by Jodie Larson
“Don’t you get out much?”
I shake my head. “Never really have time.”
“Why not?”
Chad flags down the bartender, but it’s too loud to hear what he orders. The bartender looks between the two of us and runs off to make the drinks.
“Probably because I’m either at work or at school.”
“Ah, college girl. You know you can’t study all the time. Gotta get out and live the college experience. You have the rest of your life to be stuffy and pent up. Now’s the time to broaden your horizons.”
Yeah, already did that.
“No, I think you misunderstand. I go to online school. I lived the college experience six years ago.”
Chad’s brows draw together. “I don’t follow.”
I signal him to come closer, which he does with a smirk. Leaning up on my tiptoes, I get close to his ear, making sure he can hear me. Just as I open my mouth, the bartender returns with two shot glasses filled with a pinkish-yellow liquid, followed by two tall glasses. One of them dark—probably some sort of Coke mixture—and one orange.
Chad hands me a shot glass, distracting me from my thought. “Happy Birthday, Kylie.”
I sniff the liquid and appreciate that it doesn’t reek of strong alcohol. In fact, it’s almost fruity. We clink glasses and I slam it down, confirming that it indeed is filled with fruit juice.
“That was fantastic,” I yell.
Chad nods and raises his hand. “It’s one of my favorites.” He hands me the orange-liquid glass. “Grey Goose screwdriver, right?”
“Uh, yeah. How’d you know?”
He laughs. “I was standing next to you when you ordered the first time. I was trying to get your attention, but you were ignoring me.”
Was I? I remember looking around, but I must not have been paying attention.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“You practically sat on my lap when you wiggled up to the bar. Figured you were trying to flirt with me.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’m not sure I know how to flirt. If anything, I was probably trying not to fall on you.”
Chad looks down appreciatively at my shoes, taking his time admiring my body on his way back up to my eyes. “I wouldn’t have complained if you did.”
Heat crawls across my cheeks. Either from the alcohol or the man sitting next to me. Not sure which one.
“So, what do you do?” I ask, wanting the conversation away from me.
He takes a quick drink and leans his elbow against the bar. “I work for a conglomerate downtown.”
“Ah, so you’re in business.”
Chad nods, flagging down the bartender and twirling his finger in the air. A universal sign for another round.
“Only way to make it in this town. Gotta climb that corporate ladder until you get to the top.”
“I see. And how far up on the rungs are you?” Judging by his choice of clothes, I’d say he does well for himself.
He smirks. “I’d say I’m middle of the road, on my way up.”
I pick up my drink and hold it in the air. “Good for you,” I say as a toast. He clinks his glass with mine and the bartender reappears with another set of shots and drinks.
Oh man. Really glad we had dinner before coming here. I finish the rest of my drink and sure enough, the hiccups start. Every time I drink orange juice too fast, I get them.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t worry, I fight everyone away to keep your seat,” he says with a wink.
Right. Slinking off the barstool, I head toward the bathroom, keeping a hand firmly pressed to my stomach as I try to regain control of my diaphragm. I head straight to the sink and take a quick second to suck on the back of my hand. My lungs feel like they’re collapsing on themselves as I count to ten. A minor amount of unease is worth it because this hack has worked ever since I was a kid. Sure enough, my hiccups are gone.
After fixing my lipstick and verifying I’m still showing the same amount of skin as I was when I got here, I walk back to the bar and find Chad. It’s funny, he doesn’t seem like my type at all. He’s not pushy, which I appreciate. There’s something about him, though, that’s keeping me at a distance. Maybe I’m living too much in my head.
Or I’m overthinking. A more likely solution.
Chad straightens up and holds the shot glass in front of me after retaking my seat. “All better?”
I nod. “Much.” I take the glass from him and down it in one gulp. That tasted different than the first one. Still good, though.
With a smirk, Chad sips his drink slowly, watching me from over the rim. “So what do you do besides go to school?”
I chew on my bottom lip. Not sure I’m ready to dive into too many details about my life to someone I just met.
“I work at a coffee shop nearby. Nothing glamorous by any means. Just something that helps pay the bills.”
“College student working at a coffee shop? You sound like a cliché.”
Huh, never thought of that. Though when I think of college students, I think of people Jenny’s age, not my own. Normal people my age are doing what he’s doing: furthering their careers by getting promotions.
“Yeah, I guess,” I say, the words sounding jumbled, even to my ears. It shakes me slightly because I know I haven’t that had much to drink to cause this much slurring. Maybe I’m tired. Yeah, that’s it.
I should have ordered something with caffeine in it. I struggle to get the little black straw in my mouth. My hand-eye coordination isn’t doing so well either. I sway in my seat, practically feeling like I’m going to fall over. It takes several tries to place my glass back on the counter after slurping down the rest of the drink.
Something’s wrong.
Chad smiles at me, but it’s different. Something knowing, almost like he’d won a prize.
Tiny prickles dot my skin. It feels like I’m being watched, which is crazy considering how many people are in the club. Of course I’m being watched. Everyone’s wondering what this great guy is doing with me.
Or my dress is pulled up around my waist and I’m showing everyone my ass.
A sweet and spicy scent fills my nostrils as Chad’s face comes closer into view. “You want to dance or get out of here?”
There are now two Chads staring back at me as I turn my head to acknowledge his question.
“Huh?”
He leans closer, running his nose along the curve of my shoulder.
“We should go back to my place. Then we can dance in private, among other things.” He nibbles on my neck between sentences. I try to push him away, but with his body so close, I can’t get my arms to work.
“I—” I don’t get the chance to complete my sentence because the world tilts and spins on a different axis, leaving me to grab hold of the counter for stability. I shouldn’t be this out of control. I’ve only had two shots and a few drinks. Hardly enough to leave me feeling like I’ve been drinking since noon.
Chad smiles again, but then he disappears. I blink my heavy lids, trying to focus. The room is spinning so fast that I can’t concentrate.
“Come on,” a familiar voice says in my ear. A sense of calm and ease settles into my bones as I relax into the side of the person guiding me from the bar.
“M-my purse.” Why is it so hard to speak? It’s like I ate an entire jar of peanut butter.
“I’ve got it. Come on, Kylie. I’m taking you home.”
Through the fog, I look over my shoulder and somehow spot Katie as she comes striding up to the bar, giving me a wink. I’m not sure if I repeat the gesture since none of my motor functions seem to work.
“Just hold on to me.” Following my mystery voice’s commands, I wrap my arms around waist and let him lead the way. Blackness crowds my vision, leaving me in a long, winding tunnel. Noises soon filter out, leaving only a ringing in my ears.
A change in temperature. How’d we get outside so fast?
I sway on my
feet as my stomach turns.
“Stay with me,” he says again.
Tilting my head back, I try to focus my blurry eyes on the source of the voice. Before I can get a good look, my body goes limp and everything turns black.
Shit. Where is that Uber driver? I check my phone again, hoping the screen will give me new information.
The guy in the club is lucky I know the bouncer and restrained from pummeling the shit out of him after what he was trying to do to Kylie.
What are the odds that she’d be here at the same time as me? Luckily for her, I was. Otherwise, she’d be another statistic for what happens when beautiful women trust the wrong guys at clubs.
A black Audi pulls up to the curb, just as my phone says my car has arrived. I wave off the driver, needing to get Kylie inside without drawing too much attention.
“Hey, man. Is she okay?” The driver looks in his rearview mirror, darting between me and the half-passed out woman next to me.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just too much to drink.” I give the guy my address and we pull out into traffic without another word.
“Come on, hang on, Kylie. We’re almost there,” I whisper into her ear. Since I have no idea where she lives, it’s safer to bring her to my place.
She incoherently mumbles something, her head bobbing all over the place. I dig my phone out and dial Breck’s number.
“Wha-what’s up?”
I don’t give two shits if I woke him up.
“Wake up Lizzie. I need her help. I’ll be at the door in three minutes.” I hang up, not giving him the chance to ask questions.
Once we’re outside my condo, I thank the driver and coax Kylie out of the back, which is like trying to hold on to a wiggling fish. Every time I think I have a good grip, her body goes lax and she slips.
Fuck it. I bend down and scoop her into my arms, keeping her close to my chest as we make our way through the lobby. Her breathing sounds normal, which is a minor relief.
I keep jabbing the button for my floor, praying it’ll make the elevator go faster. It doesn’t. Kylie turns her nose into my neck; her warm breath pebbling the skin beneath her mouth. The action stirs to life the dormant monster in my shorts.
Now’s not the time, dick. She’s more important than your needs.
Before I have the chance to fish out my keys, Brecken whips open the front door, confused.
“What are you doing?”
I rush Kylie inside, quickly heading over to the couch, making sure to prop up her head. Her lips twitch as I brush away some stray hairs from her forehead, giving me an appreciative hum.
Lizzie rounds the corner, a look of shock crossing her sleepy face. “What happened?”
“I think some guy at the club slipped her something, but I don’t want to bring her to the hospital. Is there something you can do?”
Quickly, Lizzie springs into motion. I’ve never been so happy to have a live-in nurse. “Breck, grab my medical bag, will you?” She checks Kylie’s pulse while Brecken runs back to their room. Within seconds, he returns with a small black bag. She takes out a stethoscope and listens to her chest, then with a small light, checks her eyes and throat as she props open her mouth.
“Her pupils are reactive, and I don’t hear any abnormalities in her lungs or heart. Are you sure she was drugged and she’s not just drunk?”
“I’m positive,” I say, practically growling out the words. How dare she pass this off. “I was keeping a close eye on her. She didn’t drink that much, but she was acting like she’d been on a four-day bender. And this guy was all over her at the bar. There’s no other excuse other than he spiked her drink.”
“Okay,” she says, holding up her hands in defense. “I was just making sure. I believe you. Trust me, I hear about the horror stories of girls in clubs. I’ve never experienced one in real life. Not exactly something I see working with kids all the time.”
Breck sits in the chair and runs a hand through his hair. “Should we take her to the hospital?”
I scoff. “Really? I can see the tabloids now.” I smack his knee. “Unless Lizzie thinks we should?”
Lizzie darts her gaze between the two of us. “Look, I’m not a doctor, but from what I’ve heard from some of my friends who work in the ER back home, there are different kinds of roofies out there. Most of the time they don’t bring on major medical issues.” She sighs and sits on the edge of the coffee table. “Ambien is the new roofie of choice since it’s easily obtainable and does the same thing. Loss of memory and being overly tired are the most common side effects. The thing to look for is any sort of allergic reaction. Then we need to get her in right away. How long ago did this happen?”
I check my watch. “Maybe a half hour to an hour?”
Lizzie nods. “A reaction should have shown up by now, so you’re probably safe. Chances are she’ll sleep it off and wake up in the morning with minimal to no symptoms.”
I nod, the knot in my stomach not easing my worry. “I’ll watch her all night anyway.”
Breck stands and places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you got her out of there.”
“Me too.”
The two of them head back to their room. Worry plagues my every thought. I can’t shut it off. What if something happens to her? What if I’m making a huge mistake by not bringing her in?
I should have pummeled that guy when I pulled him away. The look of terror on his face could have been erased with a few pounds from my fist. Let’s see if any girl would like to fall for his tricks if I messed up his pretty-boy appearance.
Kylie shivers, eliciting a low moan. I can’t leave her here. Scooping her up into my arms, I carry her back to my room and place her in the middle of the bed. I pull the covers up, tucking her in tight. She doesn’t move, which should make me worry, but I watch her chest rise and fall steadily, the only indication she’s still breathing.
Walking over to my closet, I grab a few extra blankets and set up a make-shift bed on the floor. There’s no way in hell I’m crawling into bed with her, but I can’t leave her alone. After checking on her one last time, I lie down and attempt sleep.
A small gasp startles me awake. I throw back the covers and peek my head above the edge of the bed. Kylie sits there, blanket pulled up to her chin and panic lacing her features.
“Hey, you’re okay,” I say, coaxingly.
She turns her head, meeting my gaze, her eyes wild and bouncing. “Wh-where am I?”
I get up on my knees and inch toward the bed. She leans away like she’s going to bolt at any sudden movement.
“At my place.”
“H-how’d I get here?” She rubs at her temples.
I nod to the bed. Kylie looks between the spot next to her and me, judging whether or not she wants to let me up. After a moment, she nods, and I climb up, making sure to keep enough space between us.
“I brought you after that guy at the club drugged you.”
Her brows draw together. “I-I don’t remember anything.”
Let’s start with something simpler. “What do you remember from last night?”
Kylie straightens up, still clinging to the blanket wrapped around her. “Katie and Lila took me out to dinner. Then we went to this club they go to all the time. I was dancing, had a couple drinks, some guy started dancing with me.” She pauses with a far-off look in her eyes. “Then nothing.” A lone tear streaks down her cheek. “Oh, God. Why can’t I remember anything?”
“Shh.” I scoot closer, mindful of the space between us. “It’s okay. I saw what he was trying to do and stopped him before anything could happen. You’re safe.”
More tears flow, along with a quiet sob. “I can’t believe this.” She repeats this phrase over and over; each time pulls a little harder at my heart.
I should have killed the guy.
“May I?” I press a hand to the space right next to her. She nods, and I pull her into my arms, cradling her into my shoulder. “I’ve got you.”
We sit in sil
ence while she processes what happened or could have happened. I need her to know that nothing will ever happen on my watch. Sure, we barely know each other, but I’m bound and determined to change that. There’s a fire within her, begging to be released. It was there earlier this week, threatening to sneak past the walls she puts up, guarding herself against outside threats, but the more we talk, the more those walls come down. I won’t ask why they’re there. It’s not my place. When she’s ready, she’ll let me know.
Kylie picks her head up off my shoulder and wipes beneath her eyes, leaving black makeup smeared across her skin. Even with raccoon eyes, she’s gorgeous first thing in the morning.
“Pax, thank you. It’s just…”
“Scary,” I say, finishing her sentence. “I bet. But I saw you there last night and the guy was giving me a creeper vibe, so I kept an eye on you. Glad I did.”
Her lips twitch, struggling to pull into a smile. “You were watching me, and he was the creeper?”
I chuckle and duck my head slightly. “When you say it like that, sure I sound worse.”
She places a hand on my chest, smiling and laughing now. “Except I know you. I didn’t know that guy last night.” The smile falls from her face. “Chad? I think that was it.”
Chad. He sounds like a douchebag. Hopefully I never run into him in a dark alley somewhere.
“He won’t bother you again. I’ll make sure of it.” Gearing up for the potential fight, I swallow hard and look straight into her eyes. It’s now or never. “Look, about our lunch the other day.”
“It’s fine.” Kylie grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. “No need to explain. You’re one of the good ones, Pax.”
A weight lifts off my chest. “Yeah, I know.” I blow on my other hand and rub it against my chest, buffing my nails. “Call me your knight-in-shining-sandals, or whatever. Armor sounds like it would chafe something fierce.”
Her laugh is contagious and so welcoming considering the scare she gave me last night.
“You’re something else.” Kylie flings the blanket back, but I try and lay it over her legs again.
“Sit and relax. I’ll get whatever you need.” I stand and walk to the end of the bed. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?” I pause. “Scratch that. I’ll let you get your own drink.”
