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"I want to go dancing."
“Ava, I am not sure that’s a good idea. I need to check back in with James and let him know.” He grabs my arm.
"Do what you need to do, Everett, but I'm going inside."
His face scrunches up in disbelief, but I untangle my arm from his grip and push my way through the doors of Duke's.
My heart pounds with a mix of excitement and fear as I make a beeline toward the bar.
The music is loud, and each beat matches the pulse of my veins as I spot the bartender - a beautiful blonde woman with pink highlights in her hair, wearing a crop top and shorts. Her nametag reads Meg.
"What can I get you to love?" She says in an inviting tone.
"Jameson on the rocks," I say authoritatively, handing her my card. "Start me a tab, please."
She swipes it before sliding my card and whiskey over to me with a smile. My first sip calms me enough to order another round, and Everett soon joins me at the barstool beside mine.
"James is on his way," he warns, barely audible above The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" playing through the speakers.
"Well then, I guess I better order you a drink." I gesture for two more drinks for Everett and me before James arrives.
I am already on my sixth drink, feeling the warmth spread through my veins like wildfire. The pain in my heart is slowly numbing with each swallow of alcohol, and my head begins to spin just a little.
Actually, more than a little bit.
Everett had finished his first drink but refused to order any more. He kept warning me to pace myself, but I felt as if nothing else mattered. When he got up to use the restroom, he sternly warned me not to move from my seat and that we were leaving when he returned.
That’s what he thinks.
In the middle of my seventh drink, I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Ava?”
His voice sends shivers down my spine, and I slowly turn around to see Colin standing there with an amused look on his face.
“Holy shit! I haven't seen you in so long. How the hell are you?”
My mouth curls into a wide smile as I embrace him in a hug. “Colin, I'm good. How are you?”
His hands grip my waist for longer than necessary before finally releasing me.
“I'm good. I just got promoted to sheriff's deputy.”
“Oh, congrats! That's great to hear. You deserve it.” My smile widens as I say this.
“Thank you. Anyway, you look great. What have you been up to?” His gaze lingers on me for a second too long before turning away again.
I blush uncontrollably and reply, “Just busy with my shop as usual. It's planting season, so I have been working on my garden at the house." My eyebrows rise inquisitively as I say, “What about you, Sheriff’s Deputy?
Swallowing hard, he clears his throat before saying softly, “Not too much. I have been working a lot. With the murders going on, it's been really busy."
I nod understandingly before asking, "Any idea who it might be?"
“None. I heard the FBI was getting involved, but you didn't hear that from me.”
I hiss through gritted teeth before shutting my lips for extra emphasis as Everett returns from the bathroom.
“Ready to go?”
