CHAPTER 100: ALL THREE

Hailee’s POV

Left alone, I stepped off the dance floor and made my way back to the bar.

The music was still loud, bodies pressed together on the dance floor in a blur of heat and motion, but all of that faded into the background as I slid onto the barstool.

"I need another," I muttered.

The handsome bartender glanced at me, his brows lifting slightly like he knew I’d already had too much. His eyes flickered with quiet disapproval, but he didn’t argue.

"A glass of your strongest gin," I said again, sharper this time, my frustration bubbling up alongside the alcohol.

He nodded and turned away. A few seconds later, he placed the glass in front of me.

Without hesitating, I picked it up and downed it in one go.

The burn was harsh, unforgiving, searing its way down my throat like fire.

I winced, my lips twisting as the aftertaste settled in, bitter and sharp. A shiver rippled through me, and I pressed my hand to the counter to steady myself.

The bartender said nothing, but his eyes stayed on me.

Like he was silently warning me not to ask for another, but I ignored his warnings and requested another shot. He shook his head.

"I’m sorry, I can’t..." he said firmly.

I frowned at him, and just as I was about to argue about it, my phone began to ring. At first, I ignored it, but the caller kept pestering me with the constant calling.

Feeling frustrated, I brought out the vibrating phone from my pocket, and, with slightly blurry eyes, I checked the screen of the phone and realized it was Nathan.

I swallowed hard... we hadn’t spoken since I left his room without informing him.

My thumb hovered over the screen. For a second, I considered rejecting the call, but something in me hesitated.

With a sigh, I answered and held the phone to my ear.

"Nathan," I mumbled. My voice was low, hoarse from the burn of the alcohol.

There was silence on the other end for a beat, then—

"Hailee? Where the hell are you?" His voice was tense, a mix of worry and something else—anger, maybe? Disappointment?

I rubbed my temple. "Out."

"Out? Out where?"

"Club Lotus."

Another pause. I could almost hear his jaw clenching. "You’ve been drinking."

I scoffed. "So what?"

"Hailee, come on," he said, softer this time. "You just disappeared. You didn’t say anything. I returned and you were gone."

"I needed air."

"You needed air? For what?"

His words hit harder than I expected. My chest tightened, and the room tilted slightly around me.

"I wanted time alone," I mumbled.

"I’ll come pick you up."

"No," I snapped quickly. Too quickly. "I’m fine."

"You don’t sound fine."

"Nathan, don’t."

But the line was already cut off.

I sighed and signaled for water this time. The bartender gave a small nod and slid it across.

I sipped the water slowly, letting the coolness calm the fire in my throat and the buzzing in my head. My eyes stayed on the glass, but my mind was far away—on Nathan, on the mess I kept making.

The sound of a chair scraping beside me made me flinch.

I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

"Nathan," I muttered without lifting my head.

He didn’t say anything right away. Just sat beside me. I could feel the weight of his stare pressing against my profile.

I turned to him slowly, eyes narrowed. "How did you even get here so fast?"

He gave a dry little smile. "I was doing 140 kilometers per hour with my heart in my throat."

I blinked. "What?"

"You asked how I got here fast," he said with a shrug, voice low. "That’s how. I didn’t think. I just drove."

My chest squeezed.

He wasn’t joking.

He looked at me like I’d scared the life out of him.

His hair was a little messy like he’d rushed out. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes scanned me like he was checking for damage.

"Please," I whispered, forcing myself not to cry. "Just pretend you didn’t see me. Leave me alone, Nathan."

His brows furrowed. "Hailee—"

"I mean it," I said, firmer this time. "Don’t make this harder than it already is."

Before he could respond, another voice cut in from behind me.

"There you are."

I turned sharply to see Callum walking toward me in his usual confident stride, a hint of confusion on his face. My stomach sank.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, blinking.

He held up his phone. "Lila texted me. Said you were here and sounded off. She told me to come get you."

Of course she did.

I buried my face in my hands. "Unbelievable..."

Callum looked between me and Nathan, his brows narrowing slightly.

Before I could explain—or even breathe—a third voice joined the chaos.

"Hailee?"

I froze.

I didn’t even need to look. That voice had carved itself into my bones.

Dane.

I lifted my head slowly. He was standing just a few feet away, looking slightly out of place in the club. His shirt was half untucked, hair a mess, eyes full of concern.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, half exasperated, half stunned.

"I’ve been calling you. You weren’t answering," he said, stepping closer. "Then I saw Lila’s post a few minutes ago and knew I’d find you here."

I laughed—a dry, humorless sound—and threw my hands up.

"Perfect. Just perfect. My three favorite disasters, all in one place."

The bartender looked mildly alarmed now, hovering at the end of the bar.

Nathan stood silently beside me, jaw tight.

Callum leaned on the counter, giving Dane a slow once-over.

And Dane... his gaze stayed on me, unwavering, like he was trying to read what I wasn’t saying.

I was surrounded. Literally boxed in by my emotional chaos.

And the worst part?

I still didn’t know who I wanted to run to.

Or who I needed to run from.

Nathan suddenly spoke. "Come on, Hailee... let me take you back home."

Callum cut in. "No need, Nathan... I’m here for that."

I saw Nathan’s jaw flex as he turned toward Callum.

Shit. This can’t be happening.