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“How about I get us both some water? I brought those hydration packets you love and you know you’ll be thanking me tomorrow when your head doesn’t explode as it comes into contact with light,” Sofi tried to cheer Rachael up.
Rachael pursed her lips.
“Strawberry?” Rachael asked.
“Is there any other flavor?” Sofi responded, a smile on her lips.
Yes, she would rather be home watching a movie, or better yet already asleep, but she truly was glad to be there for her friend. She and Rachael had been very close once upon a time. Maybe even best friends for a few years in high school. But then they’d gone to different colleges and things went the way they often did when friends didn’t see one another regularly. However, Rachael had recently moved back to Blue Falls with her boyfriend, now fiancé, and she and Sofi had started hanging out again. It had still surprised Sofi a bit when Rachael asked her to be maid of honor, but they’d spent enough time together that the question hadn’t come completely out of the blue.
“Make sure they add lots of ice,” Rachael said, her eyes drifting closed even though she’d been ready for another round of shots a mere minute before.
“I will.” Sofi stood to go get the promised water, but hesitated as she looked down at her friend.
“But open your eyes, Rach,” Sofi warned. The last thing she wanted was to leave her friend prey to a bunch of drunk guys in a bar. She knew as long as Rachael didn’t fall asleep she’d be fine. She hadn’t drunk so much that she couldn’t take care of herself.
Rachael opened her eyes wide as if to prove just how fine she’d be and Sofi grinned.
“Sof, you’re a good friend,” Rachael said before Sofi could leave.
“Thanks, Rach. You’re a good friend too.”
Sofi started to walk away but she swore she heard Rachael ask over the music, “Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”
The question hit Sofi like a ton of bricks. Rachael had never expressed any doubt that Roland was the man for her. They’d been dating for five years and engaged for one. Why would Rachael have stuck with him all this time if she didn’t want to marry him? Sofi almost abandoned her mission to get water, ready to focus on Rachael’s concerns, but realized that was a conversation for another day. One when Sofi wasn’t so tired and Rachael couldn’t blame anything she said on the tequila.
Sofi walked over to the still crowded bar to wait until she could get the bartender’s attention. If anything, it seemed like the amount of people in the place had grown within the last hour.
“Loved your song,” slurred a guy with tight jeans and a belt buckle shaped like the state of Idaho. He leaned close, clumsily grasping at Sofi’s arm.
One good thing about being older: Sofi knew how to dodge those kinds of advances. She slipped her arm out of his reach as she waved and said, “Thanks.”
Part of her, her brothers’ sister, wanted to say a few choice words to the man who’d tried to touch her in an unwanted way, but the peacemaker in her prevailed. He hadn’t actually done any harm and by the look of it, he was as sloshed, if not more so, than Rachael. He was probably just one of those over-friendly drunks.
Sofi elbowed her way into a spot at the bar, waving down a bartender and digging out a tip. She knew whoever got her water order would be disappointed and unlikely to serve her again unless she tipped them, though hopefully, with how tired Rachael seemed, this would be her last venture to the bar tonight.
She glanced back at her friend and was relieved to see that Rachael seemed alert—as much as could be expected, at least.
“So are you like the queen of the bar?” a male voice said into Sofi’s ear, much too close for her liking.
She tried to take a step back but with people pressing in at the bar behind her there was nowhere for her to go.
Sofi decided it was time to tell Belt Buckle to buzz off, but when she glanced at the man beside her, it wasn’t Belt Buckle. A man twice his size loomed over her, his bicep the size of that Idaho belt buckle.
Sofi swallowed, suddenly feeling intimidated.
She shook off the feeling. This was just a guy. Like the other one. So what if he was huge? Sofi just needed to make it clear she wasn’t interested and he’d move on.
“Just wearing the tiara for a friend,” Sofi said breezily, hoping the guy would catch her drift and understand she wasn’t interested in anything he had to offer.
“I could make youmyqueen.” The guy moved in close once more and this time Sofi stepped away even though it took her farther from the bar. The waters could wait.
“Not interested,” Sofi said, meeting the man’s eyes, then fighting a shudder.
It wasn’t just the guy’s size that had her feeling intimidated. He gave off a vibe that made Sofi feel like she had ants crawling all over her body. She knew her firm response would have driven off most guys—at least any guy who respected a woman’s words—but this one didn’t budge. Instead he advanced, invading Sofi’s space again.
Sofi looked to the overworked bartenders and knew she wouldn’t get help there. She hadn’t seen a single security guard in the place . . . a girl who couldn’t be above twenty-one had been the one to take their cover charges at the door. Sofi was surrounded by people, but would any of them step in if she needed help? She glanced to her left and saw belt buckle guy turn away as she tried to make eye contact with him. Clearly he’d noticed her need but then sized up the guy and decided it wasn’t his problem. Sofi had a feeling that was what everyone else in the bar would think as well.
She knew her only hope was going back to tipsy Rachael. Her drunk friend might not be much backup, but at least this guy would see she wasn’t alone. Rachael could at least call the cops if things really went south.
