“Phone!” she demanded, extending an open hand in my direction, and I handed over the device without question as she snapped a photo of me before I could question why she wanted it in the first place.
“You lookhot!” She flipped the screen back toward me, and Itried to focus in on the photo, my vision blurring as I studied the image of myself. Neon lights glowed against the dark background, highlighting the shimmering material of my onyx-colored dress. The material cut off mid-thigh, the neckline hanging loosely in a folded pattern, held by two thin gold chains. Even the sequins in the dress shimmered, the lights dancing across them.
I looked happy . . . alive.
I nodded in agreement, smiling at the way the lights reflected across my face. A singular moment, frozen in time, a carefree, happy look on my face.
Tapping the screen, I pulled up a message thread and sent the photo before I could make another choice.
Me: Since you won’t respond . . . maybe this will warrant some form of a reply.
I sent the message before I could second-guess the decision. However, if I was being honest with myself, I wasfartoo drunk to second-guess my decisions.
“I can’t believe you just did that!” Emberly’s voice sounded from right behind me, and I spun in shock.
“What are you doing looking at my messages?” It was a half-hearted protest, as my best friend smiled cheekily as she grabbed my phone and scrolled through the messages.
“Youlikehim,” she stated. “Admit it.”
“I—” I didn’t know how to answer.
“Youdolike him!” she half-shouted in excitement.
“Fine,” I admitted, trying to reach for my phone. “MaybeI do.” The confession was a slur as we pushed past the lines. “But it wouldn’t work anyway.”
“Just think,” she continued, looping her arm through mine as she dragged me along with her. “The two of you could fall inloveand have little spy?—”
I slapped my hand over her mouth, cutting her offbefore she could ramble any further. Emberly’s muffled protests sounded from behind my hand before she gestured crudely toward me.
My phone lit up, the word ‘Sergeant’ flashing across the screen as itrang,and my hand dropped from Emberly.
“Stars-damned,” Emberly said as she stared at my phone in shock. “I don’t know what’s more surprising. That yousenthim that photo or that he’scallingyou.”
I stared at my screen, my vision swimming slightly as Sage nudged me.
“Well,” her voice shrieked at a too-high pitch. “Are you going to answer it?”
I stared a moment longer before Emberly swiped across the screen and accepted the call. I shot her the nastiest glare I could muster as I swiped my phone from her hands and brought the device up to my ear.
“Are you drunk?” His voice was a dark growl that sent shivers coursing across my skin as his demand came through.
“Nice of y-you to finally-y-y c-call.” The words came out in a blurred slur, and I could hear another growl of frustration sounding from the male on the other end of the line. “Seeing as y-you haven’t answered m-me before this.”
“Was it because of the photo?” Emberly shouted into the phone over me, and I half-cursed as she continued. “I knew it! It had to be. She looked HOT!”
I could almost picture the angry furrow creasing on hisbrow, the way amber eyes would be narrowed in frustration as my friend drunkenly shouted into the phone.
“Where. Are. You?” he demanded, and I looked around as we stood outside the second—no—third club of the night.
There were no street signs in sight, so I settled on the only coherent answer I could muster.
“Out—girls’ night!” my voice chirped cheerily, and I knew he could hear the chorus of ‘girls’ night!’ that rang out from my best friends as we stumbled down the block together, music playing in the distance.
“What part ofdon’tdo anything stupid didn’t you understand?” he asked.
“I’m fine!” The words were a slur as I darted down the street, watching as Emberly motioned toward the sky, then began to glide up into the air; then Sage, both girls beckoning for me to join them.
“Come on, Rae!” Kasia shouted as she, too, took to the sky a few steps ahead of me.
