CHAPTER 7 #2
“Whatever you want,” Reese answered. He nodded and looked towards the bartender. “As long as it’s not rum,” she amended, “Or vodka.” Emery grinned from ear to ear before breaking into laughter.
“God, you sound just like J,” he said between laughs.
Reese felt her ears grow warm. “Speak of the devil,” he drawled distractedly.
Reese turned to catch Jette swiftly approaching the bar.
Her gait swayed back and forth, almost predatory in the way she exuded confidence.
She looked warmly at the woman next to her and Reese was taken aback by the beautiful stranger trailing after Jette.
Her deeply tanned skin was flawless, and dark curls were artfully held in a clip at the crown of her head.
Their hands were almost touching as they walked side-by-side.
Her eyes trailed up the other woman’s body slowly, admiring her curves when she found Jette’s eyes boring into hers.
Reese immediately felt a hot prickle of shame on the back of her neck as her eyes darted away, embarrassed to be caught blatantly ogling.
She turned to Emery in a flash and watched the bartender pour their shots.
Jette stayed on the other end of the bar, not bothering to join them yet.
Emery clocked Jette’s position and laughed humorlessly to himself.
“What was that?” Reese asked curiously.
Emery shook his head gently and said, “Just, Jette being Jette.” His chin jutted in their direction as he reached for the shot glasses on the bar.
“I swear, girls are fucking magnetized to her. It happens all the time,” he continued.
Reese glanced back and saw the way the other woman was laughing and leaning into Jette’s side.
Her jaw felt tight as she watched Jette whisper something in her ear.
Emery noticed her tension and blurted out, “Not that she’s like, a womanizer or anything.
” He started to ramble, “I just mean, she’s hot, you know?
It’s no wonder that girls want her. But Jette is always so goddamn picky about who she spends time with,” his voice trailed off as he handed a shot glass to Reese.
She nodded and tried to relax her shoulders before changing the subject. “So, what’re we drinking?” Emery studied her face before shaking off whatever thought he had previously.
“Tequila!” he answered loudly, raising his glass to her.
Reese nodded approvingly before clinking her glass to his.
She made eye contact with Jette who had turned towards them.
She lifted her chin in Jette’s direction and watched Jette mirror her, her dark lips frozen in an expression that Reese couldn’t read.
She tilted her head back and welcomed the gentle burn at the back of her throat.
“Thanks Em,” she turned back to Emery. He affectionately leaned into her side and kissed her cheek.
Reese’s phone buzzed in her back pocket, and she opened the screen to multiple unread messages from Kiran.
KIRAN
can you drive us back to garrett’s place?
or are you too busy having fun with your boyfriend
Reese’s jaw slackened as she read the texts. She set her glass down and fervently responded.
REESE
I texted you ages ago to hang out with Emery and me. You and Garrett could’ve joined us anytime
And I thought you were staying sober enough to drive us home?
You drove here
Reese took a heated breath and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. She didn’t have the resolve to turn around and look Kiran in the eyes just yet. Emery felt the shift in energy and immediately asked, “Everything okay?” He wordlessly slid another drink into her hand with a sheepish look.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” she began, “It’s just—it’s Kiran,” she shot back quickly. The phone in her hand lit up again and she steeled herself as the screen unlocked.
KIRAN
you never drink when we go out so I just assumed youd be okay to drive if I kept drinking with the guys
i’m too drunk to do it now
Reese could’ve sworn steam erupted from her ears as she answered.
REESE
Then why’d you promise me you’d drive us home?
And you didn’t think that I might wanna drink with my friends too? Em and I just ordered two more rounds so I’m definitely not okay to drive
Reaching for the glass in front of her, Reese downed half of it in one fell swoop as Emery let out a small noise of surprise.
She huffed to herself and glanced across the bar where Jette and the other woman had been standing but found it empty.
Reese turned to Emery who was already focused on something behind her.
Whipping around, Jette’s eyes locked onto hers as she made her way through the last few stragglers around the bar.
Reese felt compelled to hold her gaze, simultaneously trying to quell the feeling building in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or guilt, but it bubbled hot in the back of her throat.
Jette’s face remained hard to read. Her expression was gentle even as her eyes flashed.
Reese couldn’t tell what that combination meant.
“What’s up?” Jette asked breathily as she finally came to a stop.
The curls at her neck were tightly wound and damp, and her once-artfully applied makeup was now smudged.
She managed to look even sexier, slightly disheveled.
Jette’s dark eyes had yet to leave hers and Reese felt exposed.
Like with one look, Jette could read her mind.
Desperate to get her mind off of Kiran and the rest of the nightmare unfolding, she swallowed with difficulty and said, “You were amazing tonight.” Emery immediately chimed in and seamlessly began praising Jette’s performance.
Reese’s focus drifted as she felt the phone vibrate in her back pocket again.
She slid the screen open and nodded in agreement as Emery continued.
Jette’s eyes finally returned to Emery, and Reese took advantage of the opportunity to open the texts from Kiran.
KIRAN
that’s a little irresponsible
what r we supposed to do now? Just leave my car here?
The bar grew louder, blending together into a discordant roar that only added to the chaos echoing in Reese’s mind. Sensory overload set in, sending her steadily-climbing frustration to the forefront of her thoughts.
“You liked the show?” Jette’s voice rang out clearly through the chaos. Her eyes were soft.
Reese spluttered, “Oh my god, yeah. It was great. Em wasn’t kidding when he said you put on a hell of a show.” She swirled the last few ice cubes in her drink to mask the way her fingers were starting to shake.
Jette nodded appreciatively and paused to gauge the conversation before asking, “So what’s the plan now? Is it snowing yet?”
Reese finished the last of her drink as Emery explained.
Her hands were noticeably twitching in irritation now and it was as though everything was happening in slow motion.
Emery and Jette’s voices sounded distorted as Reese broke into a cold sweat.
The mostly empty bar suddenly felt too crowded, too loud, too hot.
She gripped the edge of the bar to ground herself.
Jette’s eyes narrowed on Reese’s hand on the bar and Reese watched the color draining from her hands as her knuckles began to turn white.
Speaking felt impossible when her chest was slowly constricting like this.
Before she could choke out an excuse, Jette’s hand came to rest on hers.
“Are you okay?” The words sounded too far away.
Reese nodded jerkily as the warmth from Jette’s touch radiated up her arms and across her chest. The tingling feeling in her limbs only intensified and she tried not to think about it.
Not right now, when she was struggling to keep herself in one piece.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she added, comfortingly rubbing her thumb on the back of Reese’s hand.
Reese swallowed with difficulty. “I’m just feeling a little anxious.
I think I need to get out of here,” she mustered.
Emery was now resting a warm palm on her other shoulder.
She didn’t miss the way that Emery’s gaze locked on to Jette.
No matter how many times she’d seen it, Reese was still amazed by how the two of them were able to engage in a silent conversation of their own.
They never seemed to need words or gestures to understand each other.
The silence dragged on for what felt like ages as Reese focused on her breathing.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Jette offered decisively.
Her smooth voice held the same calm and commanding tone that seemed to naturally exude from her chest. Reese swore she could feel it in her bones.
“My place is right around the corner if you’re up for a walk,” her voice softened and Reese wanted nothing more than to be anywhere but here.
She nodded in place of the words that were still stuck in her throat.
“Okay,” Jette announced firmly. “I’m gonna grab my jacket and then we’re getting the hell outta here.
” She looked tentatively at Reese as she messily gathered her long locks into a ponytail, letting her tight black crop top ride up to reveal more of her toned stomach.
Reese’s eyes involuntarily flashed over the delicate tattoos creeping out from under her clothes.
If Jette had noticed Reese staring, she did a wonderful job hiding it.
“You should text Kiran,” Jette added gently before giving her hand a quick squeeze.
Taking advantage of the flurry of activity around her, Reese reached for her phone.
KIRAN
hello?? what are we supposed to do?
Reese’s fingers hovered over the screen as she debated how to respond. The lingering dread that had filled her chest was slowly dissipating, giving way to a rumbling frustration simmering below. It climbed up her chest, hot and sour as she tapped out a reply.
REESE