Chapter 38
KC
Frustrated and confused are an understatement for how I’m feeling right now.
I stop midstride abruptly, and fist my hands at my side; looking up at the sky, I yell to no one, “What the fuckkkkkkkk?!” People gasp, staring at me awkwardly as they continue their path around me.
They probably think that I’m some lunatic, close to having a breakdown.
Well, you know what? Maybe I am about to have a full-blown mental breakdown.
Because I don’t know how my life can be fine and dandy, then turned upside down all by one person popping back into my life.
Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Okay, now I need alcohol, stat.
I continue my short walk forcefully toward Darla’s Pub, our go-to for girls’ nights or anytime we need drinks and to vent about our lives.
Wednesday nights are for karaoke. Whenever our busy schedules allow it, the girls and I love to sing, dance, and drink there together.
In my life, my closest friends are Brittney and Ajani.
Right now, I’m heading there to meet Brittney.
Pushing the door to get inside—a little too hard—it makes a loud noise against the wall.
The sound makes me shove my shoulders up to my ears in embarrassment.
Yikes. I hope it didn’t leave a mark. It’s a Sunday evening so there are only a few people scattered amongst the tables.
Scanning the room, body doing a three-sixty, my tired eyes land on my date.
As I approach the table, I open my mouth to speak.
Brittney immediately puts her small hand up to silence whatever was about to come out of my mouth.
She points to the flight of shots sitting in front of her and the empty seat across from her.
Clear liquid, lime, and salt present. Yep, it’s tequila.
Pulling out the chair, I slowly sit, staring my friend down.
“Okay, before you say anything, drink.” She holds her first shot up to me, waiting to cheers. Clinking our shot glasses together, we down all three, one after the other.
“Ahhh.” I lick the remnants of the last shot off my top lip. “Goes down like water after the last few days I’ve had.” I place my elbows on the tabletop and push my lips into my tightly clasped hands.
Brittney’s eyes study me for a long moment, then her forehead scrunches up. I know she’s thinking over her words wisely. Finally, the silence is too much. I hide my face behind my palms, trying to keep my tears from falling. “What the fuck, Brittney?”
“I swear I didn’t know Jared would be at the fight or that he’s here for the next six months.”
Wait a minute… My hands fall from my face, and my expression turns venomous. “Wait, how do you know he’s here for six months? You’ve been talking to him?”
Her expression softens and she grabs my hand, squeezing it hard. Brittney shakes her head at me. “Kailey, take a breather girl… First of all, I always have your back, nobody else's, okay?”
Closing my eyes, I nod, because it’s true. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
“I only know that tidbit of information because I saw him earlier today.” Before I have time to question that, her next words come out rushed. “He was at the gym, where Skyler trains. We didn’t spend all day together or anything like that, okay?”
Rolling my eyes at her, I admit, “Oh, I know you wouldn’t do that.”
“Okay?” Brittney lets go of my hand and sits back into her seat, allowing me to get it all out there. The look of annoyance is easily noted.
My eyes travel around the room, staring at anywhere besides my friend. My voice drops down to a whisper. “I saw him today, too.”
All of the noises around us fade out as I turn to take a peek at Brittney’s expression; it’s soft and nonjudgmental.
Uncrossing her arms, she waves her hand at me, silently instructing me to continue.
My fingertips faintly touch my sunflower tattoo. “He licked my neck.”
Abruptly she sits up, her voice loud. “Wait! What the fuck did you just say? Did he violate you?”
Quickly, I shake my head and put my hand up to let her know the story isn’t finished. I tell her about him showing up at The Purple Room today, completely taking me by surprise, licking my neck, and calling me by my favorite nickname.
“Okay… So, how are you feeling? Are you alright?”
“No, I really don’t think I am.” My hand creeps up, reaching for my necklace. I grab the pendant and casually sway it back and forth.
“Did he see that?” Brittney’s finger points to the pendant in my hand.
“No, of course not. It was under my shirt.”
Brittney leans her body toward me, and whatever she was about to say gets cut off by the waiter.
“Hey, ladies, ya ready for another round? Or are ya wanting your regular drinks now?”
Yes, we are those types of regulars… Smiling up at Nick, I say, sweetly, “I’ll take my usual bottle of beer, please.”
“And I’ll take my usual too.” Brittney blows him a kiss as he walks by. Nick winks at her, heading back to the bar to fill our order.
“So, is this really a bad thing though, Kailey? You never got rid of his necklace. Fuck, I mean, you wear it every day. Do you think maybe this is fate aligning you guys back together?”
With my pulse racing, a lone tear trails the side of my face.
“I ruined us, Brittney. I couldn’t get over all of it back then.
Hell, I still randomly think about that asshole of a brother of his and what I could’ve done differently,” my bottom lip starts to tremble, “or how Beth could still be here with us.”
Britt places a hand on each of my shoulders and shakes me. “But he licked your neck! Obviously, he still wants you!”
“No, I think he was just taunting me. Reminding me of how my body reacts to him. I doubt he’s even thought about me in the past five years, and this is only because he spotted me at the fights.”
Going through her small purse, Britt hands me a couple of tissues.
“What? I knew we’d need them for this conversation.
I got you babe, always. I love you. And we’ll get through this, okay?
If you don’t want to talk to Jared, then don’t.
But I’d be a liar if I told you that I didn’t notice the way you two looked at each other. ”
“Oh, is that so? How could he miss me, with two bimbos at his side?!” Quietly, our drinks are placed in front of us; Nick must know by our voices that it’s a serious conversation. Closing my eyes, I savor a big swig of my bottled beer.
“Kailey, I’m your best friend. Now be honest, do you miss him?”
Puffing out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, I confess, “I think I’ll always miss him. I truly loved him with my whole heart and soul. But it doesn’t change everything that happened that night.”
Brittney slowly nods her head, her thumb coming up to wipe away a tear from my cheek.
Forcefully, my hands rub across my cheeks, making sure there are no more tears. “Besides, we decided that I should give Mattie a real chance, right?”
Brittney holds her finger out to me while she finishes the rest of her drink. “Wow, okay… Uhm… But is that what you want now? Maybe hanging out with Jared would be good for you both.”
I push myself away from the table and lean back against my chair.
“No. Nope. I think that would be a terrible idea. He doesn’t even miss me.
Sure, he licked my neck and called me Dimples…
But when I mentioned to him that everything was left in the past, he agreed.
” I nod to myself. “It’s for the best. I mean, I doubt I’ll even run into him that often, right? ”
She scrunches up her nose before responding. “Possibly? I don’t know, girl, but if you really wanna give Mattie a chance, then I agree. No regrets, right?! Let’s set up a double date for this coming weekend?” A sad smile cascades across Brittney’s face.
I raise my hand up high enough to grab Nick’s attention and point toward both our empty glasses. He acknowledges me by nodding and starts to get us another round. “Yeah, let’s do it. Whatcha got in mind?”