CHAPTER 4 #3
Reese chuckled and tried again, “I’m just curious. Why?” She could tell Jette was carefully gathering her thoughts as she hesitated to explain. Reese smiled encouragingly and gently tapped Jette’s knee. “C’mon you can tell me.”
Jette’s eyes flashed to Reese’s hands and she took a breath before answering, “I don’t know. I think maybe it was the chemistry between you two.”
Reese’s eyebrows came together in confusion. She teased, “Well, to be fair, you didn’t really get a chance to see us together much because I was with you the whole night.” She pulled on a frayed thread on her jeans to avoid eye contact.
“True,” Jette conceded, “But I’m usually pretty good at picking up on chemistry.
” She fidgeted with a buckle at her ribs before meeting Reese’s eyes.
Reese tried to seem casual and nod but she felt acutely aware of the heat rising in her cheeks.
Her gaze darted between Jette’s dark brown eyes and she scrambled to think of something to say.
Anything. The silence hung between them as strangers filled the surrounding seats.
After a torturous amount of time, Jette mercifully broke the silence and asked, “Can I get you another drink? I think they’re supposed to start soon. ”
Reese felt too close to Jette in the crowded room and quickly jumped at the opportunity before Jette could even reach for her glass.
“That’s okay,” she scrambled, “You got the last round. It’s my turn.
” She stood and slid past Jette, leaving her phone and jacket behind.
“Whiskey ginger, right?” she asked. Reese barely heard Jette answer before striding to the bar, desperate to put space between them.
She felt dizzy as she leaned against the corner of the bar, her mind racing.
What the fuck was that? ‘I’m usually pretty good at picking up on chemistry’?
Reese struggled to control her breathing as the lump in her throat solidified.
She had definitely picked up on a vibe when they were at the party, and she had undoubtedly checked out Jette the moment they got to the bar.
Jette was hot, there was no denying it. But Reese had a boyfriend.
A long-term boyfriend that she was a little too excited to leave behind the moment she knew there was a chance to spend time with Jette again.
Reese ran both hands through her hair as she waited for the bartender to return.
Against her better judgment, she turned around to glance back at the seats.
Her eyes found Jette immediately, her dark curly hair catching the rainbow lights above.
She was facing a blonde woman sitting in Reese’s seat.
Her smile was dazzling as she laughed at something the blonde had said and her arm gently rested on the back of Reese’s chair, just inches from the blonde woman’s shoulders.
Reese whipped her head back around. “Excuse me,” she nearly yelled across the bar.
“Can you make that one a double?” Reese couldn’t ignore the pang of jealousy that rose in the back of her throat.
She knew she had no right to feel jealous over Jette flirting with someone.
Jette was single. Reese had a boyfriend.
Even if Reese were single, it didn’t mean that Jette was interested in her.
She quickly swiped her credit card back from the bartender, pocketed her wallet, and grabbed both drinks from the bar.
Shaking her head, she stood up straight and smoothly walked back to the seats.
Jette turned around in time to see Reese walking back, and she smiled gently when their eyes met. Reese sidled up to Jette’s aisle seat. “Here you go, Jette,” she said silkily. She stole a quick glance at the blonde woman still sitting in her seat.
Jette thanked her before gesturing a hand to the woman in Reese’s seat, “Sorry, Reese. This is uh…” her voice trailed off uncertainly as she looked back at the blonde woman.
“Leah,” the woman said as she smiled at Jette. Leah seemed to be completely oblivious that Reese was there too until Reese pointedly cleared her throat. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed, “Is this your seat?” Her voice was a little too loud even in the crowded room.
Reese took a sip and swallowed with difficulty as she nodded. “All good,” she said casually.
Leah laughed a little too hard considering nothing funny had been said. She looked back at Jette and flirted, “Anyways, I just came over to say that I like your harness.” Her voice was thick and sickly sweet and Reese fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Jette chuckled and thanked her before taking another sip of her drink, her raspy voice dropping slightly as she added, “I have others, you know.” The bluntness in her voice dripped with innuendo.
Leah let out a flustered laugh and reached for Jette’s arm.
Reese was tempted to turn around and pretend as though she couldn’t hear the conversation unfolding.
A hot prickly feeling swept over her neck and chest as she glanced around the room anxiously.
“Wow, nine o’clock already?” Jette finally mused to no one in particular. “We should get situated, the show’s probably gonna start soon,” she said pointedly as she swirled the ice in her new drink. Her gaze lazily fell back to Reese, who fought the urge to smirk.
Reese watched Leah look from Jette to her, and then back to Jette for a few moments. Leah faintly pouted as she looked at Reese again. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I’ll get outta your seat!” She stood up and looked back at Jette, as though she was giving Jette yet another chance to change her mind.
Jette stared back innocently and smiled. “It was nice to meet you, Leah.” Reese averted her eyes when she noticed the way Jette’s dark eyes lingered on Leah’s legs as she walked away.
Reese finally sat down in her seat and looked over to Jette with an incredulous expression.
She couldn’t tell if Jette looked more embarrassed or proud of herself.
Jette shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
Reese couldn’t help herself and let out a giggle as the tension faded.
Reese swallowed every time Jette’s dark eyes held hers as the conversation flowed effortlessly between them.
Jette had a natural gravitational pull around her and Reese found herself leaning closer the longer they sat talking.
They fell into an easy silence as the lights overhead began to flicker.
“I guess it’s starting,” Jette said as she scanned the room. “I’m so excited. I haven’t seen one of Em’s shows in a while, but they always have a killer theme.”
“Oh, they do themes? That’s fun!” Reese said. “Do you know the theme for tonight?” she asked excitedly.
“You didn’t see the poster at the door?” Jette sounded surprised as she raised a single eyebrow.
Reese hesitated and struggled to remember. Slowly, she shook her head and answered, “No, why? What is it?”
Jette chuckled and bit her bottom lip for a split second before taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes stared into Reese’s as the lights began dimming overhead. Her pupils were blown and Reese felt her heart stutter as the room faded into near darkness. “Kink,” she smirked, “The theme is kink.”
Holy fuck.