Ade rolled over and planted her face against the mattress. “You don’t get it.”
“Help me then. Talk to me.” Steph sat on the bed. “Hey, why don’t we hit the bar tonight and take your mind off it?”
“That’s not going to help. I need to be more responsible, not go out drinking on a school night.”
“We’re young, Ade. Don’t waste your year abroad pining after some professor with a stick up her ass about something minor.”
“Don’t say that. Sylvie was right to be annoyed.”
“So get your act together and apologize clearly. Then you can both move on. If she’s the mature adult she claims to be, she’ll have no problem in putting it all behind her. Am I right?”
“I guess so.” Ade rubbed the pulse at her temple. How could she say sorry to Sylvie?
“Come out with me, and we’ll figure something out,” said Steph, a familiar twinkle in her eye that promised nothing but trouble.
An hour later, Ade’s world swayed from one side to another, like the spirit level in her abdomen was off kilter. If Ade didn’t know better, she’d swear she was on a sailboat off the coast of Monterey.
“Here.” Steph passed her another shot of tequila and tipped salt on her hand.
Ade lost her balance, and the white grains spilled over the bar. “I can’t take any more.”
“Of course you can. I’ll look after you Ady-baby.” Steph slurred her words and draped her arm like a dead weight across Ade’s shoulders.
“I can’t believe you two are twins.”
The greasy hanger-on they’d attracted had been with them foran hour. Ade had blocked out much of the conversation, choosing to slip her earbuds in and play her favorite tunes.
The evening had been predictably fueled by strong liquor and extrovert energy, neither of which Ade could stomach at the best of times. Pulled along by Steph’s enthusiasm for random strangers and their anecdotes, Ade sat like a spare part on bar stool after bar stool. “I’m heading home after this one, Steph.” She slapped her hand on the bar to emphasize her intention.
“Hey, you want to get out of here? My place is just around the corner.”
The slimy guy leaned in too close, and she backed away from the stench of liquor on his breath.
“Trust me, you’re not her type.” Steph stepped between them.
“Oh, yeah?” He stood up, leering over them both. “How about you then, sweetheart? The three of us could have a good time.”
“Fuck off, loser.” Steph slammed another shot and turned her back on him.
“Steph—”
The guy pushed Steph against the bar, sending their glasses shattering against the floor. “Bitches like you don’t deserve my attention.” He spat in their direction and stood even taller.
Ade’s vision shrank to the space between them. She grabbed his forearm and bent it just enough to send a shockwave of pain through to his shoulder, rendering him weak and willing to follow her lead to the open door.
“You show him, Ade,” Steph shouted and beckoned another round from the bar staff.
It wasn’t the first time Ade had pulled this move on guys that bothered them. It wasn’t often that she needed to show her strength, but it came in handy on occasion. “I really don’t like people treating my sister like she’s an object. So please leave us to our evening.” Ade ejected the guy onto the pavement, where the security for the bar across the street nodded in her direction. “And don’t put your hands on people. It’s rude.”
“Fuck you,” he said and sneered until he rounded the corner.
Ade strolled back into the bar.
Bruce carried a barrel up from the cellar. “You okay there?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, willing the night to be over.Why did I think this would help my bad mood?Nights like this only ever ended in one thing: drama. “I’m heading home now though. Will you keep an eye on Steph and send her back when she’s ready?”
“Sure thing,” Bruce said, hooking up the beer to the pump. “See you around.”
