Page 11 of The Immortal's One
She points an accusing finger at me. “How could you meetMr. Hot-tasticand not tell me about it?”
“I just met him yesterday at the library.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and shrug. “I totally forgot.”
“Forgot?!” Kayla’s voice rises an octave. “You donotforget meeting someone likethat.”
“Someone like what?” Josh appears behind Kayla, three sodas balanced in a perfect triangle in his hands.
Both Kayla and I jump, startled. I’d forgotten Josh was even here. The lines must’ve been long.
He sets the drinks on the tall table positioned slightly behind us. Kayla and I move to join him, and he slides one drink toward me, then another toward Kayla, glancing back and forth between us. “What were you two talking about?”
“Nothing much.” Kayla dismisses his question with a casual wave of her hand. “I just met a new friend of Darcie’s. I was wondering why she didn’t tell me about him.”
The unspoken “you better have a good reason” hangs in the air.
“He’s not afriend.” I twirl the soda glass between my hands. “I just met him.”
Josh glances around the crowded club. “Where is he?”
Kayla pouts. “He left with his brother.”
I change the subject. “Thanks for the sodas, Josh.”
I pinch the straw between my fingers and take a long sip. The moment the liquid hits my tongue, I nearly choke. I clamp my hand over my mouth, my eyes watering, forcing myself to swallow.
“Oh my god.” The bitter liquid burns the back of my throat. “What isthat?”
Josh’s forehead furrows. “What do you mean? It’s soda.”
“Let me see.” Kayla snatches the drink from my hand and takes a long sip herself. She pulls back, her lips curling in distaste. “That’s not just soda.”
She tries her own drink, then Josh’s. “I’m pretty sure these are rum and cokes.”
Josh takes his drink from his girlfriend and sips. His eyes go wide. “Shit. I swear I asked for sodas!”
She tilts her head. “Didn’t you check the bill?”
“No, I left the tab open. I didn’t think to look at it. I’m sorry, Darcie.”
“It’s not your fault.” I can tell Josh feels bad for the mix-up. I don’t know him well, but he seems like a decent guy. It’s a shame Kayla is losing interest in him.
“Yeah, you didn’t know,” Kayla tells her boyfriend, taking another swig of her drink.
I arch a brow. “You’re really going to drink that?”
“Oh, come on. Josh already paid for them. Might as well drink ’em.”
“No thanks.” Using a fake ID to get into this club is one thing, but I’m not about to risk a minor in possession charge if we get caught. That’s the last thing I need while trying to get into college.
Kayla shrugs and takes another sip, unfazed. “Suit yourself.”
Josh, being twenty-one, doesn’t hesitate. He lifts his glass to his lips. At least he’s decent enough to ask me, “Want me to grab you a soda? I’ll make sure they don’t spike it this time.”
“I’m good.” The club is getting more crowded, and I’ve already seen drinks spill as people stumble through the sea of bodies. It’s probably safer not to hold anything while navigating this chaos.
“Alright. Let me know if you change your mind.”
I smile, nodding. “I will.”
