“Drowning in your sorrows over here?” the bartender asks with a smile on her face.
“Something like that.” I’m not in the mood to chat.
“She’s one lucky girl.” She pours me a shot of tequila. “This one’s on me. I’m Krystal.” She holds her hand out and reluctantly, I take it.
“Thanks, Krystal. I’m Travis.”
“Travis,” she repeats. “Well, whatever you’re drinking to, feel free to stay as long as you’d like.” She winks before getting called over to the other side of the bar.
The dynamic of the room changes as the music slows down. There are countless drunk couples grinding all over each other on the dance floor, so I bow my head and take another swig.
As I start on my third drink, I glance in mirror that lines the bar and see Viola walk through the door in the same blue jeans and T-shirt she was wearing earlier. She makes a beeline to Courtney who’s eagerly waiting on the edge of the dance floor with a huge smile on her face. Courtney pulls Viola into a big drunken hug, then points at the bar. I don’t know what the hell Courtney told her, but I try to blend in anyway. If I get up now, I might be able to make it to the door without being seen, but I have a tab open, and Krystal is busy at the other end of the bar. My body stiffens because I don’t want Viola to notice me, so I focus on my drink. After a few moments, I hear a clearing of a throat behind me, but I ignore it.
“Travis,” Viola snaps.
I suck in a deep breath and swallow hard before turning around. I see Courtney behind her, pushing her way through the crowd and parting their bodies like the Red Sea. Her lips are spread in a wide grin, and I curse under my breath at the realization that she called Viola here.
“Where’s your date?” I ask in a dissatisfied tone, glancing behind her as if I expect him to be following her inside.
“Just stop it. Okay? Shut the fuck up and listen for once.” Viola places her hands on her hips. The flashing lights from the dance floor streams over her body and even though she’s not dressed up, she’s the sexiest woman in this entire room. She doesn’t even have to try.
“Oh hey, Travis. I didn’t know you were here. Did you order my drink, Lola?” Courtney gives me a wink, then turns to Viola.
“No.” Viola isn’t amused, her lips in a firm line.
Courtney’s been dancing for the better half of the night and smells like gin, perfume, and sweat. I shake my head, and a small smirk plays on my lips as Courtney leans over the bar like the typical drunk girl and orders another drink. She pats me on my back before she goes back to the dance floor.
Viola doesn’t even notice. The only person she’s looking at right now is me. And she’s shooting daggers at me.
I lick my lips and as hard as it is, I look her in the eyes. She’s flustered and upset, and I study her face.
“Have you been crying?” I’m genuinely concerned.
“No.”
“Liar.”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever.”
My mouth slightly falls open to respond, when I realize I’ve done exactly what I never intended to do–hurt Viola. I should’ve let her explain and probably overreacted to the situation, but when it comes to Viola Fisher, I can’t control the impulse to stay guarded around her.
“Forget it. You’re an asshole, Travis. I should’ve figured as much.”
“Okay, I deserve that.” I wave to Krystal to close out my tab. “But in my defense—”
“Your defense?” She raises her brows. “Fuck off.” She spins around and begins walking through the crowd.
Shit.
I don’t wait for my total. Instead, I just place a couple of twenties down and rush after her. “Viola,wait!”
She ignores me and holds her arm up in the air, flipping me the bird with her right hand as she strides toward Courtney, who’s in a large group of girls dancing.
There’s no way I’m going to let her run this time.
I can’t stand to look at Travis any longer. My heart is racing as it slowly breaks, and all I want is to find Courtney and get the hell out of here. She’s the only reason I showed up anyway.
As soon as she texted me and asked for a ride home because she’d been drinking, I put on my shoes and drove over. After Travis’s stunt, I sent Jason away and sat alone in bed. I didn’t want to be that stupid girl who cried over a boy, but the way he acted the moment he saw Jason, without even letting me explain, had my emotions overflowing. This back and forth, from good moments to bad moments to hurtful moments, is becoming too much for me. I don’t know how much more I can take.
