We walked to a bar a few blocks away that was just the right amount of crowded for a Friday night. It was lively enough, but I wasn’t having to push past a sea of people to get a drink. We all ordered Long Island Iced Teas, the bar’s specialty. I took a sip and winced slightly at just how strong the drink was. It was exactly what I needed after today.
“Can we also get a round of darts?” asked Juliet, twisting her finger around her blonde hair as she looked at the cute bartender.
Sadie and I both giggled as we watched her flirt. She shot us a look before smiling sweetly at the dark-haired bartender who was already in love with her.
“On the house,” he said, sliding over a wooden box of darts.
“Thank you,” she said, taking it from him.
“You two are the worst,” she snapped at us as we walked to the dartboard toward the back of the bar. She couldn’t help the smile that crept across her lips. She couldn’t stay mad at us for more than a millisecond.
We found a high-top table next to the dartboard and settled in with our drinks.
Juliet slid the box of darts toward me. “I figured this would be a good way to get out some of that aggression,” she said with a shrug. [
“Good idea,” I said, picking up a handful of red darts. I stepped toward the dartboard and set up my stance. I looked at the bullseye and squinted one eye as I raised my arm. “I’ll just picture Chandler’s face.”
I pulled my arm back before launching the dart forward in one swift movement. It hit the wall and bounced to the floor. I picked up another dart. It hit just outside the bullseye. I picked another dart and tried again. This time it landed right in the center. I smiled at it proudly.
“Who knew you were so good at darts?” asked Sadie with surprise.
“Just need the right motivation.” I shrugged, returning to my drink and taking a sip. It didn’t taste as strong this time. I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“I can’t believe my father chose him over me…” I shook my head, looking down at the lemon floating in my drink.
“He must have some reason…” said Juliet, putting her hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“And the worst part is, he wants me to show him the ropes. I can’t imagine spending more than a second with that guy.”
“Try not to let him get under your skin. Don’t let him have the satisfaction.”
I nodded, taking another sip.
Sadie leaned in, a smile tugging at the corner of her lip as she eyes me curiously.
“What?” I asked, raising a brow. She looked tipsy already. She didn’t drink much, but hadn’t had a girls’ night out in a while.
“Chandler is a hot name.”
“Sadie!” I exclaimed loudly, playfully shoving her and shaking my head.
“What? Is he?”
“Is he what?”
“Is he hot?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to think of just how stupidly hot he was.
“He is!” she said, her eyes growing wide.
“His outsides might look good, but his insides are rotten.”
Sadie leaned back and smiled, a silly expression on her face. If she thought there was any chance of something happening between me and that asshole, she was surely mistaken. It was just like her to concoct some romantic love story in her head. She was so in love, I think she just wanted it for everyone else too. I wanted it eventually, but definitelynotwith a guy like Chandler.
“It’s not happening,” I said, putting a dart through her little dream floating above her head.
She stuck her tongue out at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.
