The bar was absolute chaos. Heat, music, and bodies packed tightly together, creating an unmistakable energy that could only be found in a college dive bar. The place smelled like old beer and sweat. Christmas lights clung to the rafters, and the walls were covered in rusted tools, dusty trophies, and battered Godfrey jerseys stapled to a corkboard.
It was normally a busy spot, but March Madness had turned the place into a pressure cooker.
Noah held the door for Rachel as they pushed their way inside.
“Holy shit,” Noah muttered, feeling Rachel push against him as they surveyed the room.
“I know! This is so awesome!”
She looked at him with a bright smile, and Noah smiled back, happy to see at least one of them excited.
Her outfit, a pleated skirt and a soft, cream-colored blouse tucked at her waist, made it look like she’d stepped out of a country club brochure. She wore the old money aesthetic effortlessly, and it made her fit right in with Godfrey’s crowd.
“Where do we even go?” Noah asked, scanning the tide of people. Rachel answered by tugging him deeper into the sea of college students.
Godfrey had just won a huge game, and the whole school was still vibrating from it. Noah could feel it in the old bar’s floorboards as music bled through the walls, barely dampening the shouts within.
Rachel’s eyes brightened as she pointed excitedly to the far side of the bar.
“Noah, look! The basketball team is here!” She said excitedly.
Of course they were. Noah glanced in the direction Rachel had pointed, and didn’t need to look long to see him.
Even here in a crowd of good-looking, rich students, Ethan stood out.
He was near the bar, standing tall in a sea of girls. He held a drink in one hand while gesturing widely as he laughed with his teammates. His short hair was tousled perfectly. His lean body was dressed in fine, light linen and designer loafers. And that cocky, celebrity-like charm froze all who passed by. The room seemed to pivot around him. Everyone paid attention when he spoke. Girls leaned closer, and guys laughed louder.
Noah tried not to care as Rachel beelined for him, also seemingly caught in Ethan’s gravitational pull.
And as they stepped closer to the bar, Ethan looked over at Rachel. Noah felt the energy around them shift. The other girls noticed too, their smiles faltering as Ethan pushed off the counter and passed them like they weren’t even there.
Noah’s heart began to race as Ethan approached, towering over them both.
“Rachel!” he said with a large smile, not even glancing at Noah.
“Ethan,” Rachel said back playfully.
“Didn’t think you’d make it out!” he went in with open arms, and Rachel promptly answered with a side hug.
“We decided to drop by,” she said, stepping closer to Noah, who Ethan still didn’t bother to acknowledge. Instead, he leaned down to Rachel’s level, mouth inches away from her ear.
“I like your outfit!” he said.
She smiled. “Thank you!”
Her voice was light but barely audible over the crowd.
Noah watched Ethan’s eyes sweep down Rachel’s body as she spoke, then flicked back up with a wolfish grin. He said something else in Rachel’s ear, but Noah couldn’t make it out. As he began to step forward, Noah felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder. He turned to find Mike grinning at him stupidly.
“My man! You made it!” Mike yelled as he gave Noah a bear hug. He could smell the alcohol on Mike’s breath as he let him go and slapped his back. It made Noah flinch, but he smiled all the same.
“Hey Mike, how’s it going?” Noah said.
“It’s going pretty good! I could use your help, though. Luke is like… doing his fucking loner bullshit in the corner. We need to get him to do some shots. Come on!” he grabbed Noah’s sleeve and began to pull him.
“Uh… I don’t know, I–”
“Come on, man! First round’s on me!” Mike bellowed.
Noah turned to Rachel just in time to see Ethan’s hand slide up her back.
“Mike I–”
Mike stopped for a moment, eyes trailing to Rachel also. He let out a chuckle and slapped Noah’s shoulder.
“Oh, don’t sweat it, bro, she’ll be fine! There are, like, a billion people here, so Ethan will behave. Besides, it’s not like she’s gonna leave without you,” Mike said.
Noah’s gut twisted as Rachel laughed loudly, and Ethan’s arm slid over her shoulder.
“Right…”
He let himself get pulled away, looking one last time.
She looked back, too.
Just once.
Scanning. Searching.
But their eyes never met.
The crowd swallowed them both as Mike led Noah toward the back.
The smell of cheap whiskey floated into Noah’s nostrils as they found their way to a set of worn, round tables in the back of the bar. The buzz of a hundred conversations crashed together as TVs overhead played highlights from the game.
While Noah’s mind stayed fixed on the image of Ethan’s arm draped around Rachel’s neck, Mike had already made his way to the back bar. He flagged the bartender with both hands and shouted something about tequila shots. Noah glanced over and spotted Luke leaning against a wall while checking his phone. He wore a worn baseball cap and t-shirt, his wavy hair pushed behind his ears. As Noah approached, he looked up and nodded.
“Hey Luke!” Noah said.
“Hey Noah, long time no see. Did Mike drag you here also?”
“I actually came with Rachel, but then he found me, and now I’m here.”
The two laughed as Luke shook his head.
“At least I’m not the only one who’d rather be somewhere else.”
“Right?! Give me a backyard fire and friends over this…”
“Hell yeah, brother,” Luke said with a humorous southern accent. He gave Noah a fist bump before returning to his phone. “Ah, sorry. I’m trying to get some details sorted for a hiking trip I’m taking this weekend. I’ll snag us a table. Feel free to grab a drink.”
“I think it will,” Noah said. He needed something to help him cut loose and forget about Rachel and Ethan. So, without thinking, he went to the bar and ordered a shot, pounding it back quickly. The burn in his throat made him cough as Mike erupted with excitement.
“No fucking way! Let’s gooo!” Mike took a shot himself, chased it with lime, and gave Noah a fist bump. They ordered another round of drinks and brought them over to the table Luke had saved. They all sat down, echoing the bar’s cheers and shouting loudly at the game playing on screen.
They laughed, they joked, they bantered. Eventually, Mike’s attention turned to a group of girls he’d been eyeing all night.
“I really think I can get the brunette’s number,” he said.
Luke rolled his eyes as he took a swig of his beer. “Next round says you can’t.”
Mike downed his drink and stood.
“Watch me,” he said, sauntering over to the group.
“No way he lands this,” Luke said, grinning.
Noah squinted. “I don’t know, he’s kinda on fire tonight.”
They both leaned forward. Watching as Mike spoke with wild gestures. There was a pause, then laughter. Then, the brunette scrawled her number on a napkin.
Luke laughed.
“Guess I stand corrected.”
“Looks that way,” Noah added as Mike returned holding the napkin like a trophy.
“Another round of shots, Luke!” he declared.
The three pounded them back.
Then another.
And another.
Everything got fuzzy. Noah stopped checking the crowd for Rachel. Stopped thinking about what Ethan might do. And let himself slide into the moment.
The next song dropped. An early 2000s throwback that shook the walls.
Without thinking, Noah followed Mike onto the dance floor and began bouncing to the beat. He wobbled as someone pushed into him.
Noah turned, preparing to apologize. And found Mel looking back at him, surprised.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” she said with a smile.
Noah laughed, instinctively rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey, Mel.”
She stepped closer, avoiding a stray dancer behind her. “How you been?”
He shrugged, trying to look casual. “I’m doing ok.”
Mel raised a skeptical eyebrow as her eyes scanned the bar. “And where’s Rachel?”
“She’s… around.”
Mel looked pointedly back at Mike and Luke. “Not with Mike?”
Noah shook his head.
Mel crossed her arms. “So who is it this time?”
“Look, it’s—”
“Who?”
He exhaled. “She’s chatting with Ethan. It’s not a big deal.”
Mel scoffed as she scanned the crowd. “Oh my fucking god.”
Noah followed her gaze to an area backlit by hanging neon signs and spotted them. Ethan still had a hand on her back, leaning in close any chance he could.
“They’re just hanging out,” Noah said as Rachel patted Ethan’s chest playfully.
“Yeah. I’m sure that’s all they’re doing,” Mel muttered.
Then, a new song played through the speakers, and Mel’s attention flipped.
“This is my favorite song,” she said. “Come on. Let’s dance.”
“Oh, I don’t know if—”
“Noah, considering everything, I think you’re allowed to dance with another girl.”
She reached for his hand.
He didn’t take it.
Mel paused, voice softening as she searched his eyes. “What’s up?”
He hesitated. “I… I’m not a good dancer.”
Mel laughed gently as Noah blushed.
“I know, it’s not the most attractive thing,” he said.
Mel shook her head, “No! No, it’s not that, it’s just… you’re really cute.”
They stared at one another for a moment. Then Mel continued.
“You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not a good dancer either. It’s just for fun. Come on.”
She tugged gently, and Noah followed.
The dance floor was already full, and bodies pressed in from every side. Mel rolled her hips to the music. She moved effortlessly, smiling without looking at him. And Noah, for his part, tried to look as natural as he could, resulting in him awkwardly swaying back and forth.
Then she spun, and Noah caught the shape of Mel’s figure. Thick legs, a full ass, and a slim waist. It made his brain go blank for half a second. Mel was exactly the type he’d spent most of high school fantasizing about. Curvy, tanned, athletic.
He took a deep breath and focused. Thankfully, Mel’s confidence helped him loosen up. His feet found the beat, and his hips followed.
“See?” Mel said, turning back toward him with a grin. “You’re a natural!”
He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. It was fun. Stupid, loud, and freeing.
Then the song changed to something slower.
The lights dimmed, and Mel slowly stepped close. Her hands reached out and caught his.
“What are you—”
“Grab my hips,” she said gently, guiding his hands to her sides.
Then she looked up at him.
Noah froze. Her eyes were so close. He held her lightly, unsure how much pressure to use.
Then they began to sway.
For a moment, it felt like the crowd fell away as they floated inside their own rhythm.
“Thank you,” Noah said.
Mel smiled. “For what?”
“For… not making fun of me.”
Mel stared at him for a moment.
“I’d never do that,” she said sweetly.
He swallowed as his eyes flicked to her lips. They were glossy. Her nose scrunched as she smiled. She smelled like warm citrus and flowers.
They kept dancing, drawing ever closer.
The song ended, and they slowed with it.
Mel’s fingers slid down his forearms, then rested on his palms.
She held them for a second too long.
“Thanks for the dance,” she said, looking up at him.
Noah met her eyes. “Of course.”
Mel exhaled slowly and looked down. Then she brushed her hair behind one ear and stepped back.
“Be seeing you,” she said.
“Yeah…”
His voice trailed off as Mel disappeared into the sea of faces.
He looked up. Past the lights, past the crowd, and found Rachel and Ethan again.
Their bodies were close. Ethan looked down at her, and Rachel was gazing up at him.
And as the sea of people parted between Noah and Rachel.
Their eyes finally met across the room.
And for a breathless moment, neither of them looked away.
– – –
Rachel was weaved through the crowd as her heels stuck to the floor, standing on her toes in an attempt to spot Noah.
“So, do you want a drink?” Ethan said, his voice was low and easy.
Rachel turned to him cautiously. “I should probably find Noah…”
Ethan smirked. “He’ll be fine! Come on, let’s have a drink. I promise I won’t bite.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. While she knew Ethan had his own motives, he was probably right. Noah didn’t need a babysitter, and they’d find each other again later.
So, with a sigh, she relented. “Alright, fine, but just one!”
“Deal,” Ethan said. He placed a hand at the small of her back to guide her toward the bar. His touch was warm and steady. And as they pushed through the crowd, it didn’t leave. It wasn’t aggressive. In fact, Rachel barely felt it.
She was surprised at how many people stared as they passed. Some shouted his name, others tried to get his attention. And as they continued to walk, it became clear that Ethan really was the center of the room. To some degree, it felt like standing next to a celebrity.
And when they approached the crowded bar, Ethan barely had to raise his hand for the bartender to promptly move towards him.
“Can you make her something fancy?” Ethan said, leaning close and speaking over the noise.
Rachel shifted uncomfortably. “Oh. You really don’t need to–”
“Let me guess. You’re a rum girl?” he said, cutting her off with a smile.
“Whiskey, actually,” Rachel said, knowing full well she drank neither.
Ethan gave an approving nod. “Even better.”
The bartender returned with an amber drink in a frosted glass, a stark contrast to the plastic cups surrounding them.
Rachel took it and sipped. The flavors hit in waves.
“Oh my god,” she said with surprise.
“Is it good?” Ethan said, sipping his own whiskey.
“Yeah, very good.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Ethan said, handing the bartender a twenty-dollar tip.
Rachel’s eyes trailed back to Ethan as she took another sip. She had to admit, there was an infectious element to him. The way his shoulders moved as he leaned against the bar. The way he didn’t try to be the center of attention, but was.
A woman stepped towards him and touched his arm. Her lashes were long, and her lips glossy. One of many at Godfrey.
“Ethan,” she cooed. “You were insane tonight.”
Ethan gave her a polite half-smile. “Appreciate it.”
She then glared at Rachel before leaning closer to him. “We’re going to Trinity Werks after this. You should come.”
“Maybe,” Ethan said, brushing Rachel’s arm. “This is Rachel, by the way.”
The girl’s smile flattened into a blank expression.
“Nice to meet you,” she said flatly.
Ethan smirked. “Rachel, this is… uh… I’m sorry, what was your name again?”
“Stephanie,” the girl said coldly.
“Right. Maybe you can settle a debate for us, Stephanie. Rachel’s got the best music taste of anyone I know. But we’re debating who’s better. Sandzy or Lush?”
Rachel laughed. “We were not debating–”
Ethan pushed her playfully. “Of course you’d say that, because you know I’m right.”
As Rachel laughed awkwardly, Stephanie promptly wandered off. Ethan let out a sigh of relief.
“Thanks for that, seriously. She would have tried convincing me to go for the next half hour.”
“Jesus,” Rachel murmured. “Is that every night for you?”
“Most unfortunately.”
Rachel glanced sideways at him.
“Are you trying to convince me that you don’t like the attention?” she said. Ethan shrugged.
“I never said that, but it does have downsides. It’d be nice to just be treated like a person every once in a while.”
Rachel stared, hating the fact that she felt sympathy for him. Ethan’s brow furrowed as he smiled.
“What?” he asked.
Rachel shook her head. “Nothing.”
They didn’t move. They didn’t need to.
Another group approached them. Made up of players she didn’t know and girls she half-recognized from campus. Then they left. Then another came. And another. Every time, they pulled Ethan into a brief exchange. Every time, Ethan turned to her.
“Oh, this Rachel, by the way,” he’d say.
“She’s actually doing something meaningful with her life.”
“She saw my worst game of the season and still talks to me.”
“She’s smarter than all of us combined.”
It was charming. It was smooth. But Rachel could tell it was honest, too. There wasn’t a punchline at her expense. No teasing, no trying to get her drunk, no cheesy pickup lines. It was just… fun. And in response, Rachel happily played interference for him.
And the other girls noticed. Their eyes narrowed. Their voices turned cold.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were on a date,” one of them said,
Ethan smiled. “Neither did I.”
Rachel’s drink disappeared faster than she meant it to. She was actually beginning to enjoy herself. Though she wouldn’t admit that it was because of Ethan.
He leaned in close. She didn’t pull away.
“Dance with me,” he said softly.
Rachel raised an eyebrow skeptically, which made Ethan laugh.
“It’s just a dance,” he said.
Rachel stared for a moment.
“No funny business?” she said.
Ethan raised a hand. “Scouts honor.”
She downed the rest of her drink.
“Fine,” she said, already turning to the dance floor.
The floor vibrated under their feet.
Ethan stepped close, and everything else faded.
It didn’t help that he could dance. His hips were loose, his movement smooth like he’d done this a thousand times before. Rachel followed his lead, and the rhythm took her hips. She flipped her hair back and watched as he was captured by her beauty.
The song ended, and a slower one began. More couples came onto the dance floor and pressed close against them.
Ethan’s hand slid to Rachel’s waist.
“Is this alright?” he asked.
Rachel stared, unimpressed. “Being a gentleman now?”
“We said no funny business, remember?” he shot back playfully.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “It’s fine.”
They danced slowly, and their bodies pressed together. Rachel’s arms barely managed to wrap around his neck. It felt… natural. Too natural. She liked being dwarfed by his height. And as her chest pushed against his, her mind flashed back to the videos he’d sent her.
God, those videos.
She tried to push the image of him stroking his giant, fat cock out of her mind as Ethan’s hands slid lower. Rachel caught them just before they reached her ass. Her fingers wrapped around his thick wrists as the two exchanged a knowing look of passion.
“What are you so afraid of?” he asked her.
“I’m not afraid,” she countered.
“It’s not like you haven’t explored things before.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “It’s a respect thing, Ethan.”
He paused, a tinge of hurt on his face. “You don’t think I respect you?”
“A week ago I might’ve said no,” she said.
“And now?” Ethan asked.
Rachel didn’t answer.
He’d been kind all night. Thoughtful. Funny. He’d made her feel… seen. It was like she was talking to a completely different man, and that rubbed Rachel the wrong way.
“I think you want something,” she said. “You’re just good at hiding it.”
Ethan’s hands moved up her back, tracing the length of her ribs. “What if I promise it’s just a dance?”
“Your promises don’t mean much.”
Ethan sighed.
“Listen…” he said, leaning closer, his breath brushing her ear. “I know I fucked up. I get it.”
“Do you?” she asked, arching a brow. “Because it was a pretty big fuck‑up.”
Ethan smiled.
“Well, we both know big is kinda my thing, right?”
Rachel’s stomach clenched. She didn’t respond.
Instead, she pressed closer. Her arms grew tired, so she moved them around his waist. Her heart racing as she felt his lean muscles beneath his shirt. They swayed. Ridiculously mismatched in size, and yet a perfect fit.
“I’m just saying,” he whispered, “if you’re exploring… I wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”
“You’re pressuring me,” Rachel said playfully.
“You seem to like it.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“I’m working on getting my license.”
Rachel scoffed and laughed softly.
Time moved on. The song ended, and the lights brightened. Slowly, the sea of bodies on the dance floor began to pull apart. Rachel’s chest tightened as Ethan’s hands lingered at her waist. She felt the sweat cooling on her back as they stared at one another.
Then, between two swaying couples, she saw Noah.
With tousled hair and an unreadable expression, his eyes locked on hers.
Rachel’s stomach sank as her mind sobered. She stepped away from Ethan, brushing his hand off lightly. When she did, Ethan glanced over at Noah and cleared his throat.
“Thanks for the dance,” Sse said, walking past him.
“Wait, Rachel…”
“Hey, babe!” she said to Noah.
Noah nodded.
“Hey,” he said flatly.
“You having fun?” she asked cautiously. He cleared his throat.
“Did… did you see?”
Rachel was about to ask what Noah meant, but Ethan had approached before she could. He stepped in close, grinning brightly.
“Sup, man,” he said, giving Noah a casual nod.
Noah grimaced. “Hey.”
“You having a good time?” Ethan asked.
Rachel opened her mouth, but Noah answered first.
“Uh, yeah! I was just hanging with Mike and Luke over there.” He nodded vaguely through the room. Rachel followed his line of sight, spotting the two of them hunched over a foosball table near the back, half-laughing, half-fighting.
Ethan waved. “Nice! Glad to see Luke getting out.”
Rachel started to give herself permission to relax. Then Ethan spoke again.
“So, I heard Mike’s been having some extracurricular fun with Rachel lately.”
Her stomach flipped.
“Ethan!” she snapped.
“What?” Ethan said innocently. “It’s true!”
He turned to Noah with a grin. “Noah and I already talked about it, actually.”
Rachel froze. “You did?”
Noah shifted uncomfortably. “Well, we might have brushed on the topic.”
Rachel studied him a moment as Ethan continued.
“In fact,” he said, his voice smoothly confident, “we were starting to talk about a little test drive.”
Rachel looked at Ethan, eyes narrowing.
“Is that so?” she looked back at Noah. “You two talked about it?”
Noah stared at her quietly. There was a flicker in his face, in his posture. Something she hadn’t seen since that night in Mike’s car.
She wasn’t sure if she hated it or craved it.
“Well, I don’t know, it’s…” Noah started, but a cheer broke out near the bar, swallowing his voice. Someone knocked into them, and as Rachel’s body moved forward, everything began to blur together.
The music, the lights, the tension.
Rachel felt Ethan’s arm curl around her waist in a smooth motion.
“Come on, man,” he said, voice low. “You’re not gonna let her have a little fun? I promise you’ll have her back in a few minutes. It’s just a test drive.”
Rachel turned in shock. “Wait, you mean tonight?”
Ethan shrugged. “Yeah, why not?”
Rachel’s mouth opened, but no words came.
She should stop this. Noah was shrinking into himself the way he did when things moved too fast. She knew how sensitive he could be. She knew how dangerous this was.
“Hey, Noah, we can—”
“Sure,” he said quickly.
Her breath caught.
He said it with force, almost like he wanted to prove something.
Ethan beamed, smiling smugly as he pulled Rachel closer to himself.
“Come on,” he said, guiding her forward. “Let’s have some fun.”
He started walking, and Rachel followed, stumbling through her thoughts.
The bar suddenly seemed smaller, darker, and buzzing with too much noise. They moved through a side hallway, past the kitchen line, past an “Employees Only” door, and stopped in front of a private bathroom. Barely big enough for to.
He opened the door and looked at Rachel.
“This is it?”
“A fucking public bathroom?” Rachel hissed quietly, peering to see if anyone was coming down the hall.
“What, you don’t want to?”
“It’s gross!”
“It’s fun,” Ethan countered. They looked at each other for a moment as Rachel’s heart raced.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she finally said, stepping into the bathroom before she second-guessed herself. As she stepped in, Ethan looked at Noah in surprise.
“Wait, what are you doing here?” he asked.
Noah blinked. “Coming with?”
Ethan Scoffed.
“No, man. I can’t have someone watching, that’s fucking weird. Plus, this bathroom’s too small for three of us.”
Noah looked like he was about to say something, but Ethan stepped forward and pushed him back.
“Sorry, man. Not this time,” Ethan said, stepping into the bathroom.
Rachel watched as Noah raised his hand, preparing to speak.
The door swung shut before he could.
Rachel turned, her ears ringing as the noise of the bar muffled.
Ethan stood in front of her, one hand braced on the sink, eyes trailing along her body hungrily.
She swallowed hard. Looking at the man she didn’t have much respect for, yet couldn’t seem to hate.