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Chapter 15
Aja wasn’t sure how long it was going to take her to get used to people wanting to hang out with her. The footing she’d found with Walker, and Miri and her friends was still new, unsteady. The other shoe hadn’t dropped, but she waited anyway. When she woke up late Saturday morning to a text from Miri, asking if she wanted to hang out, she had to swallow down the surprise and read it two more times.
Miri told her that she, Jade, and Olivia were going to one of the bars in town that night. Even through text, Aja could tell Miri was a little cautious about inviting her. She made sure to mention that they definitely wanted her there, but that she shouldn’t feel pressure to come if it wasn’t her scene. There would be plenty of other times for them to get together.
In truth, bars weren’t her scene—at least, she didn’t think they were. But it had been more than a week since she’d hung out with them, and she was dying to see them again. Which was how she found herself walking into a crowded bar downtown with her ass cheeks nearly peeking out the bottom of a tiny black romper.
The Garage was half opened to the street outside thanks to an oversize retractable garage door with frosted windows. She didn’t know how many bars Greenbelt had, but this one clearly catered to its younger citizens. The decor was hip without being too modern and the music was fun without being too Top 40, it was… nice. Even if it was nearly packed to the gills with people, none of them were too rowdy. And the open concept of the bar filtered plenty of fresh air through the space, allowing her to gulp as much down as she needed. That would do wonders for keeping her anxiety as under control as possible. Even still, the amount of people made her brain buzz with it.
For a moment, deep regret settled behind her ribs. She’d been so eager to hang out, but she wasn’t sure she could do this: be in a room full of loud, moving bodies. Have people accidentally touch her, hear all manner of loud sounds in her ears. She wanted this desperately but also ached to run. She resigned herself to the fact that she might have to give in to the latter at some point. That was nothing to be ashamed of. She promised herself to only stay for as long as she could handle it without causing harm to herself. The second it became too much, she would leave. And she would force herself to not feel bad about it.
Miri, Jade, and Olivia were sitting close together at a small table a few feet away from the long bar. Olivia saw her first, rising halfway out of her seat to beckon her over with flailing arms. When the other two women became aware of her, they smiled, excitement practically dripping off of them. Seeing such obvious displays of enthusiasm at her presence eased Aja a little. But her body was still tense as she waded through the crowd, getting tighter and tighter each time someone bumped or brushed against her. But the small part of her that had been nervous that Miri had only invited her because of pity had eased.
She knew pity had been the catalyst behind Miri’s first invitation. But Aja had been so overcome with the need for companionship that she hadn’t cared. She still was, honestly, or else she likely wouldn’t have stepped foot in a bar just for the promise of it.
“Hey,” she greeted them shyly once she reached the table.
“Hey, girl!” Jade grinned. “You look cute.”
“Come on, legs!” Miri’s face was impressed as she looked her up and down.
Aja’s face heated at the compliment. She’d bought the romper months ago while drunk on cheap wine and fantasizing about being sexy. She’d been sober when she got it in the mail and tried it on. But it had showed off her thighs and clung to her body in a way that satisfied her until she’d realized that she didn’t have anywhere to wear it. Getting dressed for this night, she’d figured that if she was going out of her comfort zone, she could at least look good while doing it. Even if she had ended up slightly overdressed in comparison to the other three women, who all had on some combination of jeans and tanks or cropped T-shirts.
“Thank you.” She smiled at them, settling into the open chair next to Miri. “And thank you for inviting me out.”
Olivia waved a dismissive hand. “Please. We had a good time with you last week. Plus, I hate odd numbers and these two are always gangin’ up on me.”
“What makes you think Aja is goin’ to take your side?” Miri asked.
“She seems more levelheaded than you two pricks.” Olivia’s tone was snide but playful.
“Pricks,” Jade sputtered, mocking her friend’s word. “Jesus, Liv.”
Olivia’s pale skin flushed bright red even in the bar’s dim lighting.
“Anyway…” Olivia stressed the word, drawing it out as Jade and Miri laughed. “As I was saying, Aja. This group could use a more calming presence, which you clearly are.”
“That’s true though.” Jade pointed a finger at Olivia. “Aja gives me big mom-friend energy.”
“That’s a compliment by the way,” Miri interjected. “Because sometimes I feel like all of us are stuck at seventeen.”
“We’re not that bad,” Olivia whined, then paused. “Are we?”
They all turned to look at Aja, eyes wide, faces expectant. “I mean”—her eyes shifted to each of them—“you all seem pretty responsible to me…”
One by one they grinned, the smiles almost innocent but not quite.
“See,” Miri said. “She’s already lyin’ to protect our feelings. She’s goin’ to fit in just fine.”
Aja swallowed, the welcoming words making her feel more emotional than they had a right to. In an effort not to tear up or say something mushy and out of place, she eyed their drinks. Olivia had a beer, but Miri and Jade were both drinking cocktails that she couldn’t put a name to.
“I’m going to get us a round of drinks,” Aja said, standing up. She’d left her purse in the trunk of her car but had stashed some cash in one of the little pockets on her romper. “What are y’all drinking?”
“I’m drivin’ tonight, so I’m good with the one beer.” Olivia flashed her a small, grateful smile. “You can get me a bottle of water though.”
“I’ll take another Long Island.” Jade sucked down the rest of her drink, the straw making obnoxious sucking noises once she got to the bottom. “I’m in the mood to get a little sloppy tonight.”
“What else is new?” Miri smirked, earning herself a light punch from Jade before reaching into her pocket and pulling out some cash. “You can get me a rum and Coke.”
