1. Aria
ONE
Aria
A FEW WEEKS EARLIER.
T he steam warms my face as it billows from the top of the cup and I sip my coffee, lost in my own little world, while my best friend Stacy rambles on about my boyfriend, Gabe.
“Why haven’t you kicked his ass to the curb by now, he’s nothing but a waste of space.”
I look over the rim of my cup and roll my eyes, “Oh come on, he’s not that bad.” I sigh. I’m so fed up of the whole conversation.
“What?” Stacy’s face screws up, “Surely you’re not that deluded?” her head shakes but her hard gaze doesn't falter. “Fuck Ari, he’s a stoner and he’s going to hurt you.”
“I appreciate your concern but I’m fine.” A ripple effect appears on the surface of my coffee as I blow on it to cool it down before I take another sip.
“Course you are.” Her eyes roll and she looks away.
I have the weirdest feeling that I’m missing something. I put my cup down and give her my full attention. “Right, out with it. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Her pupils fix on mine as a heavy sigh falls from her lips. “I’ve heard some things, that's all.”
“Like?”
“Like, he’s getting in with the wrong crowd.”
“Stace, he’s not sixteen.” I snap. “Surely, he can decide who the wrong people are. He’s a fucking adult.” I try to keep my harsh tone to a minimum; not everyone wants to hear me swear like a sailor.
“You sure about that?” A mumbled reply falls from her lips, followed by a sigh, she leans forward and narrows her eyes. “I don’t think you understand, Ari.” She sips her coffee. She’s playing for time, but I’m not going to let her stop there.
“Go on.”
She places her cup down and folds her arms on the table. “It’s not just weed he’s smoking. I’ve heard he’s taking something stronger…”
“Stacy.”
“No, Ari. He works for some dangerous people, I don’t want to see you get hurt,” she reaches across the table and takes my hand, “or worse.”
“Please. That’s a bit dramatic, even for you.” I scoff. Taking my hand back, I hug my large, hot mug. Gabe and I have been a couple since we turned fifteen. He isn’t a bad man, but he is easily led. I’ve always known that. It’s in his nature, and ten years together isn’t going to change anything. He’s been a bit out there recently though, strung out even. If I’m truly honest, I have noticed something about him. He isn’t as attentive as he used to be. I thought he just had things on his mind. We’ve had money issues recently and he’s out of work, again. I’ve been carrying him for the last couple of months, but my nurse's wage isn’t going to carry us forever. Plus, with all the hours I’ve put in recently, I’m on a steady burnout. I’m so tired that I can’t even begin to understand what's going on around me, let alone what Gabriel is up to. Right on cue, I cover a yawn, causing Stacy to shake her head at me.
“And how many hours have you done this week?”
I lift my shoulder in a shrug. “I have no idea, maybe fifty-five or sixty.”
“Fuck’s sake, Ari. If I see Gabriel, his ass is mine.”
“Are you done?” I point a disinterested question at her.
“Yes.” Her reply is short and abrupt as she rolls her eyes.
“Good. Now, on to a better topic.”
She sighs, and I expect another argument, but instead she changes the subject and tells me about her bar job. Stacy was always the more social one out of the two of us, so her job suits her. I might work nightshifts and a lot of hours, but I like looking after people. Plus, I work with kids, that takes a lot out of me but it’s so rewarding. I couldn’t be nice to drunken assholes wanting to grope me all the time.
“Why don’t you come to the club the next time you’re off? We’d have a great night. Are you off this weekend?’
“I’m off today and tomorrow.” I smile, it’s a tired one but still, it’s a smile.
“So let’s go out tonight then. I’m working tomorrow, I rarely ever get a Saturday off. We could go to the bar then hit a club. Whatcha say?”
“Can’t I just stay home and curl up with a book and hot cocoa?”
“I’m sorry, how old are you again? Because I’m sure we’re the same age.” Her eyes widen like saucers. “I don’t think we’re fifty. Come on Ari, we don’t get to hang out anymore…” and now she’s begging like a dog. “Pleeease?”
“What about Gabe?”
“What about him? He doesn’t own you.” A sigh filters from my nose and I lift my coffee back to my lips. “It’s not like he even shows off his hot girlfriend anyway!” Hot… not likely. “Wouldn’t you like a night where you can get dressed up instead of either being in your jammies or scrubs.” I mull over it for a moment. I do have a really nice dress I’d love to wear before it goes out of the current trend. “I can see you thinking about it.” She smirks. Bitch.
“Fine.” I smirk, finally giving in to her pleading. “Fuck Gabe. Is that what you want to hear?”
She claps her hands and squeals. “Yay. I’m so happy. So, we’ll start at Expressions and then go on to a club.”
“Whatever you say, Yoda.” I empty my cup, draining every last drop of my coffee and lean down to get my bag. “Right then, seeing as I’m being accosted tonight, I better go home and make myself look pretty. We all know it’ll to take me two hours just to find something to wear or at least what shoes to wear.”
She rolls her eyes and empties her cup, “Okay, do you want me to come to yours?”
“No. I’ll come to yours. Right now, I think it’s best if I keep you and Gabe well away from each other.”
“Suit yourself. Be at mine for seven-thirty.” I pull my strap onto my shoulder, and with a quick hug, I’m on my way out of the door.
With no sign of Gabe I spend the next hour perfecting my makeup and blow drying, then curling my hair. In the three hours I’ve been home, Gabe still hasn’t turned up. I’m starting to think that maybe Stace is right. Well, she is right about one thing, I don’t need bloody permission to go out, so for once I’m going to enjoy myself, instead of being the sad cow that stays in and waits for him to come through the door.
I intend to have a damn good night, I order an Uber, firing off a message to Stace to tell her to pour me a glass of wine and that I’m just waiting for my taxi. Then I send one to Gabe:
I’m sick of waiting for your sorry ass so I’m going out with Stacy. I’m so fucking sick of your shit, Gabe!
I drop my phone into my bag as I slip on my stiletto’s and wait.
My cell chimes with a message. I take it out to see a reply from Stacy, not Gabe. Like he fucking cares anyway!
Just wait for me outside. I'm ready. I’ll buy us a bottle in Expressions.
Sounds good to me.
A horn sounds from outside, I check to see it’s my Uber and drop my cell back into my purse and skip out of the door, finally looking forward to my night of normalcy.
Once inside Expressions, Stacy heads for the bar while I find us a table. The place is packed, and the music is pumping. My feet are already hurting just thinking about dancing in these shoes, let alone standing.
I find a mixture of people as I look around me. Groups of guys in suits, older women, younger women, and girls that are barely old enough to drink. Being an ED nurse, I see a lot of girls and young lads being wheeled into the emergency department because of excessive drinking and overdoses. It makes me sad and wonder why they do it.
“You look lost in thought, what’s wrong?”
Stacy has her hands full with her purse tucked safely beneath her arm. I take the tray from her and place it down on the table. A pitcher of what looks like Pornstar Martini and two glasses, along with what appears to be Tequila fill the tray. “Oh, it’s nothing. Ignore me.”
“I do, all the time.” Stacy replies giggling, taking her seat before filling our glasses.
“Cheers,” Stacy says as she holds up a shot, “here’s to finally getting my bestie out for drinks.”
With my shot glass in my fingers, I clink our glasses and we knock them back. The potent burn that comes after Tequila has me cringing and I shake my head. Stacy pours each of us a glass of the enticing looking cocktail and I sip. The fruity flavors burst on my tongue but so does the alcohol. “Jesus Stace, how much Vodka is in this?”
“I may have asked for double strength.” A wicked smile plays on her lips as she sips on her cocktail. I knew I should have gone to the bar, but seeing as Stacy works here, she gets a discount. I’m sure I can handle the strength for some money off my drinks. Reaching inside my purse, I take out my cell. My screen is empty all but for the picture of me and Gabe. He still hasn't rung me back, or even sent a message to let me know he’s alive. Fucking dick.
I look up when I feel Stacy’s eyes on me. “What’s wrong?”
“Ugh nothing. I sent Gabe a message to tell him I was going out tonight and he hasn’t even had the decency to text me back. You know, I could be out with another man for all he knows.”
“If only,” she mumbles. She thought I hadn’t heard, but I had. “Right, drink up. No more talk of Gabe. No talk of men, full stop.” I pick up my glass and guzzle half of it down. The glass doesn’t even touch the surface of the table and Stacy is topping it up. I stir it up with my straw and we pick up our shots of prosecco and hold them up.
“Come on, woman. Down in one.”
Another? Without even thinking I down the Prosecco and chase it with my cocktail. If I walk outta here I’ll be surprised.
“Right, you drink that, and I’ll grab us another.”
“Wait. Let me get this one.” I take my debit card from my purse and hand it over. “You should be able to tap it but if not,” I pull her down to me and whisper my pin number in her ear.
“You don’t have to, I'm the one that dragged you out.”
I ignore her and go on, “Can we have something different this time please?”
“Any preference?” She asks as she gets out of her chair.
“Nope.”
“Okay. I’ll surprise you.”
Oh God, we could end up with anything… bad move, Aria. Bad move.
While I wait on Stacy’s return, I pull my cell out to see if Gabe has texted me back, but again, there’s nothing. Fuck him. I’m going to enjoy myself with my best friend and make the most of my weekend off.
I do send him another message though.
Fuck you, Gabriel!