Page 43 of Until Tomorrow Comes
“Let’s do some shots!” The redhead calls out as she steps up to the bar.
I laugh at the way she bounces on the balls of her feet, while turning to talk to the bartender.
Slowing my pace, I allow Jackson to step up next to me and shoot him a worried look.
“I haven’t done shots in…years.” I panic whisper to him. He chuckles in response, placing a hand on my lower back and encouraging me to keep moving.
“As long as youwantto do one, go for it. I’ve got your back and you deserve to have some fun. You drink and dance as much asyouwant to, and only becauseyouwant to,” he says with gentle affirmation. “And I’ll be right here, looking out, and waiting to bring you home.”
Any hesitancy that creeped its way in, melts away at his words.
“Here ya go!” Thea exclaims, handing me a shot glass with a green liquid in it. She pulls me away from Jackson and into her side, careful not to spill my shot as she does. “Ladies, this is Kat.”
“Hey, I’m Stella.” The woman with the brown and blonde hair extends her hand toward me. I take it with a sheepish smile, stunned in place by the intensity of her pale blue, almost gray eyes.
“I’m Addison!” The other woman says, but her eyes go directly past me. “Annnd who isthat?”
She pushes to her toes and lifts her head, attempting to look behind me and check out Jackson. I really don’t like how she’s hungrily ogling him, but I keep a smile plastered on my face, nodding my acknowledgment.
“That’s Jack, we grew up together and he lives down the beach,” Thea responds, shooting me another wink. “Kat’s cozying up with him.”
I should correct her, yet I can’t find it in me to speak up. Jackson steps up between Stella and me, subtly placing his hand on my lower back again as he greets them with a chuckle.
“Nice to meet you ladies,” He taps his fingers once before lifting his hand and motioning for the bartender.
“Can I get a water and a…” Jackson peers down at me with a brow raised. “Whatcha having?”
I stare up at him with wide eyes before gaping down at the shot still in my hand.
Outside of the occasional glass of wine that I’ve had while hanging out with Thea and Jack, I haven’t actually thought twice about alcohol. I’d simply enjoy my glass, leaving the two of them to finish the rest.
Before coming here, I would only ever drink a glass of wine or champagne at the business dinners we attended. And watching how the alcohol would heighten Zack’s anger, made me steer clear of all the fancy wines.
This is definitely not a fancy wine type bar.
Biting my lip, I look back at Jackson and smile, relishing in the small act of independence in being able to order whatever I want. Scanning the wall of liquor bottles behind the bar, I rack my brain for a drink that I would’ve ordered before Zack.
When I spot a familiar bottle on the second shelf, I don’t think twice.
“Definitely a margarita.”
Thea lets out a hoot in response, holding up her shot glass and shouting “cheers!” Without a second thought, I join in. The alcohol warms my entire chest on its way down, the bite from the shot lingering on my tongue while the girls all giggle around me.
Thea and Addison fall into conversation about Addison’s sister getting married.
“So, what brought you to the Carolina coast, Kat?” Stella asks while sipping on her drink. I release a breath before answering.
“I needed to… get away and Jackson was kind enough to let me crash with him while I figured my life out.”
“And how did you two meet?”
“He’s friend’s with my brother,” I say and the reminder hits me in the gut.
Guilt settles heavily over me. Alan wanted me out of the city to make sure that Zack was brought to justice by the authorities. Meanwhile, I’m here watching his friend get himself off and having inappropriate thoughts about it.
Being here is what I imagine standing in the eye of the storm feels like.
I know the chaos is still surrounding me, I know that simply leaving the city doesn’t mean my troubles have gone away. There is still a mess of problems that I need to deal with. Especially now that I physically can.
