Page 18 of Declan
Out of the two of us, Royal probably worried about Brysen the most. B reminded him of the younger brother he’d lost a few years back. Royal didn’t talk much about Jonathon, his brother, but when he did, it was to share funny stories about him. Under the humor, there’d be a deep sadness, too. A beautiful pain of remembering the good times, but feeling the pain of loss.
I watched after Royal until he disappeared in the cluster of bodies. Music pounded in my chest and I closed my eyes, swaying to the melody. I finished my drink before waving down a serving girl carrying a bucket of jello shots.
“What flavor?” she asked, holding out the silver bucket. The shots were in big, plastic syringes.
“Strawberry? Two, please.”
She handed me two syringes and told me the price. I paid and squirted one into my mouth before doing the same to the second. Fuck, it was so good. My favorite flavors were strawberry and blueberry, but the green apple one was good, too, if not a little on the sour side.
I caught a glimpse of Royal on the dance floor and smiled when I saw Brysen in front of him, doing some weird booty-popping thing.
Buzzed and feeling good, I pulled out my phone—which was always a big no while drinking, but whatever—and I took a selfie before posting it online.
Kye927:Much needed night out with my boys. Boys r on the dance floor, so u just get my ugly mug instead.
The location tracker asked if I wanted to be tagged atRaw.
“Why the fuck not?” I said to myself before clickingyes.
After pocketing my phone, I went to take another drink when I remembered I’d already finished the damn thing. Royal looked over at me, and I pointed toward the bar to let him know I was going to buy another round.
He nodded and focused back on a twerking Brysen.
When I stood, the room spun a little. I slapped my hand on the table to help steady myself. Vodka knocked me on my ass sometimes. I hadn’t felt the earlier shots or rum drinks much, but after downing some vodka, plus the two jello shots, I was definitely feeling it now.
After ordering another mixed drink, I leaned against the counter at the bar as I drank it, watching people as they walked past.
Damn, my head was foggy. I needed to slow down, but it’d been too damn long since I’d gotten wasted. Not that I had to get drunk in order to have fun, but it was nice sometimes to get fucked up and forget about everything for a while.
Like making an ass of myself in front of Declan Price. And spilling coffee all over him.
Yep, that thought made me want another drink.
When I slid my glass back on the bar, I fumbled and nearly knocked it into the floor but caught it in time. Once I had the bartender’s attention, I ordered another.
How many does that make?
Six Vegas shots, three double-rum and cokes, two jello shots, and three vodka mixed drinks? Four vodkas? Fuck, I couldn’t recall.
I sipped at my next drink and walked away from the bar, stumbling through the crowded club. Cigarette smoke wafted around me, and I waved in front of my face as I coughed. I hated that they were allowed to smoke in there. It was nauseating. Flashing lights filled my vision as some rap song came on.
Someone bumped into me, and I spilled my drink.
“You okay?” a guy asked, grabbing onto my waist.
He smelled like beer and an ashtray. My gaze lifted to his face, and it was in that moment that I realized how drunk I was. The guy was blurry at first and it took me a few seconds to focus on him. He was a little older than me and had a beard and a man-bun.
Like a preppy lumberjack.
“Yeah. I’m fine,” I said. My stomach gurgled like I was going to puke, and I instantly regretted mixing my alcohol. Rum and vodka hadn’t been the best idea in the world.
“You don’t look fine, baby,” Preppy Lumberjack said, reaching for me again.
I jerked backward, thumping against the wall. Shit, this guy had me cornered in the back of the club and he had about four inches on me in height.
“Dude, back the fuck off,” I said, shoving against him. I might not have been as big as him, but I was strong. Even drunk, I could kick his ass. Or at least give him one hell of a fight trying.
He clenched his jaw and started coming toward me again.
