Chapter 50
Jared
Beau was not as loyal as Greg and Steffan had been to Kailey; he freely sent me her number right after I asked for it.
Me
Hi, Dimples.
I see the dots pop up, showing me that she’s typing, then the dots disappear. I’m starting to think she’s decided not to respond when my phone vibrates in my hand.
Kailey
How’d you get my new number?
Me
I have my ways…
Kailey
So, that means Beau.
Me
Does it really matter? What are you up to?
Kailey
Having a girls’ night.
Me
That sounds fun. Any interesting topics come up?
Kailey
Nah, none that would interest you.
Me
Well, I’m sitting on the couch watching one of the Die Hard movies with Beau.
Kailey
[Picture]
I’m staring at a picture of all three ladies: Brittney, Ajani, and Kailey. It’s in selfie mode, and they’re holding their drinks up into a cheers. I must be smiling pretty damn big because Beau kicks the side of the couch. “What are you smiling at?”
I shake my phone a few times. “Uhm, I just got sent a photo.”
“You getting some nudes sent to ya? Is it from one of those ring girls?!”
“I mean… the photo has Ajani in it...”
His body is out of his seat in the blink of an eye, and he wrestles me for my phone.
“It’s nothing you want to see,” I taunt him, keeping the phone just out of his reach.
“Let me see what’s on your fucking phone. I swear to god, Jared, I’m not playing around.” He elbows me in my gut and takes the cell phone out of my hand.
When his stare goes to the photo I was smiling at, he grins. “You’re a fucking idiot. You do know that, right?”
I stand up, pushing my body against his, reaching for my phone. “Are those hearts in your eyes? Dude, come on.”
I grab my phone quickly, putting his neck into a chokehold in the crook of my arm. “Say cheese, motherfucker.” I quickly snap a photo of me smiling and him struggling against my hold.
Me
I’ll take that photo and raise you one. [Picture]
Kailey
Thanks for the laugh :P Now I’ve gotta get back to this girls’ night.
Me
Anytime. Text me or Beau if you ladies need a ride home tonight. We will be your DDs.
Kailey
I might just hold you to that.
Me
:)
Beau and I continue our night with popcorn, flavored water, and the first Die Hard movie.
I guess I’d never seen all of them, just always remember the joke about it being a “Christmas movie,” even though it’s really not.
When the movie goes to the end credits, I look over at Beau. “So, does Ajani know?”
He continues to stare at the screen. His tone is cool and collected. “Know what?”
“That you love her?”
“You’re crazy. I do not. That’d be a death sentence for me.”
I take our empty bowl and place it in the sink, leaning my lower back against it. “I know the look. And you’ve got it bad for Ajani. Shit, other people must notice it too. I’m new and picked up on it right away.”
Beau finishes off his water, crumples the bottle, and shoots it at the trashcan, making it in. “It’s not like that. We just get each other, and I do care about her. And would kill anyone who hurt her. But real love, that’s not in the cards for us.”
I see the sadness in his eyes. “Then you better start working on your poker face, because that, right there,” I point at his face, motioning all around it, “sucks ass.”
Beau’s phone lights up on the counter next to us; it’s Ajani calling. “Huh, speak of the devil,” I tease.
He shoves me in the back on his way to pick it up. “And she’s not the devil.” His finger goes up to flip me off before he answers the call in a sweet tone. “Hey, what’s up?”
I walk past him, wanting to give him privacy, and go sit on the couch.
I don’t want to eavesdrop on their personal conversation.
Looking at his entertainment center, I notice a gaming console is tucked away in the back.
Maybe we can take a break from the movies and play some games before going to bed.
I pull it to the front and check out the games that are behind it. Hell yes, and two controllers—score!
Beau walks back into the living room, phone still at his ear. “Sure, no problem. We can be there in five… Okay, wait inside… Alright, bye.”
He kicks my foot. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“To be DDs.”
Ahh, Ajani must’ve told him that I told Kailey we would. I run to my room and grab the hat off of my bed. “Alright, I’m ready.”
Beau rolls his eyes and opens the front door. “Did you really just go put on a hat?”
I grab ahold of the bill, making it sink lower on my head. “Yeah. Kailey likes seeing me in a hat. Maybe you should try it, for Ajani.”
Beau parks his dark green Range Rover right outside the doors of Darla’s Pub.
He told me on the drive over here that this place is the girls’ personal favorite spot to hang out and have drinks.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, just a small, rinky-dink bar.
There’s a sign lit-up that reads, “Wednesdays: Karaoke!” I bet that’s an interesting show.
Once we walk in, Beau starts laughing. His stare is on something in front of us, and he points to the stage.
It’s Kailey and Ajani, standing—maybe more like swaying—in the middle, belting out the lyrics to “I love Rock ‘n Roll,” the Brittney Spears version.
They end their song with a bow, and when Ajani stands upright, she notices Beau standing there and squeals.
She jumps off stage, and thankfully, Beau is close enough to move up the few big steps to catch her.
“Okay, pretty woman. You’ve had way too many this time.” Beau swipes her light brown hair out of her face.
Ajani nuzzles her nose into the center of his chest. “I like it when you call me pretty.” Her words are slurred.
“We may or may not have gone overboard on the drinks and oversharing tonight.” Kailey squeezes in between Beau and me. I can smell the lavender, mint, and pear. She still wears the same perfume.
“I can only imagine what the three—” I don’t see Brittney. “Where’s Brittney?”
Kailey hiccups and points to the bathroom. “She had to go, real bad.”
Brittney walks out of the bathroom, but she doesn’t look nearly as drunk as Kailey and Ajani. Her eyes are rimmed red, like she’d been crying.
“Hey, are we taking you to Skyler’s?” I question her once she’s standing a foot away.
“No!” Her answer comes out rushed with a hint of emotion. That’s odd. “I mean, I’d rather just go home tonight, sleep off this hangover that’s sure to come.”
Kailey loops her elbow through Brittney’s arm, leading her toward the exit. “Then let’s go, my beautiful, amazing, total knockout of a best friend.”
I turn around to see Beau is attempting to let Ajani walk, as she continues to trip over her own feet.
Beau grabs her by the elbow and stops at the bar.
He exchanges a few words with one of the bartenders, fist bumps him, and lifts Ajani into his arms like she weighs nothing.
I hold the door open for Brittney and Kailey, waiting for Beau.
When he walks past me, I say loud enough for only him to hear, teasing him, “I fucking knew it.”
“Shut. Up.” His elbow jabs me in the gut when he walks past me. “KC, you can sit up front with Jared. I’ll sit in the back with Ajani, in case she starts puking.”
Brittney opens the back door and gets in first, then helps Beau lean Ajani on her, sharing the back seat with them. After I shut the door, I jog over to the passenger side door. Kailey is already sitting inside the Range Rover, door closed, and she’s smiling at me through the window.
“My bad.” I laugh, holding my hands up, walking in front of the hood and hopping in the driver’s seat.
“Is everyone good?” I say while looking in the rear view mirror. Brittney’s looking out the window, and Ajani’s head is resting on Beau’s shoulder, her eyes closed.
Kailey looks back at her friends and then at me. “All good. Take us home, Jared, my trusted chauffeur.” Her elbow bumps against mine, and she gives me that beautiful, real smile, the one that makes her dimples show.
Most of the drive is quiet with random tunes playing in the background. Kailey’s words are hushed next to me when she asks, “Do you still talk to him?”
I don’t have to ask who she’s referring to; it’s Joey, my brother.
Instant pain radiates throughout my chest at the mention of his name, remembering all the torment he caused.
I clear my throat before telling her the truth.
“Not since the day after everything happened. He took off in the middle of the night, and I’ve never heard a word from him since.
My parents haven’t either.” I take a quick peek over at her to check her reaction.
She only gives me a small nod, then turns her head to stare out the window.
Moments go by and my fingertips are drumming on the steering wheel, when Kailey’s voice is a whisper, pulling my attention. “I’d go on a date with you, if you asked, you know.” Her eyes have welled with tears and she’s staring at me, her chin resting inside her palm.
Wait, what did she just say? My mouth falls open as my pulse quickens. Beau kicks my seat from behind, making me snap out of it.
“Are you sure this isn’t the alcohol talking, Kailey?” I raise my eyebrows at her, giving her a quick glance.
She twirls a piece of her hair. “No, I’m not that drunk, Jared.”
“I’ll ask you when you’re sober then.”
Kailey doesn’t argue with that, then she gives me directions on where she and Brittney live. Slowly, I pull the car to a stop. I reach my arm over to Kailey’s headrest, gripping it. “Do you want me to walk you ladies up?”
Brittney giggles from the back seat. “Nah, we’re good, Jared. Thanks for the ride though.”
Kailey opens her own door, but pauses at its threshold. She turns around fast and leans in, her lips leaving a quick peck on my cheek. “Thank you, Jared.” She slams the door and runs up the steps to catch up with her friend, holding her face in her hands.
My fingers trace the spot where her lips just were.
Beau whispers from the back seat, “I fucking knew it.”
I make eye contact with him in the rear view mirror. “Yeah, yeah. Alright hotshot, where does Ajani live?”