Zack was surprised by the disappointment that trickled through him. Did he want to run into John tonight? The chances were slim, if not emaciated, but then, they’d laughed in the face of probability before.

He shook his head. He needed to stop thinking like that. Running into John would be disastrous. Zack was positive he wouldn’t be able to resist if John wanted to reconcile, not with the buzz of alcohol and adventure in his veins. John might be an adrenaline junkie, but Zack was an atmosphere addict. He let himself get swept up in the mood far too easily. And right now, the club scene was hopping.

He decided right then and there that he was going to kiss someone tonight. He didn’t care who, just as long as they weren’t John.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Alexa and Kira laced fingers and walked in front of him, their heels clacking on the pavement. Zack was reminded once again that he was a self-centered ass. Here he was fretting about John when he was supposed to be having a good time with his friends.

He ejected John from his thoughts as they entered the club and struggled toward the bar. It wasn’t too crowded, but it was late by LA standards, so most people were already too drunk to be polite. Zack got elbowed aside at least three times before he finally got within range of a bartender.

His first instinct was to order beer for all three of them, but at the last second he ordered himself a whiskey. He was damned if he was going to let John ruin his favorite drink. He paid and then shoved his way back to his friends.

“Let’s dance!” Kira shouted over the music. She spun around, and her floral skirt formed a circle around her.

Alexa caught her by the hand and twirled her until she giggled.

“I’m in,” Zack said, downing his whiskey in one gulp. “Follow me, ladies.”

They adjourned to the dance floor and stayed there for the rest of the night, except for the occasional trip to the bar or to the bathroom. Zack danced harder than he’d danced in months. By the end of it, he was a sweaty, sore mess. He felt wonderful. The pounding music obliterated all thought, and the press of warm bodies against his made him forget why he’d ever considered giving up single life.

Eventually, Alexa and Kira broke off to dance on their own, leaving Zack to find his kissing partner for the night. It was more of a challenge in a straight club than a gay one, obviously, but Zack prided himself on his ability to spot a homosexual from two parsecs away.