Amber followed me into the kitchen, where we spent the next half hour chatting like we’d known each other a lifetime.
As I placed her plate on the counter, she let out a loud groan. “You have to let me repay you. Come clubbing with me Saturday night?” She narrowed her eyes and shook her head with a soft laugh. “God, is that weird? I know we just met, but it’s the end of term, and I need a good night out, and you coming to town is the perfect excuse to get out there.”
I grimaced, not being able to think of anything worse, and wondering if I should agree to spend time with someone who was, until today, a stranger. “I’m not one for clubbing.”
She bit into her burger, mumbling about how good it tasted before she swallowed and said, “We have one club, no decent men, shit cocktails, but it has the best music. Please. Let me introduce you to small town life since you’re used to city living. I know how hard it is to fit into a new place.”
I tossed a fry into my mouth as I thought about getting to know people, and then I thought about one person in particular who might be out. My giant mystery man from last night, who I’d not been able to stop thinking about.
“Fine. I’ll come.”
Amber smiled while devouring her dinner, and I couldn’t help feeling like I’d made a friend.
“Jesus,woman. You look stunning… I mean, wow.” Amber stood in the doorway of her townhouse, looking me up and down, taking in the black glitter-ruched mini skirt that I’d matched with a black T-shirt, silver chunky bracelets, and matching heels and clutch. I’d tied up my long hair and added my loudest red lipstick.
“Not too much?” I’d spent forever trying to work out what to wear.
“I mean, the men of this town may have to pick their tongues off the floor, but no, it’s not too much.”
I held out a bottle of vodka. “Are you going to let me in then?”
Flicking her now wavy hair over her shoulder, she stepped to the side and let me in. “Let’s get this party started.”
Thirty minutes and way too many shots later, we were walking through town to the club.
“You said you’re new to town too, right?” I asked as the icy chill of the night seeped into my bones.
“Yeah, but I moved from one small town to another, so I was ready for all this.” She waved her arm, indicating the tiny high street. “The job at the school came up, and I couldn’t say no. What brought you to town? I mean, it’s not normally the type of place people dream of moving to once they’ve lived in the city.”
I laughed, the vodka loosening my tongue. “It was weird. The place I worked was closed down—we had more rats than customers—then, my apartment building was condemned. I thought the universe had something against me, but then I sawan advert for the diner. I’d been saving for years… my brother left me a bit of money, and well, it seemed too good to turn down.”
Amber leaned her head on my shoulder, linking her arm with mine. “Well, I’m glad because now I’ve got a new bestie… wait, did you say your brother left you money? As in, he died?” She sounded shocked.
I let out a sigh. “Yeah. It’s fine. It was a long time ago now.”
Her head lifted, and her eyes locked on mine as we slowed our pace. “I’m sorry, Hana. Do you have any other family?”
I shook my head, not letting my thoughts veer to my past or the people I once called family. “It was just him and me.” I inwardly winced at my outright lie.
“Shit. You wanna talk about it?” she asked tentatively.
“Not tonight. Tonight I want to drink too much and dance. Is that okay?”
She nodded as she gave my bicep a squeeze. “That sounds perfect, but I’m here to listen whenever you want to tell me about him.”
We dancedfor hours to cheesy pop songs I’d not heard in years, stopping only to down more shots until we were sweaty and drunk. Amber was right: we had lots of interest from the men in the room, but we politely turned our backs and ignored them.
It was only when a tall, wide man approached Amber that she suddenly paid attention. While the other people who’d tried to chat with us tonight screamed drunk locals, this man oozed protection.
“Hey,” he yelled above the music, his focus honed in on Amber. “Can I buy you a drink?”
Her eyes widened as she took him in, biting down on her bottom lip before nodding. He pointed to the bar, and she grabbed my hand, dragging me behind her.
She gave the server our drink order and then turned her attention back to the man, who tucked a loose lock of hair that had fallen free from his manbun behind his ear as his gaze locked on her.
“I’m Amber.”
“Jarrid.”
