“Okay. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he says, nodding once more as he pulls his keys from his front pocket. “Keep playing like you did tonight. It helped the team.”
“Yes sir.”
My uncle gives me one last look before spinning on his heel and heading toward the hall that leads to the exit. I run a hand through my damp hair, grabbing the back of my neck as I slip into the washroom.
The pressure settles on my chest. I scored tonight and we won, but that was just tonight. I need to do it the next game and every one that comes after.
And if the guys are right, if it’s because of Jade, I need to find her.
CHAPTER FIVE
JADE
“Julian Hart was good at what he did, maybe even better than me. I’d never be the one to tell him that. We were partners, but also competitors. And Clara Foss did not go down without a fight.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
Throwing back my third shot, I hold my breath, swallowing quickly as the vodka burns my throat on its way down. Ellie, my and Nicole’s other best friend, just finished her last semester of her doctorate program, so it was only right that we come out to celebrate.
All my friends have things worth celebrating in their lives. New jobs, new career path…and then there’s me.
I’m now at the end of my deadline. Monday morning my agent is expecting to have something in her inbox.
And you know what I’ve got to send to her?
Nothing.
I let out a breath, propping my elbow on the bar as I push my forehead against my hand. The bass from the music pounds against my eardrums, a steady, yet fierce rhythm. My legs are sore from dancing, although the alcohol has me feeling relatively numb right now.
When Nicole and I graduated from college and moved into our first apartment, we met Ellie. She lived in the apartment next to us and we ran into her the second night we were there. She came over with her eyes puffy after a breakup and a bottle of wine. She was new in town, only moved there because of her ex and work.
Three glasses later, she asked us if we wanted to go egg her ex’s car and the rest was history after that.
Nicole’s on the dance floor with her husband Ben, Ellie’s out there with them and some other friends, and I’m stuck at the bar with Ben’s friend, Eric, whispering in my ear.
“What do you say?” Eric says, his fingertips trailing along the side of my forearm. “You ready to get back out there?”
Eric’s attractive, but finance guys are not my thing. He’s had his eye on me for a few months now, according to Ben, although I’ve never fed in to any of his advances.
“I dunno,” I say, half slurring my words together as I roll my head to the side to look at him. His fingers linger, slowly curling around my forearm and sliding down along my wrist. “I’m pretty drunk.”
“So am I,” he laughs, his face flush as he leans closer. His hand encapsulates mine, his fingers pushing between mine. “What do you say we get out of here instead?”
My breath catches in my throat. Panic immediately swirls in the pit of my stomach, regardless of how tipsy I am. Is he hot? Yes. Is he a guy I’d consider going home with? Absolutely.
But not when I’m drunk and not when I’m not sober enough to know if it’s something I might regret in the morning.
It’s been a year since I’ve slept with anyone and I’m not sure this is the guy I want to break my streak with.
“Not tonight,” I say softly, shaking my head as I turn back to the bar, grabbing my water instead. I need to sober up and get the hell out of here. Alone. “I’m not going to leave my friends.”
“Why not? They’re not even with you right now.” He runs his fingers along mine, turning in his seat to look out at the dance floor. “I’m sure they won’t care.”
He wraps his hand around mine, pulling it away from the bar. My eyes flash to his and he’s inching my fingertips closer to his lap. “Feel what you’re doing to me, babe. You got me all fired up after you were rubbing against me while we were dancing.”
Oh my god, no.
I immediately jerk my hand free from his grip. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I didn’t say you could do that.” I hop down from my seat, grabbing my purse and my coat. “I said no. What about that word made you think I want to touch you in any way?”
