Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 152: The Ache I Couldn’t Drink Away

The bass thumped through the walls of the VIP lounge, loud and chaotic—like the

thoughts swirling in my head. I sat on the leather couch, whiskey glass in hand,

surrounded by bodies moving to the heavy pulse of the music.

Girls were grinding against the poles—shaking their hips, each one doing her best

to earn my attention. The owner had apparently heard I was in the building and

sent in his best—his “favorites,” as he called them. The ones who knew how to

put on a show.

They were barely clothed—skimpy shorts clinging too tightly to their asses,

leaving nothing to the imagination. Long legs, smooth thighs, fully on display.

Sweat glistened on their skin under the flashing lights as they wiggled and moved,

casting flirtatious glances my way, hoping to be the one that got picked.

One of the girls approached my table, her eyes fixed on me, attempting to seduce

me with a gaze that clearly drank in my body. She stopped in front of me, then

bent over, hands grazing the floor, throwing her ass in my face.

But I just sat there.

Watching.

Unaffected.

Detached.

I didn't care for her—or any of them.

How could I?

None of them came close to my woman. None of them even existed in

comparison to her.

And the irony? Sleeping with random strippers was never my thing. Which kind of

defeated the whole damn purpose of being here. I came to forget. To feel nothing.

Instead, I felt a different kind of ache. One that screamed I was completely,

irreversibly screwed.

I tipped the tumbler to my lips and gulped down the whiskey. My alcohol intake

was always in check—precise, like everything else in my life. But tonight?

Tonight, I didn't give a damn.

The first shot did absolutely nothing.

The second—just a slight buzz.

By the third, I felt my chest loosen just a bit. Not enough, but it was something.

And just as I was about to sink further into that desire to drown my thoughts—

I heard it.

A familiar voice.

“Gabriel.”

I turned.

Tina.

like she'd just spotted her

smirk—more out of habit than

grateful. A familiar face. A

dancers scattering, give them a reason to

damn. Because I clearly

take it from here,” Tina said, flashing the girls a look that

and slid into the

but scattered with practiced grace, already

mark.

a while,” she murmured, tilting

brushed my jaw.

has,” I replied, telling myself maybe the familiarity of her face—and her

to pull me

I'd find you here at The Cave,”

scene. I remember you used to call

too much chaos for

“But sometimes a man needs the chaos...

remember who the hell

burning with that

right woman to remind

her body against mine, waiting for me

I muttered, sliding a hand to

me with more force than I intended.

legs over mine.

tonight,” she

inching toward mine.

lips, knowing she was about to kiss

I wanted to want it. Hell, I tried

But I couldn't.

with a sigh, frustrated more with myself

more drinks.”

distraction, but it gave me a few seconds to breathe.

the heaviness and force myself to

mood.

the waitress. Tina ordered

scotch.

the drinks arrived, she wasted no time. A few

rhythm, grinding in her seat, casting me sultry

drawing me

everything right—perfectly choreographed seduction. But

man

hands in

Then she straddled my lap—the kind of

other man weak.

something slurred in my ear

show you what

her gaze fixed on

forth, coaxing

But I felt... nothing.

Not even a twitch.

hips—not forceful, just firm

She blinked down at me,

we should leave,” I

face lit up, thinking

asking her to come home with me

wanted her.

last gulp, swallowing

wanted to get the hell

lights, the

stumbled into

Tina hovered.