Chapter 65

The Uber pulled up to the front of the hottest club in the city, neon lights cutting through the night air. A line of people stretched down the block, waiting impatiently to get in. The moment Celeste stepped out of the black SUV in her fitted shirt and men’s jeans, the crowd erupted. Flashes from phones went off immediately—paparazzi and partygoers alike recognizing the rising star.

Rowan slid out behind her, smirking as the cameras started clicking faster. Naomi followed, her fitted black dress hugging her figure like it had been custom-made. Even Simone and Lila, who usually stayed lowkey, were grinning wide at the sudden wave of attention.

The bouncers stiffened, immediately radioing in. Within seconds, the ropes dropped and the club manager rushed out, nearly tripping over himself as he greeted them.

MANAGER
“Celeste! Welcome, welcome! We’ve got VIP ready for you. This way, please.”

The crowd groaned as the group bypassed the line entirely, gliding straight through the doors. Inside, the bass thumped heavy through the floor, lights pulsing in every direction. They were escorted past the packed dance floor and up a short flight of stairs into a private section overlooking the club.

Their booth was spacious, lined with plush seating and a polished table already stacked with bottles of top-shelf liquor, mixers, and trays of fruit. A private server stood nearby, waiting for their orders.

Naomi flopped onto the couch with a laugh, running her fingers through her hair.
NAOMI
“Damn, bestie. You weren’t kidding about celebrity treatment.”

Celeste smirked, sinking into the seat beside her.
CELESTE
“Perks of the job. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.”

Rowan whistled, picking up a bottle of champagne and popping it effortlessly, foam spilling over as everyone cheered.
ROWAN
“Tonight, we drink like royalty.”

Simone was already snapping pictures of the group, angling her phone so the glowing lights and energy of the club spilled into the frame. Lila leaned against the railing, looking down at the crowded dance floor below with wide eyes.
LILA
“I feel like we’re in a movie right now.”

CELESTE
(grinning)
“Maybe we are.”

The VIP section buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses, the table already scattered with half-finished shots and cocktail glasses. Celeste leaned back into the leather couch, one arm draped across the backrest, her eyes half-lidded from the alcohol. The bass thumped low and heavy, vibrating through the floor, but her attention wasn’t on the music.

Rowan leaned forward across the table, sliding a shot in front of her.
ROWAN
“Don’t even think about skipping this one. You’re drinking with us tonight.”

Celeste raised an eyebrow, smirking.
CELESTE
“You tryna get me drunk?”

Rowan grinned, tilting her head.
ROWAN
“Maybe. Drunk Celeste is fun. Carefree. Less scary.”

Naomi, lounging with her legs crossed, cut in smoothly.
NAOMI
“She’s already halfway there. Look at her. She’s relaxed.”

Celeste chuckled, clinking her glass with Rowan’s before tossing it back. She winced, setting it down with a sharp clink.
CELESTE
“Relaxed, huh? That’s rare.”

Naomi leaned closer, her dress catching the strobe lights, every curve outlined.
NAOMI
“Rare? Please. I’ve seen you laugh until you cry. I’ve seen you fall asleep on the couch with popcorn all over you. Relaxed isn’t rare, you just hide it from most people.”

Rowan smirked at that, eyes narrowing slightly.
ROWAN
“Interesting. So you get to see the real Celeste often?”

Naomi shrugged, swirling her drink, but her lips curved knowingly.
NAOMI
“Someone’s gotta keep her grounded.”

Celeste shot her a look, one that said not here, not now, but Naomi only grinned wider. Rowan caught it though the flicker of something unspoken and leaned back in her seat, drumming her fingers against her glass.

Across the table, Simone and Lila exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

SIMONE
“Okay… what the hell is going on here?”

Lila sipped her drink slowly, not looking away from the trio.
LILA
“Don’t tell me you don’t see it. The way Naomi is acting? The way Celeste keeps sneaking looks at her?” She lowered her voice, leaning closer. “I think Naomi and Celeste slept together.”

Simone nearly choked on her drink, eyes bulging.
SIMONE
“Wait… shut up. Seriously?”

Lila nodded firmly.
LILA
“Look at them. The energy is too… familiar. That’s not just best friend behavior.”

Simone leaned back, shaking her head with a grin.
SIMONE
“So basically… they’re in a love triangle. And the wild part? They don’t even know it.”

Lila smirked, tilting her head toward the shots still being poured.
LILA
“I’ll bet you anything by the end of the night with all this alcohol flowing Naomi and Celeste end up kissing in front of Rowan. And when that happens? Rowan’s gonna try to compete.”

Simone’s jaw dropped, but then she broke into laughter, raising her glass.
SIMONE
“Well damn. This is about to be the most entertaining girls’ night ever.“

The bass from the club rattled the floors, the neon lights washing over VIP in pulses of red and blue. Bottles sparkled on the table, half-empty glasses scattered between plates of fruit and mixers. Laughter buzzed from the group, but the undercurrent was all tension sharp, electric, just waiting to explode.

Rowan slid closer to Celeste on the couch, her perfume heavy and sweet. Without hesitation, she climbed onto Celeste’s lap, straddling her like she owned the spot. Her arms draped around Celeste’s neck, nails grazing lightly across her shoulders.

“Missed you,” Rowan murmured before pressing her lips against Celeste’s. It wasn’t shy, it wasn’t tentative it was a claim. Her hands moved along Celeste’s chest, her waist, making sure everyone saw just who she was touching.

Celeste didn’t push her away. She kissed her back, her hand settling at Rowan’s hip, steadying her. To anyone else, it looked normal the movie star and her lover tangled up in their own world.

But Naomi noticed. Naomi always noticed.

Sitting on the other side of the booth, Naomi swirled her drink once, her eyes flicking to them, her jaw tightening just slightly. She forced a smile, leaned back, and downed the rest of her glass in one go.

“Gonna go dance,” she said casually, sliding out of the booth without looking back.

Celeste’s eyes flicked toward her instinctively, but Rowan pulled her chin back for another kiss.

Naomi made her way down the stairs toward the dance floor, the strobe lights catching in her black fitted dress the one that hugged her in every right place. It didn’t take long before another woman caught her eye: tall, caramel skin that glowed under the lights, curves that rivaled her own, and a smile sharp enough to cut glass.

Naomi didn’t hesitate. She leaned close and asked, “Wanna dance?”

The girl smirked, sliding her hand down Naomi’s arm before nodding. “Yeah.”

Within seconds, they were moving together, the girl pressed up against Naomi, hands roaming freely over her hips and down her back. Naomi let out a laugh sharp, carefree, maybe a little louder than necessary as she moved in closer, making damn sure anyone looking upstairs could see she wasn’t sitting around waiting.

Back in VIP, Simone nudged Lila hard with her elbow, her eyes locked on the scene below.

“Aw, hell,” Simone muttered, shaking her head. “Look at Celeste. Naomi knows what she’s doing.”

Lila laughed under her breath, sipping her drink. “She’s making her jealous. Straight up.”

The two of them leaned against the railing, watching like they were courtside at a game. Rowan still clung to Celeste’s lap, kissing her neck like nothing else existed, but Celeste’s eyes couldn’t help drifting — just for a second — down to the dance floor where Naomi moved like fire, pulling every ounce of attention in the room.

And Naomi knew it.

She tilted her head back with a smirk, the mystery girl’s hands all over her, and let herself shine in the lights — daring Celeste to watch.