Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
Jada
Music pumped through the bar. The lights flickered rapidly, casting colorful rays on the patrons pressed closely together on the dance floor at Casaar’s Bar.
Sweaty and borderline exhausted after dancing with Kari, I motioned for my sister to follow me to the back patio.
It would surely be cooler and a whole lot quieter.
I had never been one for large crowds anyway, but I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that someone was watching me.
I kept scanning the bar but found nothing out of place.
It’s just the crowd coupled with the shot of tequila. You know you shouldn’t drink tequila.
I led Kari outside and found a table in a back corner that was, thankfully, next to a fan.
“I’m not as young as I used to be.” Kari giggled, holding on to the table to stop herself from swaying. “Damn, not nearly as young. How much did you let me drink?” She laughed.
“Enough.” I smiled.
“What’s gotten into my big sister, huh?” Kari asked, a goofy smile on her face. “You’re actually kinda fun tonight.”
“Hush. I earned this night.”
“That you do. Did. Whatever.” Kari laughed. “Speaking of deserving … well, in my brain, that word was dessert …” Kari shook her head. “Damn, I am drunk. Anyway, I was going to ask you if you had heard from that piece of man candy of yours.”
I rolled my eyes and recounted the conversation about Solomon Place earlier in the week. “He’s such a dick.”
“What’s his deal? Even when I’m not drunk, I don’t think he makes sense.” Kari grooved to the beat of Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.”
“I don’t know, but I’m done. I’m finished even being nice to him at this point, Kari. He sent me a couple of texts yesterday, but I didn’t respond. Fuck him.”
“Yeah. Fuck him!” Kari shouted, holding her glass up in the air and splashing the contents on the table.
“Kari! Don’t yell.”
“Sorry.” Kari put her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. “Anyway, what did the texts say?”
“Nothing, really.”
“Just give me your phone.” Kari extended her hand. I obliged, the look on her face telling me that it wasn’t worth the fight.
Cane: I got the papers from your father. See how smoothly things go when you listen.
Cane: Are you just going to ignore me now?
Cane: Good night, Jada.
“He’s obviously thinking about you, but why is he so Jekyll and Hode?”
“Jekyll and Hyde?” I smiled at my inebriated sister. “I have no idea. He’s confusing and time-consuming and ridiculous.”
“And delicious.” Kari hiccupped.
“Is Max that way?”
“Yeah, he’s delicious all right.”
“Not what I meant.” I laughed.
Kari’s face fell, sobering. “Oh, Jada. I don’t know what to do with Max.”
“Why?”
“Because I like him.”
I smiled softly, the truth finally coming to light. “That’s good, Kari.”
“No, no, it’s not. When I met him, it was supposed to be all about sex. That was clear from the get-go.” She fiddled with the edge of her dress. “But he’s so thoughtful, Jada. He worries about me. He goes out of his way to make sure I’m happy. I don’t know what to do with that.”
“You enjoy it. I like Max. I think he’s good for you. Maybe you should just see what happens.”
“Oh, like you’re so willing to see what happens with Cane,” Kari taunted, nodding her head exaggeratedly.
“That’s different. I know what will happen with Cane. Unlike you, I’m basing my decisions on experience.” My eyes were caught by the flashing image on the tabletop. “Your phone is ringing.”
She looked down. “It’s Max. I was supposed to call him tonight and didn’t.”
“Why not?”
Kari shrugged. She looked down, the phone quieting in her hand. She pressed a few buttons and held it to her ear. “Hey, Max. What’s up? Yeah, I know. Sorry. Jada wanted to come to Casaar’s tonight.”
“You liar.” I laughed.
Kari giggled, trying to ignore me. “No, we’re actually sitting on the back deck right now, cooling off.” She swirled her drink in her glass while she listened. “Maybe I’m a little drunk. But Jada’s here, so I’m fine.”
“No, we are taking a cab. We’re not stupid.” She glanced around. “Yeah, well, I will see you tomorrow … Max.” The phone slammed to the table with a thud. “Sometimes, I hate him.”
“I totally don’t believe that. If that was true, you wouldn’t have that look on your face right now.”
“He’s coming to get us,” she said smugly.
“You secretly love this, I can tell.”
“I do, and I don’t know why. He said he doesn’t want us in a taxi this late.”
I watched Kari for a moment, considering what to say next. “Have you ever considered that maybe you like Max more than you’re even willing to admit?”
“Now why would I go do something stupid like that?”
“Because it’s true.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe you like Cane more than you’re even willing to admit?”
“No. Because I don’t.” I wasn’t about to have a conversation about any feelings I did or didn’t have for Cane Alexander. There was no reason to spoil the night.
Kari sighed. “Whatever. I’m going to grab some water. Stay here in case Max comes, ’kay?”
She walked across the stone patio toward the smaller bar outside that offered water and soda. She disappeared into the sea of bodies.
I placed my head in my hands. Kari has what she needs, and she doesn’t even recognize it. For the first time in her life, she has snagged a good man. Why does she keep fighting him off?
I tried to remember Kari’s last serious fling. Besides the Australian surfer, the only one she ever seemed serious about was a firefighter from Colorado. That ended abruptly after just a few weeks when he took a job in Northern California.
I’m just going to lay it all out there for her. Make her see what an idiot she is being.
The last time I had “laid it out there” for her it involved hot chocolate, tissues, and a Julia Roberts marathon.
I could go for that right about now, anyway.
I fiddled with a coaster on the tabletop absentmindedly, when my entire body suddenly tensed.
My heartbeat quickened in my chest as my body went on alert.
A chill came over me as I lifted my head and scanned the crowd once again.
My sight felt drawn to the back entrance of the patio.
A man was turning away from me, a dark baseball cap pulled down low over his face.
He turned quickly, sliding his way out of the gate as the rest of the patrons in that area stood in a group, absorbed in a conversation.
I saw the back of his red shirt and a bit of jet-black hair sticking out the back of the cap, a contrast to the color of his shirt.
I craned my neck to get a better look, but he was gone.
An eerie feeling settled over me as I sank back into my chair, chewing on my bottom lip.
Stop it. I’m just overstimulated tonight.
I swallowed hard as Kari appeared again from the throngs of bodies with one of the water bottles pressed to her forehead. “It’s a madhouse over there.”
“I can see that. But I do appreciate your sacrifice.”
I accepted one from her outstretched hand, unscrewed the top, and took a drink. The coolness of the water felt amazing against the heat of the air. I looked around the patio until my eyes landed on a tall, dark, and handsome man.
“Water is not what I was expecting to see you drinking,” Max said, smiling at us as he approached.
My spirits fell dramatically as my eyes wandered behind Max … to Cane.
He was ridiculously good-looking. His white shirt was pulled tightly over his sculpted chest and abs, the blue design spiraling over his shoulder, making his eyes nearly glow.
I noticed a table full of college girls watching him walk past, but his eyes focused intently on me.
That made me slightly giddy, regardless of the fact I was still mad.
His face was void of emotion, so I had no idea what he was thinking or why he was there.
“I told you I was fine, Max,” Kari said before flashing him a seductive smile. “But I’m not going to turn down a ride home from a hot guy.”
“I’m hot, huh?” Max grinned. “Let’s go back to your place, and I will show you how hot I think you are.” He bent down and nibbled on Kari’s neck, making her giggle.
I looked up to Cane, a look of hesitation marring his features. He seemed to be unsure how I was going to react to him being there. He finally offered his hand to me.
I timidly took it, allowing him to pull me up.
Don’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he gets to me. Play this off.
“Miss me?” Cane asked, smirking.
His arrogance burned through me, but I pretended not to hear him as I smoothed down my black dress. I caught the eye of a guy to my right. He was decent looking, but a little too metrosexual for my taste. We exchanged a flirty smile and Cane bristled at my side.
“Are you fucking serious?” Cane growled.
“Am I serious about what?”
“Jada,” he warned.
“What, Cane? Don’t act like I’m not infatuated with you? Do you want me to pretend you’re the only guy here tonight? Is that what you want?”
“It would make things easier,” he said, his jaw tense.
“I’m sure,” I said in disbelief. “Because things are always about what you want, right?”
Cane’s face contorted angrily. “You like the look of that dipshit over there, peacocking in front of everyone? Fine,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and holding out his hands. “Be my guest.”
He turned to look at the guy again before facing me, a laugh in his voice.
“No, really, Jada. If that’s what turns you on, go for it.
I won’t even say anything. He wouldn’t even be worth me fucking with until he does something besides the pretty-boy workout on the Nautilus machine.
To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t know whether to fight him or fuck him. ”
“Fuck you,” I said, fueled by the alcohol. “You didn’t have to come here tonight. You’ve already gotten what you wanted, so there’s no reason for you to pretend you like me anymore. I know how this works. I’ve done it a time or two.”
Cane’s eyes blazed. “What is that supposed to mean?”