Jada
Music pumped through the bar.The lights flickered rapidly, casting colorful rays on the patrons pressed closely together on the dance floor at Casaar’s Bar.
Sweaty and borderline exhausted after dancing with Kari, I motioned for my sister to follow me to the back patio. It would surely be cooler and a whole lot quieter. I had never been one for large crowds anyway, but I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that someone was watching me. I kept scanning the bar but found nothing out of place.
It’s just the crowd coupled with the shot of tequila. You know you shouldn’t drink tequila.
I led Kari outside and found a table in a back corner that was, thankfully, next to a fan.
“I’m not as young as I used to be.” Kari giggled, holding on to the table to stop herself from swaying. “Damn, not nearly as young. How much did you let me drink?” She laughed.
“Enough.” I smiled.
“What’s gotten into my big sister, huh?” Kari asked, a goofy smile on her face. “You’re actually kinda fun tonight.”
“Hush. I earned this night.”
“That you do. Did. Whatever.” Kari laughed. “Speaking of deserving … well, in my brain, that word wasdessert…” Kari shook her head. “Damn, I am drunk. Anyway, I was going to ask you if you had heard from that piece of man candy of yours.”
I rolled my eyes and recounted the conversation about Solomon Place earlier in the week. “He’s such a dick.”
“What’s his deal? Even when I’m not drunk, I don’t think he makes sense.” Kari grooved to the beat of Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.”
“I don’t know, but I’m done. I’m finished even being nice to him at this point, Kari. He sent me a couple of texts yesterday, but I didn’t respond. Fuck him.”
“Yeah. Fuck him!” Kari shouted, holding her glass up in the air and splashing the contents on the table.
“Kari! Don’t yell.”
“Sorry.” Kari put her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. “Anyway, what did the texts say?”
“Nothing, really.”
“Just give me your phone.” Kari extended her hand. I obliged, the look on her face telling me that it wasn’t worth the fight.
Cane: I got the papers from your father. See how smoothly things go when you listen.
Cane: Are you just going to ignore me now?
Cane: Good night, Jada.
“He’s obviously thinking about you, but why is he so Jekyll and Hode?”
“Jekyll and Hyde?” I smiled at my inebriated sister. “I have no idea. He’s confusing and time-consuming and ridiculous.”
“And delicious.” Kari hiccupped.
“Is Max that way?”
“Yeah, he’s delicious all right.”
“Not what I meant.” I laughed.
Kari’s face fell, sobering. “Oh, Jada. I don’t know what to do with Max.”
“Why?”
“Because I like him.”
