My heart swells. “Yeah. I was. I still have Mystery, my horse.” The bartender sets my vodka and cranberry down and I pick it up, taking a big drink. “I got him when I was in middle school. He’s my baby, well, next to my dog, Hunter.” I take another drink. “And I should mention Romeo or I’ll feel bad.”
“Sure.” Travis’s eyes go to my breasts, which are pushed the fuck up in this uncomfortable pushup bra. Is it misleading to present my humble B-sized breasts as anything bigger? Maybe. But I’m too drunk to care right now.
“What about you?” I ask, taking a sip of my drink. The taste of vodka hits me hard, much harder than my previous drinks. “What are you up to?”
“Sports,” he says, and I nod as if that makes sense.
“Cool.” Cool? What the fuck? I take another drink and look out at the dance floor at Laney. She’s right up by the band with a drink in her hand. “Do you want to—” I start but then cut off when I see Travis checking his phone. Taking a big sip of my drink, I slide off my stool. “I’ll be right back,” I tell him, needing to use the bathroom. I set my drink down only to pick it up and take one last drink, and then wobble my way to the ladies’ room.
I compliment everyone who comes in as I wash my hands, and drunkenly fix my hair in the dirty mirror before leaving. I order another drink and turn around, leaning against the bar as I look for Travis, spotting him across the room. He’s talking to some guy who looks familiar but I can’t place his face.
I wobble a bit on these damn heels, slowing right before I get to Travis and his friend. I stop to adjust the hem of my crop top and don’t mean to eavesdrop, but I can’t help but overhear.
“Dude, the girl’s a freak, and I don’t mean it in a good way.” Travis’s friend lets out a snort of laugher and takes a swig of his beer.
“I know,” Travis says. “She’s always been one, and used to talk about creepy shit back in high school. We voted her most un-bangable.”
I freeze, drunk brain slow to realize he’s talking about me.
“She’s too hot to be considered un-bangable.”
“Trust me. If you knew her, you’d agree. She’s fucking nuts, but girls like her give it up easy. It’s like they want to live out their high school fantasy where the prom king takes pity on the desperate nerd.”
Harrison was prom king our senior year, but that’s not the point. Angry tears fill my eyes, but I’m more pissed with myself than anything else. Because here I was feeling confident and thinking someone like Travis—who I knew to be an asshole in high school—might actually like me. And I hate that there was a part of me that wanted him to see I wasn’t the same weird loser that I was in high school. I’ve grown up, and while I’m still weird, I’m proud of the woman I’ve become.
Feeling stupid for thinking anyone else could see that, I take a big gulp of my drink and turn away, face burning with embarrassment. I’ve been called a lot of things, but un-bangable…never. I don’t want to be here anymore, and I want to go home now. Laney drove me here, and even though I’m drunk, I know I can’t expect her to leave like this. Though she’s a good enough friend I know she will, no questions asked. Which is exactly why I hike my purse up over my shoulder and spin on my heel. I toss my drink in the trash and trip, not making the grand exit I hoped for, but I’m on my way out of the bar before anyone notices me.
The night air is cool around me, and I drunkenly weigh my options. I could call Harrison and have him come get me, though there’s not a guarantee he’s not as drunk—or drunker—than I am right now. I could call an Uber and have someone take me home in just a few minutes…or I could keep walking, which seems like the best option in my mind after several drinks.
I’ll call Laney later, after I’ve gotten safely home—somehow—and will finish that bottle of Moscato I’ve been nursing all week, allowing myself to wallow in self-pity until I pass out. What annoys me though is how my reputation held. Yeah, I was weird. But get the fuck over it, dude.
I angrily wipe a tear away and keep walking, not wanting to stop until I can’t see the lights from the bar-front anymore. I get to a street corner and pause. I’m drunk but stop to look both ways at least. The air has cooled considerably now that the sun has set, and I wish I brought a sweater.
Something rustles in the overgrown flowerbed of the storefront next to me. Sucking in a breath, I jump, turning with wide eyes. A car drives by, blasting its music, right as whatever is lurking in the dark growls.
Fuck.
I run across the street as soon as its safe, heels catching on the uneven sidewalk. I regain my balance before I fall. Heart hammering, I stop and turn around, looking at the flowerbed. Why am I running? That thing attacked me. Scared my horse. And would have done much worse if it were able.
Running away isn’t going to solve anything. I have to face it and then…I don’t know. I’m drunk and it sounds like a good idea right now. Balling my fists I take a step forward. I make it two more steps before I sense someone behind me. I come to a sudden halt, and shoes scuffle on the sidewalk behind me.
Oh, shit.
Lips parting as my breath leaves in a huff, I slowly turn my head, looking over my shoulder.
The shadowed outline of a man comes into view. “Hey,” he says, deep voice rattling right through me. “It’s not safe to be walking out here alone.”
Chapter Five
“Seriously?” I spit and whirl around so fast my heel catches on the uneven sidewalk. The man behind me rushes forward, catching me before I fall. It’s not until his hands wrap around my waist that I realize what he said sounds like a line right out of a horror movie.
“Yeah,” he says, brown eyes meeting mine. “Seriously.”
I push off his firm chest, trying to stare daggers at him, but my drunk mind gets distracted with his stubble-covered sharp jawline.
“Especially dressed like that,” he adds, full lips pulling into a smirk as he runs his eyes over me.
“Okay, Mom,” I say, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms. I’m wobbling as I stand here, trying hard not to notice how attractive he is. He’s tall and muscular, dressed in a dark blue t-shirt, jeans, and a black leather jacket.
He takes a step forward, eyes darting around as if he’s looking to make sure no one is watching. I jerk back, tripping over the same crack in the sidewalk.
“Goddammit,” I grumble, throwing out my hands and recovering my balance on my own this time.
“Are you okay?” the guy asks, inching closer still. Fuck. There’s a very real possibility that he’s a vampire, and as much as I’ve wanted to meet one, I’m suddenly terrified. My pulse bounds, and in the back of my mind, I know he can hear it.
“Do I look okay?” The words tumble out of my mouth on their own accord. A car drives by, going a good twenty over the speed limit with music blaring. There’s a good chance I’m going to die out here, and the people in that car didn’t even notice me.
“Not really,” he answers, and motions to a bench a few yards away. I sway on my feet again, regretting downing my drink as I angrily stormed out of the bar. “Maybe you should sit down.”