Page 21 of The Fool

“And while they’re as sexy as hell on you, baby, I can’t say that about my little sister,” Ben says directly to her, trying his best to smooth things over. He then looks at me one more time and runs his hand over his face before groaning. “Jesus, have you at least got your mace?”

I take a little spray bottle out of my bag and waggle it his way. He nods his head with his serious, pilot expression, then signals for me to put it safely back inside of my bag. Ever since I moved in and got a job, he’s forced me to take this thing with me everywhere, along with a rape alarm. Thankfully, I’ve never had to use them, but I will admit having them to hand makes me feel a lot safer. Once inside my bag, I look at my watch and curse under my breath at the time. I throw on my leather jacket and begin walking down the hallway, ready to go and catch the taxi downstairs. Ben insists on escorting me down to the roadside where the cab is already waiting.

“You call me if there is any trouble, Bea,” he says sternly. “I don’t care what time it is, where you are, or who you’re with; you call me.”

I give him a teasing salute before going up on my tiptoes to peck him on the cheek. He merely tuts before opening the door to the cab so I can hop inside. As it begins to pull away, I wave out of the window and giggle over his panic-stricken face. He’s such an idiot but I do love him.

_____

Bea

As soon as I step outside the cab, I feel like running back to the apartment again. ‘Self-conscious’ doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel at this point. In fact, I feel like if anyone so much as sneezes, my minuscule dress is going to fly up and reveal my vajayjay. No wonder I feel like dozens of eyes are on me, assessing me, judging me, thinking I’m not good enough to be here.

She’s not pretty enough to be with Dean, not like her sister. Emma’s a much better fit for him.

I shake those ugly thoughts away, trying to be in the here and now so I can move without toppling over. When I finally walk inside and onto the main floor, I take a good look around; I’ve never been in a place like this before, although I’ve heard a lot about this particular one from some of the girls at work. Right in the center of a barn of a room, there is a large, circular bar, packed with customers shouting out their orders to the poor bar staff. The dance floor is further toward the back but is fairly empty at the moment. A DJ is playing warm-up music on a raised podium to the side of it. He appears to be lost to the music, looking extremely pensive while he moves disks, presses buttons, and flicks switches. You can see it’s a real science, as well as a passion for this guy.

Once my eyes have grown accustomed to the sheer magnitude of this place, I stop studying the interior, and instead, try to spot Callie and Lily. A sudden and unwanted thought crosses my mind; what if they haven’t come and I’m here all alone? I might be standing here like a complete idiot, waiting to see people who aren’t even here. Perhaps I got the wrong day, the wrong club, or the wrong time, or they simply changed their minds.

“Bea!” I hear someone call out from behind me. “Bea, you sexy bitch, get over here!”

I immediately turn around to see Callie shouting at me from the other side of the bar. She, Lily, Ellie, and a few others are all standing around a tall circular table; I’ve never felt so relieved to see a group of girls my age before. I begin shuffling over as fast as I can in these ridiculous shoes and begin saying my hellos.

“Holy hell, Miss Summers,” Lily exclaims, “where did this body come from? And your hair is stunning!”

I instinctively ignore her flattery; sadly, I can accept insults more easily than compliments. I suppose I can more readily believe all the bad stuff.

“Hi, sorry I’m late, my brother made me spend half an hour trying to find a can of mace!” I lie. It sounds a little better than telling them I was freaking out for an hour before I could bring myself to get ready.

“Ahh,” Lily says, placing one of her hands over her heart. “I wish I had a big brother.”

“Is he hot?” Callie asks, to which Lily taps her on the shoulder while rolling her eyes in an exaggerated fashion.

“I have to admit, he is attractive to the opposite sex, but very much in love with his long-term girlfriend,” I break it to her, even though I am no longer sure about the two of them. Something is off; I just can’t put my finger on it. However, now is not the time to ponder on such things, so I pull out my phone to show them a picture.

“Damn,” Callie says with disappointment, “I could have done bad things to him.”

“Ignore Callie creaming her knickers over your brother,” Lily grins, “you know Ellie and Hels from work, but this is James, my super-hot best friend.” She gestures to an attractive guy with warm eyes and a dazzling smile. He looks friendly but so handsome, I end up giggling through nerves.

I recognize Helena as the Carter sister who took over reception from me. Unfortunately, ever since I handed the desk over to her, we’ve barely spoken. When we first met, I couldn’t believe she was related to the Carters; she might share their good looks, but she certainly doesn’t share their confidence. In fact, I don’t think she has any; she’s a totally different person from them. And I know she doesn’t ever socialize with anyone, not that I have much room to speak on that subject.

“So, what’s your poison?” Callie asks me.

“Oh, I’m easy, I’ll have whatever the group is having.”

“No, no, no, baby,” James says with a dangerously sexy voice. “You say what you want and you own that shit. You ain’t at work now; you be the confident, beautiful woman you are!”

I giggle, knowing I instantly like this guy. He’s the type of person who builds you up and gives you life, not the kind of person who knocks you down and bleeds you dry. I’ve had the misfortune to have a lot of those come into my life, but James, Lily, and Callie are like Ben and Finn, and I hope I can keep hold of them, even if they are Nathaniel’s friends too.

“Come with me and we will get you something you truly want,” James says as he links his arm through mine, already beginning to march us toward the bar.God, he smells divine too.

“Erm, James… I really don’t have a specific drink. I really am that easy,” I whisper.

“Oh, we’re about to change all that,” he declares while signaling to the attractive bartender, who could easily audition for the role of Thor, should Chris Hemsworth suddenly decide he wants to retire. “Hey, man, this beautiful woman has no idea what she wants and says, get this, she’s ‘easy’!”

I cannot help but blush with a wince in front of the insanely attractive barman. Conversely, he emits a laugh that sounds like pure velvet, then leans in closer to look me up and down. He narrows his eyes, as if in deep thought, before smiling flirtatiously. I think I’m holding my breath but can’t really be certain at this moment in time.

“Hmm, I think something with Disaronno, a sexy Italian liquor, with crushed ice and…citrus,” he suggests, “sound any good?”

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