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“Fine.” I look toward the girl that’s been checking me out. She was sitting with her friend a few tables away, and I felt her gaze on me for the better part of the night. She’s pretty. A little on the shorter side, with shoulder-length dark hair and dark eyes. Our gazes meet, and she looks away, giggling. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should just find a willing girl and have some fun.
“You sure?”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Cole,” I groan. “Go home.”
“Call me if you need me.”
What I need is another drink and for that damn text message to arrive.
“Sure thing.” I slap him over the shoulder as we make our way to the front of the bar. “Now, go before I call your wife and tell her how you’re checking out other girls.”
“For you!” he calls out as he goes for the door.
“Yeah, yeah.” I prop myself against the bar, signaling for the bartender to get me another drink. He nods and grabs the bottle of whisky, pouring me another two fingers, and slides it over the bar. I place the bill on the table, grab my glass, and move to one of the high tables in the corner of the room. The last thing I want is company.
Downing half of my drink, I place it on the table, my hand going to the side of my leg and rubbing against the sore muscle. The alcohol has dulled the ache somewhat in my leg, but it’s a far cry from the real thing.
I pull out my phone, ready to text Manolo, and ask what the hell he is up to when a figure joins me in the dark.
“You know that mixing the two isn’t the best idea, right?” the man I’ve been waiting for asks.
I look around, but nobody’s watching us. Still, I lean forward and hiss so only he can hear me. “Are you insane?”
“Chill, it’s a slow night. Plus, I made sure your buddy left first,” he flashes me a smile.
“Do you have it?”
“So eager. Of course, I do. Manolo always delivers.” He winks at me.Actually, winks at me.
“How much?”
He grabs my drink and finishes it. When he places it back on the table, I notice another one of his black cards. The dude really loves theatrics. I’ll give him that.
“Have you ever considered being a drama major?” I ask, pulling out the sum and placing it on the table.
“I’d be pretty good at it, I think.” He nods at me. “If you need more, you know where to find me.”
“But what about…” I start to ask, but he’s already walking away toward the back.
I slide my hand into the pocket of my hoodie to grab my phone and ask him where the hell my pills are, but my fingers wrap around the plastic bottle instead.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
JADE
I stare at my reflection in the mirror and see a few new bumps that have appeared in my armpit next to the original one. I trace my finger over the small, hard buds feeling the tightness of the skin and a dull ache behind them.
My throat bobs as I swallow.
You can’t keep on pushing this back,a little voice warns me. As if I don’t know. As if I haven’t been down this path before.Put on your big girl panties, and just do it.
Maybe it’s just my lymph nodes. I’ve had those inflamed in the past, but it got better.
But what if…
I let my hand trace down my side, over the small bruises covering my side and breast. I cup my breast, feeling the weight of it in my palm, the aching flesh…
“Jade?” Grace yells loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I let my hand drop down as if I was just caught doing something I shouldn’t have. “Mind if I borrow that black dress of yours?”
