietly into his chest. He could feel how tense she was and held her a little tighter, pressing his cheek against her hair, smelling her special unique smell.

"Shall we go home?" he asked after a few minutes. It was clear the night was pretty well ruined. She nodded and pulled away from him, avoiding his eyes as she wiped her face with the paper. He took her hand and led her back to the table. Darrell and Betsy were there looking sober. Thankfully Bridget was nowhere in sight.

Betsy immediately went to Georgie and put her arms around her to give her a hug, saying, "Georgie, don't let that cow upset you. She's not worth it, yeah?" Georgie nodded, but avoided her eyes as well.

"You ready to go?" he asked them. They agreed and gathered their things.

During the ride home, it was silent in the car, even though the radio was on. Georgie kept her head turned looking out the window and Robert reached over and took her hand as he drove. He was grateful she didn't pull away and he squeezed it occasionally.

When they got home, everyone was quiet. Georgie didn't say anything and went straight upstairs. Betsy gave Robert and Darrell a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodnight and went up to her room. Darrell was staying the night on the couch and Robert helped him gather some bedding then went upstairs with a heavy heart.

When he went in their room, Georgie wasn't there but since the bathroom door was closed he assumed that's where she was. He changed into a pair of boxers and t-shirt and sat on the edge of the bed to wait for her. She came in wearing her monkey pajamas with her hair brushed out and her face washed. She closed the door quietly and after she set her clothes down, she walked up to him. When she reached him, he moved his legs apart so she could stand between them. He hugged her around her waist and looked up at her as she began running her fingers through his hair. The expression on her face was grim, and he felt terrible.

"Georgie, I –," he began, but she put her fingers on his lips to stop him.

"Robert, I want to talk first, okay? I have to talk first," she said quietly, blinking back tears.

"Alright," he said, and scooted back on the bed, making room for her to sit next to him at the head of the bed but instead, she sat on the opposite side, placing a distance between them and making him feel even worse.

She looked at her hands in her lap for a few minutes and then said quietly, "I'm not mad about the girl."

"You're not?" he asked, surprised.

"At first I was mad, but I realized she was holding onto you and you were trying to get her to let go."

"Then – what's wrong?" he asked, completely bewildered.

She looked like she was steeling herself as she looked at her hands in her lap, her expression even more grim. With tears welling up in her eyes, she said quietly, "I think I should leave. I'm going –."

She stopped to stifle a sob as the tears spilled over, and said with her voice breaking, "I'm going to Chicago, Robert."

****

Both nights are not going so well for Robert, or Georgie for that matter! Robert has moved on to the 'drowning his sorrows in alcohol' phase. Hopefully he'll learn his lesson after he suffers through his hangover! Bridget, the exgirlfriend, has made another appearance. You might remember she was mentioned in Stolen Hearts when Georgie asked Robert if he had a girlfriend after he plays his bad break up songs for her.

Now on to the music portion of the chapter. I have to say, I miss not having music be a bigger part of this book like it was in Stolen Hearts. Music is a big part of my life, and my writing, helping me shape and capture the mood of scenes. The song that everyone sings in the car is in the video, Anything by Example. I love Example and I know Robert would too, he's an incredibly talented British artist. The song is perfect and a bit prophetic for Robert to sing to Georgie.

If you want to listen to the other songs I used when I was writing this chapter, the song Robert and Georgie slow dance to is Trap For Me (Van Toth Remix) by Deadmau5 ft. Kaskade. It's slow and sultry and I could easily see the two of them dancing pressed against each other when I listened to it. The song Betsy and Georgie dance to is Drop by the Ying Yang Twins an older song but great to dance to. Just a warning, it's completely filthy and, depending on which version you listen to, filled with naughty words.

If you liked this chapter, please vote and let me know what you think. Thanks for all your support, and thanks for enjoying my stories!