Page 68 of The Pass Protection
Liv pulls out her phone and instructs us to get together. The guys and I do what she says as she takes our pictures. This continues for the next ten minutes before we climb into the rideshare that will take us to The Eagles Nest.
The rideshare driver parks in front of the bar, and as I open the back door of the SUV, sounds surround us—car engines and laughter. The outside of The Eagles Nest is filled with people waiting their turn to enter the packed bar. Once again, I’m glad that I am on the football team and JP works here throughout the week.
The girls giggle behind us as I follow JP and Harris to the entrance. Vibrations from the bass hit us as the music seeps out from inside. Neon lights flicker, and flashing lights shine through the glass as we enter the building. The Eagles Nest is always the place to be on campus, but Halloween night is epic. The annual party attracts students and locals alike with the costume contest, entertainment, and cheap drinks. This year, the bar hired a famous DJ instead of their typical local band.
“Who’s ready for a wild night?” Harris asks over his shoulder.
“Me!” Liv shouts, prancing around and full of giggles. She started pregaming before we left with the cinnamon whiskey. Somehow, we didn’t polish off all the bottles for my birthday.
As I look around at my friends, I can’t help but smile at our superhero costumes and the sexy, dark ballet dancers who joined us. I knew it would be a challenging adventure when I accepted the scholarship to play at CTU. I never thought I’d meet some of my best friends, curate my favorite memories, and form a family not created by blood.
Forming a single file line, I feel a hand brush against mine. Looking over my shoulder, green doe eyes stare up at me from behind her black and white skull makeup. Her fingers slip into mine as she gives my hand a few quick squeezes before her hand slips free. As small of a gesture as that was, the discreet movement reassured me that we were okay and so was she.
Stepping into the bar, a wall of music hits us in full force. The DJ on the main stage is playing a pop and hip-hop mash-up. Laughter and conversation mix with the loud music, making the space deafening. Heads turn our way, taking in the new arrivals—us—as we do the same. Vampires, nurses, police officers, Barbies, and costumes of everything in between stand wall to wall. The smell of beer and sweat-soaked bodies fills the air creating a fragrance that should be called bad decisions.
Tonight feels like it’s going to be a good night.
“Drinks?” JP yells, and I nod. “What do you want?”
“Shots and beers!” Liv yells, her body already moving to the beat of the song. She grabs Bret’s hips and starts moving them for her. Bret giggles as she shoves her best friend off her before tossing her arms in the air. She moves her hips as a carefree mask slips into place.
JP disappears to the bar as the four of us continue going farther into the bar toward the crowded dance floor. I have no idea how we will find a place to dance, but people start to part as they recognize our quarterback.
Yeah, I’ll never take for granted our football team perks.
A vacant high-top table sits off the side of the bar and dance floor, and I swear Harris breaks out in a sprint to snag it before someone else. Bret’s hand glides against mine again. God, I desperately want to pull her in front of me and use my hands on her hips to guide her. I’ve been dying to get my lips on hers since she came out of her room dripping sex appeal. Now I’ll have a front-row seat for every guy in this bar trying to pick her up, and I won’t be able to do anything about it.
“This place is crazy!” Liv shouts as we all lean against the high-top. She’s standing opposite Harris as Bret and I stand between the two. Our backs are to the wall as we face the dance floor. Bret takes advantage of our position and lines her leg and hip up until they are plastered against mine. She leans away from me to keep up the appearance. But Liv gives her a knowing look.
“Time to drink up!” JP places a tray of shots on the table, followed by a bucket of beers.
The girls clap their hands as excitement rolls off their faces. Everyone grabs a shot and hoists it in the air. JP opens his mouth to spout a cheer, but Harris speaks up first.
“Here is to honor. Here’s to getting on her, to staying on her, and if you can’t come in her—”
“Come on her,” Liv and Bret finish, both girls cracking up as the guys and I stare at them.
We shoot the cinnamon whiskey and enjoy the burn that coats our throats and warms our bodies. Everyone shivers before staring out at the dance floor to assess the situation. I take the opportunity, while everyone is distracted to lean down to Bret’s ear.
“I’ve got you tonight, Rebel.” Her emerald eyes sparkle in the flashing lights as she tilts her head in confusion. “I’ll watch over you sothat you can have fun.”
Realization dawns on her as she flashes me an appreciative smile that has her eyes softening.
“Let’s go dance!” Bret reaches for a beer, twisting off the cap on the aluminum bottle. She takes a long swig. She subtly hits my hips with hers as she’s moving around Liv. As she passes her, Bret smacks Liv’s ass before grabbing JP’s hand. “Dance with me!”
The two start maneuvering through bodies.
“You bitches get me!” Liv yells, reaching for a beer and grabbing my hand. She pulls me around the table, where she drops my hand for Harris’s. We bounce off dancing couples as we find the other two.
With my adrenaline pumping, confidence from my costume seeping into my subconsciousness, and the vibrant energy in the bar, I have a feeling tonight will be a night we’ll never forget…or remember.
The blaring sound of an alarm startles me from my deep sleep. The awful noise triggers the jackhammering to fire up in my brain.
“Olivia Kate Reed, if you don’t shut that alarm off now, I will smother you.” I groan from my side of the bed, where I’m wrapped in layers of blankets.
Grumbles sound from beside me as the blankets tug and rustle. Finally, the horrid alarm shuts off.
“What time is it?” The words come out in a croak. My mouth feels like the desert, and I grimace as I try to keep my tongue from sticking to the roof of my mouth. Slowly, it frees itself like a sticker peeling away from glass. Trying to swallow, my throat feels like sandpaper.
