Page 102 of More than Paper

“You can all go.” Chase makes a beeline toward Vivian.

“Oh shit,” Noah groans. He and Jamison are on Chase’s heels, and Piper and I follow him.

“He’s such a hypocrite,” Piper says.

I sigh and continue dodging people in the crowded bar.

We are all in front of Vivian, who’s sitting on Trent’s lap, and he’s got her on lockdown, kissing her. Jamison and Noah have moved in front of Chase. Piper and I step in front of all of them.

I tap Vivian on the shoulder.

She turns around and yells over the music, “Why are you all together?”

I give her a look not to out my relationship with Jamison. She’s been drinking but takes the hint.

“Who’s your friend?” Piper asks her.

“Oh, sorry. This is Trent.” She turns toward him and points everyone out. “These are my friends, Quinn, Jamison, Piper, Noah, and Chase.” She quickly looks away from Chase.

Trent pulls her in closer to him and shakes everyone’s hand. When he shakes Chase’s, he says, “Whoa. You got quite the grip there.”

“Sorry, man, do I?” Chase says innocently.

“We have a table reserved. Come sit with us?” Piper asks.

“That would be great,” Trent answers, and Vivian looks slightly panicked.

We all leave to go to the table. When we get there, Trent arrives, but Vivian and Chase are nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Vivian?” Trent asks.

Jamison puts his hand on his back. “I need a drink. You need another?”

“Yes.”

The waitress approaches, and, after we order our drinks, Trent orders a round of shots.

After several rounds of shots, and Noah and Jamison keeping Trent occupied, I stand up. “I’m going to go make sure Vivian is okay.” I leave and check out the bathroom, but she isn’t there. I look across the crowded bar and see another hallway. I push through the crowd and run into Chase and Vivian, coming out of a dark room.

“Where have you been? Trent is looking for you, and the guys are trying to distract him.”

“Umm...” Vivian looks at Chase for help.

“I’ll go tell Trent you’re in the bathroom, and, Quinn, you walk out with Vivian,” Chase says.

Chase starts to walk away, and she grabs his arm.

He turns back.

“Thank you for helping.”

He winks and walks away.

I put my hand on her arm. “What did you two just do?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Did you—”

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