A bar on the other side of town. Far away from Ricardo and his stinking fucking attitude.
The barman glances over me, raising his brows when he sees the anger in my eyes.
“Tequila?” he asks.
“Double. Actually, leave the bottle on the counter.”
I take the first two shots in quick succession. Then pour another two, waving the barman away when he tries to do it for me.
Four shots in, I turn to look at the place. I haven’t been here in a long time.
Especially not since I met Athena. I haven’t even thought about it. It’s strange how a person can change your life so drastically without you realizing it.
The tequila pushes against the anger, fraying its edges. I take another two shots.
It’s working.
My vision is blurring. My head is warm and fuzzy.
The music is blaring, and the anger is somewhere lost in the back of my mind.
A girl slides up to me and brushes her fingers down the buttons of my shirt. “Hey, sexy. It’s been a while since I saw you. Where have you been?”
I squint, trying to pull her face into focus. “Leila?” I mutter.
“Did you miss me? Why haven’t you called?”
Leila and I have had a few flings in the past. A night here. A night there. Something to distract me from work or life in general.
It was never more than that.
She steps closer, and I realize she’s right up against me, her lips hovering near mine. Her perfume is sickly sweet. I never noticed that before.
I snort out a heavy breath, trying to expel the heavy scent from my nasal passages.
Taking her wrist, I try to push her away. She giggles and reaches up to touch my jaw. “You always did like to play rough. Don’t worry, I still like it too. DO you want to get our usual room? I’ve really missed you,” she says seductively.
“Leila,” I mutter. “You need to step back. I’m not interested,” I say as sternly as I can.
“What do you mean. Stop being ridiculous. You’ve never said no to me.”
“But you’re not her,” I blurt out in frustration. Fuck. My vision is spinning badly.
“Who!” she demands. “I promise you, she doesn’t matter. and she doesn’t even have to know,” she says, sounding whiny.
I laugh.
“I’ll know. Besides... I’m literally not interested. You’re not even tempting me. I don’t think anyone can tempt me anymore except her,” I say, staggering backward and almost tripping over my own feet.
I can’t remember ever being this drunk.
This isnotgood. I mean…rather be drunk than angry… but this is too drunk.
“Jackson!” I shout, my words slurring.
Leila pulls a face when I push her firmly away from me.
“Jack!” I shout again.
