17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Addie
I t’s 4:45 p.m. on a Friday, and it’s taking everything in me to not dart out the door fifteen minutes early. The boss left at noon and almost everyone else followed suit. The weather is gorgeous today and spring fever is in the air.
Lucky for me, Regina, stayed behind. She, too, needs every single hour on her paycheck. She dragged her laptop to my desk after lunch, and we caught up on all our tasks. That was until four o’clock rolled around. Now, we are just absentmindedly scrolling through our phones, waiting for five o’clock to strike.
“You know what we should do tonight?” Regina sets her phone down, suddenly filled with excitement that I know she didn’t get from work.
“No, but I am open to suggestions. If I stay home in my sweats another Friday night, I will simply pass away,” I say.
“We should go down to the bar. They are having ladies’ night. You can see if Liv and Isla want to come?”
Oh, a girls’ night? Hell yes.
Perking up in my seat, my palms hit the desk with an excited slap. “That sounds like a great idea. I could use some drinks and dancing with my girls. This will surprise you, but I used to be the life of the party.”
“Not a single bit of me is surprised. After watching you put Mr. Becker in his place, I knew you had a fiery side. Your energy matches your hair.”
I laugh at that because she is far from the first person to tell me that. The setting sun catches my attention as it’s orangey hues stream in through our open windows.
“Okay, how about we meet at Isla’s, get ready, and Uber over to the bar? I can text you our address.” It will be fun to get us all together. Regina will fit perfectly into our little girl gang, and I’m pretty sure all of us could use a night on the town.
“Yes.” She nods enthusiastically, then pinches her face. “How committed are you to staying another ten minutes? We can turn on the answering machine early and dip out.”
I can afford ten minutes without pay.
“Twist my arm,” I joke. I’ve been ready to blow this popsicle stand all day. This week was chaotic at best. None of the apartments I’ve looked at were great. Actually, they’ve all been dingy and dark and way out of budget. On top of that, Mr. Becker has thrown me more and more tasks every day. How I managed to stay on top of the workload is nothing short of a miracle. So, I would say I earned this night out.
Grabbing my purse out of my bottom drawer in the desk, I turn on the answering system and log off my computer.
“How about we meet back at Isla’s around 7:30 or 8, and then head out?” Being that my apartment hunt lately has been going terribly, it looks like I’ll be living there forever.
“Sounds great!” She practically bounces out of her chair, and we make a beeline for the weekend.
“We’re not going out until 8:30. That’s only thirty minutes before my bedtime!” Isla’s voice borders on yelling.
Just as I thought, the four of us girls fit like perfect puzzle pieces. There hasn’t been a moment of silence since I finished Regina’s round of introductions. Liv and Isla make it pretty much impossible to not feel comfortable.
“Calm down, Grandma. Have a Red Bull. It will be fine. We all know that once you get a drink in you, we will have to drag you out of there at closing time,” Liv chimes in as she leans forward over the bathroom sink in my room. Flicking her wrist, her eyeliner turns out in the perfect cat eye.
While Isla was never truly wild, she was always down for just about anything. It seems that Cal has domesticated her more than I thought. Girls’ night is just the thing to do a little reversal of that. Bring her feral side out once more. Plus, we have to get her kidneys and liver warmed up for her bachelorette party in May. We’re planning on staying in a house on the beach and doing a bar crawl. We’re in for a real treat if her alcohol tolerance is as low as I think it is going to be.
Isla’s eyes light up as she hops onto the smooth marble of the bathroom counter. “Hey, how are things going with Shaun?”
“They’re okay so far. We talked about going out again this weekend, but I’m not getting my hopes up.” How do I tell her that, while he is nice, we have absolutely no sparkle? Maybe that can be nurtured out, but something about it doesn’t feel quite right. I just know that she will tell me I do this every time. So, choosing to not tell her seems like the best course of action at this moment.
“You’re such a Debbie Downer. He was hyping you up to the whole office. They’re asking if I have any more hot, single friends.”
“Funny you should ask.” I wrap my arm around Regina’s shoulders. “She was just asking to be set up with a hot, successful businessman. Know anyone worthy of the task?” Thankful for the deviation from me and Shaun, I offer up Regina as a diversion.
She stiffens in my hold, “Hey! I was only joking. You’re making me sound desperate.”
“Give me a week, and I’ll find you a good candidate.” Isla winks at her, kicking her feet in excitement. She should have been a matchmaker with how much she enjoys this.
We spend the next hour touching up our makeup and getting ready for a night out on the town. It’s just large enough of a town that not everyone is up your ass about your personal life, but not so big that you won’t run into someone you know at the grocery store. So, the chances of there being fresh faces at the bar are high.
After getting ready, we move to the kitchen bar to get a little pre-game in us before our Uber comes. I dart back upstairs to change because I did not trust myself to ruin my clothes while getting ready.
Standing in my closest, I stare at my options. I tap my foot as I debate on wearing the dress from my last date night, but my little black dress is literally begging to leave the closet. It’s a signature look for girls’ night. Until now, there has not been one single night on the town since I moved down. If we’re going to do it, we’re going to break some necks while we’re at it.
“Damn, someone isn’t planning on paying for her drinks tonight,” Liv says as I step off the last stair. I paired the black dress with my chunky black heels. They add some height, but have enough stability that I won’t be falling into anyone else’s crotch. I hope. Ugh, my ego cannot take another hit like that.
“Looks like none of us are.” I wiggle my eyebrows as I look over at everyone’s choices.
Liv chose a rocking bodycon top and a pair of blue jeans that practically look like they were painted on her; it perfectly flatters her long frame. Isla’s skinny blue jeans are stuffed into a pair of knee-high leather boots and paired with a long-sleeve white shirt. Regina’s red dress fits her like a glove, and I know without a doubt, I’ll be beating the men off her with a stick.
We do one final cheers as the Uber shows up. “Here’s to the first of many girls’ nights, new friends, and free drinks,” Isla says as she holds her glass up in the air.
We pile into the Uber, fitting snugger than a pack of sardines in the back, while Liv sits comfortably in the front.
The Uber driver chuckles as a slightly drunk Regina yells out, “Play some tunes!”
“What’s your choice?”
“Obviously, 2000s hip-hop.”
We jam and sing our way to the bar. Finally pulling up about fifteen minutes later, we shuffle out of the back and make our way to the door.
The music is blaring and the bar is packed. I scan the floor for a table for us all to start the night out at, but am not finding much. There are three stools at the end of the bar free, so I lead the way. When I get to there, I recognize one face behind the bar.
“Glad to see you back in here again. You look like you’re in better spirits.” Theo wipes down the counter and gives me a genuine smile.
“Hey, Theo. I am! Thank you. Just was a rough day.”
“Totally understand. What can I get you ladies?”
“A round of Tequila on me!” Liv says, apparently wanting to start the party off on a strong note. Good luck to every other soul in this bar.
Three rounds of straight tequila later, and we are tearing it up on the dance floor. My whole body feels like it’s buzzing and my head feels a little airy.
“Care to dance?” A deep voice comes from behind. Usually, I would shut this down. But tonight? I’m down for a little dance partner.
I nod, and his body comes up behind mine. He is tall and smells good. Judging by his breath, he's had even more to drink than I have, but who am I to judge?
Liv gives me the hubba-hubba eyebrow raise, and I find my cheeks getting even warmer.
“What’s your name?” he asks.
Wanting a look at his face, I turn toward him. “Addie. Yours?”
“Caden. That dress should be illegal.” He eyes me up and down, and I can’t tell if I’m creeped out or into it. He’s cute and seems normal. His brown hair is perfectly tousled and he towers over me, even in heels. The dimmed lights make it hard to see his eyes, but judging by the rest of him, he’s a looker.
“Thank you. It’s my ‘buy me a drink’ dress.”
“I think that can be arranged. Want to head to the bar?” he asks.
I nod and he grabs my hand, pulling me to the bar. So, he’s the assertive type. Got it.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Tequila Sunrise.”
He nods and grabs a bartender’s attention, while I stand slightly behind him. He props an elbow up on the bar and turns just enough for me to catch a glint in his eye. “I’ve heard tequila girls are a bit on the wild side.”
Something about the comment makes me feel a little slimy. Maybe the flirting was a bad idea. Suddenly, I find myself wishing it was Theo helping us out. I’m sure I could send him a look and he would distract Caden while I slip back into the crowd.
I give a tight-lipped smile and respond, “Not me. Just don’t want to mix my alcohol.”
The bartender slides the drink right to me, bypassing Caden. I take a small sip and make conversation. There’s still a chance my heebie-jeebies are for nothing.
Taking a few steps away from the bar to make room for the next round of people coming up, I ask, “Are you from around here?”
“Yeah, I grew up a town over and moved here right after college. What about you?”
“Not at all. I’ve only lived here about two months, actually.”
“If you need a tour guide, I would be happy to oblige.”
“That is super nice of you, thank you. And thanks for the drink.” My eyes dart around the bar. Even more people have piled in the last hour we have been here. My glance hits the door, when an all too familiar face walks in. His gaze catches mine for half a second.
I snap my eyes back to Caden. “Thanks, again.” I raise my glass and give it a small shake. “I am going to go find my friends and make sure they’re doing okay.”
“I’ll walk with you.”
Okay, well, subtle hints are apparently not his strong suit. Maybe he will get bored by the group and leave me alone.
My eyes scan the crowd, but Sam is already gone. However, I do find my girls. Thank God. Because Caden is on my tail like flies on shit.
“My friends are right there.” I point to them, hoping he’ll catch my drift and go socialize somewhere. Preferably without me. “We’re having girls’ night. So, I should probably get back to that.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a little company.” His smile is wicked, and I suddenly hate my life.
Isla waves her hand overhead, and I make my way back to the girls. With my shadow in tow. Fuck me.