“Got something to tell me?” I ask, sipping my cocktail again.
“No,” she says far too quick, making me believe she’s lying.
“Hmmm… I’ve lied. Not to him, you. I’ve lied to you…” I'm confusing myself in my drunken state, rambling on.
“What have you lied about?” She stops me from going on.
“I’m a virgin,” I say just loud enough so she can hear.
She snorts her drink out of her nose, coughing.
“What?”
Fern chokes, her face is turning red—is she dying on me? She grabs a napkin, wiping the drink from around her face and on the table, composing herself. "You're joking."
“I told him. Then he freaked out and now he’s avoided me all week,” I say, feeling even more sorry for myself.
“You're a virgin… no way?” She looks at me, confused. “But you’ve had loads of sex. You told me so.”
“When? I never said those words. I may have led you to believe it…” My face grows hot, so I take a sip of my cocktail before I continue. “I wanted it to be special, and now I’ll be a virgin forever.” I down the rest of my cocktail and signal to the waiter for another. I don't care that I'm getting wasted. Nothing matters anymore anyway.
“Don’t say that. You’re being overdramatic. On the subject of being honest…” She takes a big gulp of her drink first, slamming it down hard enough that I'm surprised the glass doesn't break.
She looks over to the side of me to a man in his early thirties who seems to distract her for a moment, she’s telling me something, but I can’t hear her properly. It’s not that I don’t want to listen, I just have my own issues to deal with. When she finishes speaking, she looks at me for help. I’m now having to guess what the problem is as she waits for an answer.
“Oh well, shit happens.”
Her eyes pull so tight together, she will stay like that if she doesn’t move them soon. “That’s all you have to say?”
Did I say the wrong thing? “Better luck next time?”
Her head is now shaking; I feel kind of bad.
“Sorry. Just Alex.”
“Yeah, I know.” She wanders off to the bar, far away from the man she pointed at before.
I glance around. None of the men in the club are doing it for me. They are too young and don't have greying hair or the moody persona I am after. There is only one man I want, and if I can't have him, I’m going to become a nun. I don't even know what it is about Alex that draws me in, whether it's his commanding presence or his love for his children. He's just so damn sexy.
We have a few more cocktails and dance some more. The club’s dance floor is sticky from everyone spilling their drinks. When two guys hit on me, I decide it's time to go. The Uber drops me off first.
“Text me when you’re home.” I kiss Fern’s head. “Make sure you see her get inside,” I warn the Uber driver. “I’m tracking you.” I pause to send a message to Wesley, making sure he is aware that his sister is coming home very drunk. He replies with a thumbs-up; ever the conversationalist.
She opens the car window, calling to me, “Love you.”
Opening the front door, I scoot my arse inside. I'm trying to be quiet, but I don't know if I'm managing that. I definitely don't want to wake Eden and Ace with my drunken state. I walk to the living room and I find Alex asleep on the sofa, with soft snores. I don't even mind that he's snoring. He looks cute, I want to pinch his cheeks.
I switch the television off and move to the sofa that Alex is sprawled across. “Alex.” I give him a little shake.
“Hmm, hey, what time is it?” He rubs his hands over his face.
“Three. You’re not waiting up for me, are you?” I giggle. He looks embarrassed, which leads me to believe he was.
“No, no, I was watching an interesting film about…” He can’t think of anything. “Yeah, okay, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. I’m a dad. I worry.”
I look into his eyes. In his sleepy confusion, he seems to have forgotten that he is avoiding me.
“That’s sweet of you, but I’m a big girl. I’m going to bed.” I head towards the stairs.
