Rash Decisions

by Alex Rosa

  “Uh, yes. I figure we keep topics on the benefits of the location of the club and the clientele it attracts,” I reply.

  She wrinkles her nose. “Yes and no. Try and understand them a bit better. Think about it. We technically already have the deal, don't you see? They’re just trying to see how badly we want them as a client. For Louis and Jacques it’s a game of bait, and making us squirm. It’s up to us to meet their expectations of a good time, just because they can demand it. Ya know?”

  I tilt my head to the side, finding her wry expression anchors me back to earth. “Like that dress is bait?”

  The Grinch like curve that appears on her lips has me holding back a chuckle as I rub my chin.

  She smoothes out her dress as she quaintly lifts her shoulders. “Oh, you noticed?” she says overly cute.

  “Jeez, Jules. Well, I guess you’re the weapon then.”

  “It’s okay, Louis loves me. We’ve got this.” She winks.

  I scrunch my brows together, smiling wide as I try to purse my lips, leaning toward her curiously at a sudden realization. “Julia Ferris,” I goad. “Have you been drinking?”

  This time a few giggles escape her as she nods her confession. “Only a little! It was Megan’s fault. Plus, I needed something to take the edge off.”

  Why does that make me like her more?

  I lean toward my feet and open the sliding cabinet built into the side of the car.

  “What are you doing?” She asks as she covers her mouth shyly, and I take note of her lush hair devouring her heart shaped face, the scarlet color to her cheeks and the playful look as the car comes to a stop outside of The Plaza Hotel.

  “I’m catching up,” I reply as I pop the cork on the champagne. “Text Louis and his brother that we’ve arrived. We’re here to have a good time aren’t we?”

  All she can do is nod and smile.

  I pout, squinting as I look on, enjoying the stuffy feeling of being in the nightclub for hours. The atmosphere wraps around me in a seductive, inviting way, just like the dark grays and deep blues of the venue do. I finish off my whiskey.

  “Would you stop looking at me that way?” Julia squeaks as she finishes sipping from her bright blue martini glass, but her lingering smile tells me she isn’t serious. She wipes at the corners of her nude, pink lips. It’s like she knows I can’t take my eyes off her.

  I extend my hand out, tapping the rim of her glass. “How many of those are you going to put on my tab?” I ask leaning toward her.

  “Are you telling me no, Troy?” she asks with too much sass.

  My eyes close briefly, finding that my name on her lips has my body on red alert.

  “I’d never be able to tell you no, Julia. I think you’ve figured that out by now tonight.”

  She hums, and her smile tells of a wicked plan. She glances over her shoulder at the Soleil brothers who are flirting with the waitress, and then turns back to me, licking over her bottom lip. I can only imagine the sinful flavor she has right now. “I’ll stop when the French men tell me to, not you.”

  The alcohol has been making her incredibly bold as she leans closer toward me, her nose nearly touching mine. The blaring music begins to sound like static, forming our own bubble of fuzzy vibes. However, this is her teasing. She’s been messing with me, tempting me, at my expense no doubt, as if to say you can look, but you can’t touch.

  “At some point we need to talk business, right?” she asks, her doe eyes wide, boring into mine. They twinkle with undeniable youth and a thirst for life. This is her relaxed, and it’s beautiful. I’m drawn to it, in awe of the carefree aura, as if my body seeks the same type of joy, and it lies in this drunk girls smile.

  I’ve had too many drinks, and I find this as a perfectly good excuse to feed into her every move because it gives me something to blame. “I thought you said this was about having fun?”

  She giggles, and the warmth of her breath skims over the surface of my skin causing the neurons in my body to spark erratically, like mini lightning storms everywhere.

  “Are you having fun?” she purrs. She’s been using this tone with me all night, and it usually comes with that cute shoulder shrug.

  What a question. I gift her my best grin and I love it when I see her milk chocolate eyes dart all over my face as if searching for answers, but I can’t tell to what.

  “Actually, I am. When you’re not being a bitch, you’re quite delightful, you know that?”

  Her mouth falls slack, and she jumps back, mockingly aghast by my words.

  “I’m not a bitch! You’re the asshole.”

  I only shrug in confirmation, which causes the masterful sounds of another round of her laughter.

  “What are you two doing over there!” barks Louis, who’s been drinking straight tequila for the past thirty minutes. I have to admit that even I like him when he’s got a few in him. “You ‘ave been hogging the lovely mademoiselle Julia toute la nuit—I mean, all night!”

  Julia throws her head back in laughter again, basking in the attention she draws from all three of us. How would she ever consider herself as a second best to anything when it’s obvious how intriguing and beautiful she is? She has to know what kind of power she wields as we all fling our eyes to her. Her smooth skin above the heart shape of her dress is fully exposed as her long locks wave in unison with her girlish giggles.

  Since I’m sitting next to her, I take great pleasure in noticing the drops of sweat on her slender, elegant neck. There’s something sexy about it.

  Catching my attention I turn to look at Jacques’s mocking twist to his lips and squinty beady eyes as if he’s trying to read my mind. What’s he playing at?

  “I want to dance,” Jacques abruptly coos from beside Julia, turning to her to grab for her hand, kissing the top of it while eying her like his next meal.

  “Jacques, you’re bold tonight,” she replies as she turns to face him.

  He nods then places another kiss on the inside of her wrist. My muscles tense as I watch Jacques’s eyes peek up, not to look at Julia, but instead at me, as if to see my reaction. I clench my jaw, and as if he notices, he places another kiss half way up her forearm.

  “S’il vous plaît, Julia. Dance with me.”

  She pulls her arm away, wiping at where his lips have been. “Rien que pour toi.”

  I don’t understand and cut her off. “—Do you speak French and I don’t know about it?” I ask trying to focus on hailing the waitress for another drink while trying not to crumble at Julia’s newly revealed talent of being a multi-faceted linguist.

  French? Really? My dick and me don’t stand a chance. I’ll need another drink if I’m supposed to watch this.

  As Jacques rises from the table, Julia turns to me, sexy smile and all. “Sometimes I can, monsieur Troy. My French tends to be much better when I drink. I get less cautious.”

  I like Julia less cautious.

  Louis stands from the table too, laughing a burly laugh that doesn’t match his lanky frame. “She speaks amazing French when she wants to. N’est-ce pas, Jules?”

  My shoulders tighten. I don’t know French but I know her nickname. Most of the night things seem professional between the brothers and Julia, however from time to time there is hinting that there’s once been more between her and Louis.

  My drink arrives and I take a large gulp as my eyebrows angle upward. Julia’s cheeks blush crimson as she nervously thrums her fingers over her bottom lip, turning to Louis. “Soyez prudent, ou vous allez le rendre jaloux!”

  “Too late, beautiful. Let’s dance,” he replies.

  “What did you just say?” I exclaim as I too rise from the table.

  She pouts as each man grabs one of her hands, pulling her out to the dance floor, and I roll my eyes at the sight, secretly fuming as I gulp down my last bit of drink.

  Through more mocking chortles she says, “I told them they better be careful or you’ll get jealous!” The
minx winks before turning back around and disappears with the men among the crowd.

  Fuck. Does she have to wink at me? Hell, does she have to sway her hips that way when she slinks away, too?

  My feet stop at the edge of the dance floor when I catch sight of Julia being twirled in the arms of Louis, who seems to have captured her from his brother. Jacques has moved onto a cute red head.

  Why does Julia’s genuine smile bother me?

  It isn’t until Louis swings her into his arms, burying his head in her neck, speaking closely into her ear that I’m about to lose it. Her head peeks up from over his shoulder, spotting me across the room, and her Cheshire grin is what pisses me off more.

  I turn around to face the bar, seeking revenge and I know I shouldn’t. I don’t want to be Julia’s plaything when it comes to my emotions. It isn’t fair, and I’m not willing to play puppy dog. It’s not my style. I walk straight to an opening and hail down the bartender.

  “Can I get a whiskey sour?” I shout as I place a twenty on the bar.

  I strum my fingers on the counter and peer across the bar, my eyes landing on a pretty blonde sipping what looks like a vodka cranberry. She has fuck me eyes and I think, don’t mind if I do …

  I grab for my drink and stalk toward her. Her cherry lips spread wide as I approach. She probably thinks she planned this, but little does she know she’s exactly what I need to deal with my feuding nerves.

  “Wanna dance?” I ask, drinking half my drink in one gulp, numb to the sharp flavor of alcohol. My tone is presumptuous, but she doesn’t seem to care as she slips off her barstool.

  “What’s your name, handsome?”

  Her silver sequined dress is eye catching and short, but the only thing I notice is that her legs are not nearly as long as the pair I can’t stop thinking about.

  I take another sip.

  “I’m Troy. What’s yours, Sweets?”

  “Courtney.”

  I finish off my drink dangerously quick, slamming my empty glass on the bar as she takes my hand, pulling me out toward the bumping music.

  I like this one. I barely have to work for it. This is what I’m used to.

  I catch up, grabbing for her voluptuous hips. Her blond, shoulder length hair doesn’t necessarily sway in long waves like some wavy ones I know, but then again, she’ll do.

  I consider the idea of burying myself inside her tonight to rid myself of all the thoughts I shouldn’t have, and decide to keep the plan in the cards.

  We reach the center of the dance floor and I turn her around to face me as I note my business trio a few people away. What’s even better is, Julia’s already staring, and dare I say her smile isn’t as bright as it was before.

  Are we playing a game? And is this my goal? I have no fucking idea.

  Courtney’s curves press themselves into mine, and my body is made wide-awake and sloppy as I try to synchronize my moves to hers. Her hands crawl up my chest and finally she has my full attention.

  “So Troy, what do you do for a living?”

  Her face is close, and her bright green eyes show no hint of depth. They’re instead only dull from her drinks. I sigh under the loud music, feeling that my dick is at least seemingly paying attention as her hands move over the surfaces of my clothed body and pauses at the waistband of my pants.

  “I’m essentially an architect.”

  Her eyes brighten, and I know instantly I don’t want to be her prize. “What do you do, Court?”

  “I own my own online business, I sell …”

  I lose my focus as I notice Julia walking toward me, weaving in and out of the crowd. She chews the inside of her cheek with a caramel glazed look that could potentially be on the verge of anger. I flash her my own broad grin. It isn’t until I see her towing Louis behind her that it falters.

  I try my best to act disinterested as Julia approaches. I ask her, “Where’s the other one?” I nod at Louis.

  Louis responds for her, tugging her back into his arms. “My brother is, how you say, indisposed.”

  Julia releases a giggle, but it doesn’t fool me. Her eyes drag the length of the girl’s body that’s wrapped around me like a victory flag.

  “Troy!” Courtney squawks.

  “Oh, uh. Yeah?”

  Julia cackles this time, mocking my distraction, her eyes now back onto Louis who’s holding her too damn close.

  Courtney seems unfazed by my interaction as she leans in close. “Did you hear me?”

  I shake my head, trying to focus on her emerald eyes, wondering if I can manage to care enough about them even for just a moment. “No. What?”

  “I asked if you have plans after the club? I live a few blocks from here—“

  Julia appears directly at our side, tapping the strange girl on the shoulder.

  “—Excuse you,” Courtney blurts. “Is there a problem?” Her dirty-blond brows scrunch together in annoyance as Julia cock-blocks her.

  The corners of my mouth reach from ear to ear.

  Julia brushes her hair out of her face, somewhat fumbling as she goes, and I like it. “Uh-um, see that guy right there?” she points at Louis who’s drunk and stumbling with a few randoms behind her. Courtney nods. “Well, he thinks you’re super cute, and he wants to buy you a drink.”

  Courtney, utterly baffled by the interaction lets me go. “Who is he, and who are you?”

  “A friend of the guy you’re dancing with, and a work associate of the guy behind me. He’s a business developer from France, only in town to seal a deal.” Julia’s double eyebrow raise confuses me, but Courtney seems to take the bait, turning to me and shrugging. “Sorry Troy, I got me a millionaire to snag.”

  I want to gag, disgusted with the woman, feeling like I need a shower.

  “Are you really upset I did that, or does your face look like that for different reasons, Troy Dillinger?”

  My body tenses and I tilt my head to the side, watching her, and thinking the bend at her knee, and her hand on her hip is hot. “Babe, if you keep using my whole name, it’s going to end badly for the both of us.”

  Her nose wrinkles. “I don’t like babe. Don’t call me that. I know you can do better.”

  It feels like a dare, and I know that glazed look wouldn’t normally allow her to say anything like that, but it gives me hope.

  I realize I don’t want to waste any more time. I grab for her hand, yanking her body against mine, finding that I don’t care about the beat of the music as long as I have her close.

  “I’ll work on it.”

  She shakes her head, turning away, but not fighting back.

  I can smell the jasmine of her shampoo as I pull her closer. I peer over her head to see Louis already sucking face with the blonde.

  “She moves quick,” I mutter.

  Julia turns in my grasp, her hands clenching at my forearms against the fabric of my blazer as if afraid I’ll let go. “Good! He was getting too handsy after a while.”

  “Did you date him? He seems quite taken with you.”

  She snorts. “He wishes, but I’m to blame too. I like him, but I would never consider dating a client. I feed into it though. I’m selfish, I think.”

  “Are you?”

  She wraps her arms around my neck, her cat-like grin flashing. “Can’t you tell? I’m in big trouble”

  I open my mouth to respond, torn with whether or not I should lean toward her until I can finally taste her lips, but she speaks, “Where’s my dear Lizzy this evening?”

  My chest swells with the question. I want Julia to make me hate her, but even among her instigative musings, she does too much for me to like, her likeness for Elizabeth being one.

  “I found a last minute babysitter.”

  “But her favorite babysitter is here, who did you end up getting?”

  I laugh, pressing my palms against the small of her back, basking in her overheated body against mine. “You are her favorite babysitte
r. If it makes you feel better she asked for you by name, but I told her I get you for tonight.”

  Julia scoffs, “You don’t have me.”

  I’m about to respond but Louis reappears, nearly tripping into us. Julia lets me go, taking a step back.

  “You have me sold, you two! We’ll sign the contract next week. Take us back to our hotel. Oui?”

  I peer at my watch, noting it’s already past 1:00AM.

  “Yes,” I agree. “Find your brother and meet us outside.”

  I grab Julia’s hand and pull her toward the exit. She stumbles every few steps and by the third fumble our laughter tangles around each other like two drunk teens at prom.

  “C’mon, silly girl.”

  “Who you callin’ a silly girl?” she says as we make it through the doors. I let her go so I can pull out my cell phone and text our driver.

  When I turn back around Julia’s arms are clutched around her barely covered body. Her knees wobble as they bend adorably toward one another.

  “Jeez. You’re most definitely a silly girl. Look at you! Did the Californian not get the memo that it gets cold everywhere else in the world when it’s winter?”

  With her arms wrapped around her body she still has the ability to glare. “Why would I wear a coat when you’re going to keep me warm?” She takes a bold step forward, touching the front of her body to mine.

  I gulp down a dry lump in my throat and don’t hesitate tucking her into my blazer as I wrap my arms around her. It’s got to be thirty degrees outside, and everything on the street looks frozen over.

  Her shivers slowly start to calm. She lifts her chin to look me in the eye, and if it were possible here in the snow, I melt, and it feels like the most chick thing that has ever crossed my mind.

  “I wouldn’t get used to this if I were you,” she scolds.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, Jules. I doubt your boyfriend would approve.”

  She stills, and steps out of my grasp.

  I want to call her back. Fuck. Why did I have to mention her boyfriend? Was it the right thing to do to remind her that she belongs to someone else? My empty grasp argues otherwise.