Jesse: No worries. It happens. Do you care if I bring my friend Kara?
Me: Of course not! I could use a girls’ night.
Jesse: Well you are in for a treat then. Kara is well…Kara.
Me: Can’t wait. Shoot me the place and time. I’ll be there.
Jesse: See you then. Again, I’m warning you about Kara.
Me: Lol Trust me. She will be fine.
I hang up and begin to get ready to go out. I’m a jeans-and-T-shirt girl most of the time, but tonight, I’m in the mood for something a little sexier. After dragging on a pair of tight black pants and a low-cut pink shirt, I top it all off with a pair of black heels. I spend an hour flat-ironing my long blond hair and applying just enough make up to highlight and cover my sleepy eyes.
Just as I walk out the door, I shoot Caleb a text.
Me: Going out with Jesse. Can we talk tomorrow?
He instantly replies.
Caleb: Yep. Be careful. Catch a cab. No driving.
His message is short yet bossy. Maybe I’m not cracked up to be with someone as moody as Caleb. No matter what I may think, my heart tells me something completely different.
I WALK into the bar that Jesse said she and Kara frequent regularly. I scan the room, immediately feeling overdressed. There are probably ten tables filled with guys who all pause and look over at the door when I walk in. Apparently my idea of girls’ night out is very different than Jesse’s. This is a restaurant/sports bar, not a martini bar or dance club like I was expecting. My boobs are half exposed and I swear there is a twelve-year-old in the corner who is drooling. Shit!
Thankfully I locate Jesse sitting at a table with another small brunette and quickly head their way.
“I need a sweater to cover up,” I say, sliding into the booth across from them. Her friend is staring at me with her mouth hanging open.
“Holy shizzle, you are hot!” she shouts, causing Jesse to elbow her. “You did not tell me she was this hot,” she says to Jesse while rubbing her arm. “I’d totally become a lesbian for you. Damn it! I should have dressed up tonight.”
“Um, thanks?” I can’t help but smile as I look over at Jesse, whose cheeks are bright pink.
She offers me a slight shrug before looking down to take a sip of her drink, clearly embarrassed. I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. I need friends, and Jesse has been sweet enough to reach out to me even despite our awkward circumstances.
“Well you’re pretty smoking too. I’m glad you didn’t dress sexier. I’d hate for us to both to switch teams tonight. The male population of Chicago would suffer a great loss.”
Kara doesn’t even try to hide it as she whispers to Jesse, “She thinks I’m smoking.” I can’t control the laugh that escapes.
“Kara, this is Sarah’s sister, Emma Jane. Emma Jane, this is my ex-best friend, Kara.”
Kara’s head snaps over to Jesse. “Ex?”
“I told you not to embarrass me,” she says then starts giggling.
“No, you told me not to mention Caleb—” Kara’s hands snap to her mouth. “Sorry,” she mumbles from behind them.
Now I’m full-on laughing. This chick is hilarious. Awkward, but hilarious nonetheless.
“No, it’s cool,” I say, reassuring them both. “I need some drinks. Then we can talk Caleb and all things moody hot guys. Just promise me we can get out of here in a little bit and go somewhere where we can dance.”
“I love you!” Kara screams.
My eyes get wide at her enthusiasm. Jesse just shakes her head and finishes off her beer.
“Shots?” I ask when the waitress stops to get my order. Both girls nod enthusiastically. “Three Blow Jobs and three Titty Twisters please. And I’ll take a vodka cranberry.”
“She even orders sexy shots,” Kara once again openly whispers to Jesse.
“Would you shut up?” Jesse snaps back at her, and we all begin laughing like old friends.
“So when we get drunk, will you give us the vegetable report?” Kara asks, momentarily confusing me.
“Kara!” Jesse shouts.
“What? This is need-to-know information! She’s sitting right here. You know I had to ask.”
“What’s a vegetable report?” I ask, even more curious based on Jesse’s red face.
“It’s just a little thing Jesse and I do where—” Kara starts, but Jesse quickly interrupts.
“Oh, no you don’t. This is something Kara does. Leave Jesse out of it!” she yells.
“Um, okay. My traitorous best friend is now pretending like she didn’t tell me a large zucchini for Brett. It took quite a few beers, but she eventually spilled. Anyway, it’s just where you compare your man’s business to the vegetable it most resembles.” She finishes with an unabashed grin.
“One, ewwww! I did not need to know that about Brett.” I pause and lean in close. “But congrats to you, girl!” I laugh, and Jesse wrinkles her nose, completely mortified. “Two, oh, I’ll tell you this now. I don’t have to be drunk to talk vegetables.” I laugh at my new term. “Butternut squash.”
Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)
Aly Martinez's books
- Among the Echoes
- The Fall Up
- Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)
- Retrieval (The Retrieval Duet #1)
- Transfer (The Retrieval Duet #2)
- The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2)
- Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)
- Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)
- Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)
- Fighting Silence (On the Ropes #1)
- Savor Me