She could never make eye contact with me again after that.
“Seriously, you look gorgeous. Just go out and … be someone else for a night.” She gives a shrug, reaching for heels.
Li pops her head in the doorway. “You guys ready?”
She’s dressed in a pair of ripped jeans with a flannel tied up just like mine. I long for her jeans though. I’m showing way more skin than I’m used to, but Kenna’s words stick with me.
Be someone else for a night.
I’m in a new state, at college, where no one knows me and I can finally let go of my past. Being someone else sounds pretty appealing. I don’t have a label attached to me already.
“Yep,” I answer Li, smiling at my reflection this time. I fluff my hair, curled and hanging down past my breasts. “Let’s go.”
Harvey’s, the bar Kenna drives us to, looks like a total dive. The kind of place you’d see bikers hanging outside of. Despite the appearance of the building it isn’t motorcycles parked out front. Instead luxury vehicles line the lot like sentinels. You can practically smell the money in the air.
Kenna shuts her car off. You almost can’t tell since it’s so quiet even when it’s on.
“Show time, girls.” Kenna rubs her hands together, her caramel eyes sparkling with excitement.
Li leans up from the back as Kenna slips from the car and whispers to me, “She scares me.”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “She’s something.”
Kenna waves for us to hurry and get out, so we do, the headlights on her car flashing when she locks it.
A country song blasts out of the bar as we walk up, Kenna pushing open the doors like a dramatic cop in a western movie. Or maybe it’s the outlaw that does that.
Inside, the music is even louder, the lights dimmed. There are booths, a massive bar that’s a complete circle in the middle of the room, and a dance floor that’s currently heavily occupied by people doing some kind of step shuffle thing.
The atmosphere is vibrant, lively and I find myself smiling.
Kenna grabs my hand and I quickly reach for Li’s, both of us letting the other girl guide us through the bar. I think Kenna has become the silent leader of our group.
She locates a booth in a back corner facing the dance floor. It’s a little out of the way which she seems disappointed about, but her frown quickly leaves when she announces that drinks are on her tonight and she glides over to the bar with a swish of her hair, leaving the smell of her floral perfume in her wake.
Li sits down, tapping her fingers against her cheek. “This place isn’t normally my scene,” she says softly, her eyes scanning the building. “I’m not into the whole country vibe thing.”
I don’t tell her, but this place is a replica of that—all to give the rich college snobs the illusion of being in a real country bar. If this were an actual one there’d be muddy trucks with big tires in the lot, cheap beer, and probably someone getting punched right about now.
Looking around the bar, it’s obvious that there are no locals in attendance. The song playing ends and the people on the dance floor clap, some of them heading back to their table and others ready for another dance.
I just want some chicken tenders, but I bet this place doesn’t even have those.
My stomach rumbles with my thoughts. “Is there a menu there?” I ask Li, pointing at the end of the table where the ketchup and other condiments are.
She shakes her head. “Nope, I don’t see one.”
At that moment Kenna reappears with a pitcher of beer that doesn’t look anything like the cheap kind, probably some house made brew or local specialty, and three shots.
“Come on, ladies,” she passes out the shots, “to college.”
She holds up her shot, waiting for us to hit ours against hers.
“To life,” Li adds.
“To freedom.”
The glass clinks and I knock back the shot, trying not to make a face, I don’t succeed because I hear the laughter of some guy and look up. Amber eyes stare back at me and I don’t have to look very long to know the guy is hot and fit, probably plays some sport, his skin is a soft brown color and his black hair is buzzed short. Tattoos snake down the entirety of his left arm.
“Having a little trouble there?”
Now, I sputter even more with the newfound audience.
So attractive, Rory. Get your shit together.
Coughing, I grab a napkin, pressing it to my mouth. “I-I’m fine,” I choke out.
His smirk tilts up on the corner. “Let me get you some water.”
Kenna and Li look from the guy to me and back again. Then Kenna gives a little shimmy of her shoulders and a wink, urging me silently with a pointed finger to get out of the booth and follow the guy to the bar.
I want to say no, but as soon as I have that thought I toss it to the side. I deserve to let loose and a cute guy is talking to me and all he wants is to get me a water. Honestly, after my hacking show he probably thinks I’m pitiful and truly wants to make sure I’m all right.
“Um, thanks. Water would be great.” I slide out of the booth and his hand instantly goes to the small of my waist, his long fingers edging over the denim of the skirt currently hugging my butt.
I feel the burn of eyes following us, all girls when I brave a look, staring on in jealousy. Whoever this guy is, he’s a big deal.
At the bar, he signals the bartender and in seconds an ice water is poured and slid my way.
“What’s your name?” The guy asks me in his deep voice, a slight southern drawl to it.
“Rory,” I reply, wrapping my lips around the straw. His eyes flick down with my movement and a shiver slithers up my spine.
It’s been months since I’ve been with a guy, and none of my random hookups have ever been that great, but the way this guy is looking at me tells me he’d know what he’s doing if I gave him a chance. But he’s also probably been with the majority of the female population on campus.
Who cares, you only live once.
“What about you?”
“What about me, darlin’? His cocky swagger would normally piss me off, but tonight I find myself not caring. I guess that’s what freedom does to you.
“Your name?” I try to hide my smile but I know it shows around the straw.
His amber eyes sparkle. “Cole.”
I’ve never seen eyes that shade, such a unique swirl of gold with an orange hue.
“No last name?” I arch a brow.
“Anderson.”
“Nice to meet you Cole Anderson.”
“You didn’t give me your last name.” His grin tips up on the corners and he motions for the bartender again. In a blink a bottle of beer is thrust into his hand, probably one of the ‘manly’ types that tastes like piss.
“Abbott.”
“You gonna dance with me Rory Abbott?” He bites his lip, trying to hide his growing smile but there’s something incredibly sexy about it.
“Only if you want your toes stepped on.” I wish I could dance, but Hazel inherited all the rhythm genes, all I got was an ability to argue over just about anything.
“I don’t mind.”
I sip the water, half of it already gone, and he raises the bottle to his lips a challenge glimmering in his eyes.