Page 2 of Isabelle & Jason
And he’d walked right into one.
“Hey,” he called out as the music died down and a new song—slower this time—started. “Dance with me?”
Her lips curled into a teasing grin, and then her eyes darted to the side, searching. “I’m here with someone else.”
Jason glanced around and shrugged. “I don’t see anyone.”
A barely perceptible blush dusted her cheeks. “Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
“Before tonight, I would have never believed someone like you could exist.”
For a moment the girl froze. Then she tossed back her head with a laugh. “That’s a good one.”
“Good enough to agree to a dance?”
She shook her head, her lower lip between her teeth. “Sorry.”
“Can’t fault a guy for trying.” He folded his arms and widened his stance. “But if you change your mind, I’ll be over there.” He jerked his chin in Mark’s direction.
She leaned to the side to get a look at his friend. “Good to know.”
Walking away from this woman would be one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do, but Jason managed. By the time he got back to Mark, his best friend couldn’t help himself.
“I could have told you that you’d strike out if you’d asked. That girl is way out of your league.”
Jason’s eyes remained locked on the girl, and sure enough, seconds later her date joined her. He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her roughly against his body. She winced, but her smile soon returned.
Frowning, Jason continued to observe. For the next hour and a half, he watched the couple, much to Mark’s irritation. Eventually, Mark opted to scope out some company of the female variety.
When he returned to Jason’s side, he was flanked by two girls. “Come on, man. She’s taken. But you know who isn’t?”
Jason’s eyes never left the princess, who was now huddled in a booth with her date. The guy was about the same height as Jason, but maybe a little more built. He was clean-shaven with his hair shorn close to his head. There was nothing about him that stood out to Jason. Nothing to give him any indication that the unease sluicing through his veins had any merit.
And yet, Jason couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was impending.
Her date left and returned with a couple of drinks. The girl continued smiling, chatting with her date, and enjoying herself.
“I’m out, man.”
Jason vaguely heard the statement.
“Dude.” Mark nudged him, drawing his attention. “I’m heading home. While it’s been fun watching you obsess over that chick, I’ve got better things to do. Like watching paint dry.” He chuckled at his own joke, but Jason waved him off.
“Talk to you tomorrow.”
Mark rolled his eyes. “‘Night.”
Not even fifteen more minutes passed before his princess started acting different. Jason couldn’t say exactly what was off from the distance where he observed her, but there was definitely something happening.
Her date nudged her, laughed and draped an arm around her shoulders. Her head lolled to the side and her lashes fluttered more slowly. Was she drunk? He didn’t think she’d drank that much but maybe she did?
Jason straightened in his seat when the guy got to his feet and pulled the girl with him. She smiled at him and waved a hand as if to tell him she was fine, but when she practically collapsed, her date’s hold on her tightened.
The expectation was for the guy to take her out to get a cab. But when he moved toward the back exit, alarm bells rang in Jason’s head. He shot to his feet and moved after them. Nothing about this felt right. Every instinct in his body told him there would be a fight, and he wasn’t the one who’d walk away bloody.
People swarmed him as he attempted to move through the dancing bodies. Twice he lost sight of the couple, the second time being when he rounded the corner where a wall had been built out from the restrooms. There was an exit to the back as well.
Bathroom or exit?
