I hopped in the taxi. Cole and Oakley sat at the back of the seven-seater talking to each other with doe eyes. It made me want to gag. Brad was on the middle row of two and Holly the front row of two. Brad’s legs hung over where I wanted to sit so it would have to be near Holly.
After the awkward situation earlier, I didn’t want to be trapped beside her for twenty minutes. I really had to stop talking about her to the random women I slept with. Not only could it get back to Brad but it annoyed me how much my drunken mind was on her.
“Hi,” I said as I sat down.
She looked up briefly. “Hi.”
“You okay?”
“Yes. You?” she replied, barely meeting my eye.
And I thought this would be awkward…
“Yep,” I replied and lowered my voice to add, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she mouthed.
“Bullshit.”
“Man, if I can walk at the end of the night, punch me,” Brad said, poking his head between the seats.
I forced a laugh. “Yeah, deal. What’re you forgetting tonight then?”
“Hmm,” he murmured. “I can’t decide between the long day at work today or the blonde in the pub that turned me down last week.”
“Wow, those are your only problems!” Holly said, rolling her eyes at her brother.
“Oh and what’s your biggest problem right now, Hol? Shall I wear my pink pyjamas tonight or my blue ones,” Brad replied in the worst imitation of a woman’s voice ever.
She turned back and stared out of the window.
Brad poked her arm. “Are you on or something? You’ve been moody all day.”
“Just fuck off, Brad!” she hissed.
Whoa.
“Ugh, definitely on,” he said and retreated back. Holly muttered the word pig under her breath.
What the hell was going on?
Right now sitting in the seat beside Cole while his lips were attached to my sister’s was more appealing. Whatever was wrong with Holly was seriously going piss all over the fun tonight.
We arrived at the club, and as there was no queue – not a good sign – so we were ushered straight inside.
“We’re leaving if it’s dead,” I said as we walked up the stairs. I was determined not to let anything ruin the night.
“Ladies, sit down and gentlemen, to the bar!” Brad exclaimed reaching above his head and pointing to the bar.
Holly frowned and headed towards the seating area that was too quiet for this to be a good night.
“Is she okay?” Oakley whispered to me.
“How should I know?” Though I was starting to think I had something to do with her bad mood. Was it about yesterday? We’d agreed that sex between us was casual, she seemed happy with that and had instigated one time herself. I was shit scared that she had changed her mind and things between us would get awkward. I liked Holly, but I was nowhere near the relationship place right now.
She rolled her eyes and followed Holly to an empty table in the corner of the seating area. I helped Brad and Cole carry over the drinks. We must have at least four each.
Brad put the tray of ten shots down “First, we do shots. Two each, one after the other.”
Holly shook her head. “I don’t want one, Brad.”
“I’ve bought you one now! Drink it, you’re not driving.” He sat down and pushed two shots towards her.
Hell if she didn’t do it, I would. If I wasn’t getting laid, I was getting smashed.
She pursed her lips. “I don’t want it.”
“Don’t make her,” Oakley said, looking at Holly with an expression I knew very well – suspicion.
I downed my shot and then almost spit it out. Fuck, Holly’s pregnant! I choked on nothing and stared at her.
“She’s being a baby. It’s just a couple shots!” Brad exclaimed.
“Oh for fuck sake, Brad, I can’t!”
Holly didn’t shout often. Brad sat back, eyes wide. The air got thicker, and I struggled to breathe. My baby or Harry’s?
Not again.
“Oh Jesus, don’t tell me you’re knocked up? Are you kidding me, Holly! You’re only twenty-years old! Fuck it, I’m gonna kill Harry!”
“Can you please shut up, people are looking,” she hissed.
“Where does he live? Near the church, right?”
“Stop it!”
Not my baby. I should’ve been relieved, but I couldn’t help feeling sick at the thought of her having another man’s baby.
“What number, Holly? Never mind, I’ll see his car.” Brad stood up.
“It’s not Harry’s!” she blurted out.
Fuck!
I fisted my hands on my knees. Holly didn’t look at me. My world shifted again. Just when I was starting to get back on my feet, this happened. I was desperate to know if that was true or if she just said it to get Brad to sit the hell back down. I’d never felt like getting shitfaced so much before.
“What?” Brad said, dropping himself back on the chair. “Well who the fuck is it then?” He looked appalled. I wanted to punch him for the way he looked at her. She wasn’t a slut.