I show her my driver's license, and once she's certain the names match, she plasters on a fake smile.
"Sorry about that," she says. "Bar rules. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
It's mildly entertaining how quickly her tone switched when she held that black American Express in her hand.
"A couple bottles of water."
"Of course." She looks out into the crowd. "Where are you sitting? I can have your drinks brought to your table."
"That won't be necessary." I down the original two shots she poured me and stack the shot glasses on top of each other. "I can carry everything."
She slides the bottles and doubles toward me. "Are you sure?"
"Yep." I secure the black card into my wallet and shove my clutch under my arm. Signing the receipt, I leave her a decent tip because, from my experience watching June work at bars, a little goes a long way. Sure, she started out being a bitch, but I'm well aware it's usually the guys you flirt with that end up leaving the biggest tips.
With one hand, I latch onto the bottles and the handle of my beer, and in the other, I grip the shots. Easy peasy.
Bypassing the bustling crowds, I make my way back to June and drop the drinks on the table.
"I don't like you being mad at me, Cor." June sits on the stool with her elbows on the table.
I sigh. "And I don't like being lied to." I shove the shot toward her. "But seriously, I don't want to talk about it. I just want to have fun. Can we do that?"
June seems to accept my request and asks me, "Do you want to dance?"
"Now you're speaking my language." I pick up my shot and hold it out to her. "To dancing away our troubles."
"I can cheers to that." June clinks her glass against mine, and we down them, the warmth coating my entire chest as it settles into my belly.
My head numbs and temporarily blocks out how mad I am at her. I just have to get through a couple more hours, then I can go home and curl up in my bed.
June latches onto the bottle of water I placed in front of her and downs a healthy swig of it. "That tequila is foul."
I laugh and do the same but am reminded of life when we were both broke and could barely afford to go out at all. I put our nights out on credit cards just because I needed them, because she needed them. Since getting my new job, I've been able to make a dent in that debt, but I barely make enough to survive, let alone pay much extra. Between my student loans, credit cards, and basic living expenses, there's no way I can move out of my parent's house anytime soon.
And if I stay there much longer, I'm going to fucking go insane.
I guess I don't have to worry about that in a couple of weeks when I become Ricardo's personal babymaker. I can't imagine he's going to allow me to live at home if he wants me at his disposal. Hopefully, I can keep my job and maintain the career that I've worked tirelessly at. If I happen to make it out of this alive, I need something I can fall back on when it's all said and done.
At some point, June signaled to Simon, because when I turn around to go to the dance floor, I run smack dab into his body.
"God, Simon, you're standing there like a fucking statue." I hold my nose and take a step back. "Did you spawn there or what?"
Simon pats my head. "You're just mad you're not as stealthy as me."
"Is that it?" I roll my eyes at him.
June strolls over and plants a kiss on his cheek. "Watch our drinks while we dance?"
His jaw clenches but he forces a smile. "Of course, love." Simon leans in close to her and whispers, "But if I see anyone touch you, I'm going to snap their neck." He kisses her back and settles into a chair at the table. "Have fun."
I down the rest of my beer before slamming it on the table and wiping my mouth. So very lady-like, but I don't give a fuck. I don't have anyone here I'm trying to impress.
"Come on," June says as she weaves her arm through mine.
We take off toward the dance floor, the music growing louder every step of the way. Some EDM tune pulses through my entire body and once we're deeper into the crowd, we both start moving to the beat.
The music and alcohol come to the forefront of my mind, and I give in to it and allow my worries to disappear. I sway back and forth and giggle as I latch onto June's hand and twirl her in a circle.
