The Lies you Tell

Strobelight

“Hey,” I smiled, noting how I swayed a bit from the alcohol. 

“Hey,” he smiled back at me. Damn he looked so familiar. 

“What are you doing here?” I asked. I glanced around to see if his friends were there but I couldn’t see them through the crowd on the dance floor.

“Same as you. Letting loose.” I glanced down at his outfit, probably taking too long, and taking in how hot he dressed. He had dark blue jeans, white sneakers, and a dark blue button up that hugged him in all the right places. Holy hell. Standing in front of him in just a short black dress, I felt pretty uncomparable. Even with that thought in mind, I felt compelled to flirt with the handsome devil in front of me. 

“Are your friends here?” Was Jasper there? Speaking of which, I pulled my phone out from my purse and checked my messages and found two new ones from Jasper. 

Shit-sorry

What are you up to tonight?

At the Strobelight :) 

“Wait what?” I looked up at the guy in front of me, apologetically since I had missed what he just said. Maybe that was my sign to slow down on the drinks. 

“They’re in the back.” 

“Well you should get them! We should all hang out together,” I suggested, nodding at the group of my friends dancing on the dance floor. All of my friends were really pretty so it wasn’t like they’d refuse. Right? Before the guy in front of me could answer I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards where I assumed the back of the club was. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” 

I spotted Jasper slouching in his usual bored position and Michael sitting next to him with the same bored expression. What was with these guys and being so bored? 

De’Angelo was smirking at something on his phone and I felt as though I didn’t even want to know what it was he was smirking at. A moment later Michael’s eyes moved up and found my own. 

“Esme,” he smiled. I almost missed the way his eyes moved down and back up my body with an almost lustful look.

“Hey!” I bent down and gave him a hug before the rational side of my mind could understand what was going on. I did the same for De’Angelo and Jasper who both tensed under me as if they’d never been hugged before. “Come dance with us.” 

“With you and him?” Jasper asked, glancing between me and the smoking hot guy behind me. 

“Yeah, but also my girls.” When they didn’t look convinced I gave a pleading look. “Please,” I drew out. 

“Are they cute?” Jasper asked while still looking bored. I felt my smile falter for a moment before it returned as if it had never left. Why did he care if they were cute when we were going on a date tomorrow? 

“Yeah,” I answered though my voice lacked some of it’s previous enthusiasm. I felt my veins light with fire when Jasper still didn’t even glance at me. Instead he sighed and lazily stood up, followed by Michael and De’Angelo. “Come on,” I said before grabbing the hot guy’s hand behind me and pulling him back towards my group.

If Jasper wanted to play nasty, then I would play nasty. 

After introducing the guys to my girlfriends I went to the bar to down two more shots. I was about to take another one when a hand moved out and took the third from me before that person threw it back themself. 

“You might want to slow down, Esme,” his tone was hard but gentle at the same time. 

“Why do you care?” I asked, a little more harshly than I had meant to. I looked over at his dark brown eyes and wondered why he had followed me over here. His dark brown eyes were stuck to my own and I felt compelled to stare back at his until his moved away first. 

“What type of question is that?” He asked but there was nothing in his voice that told me how he felt. He was completely calm. I pulled out my phone absentmindedly and checked my messages. Nothing from Jasper-as expected. I looked back at the dancefloor and caught a glimpse of him grinding with two of my friends, Michelle and Kenzi. I felt the fuzz of the two shots hit my system and I smiled almost mischievously. I looked back at the mysterious guy in front of me with a newfound determination. 

“Do you wanna dance?” I asked with a flirty smile. He didn’t even have to give me a response because it was written all over his face. I took his hand and led him to the middle of the dance floor where we were just in the eye sight of Jasper. Good. 

I was dancing there in front of him waiting patiently until the song changed and ever so conveniently to “Talk Dirty.” It was almost poetic when you thought about it. I changed the pace of my dancing as I turned around and moved my body closer to his so that he had no choice but to put his hands on me. If there was any benefit to taking dance classes when I was young, it was to learn rhythm. I moved his hands from my sides up to the base of my breasts and released them so I could reach back and gently coax his head into the crook of my neck. I relished in his cool breath as it fanned across my neck and I knew he had a pretty clear view of my clevage below. But I didn’t care because in that moment Jasper glanced over at us. But it was quick. Almost dismissive. 

As if it fuled me I danced on as dirty and more so than the girls and guys around me. I turned to the handsome devil behind me and guided him with me as we pulled off what I knew even my sober self would think was sexy dance moves. After what was probably another hour or so of dancing though, we were both out of breath and needing a moment of rest. We made our way to where his friends had been sitting before and I noticed a few of my friends were sitting with his, including De’Angelo, Sophie, and Michelle. 

“You guys were like- hawt out there,” Sophie said with a flushed face. 

“Yeah. We were watching you guys for like ten minutes and damn,” Kenzi added. I would have blushed if I had registered what they were saying but I was already sipping on a mimosa from the table and relishing in being drunk. 

Tall, dark, and handsome sat down on the sofa and after a glance at Jasper in the crowd still grinding with a girl, I sighed in defeat and sat down with the handsome devil. Well more like I sat on him. I felt him tense for a moment before he relaxed and threw an arm around my waist. The gesture felt reassuring and almost lulled me to sleep if it hadn’t been for the sound of Alicia’s voice pulling me out of my daze.

“Esme, you have to dance with me,” she demanded. But in my drunken state I didn’t need a rhyme or reason. I got up and let Alicia pull me towards the dancefloor where we were in full view of our friends on the couch as well as Jasper if he ever glanced over at us. “How are you so fluid and put together when you dance?” Alicia giggle in my ear as the music seemed to get louder. 

“Etiquette practice,” I replied, not at all lying. She laughed as though I said something funny and we continued to dance for another ten or so minutes. I then dragged her back with me to the couch were most of our friends, aside from Jasper and Kenzi. I checked my phone and saw that it was almost six am and some of my friends were yawning. Since I was usually up late from working at the Tunnel on the weekends, I knew I wasn’t as affected as them. 

“Hey we should all get some pizza,” I suggested, just hungry thinking about it. 

“Oh. My. God.” Sophie dramatically said. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard since… well since alcohol.” I held back a laugh and unlocked my phone, struggling to get to the map app. I tried to type in the word ‘pizza’ but my fingers seemed to go in different direction than the ones I wanted them to go in. I felt a warm hand enclose mind and hold them there as long and handsome fingers typed the word for me. 

“Thank you,” I smiled back to the handsome devil behind me. 

We all gathered ourselves and made sure we weren’t forgetting anyone two times before we left the club. Luckily De’Angelo and Michael offered to drive their cars since the rest of us ubered. Michael, the handsome devil, Sophie, Alicia, and myself piled into one car and the other girls and guys piled into De’Angelo’s. I was about to hop in the back of the car when Sophie wiggled her brows at me drunkenly and mouthed “no room here.” At least I think she was trying to mouth it but she just ended up saying it aloud before giving not so subtle hints for me to sit in the passenger seat. I rolled my eyes and unshamefully moved to the front passenger seat. 

“What are you doing?” His tone was hard and rough but I knew it naturally cold like that. 

“I’m sitting here,” I said matter of factly. He let out a short snort that was accompanied with the most sexy smirk I had ever seen a man give. 

“There’s no room,” he grinned. I shrugged my shoulders, not sure what game he was playing at. 

“Okay, I’ll just sit in Michael’s lap than,” I suggested. Before I could move I felt the iron clad grip of two hands on my sides, pulling me backward and into the car. I was thankful the car was an SUV because otherwise I might have hit my head. I settled comfortably on the handsome devil’s lap as Michael chuckled to himself about something that miss my ear. I leaned back and let my head rest on his shoulder, my eyes fluttering shut and the ride a blur. The next thing I knew was the smell of pizza and a soft voice gently waking me up. I opened my eyes and looked around, momentarily confused about where I was. But then I saw his face and felt calm again. 

“What happened?” I asked, noticing Michael and my friends were gone from the car. 

“We’re here but you were asleep. So I had them bring us some pizza for when you woke up.” I followed his gaze down to the cardboard box of pizza laying in the empty drivers seat. “I didn’t want to wake you.” I smiled at the thought as a blush crept up to my cheeks. “We can go out and eat with the others if you want.” His voice was deep but soft and I knew that it was because he was talking to me. And that was all it took from my drunken mind to cry. “Esme-what-why are you crying?”

“I… I just-you’re being so nice to me and I don’t even know your name,” I cried. I wasn’t sobbing and the tears weren’t flowing rapidly but I was still drunkenly crying in front of this man I barely know. 

“Oh s**t, I guess I should have written it down fully,” he said more to himself than me. 

“What?” I asked, confused, tired, and hungry. 

“My name is Ian, Esme. Come on, eat some pizza.” I turned around fully on the seat, one knee in between his legs and my eyes fully on him. ‘I don’t want pizza,’ I muttered almost too softly to hear. ‘I want you,’ I admitted. I shook the crazy thoughts out of my head and instead gave him a grateful smile as he passed me a slice of plain cheese pizza.

“Thank you,” I said shyly after I had finished my slice of pizza while Ian was on his second. 

“For what?” He asked after he swallowed his mouthful of pizza. Up this close I could see a small scar on the side of his otherwise perfect nose. I could see his full lashes that were casting a soft shadow onto his cheekbones. A jawline that was covered in a short stubble that made him look older than what he probably was. 

“For dealing with me while I’m drunk,” I smiled, snapping back to reality for a mere moment. I took another slice of pizza and started eating it while glancing around the car and at the parking lot we were in. Anything aside from his smoldering eyes. 

“You’re welcome.” We sat in silence until I finished my second slice and then I felt compelled to say something-to say anything. 

“I like your name.” Immediately I wanted to facepalm myself for such a stupid thing to say. It had sounded very cool and flirty in my head but when it came out of my drunk mouth it sounded like the most stupid thing I could have said. 

“Thank you,” he chuckled with a deep and sexiness that could only be obtained by soemone made by greek gods. Really, being drunk made me really horny. 

“You know, when I was-” Before I could continue, the driver side car door opened and Michael appeared, moving the pizza so he could get into the car. My friends got in the back, Sophie and Alicia laughing hysterically about something and I could just tell how hammered they were from the fact that they were laughing at the name of the pizza place. 

“Ready to go ladies?” Michael asked. But he didn’t look at my friends, but instead at me. And there was something there. It could have been just my drunk perception but I could have sworn that the look Michael was giving me was too intense. Almost s****l. I just nodded in reply and turned back around on Ian’s lap, feeling embarrassed for the first time since being on it. Why had I agreed to sit there? 

Michael drove to Sophie’s house first where her and Alicia went inside. It was already decided that Alicia would stay with Sophie for the night since Sophie always had the worst hangovers. I watched as Michael led the girls up to Sophie’s apartment and helped them unlock the door, since Sophie had apaprtently lost the ability. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with them tonight?” Ian asked, his warm breath comforting my cold back. 

“Yeah,” I sighed. Michael got back into the car and started driving towards my apartment after I gave him my address for the GPS. When we pulled up to my apartment, Ian got out of the car and seemed like he was about to walk me to my apartment, which I didn’t mind too much. Everything was starting to come crashing down the closer I got to my bed.

“I hope you had some fun,” I giggled. 

“I did,” Ian answered and whether it was from me being tipsy or not, it sounded sincere. 

“This is me,” I said, gesturing to apartment 11. I grabbed my purse from my arm and dug out my keys, fiddling with the lock for too long before my apartment door swung open. “Thank you. Again.” 

“Anytime,” he replied. I felt the want-no the need to kiss him but even at the thought my purse with my phone started to weigh more on my arm. 

“I’ll uh… see you,” I smiled before walking into my apartment and all but slamming the door in Ian’s face. s**t… I needed water. 

After managing the chug a whole glass of water and leaving a full one by my bed with two tylenol beside it, I climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to my neck. Within seconds, I was out cold. 

I wiped down the espresso machine in front of me since it had started to get espresso everywhere since we opened this morning. Even though it was Sunday and I had requested the day off at the club with my extra paid time off, I couldn’t resist taking the offer for a few extra hours in the morning at Jitters on Sunday. I needed the distraction. 

I poured two shots for an upside down caramel macchiato as I thought back to the text messages between Jasper and I Saturday morning. 

Hey, I’m so sorry but I think I need to take a raincheck on dinner

Is everything okay?

Yeah!

Actually… no

I just don’t think we really have the right personalities for each other yk? I just realized at the strobe light that we were pretty occupied with other people yk? no biggie just let me know how I can repay you some other way!

My texts were chirpy but also to the point of where they were bitchy. He never replied and I just hoped he wasn’t fuming though I could almost care less if he was. He had practically danced into every girl’s jeans in front of my eyes on the dancefloor and so why should I care? 

I looked up at the clock on the wall that said it was eight o’clock in the morning. I would be getting off in an hour which meant that aside from homework, I had a whole day of purely nothing to do. I thought back to Ian and how kind he was to me last night, with dancing with me, feeding me pizza, and even not freaking out when I cried in front of him like an i***t. I wondered if it would be okay for me to ask Jasper for Ian’s number. Of course it’s not okay you i***t. I wanted to groan with frustrastion at the situation in front of me. 

“Hello.” I turned my head at the familiar voice.

“Michael?” I asked before smiling in astonishment. “What are you doing here?” I asked. As if I had asked him a joke he grinned and looked up at the menu. 

“Well this is a coffee place right?” 

“Yeah, sorry. I’m just shocked to see you here.” I moved over the the register and prepared to ring up his order, thankful that there was no one behind him which meant we could hopefully talk for a second longer. “What can I get for you?” 

“An explanation.” I frowned at Michael’s answer. Was there some sort of joke in what he said? If so, I was being left out. 

“I’m sorry, what?” 

“An explanation,” he repeated. All traces of subtle kindness were gone from his face and instead all I saw was a stone cold expression of both calmness and contained anger. And that expression was channelled directly at me. “I want to know why you don’t want to go on a date with him. I mean it’s the least you could after he had your car towed back to your place.” I felt myself wanting to apologize immediately but I fought the urge of my upbringings. 

“I didn’t ask him to do that,” I replied as calmly and as quietly as I could. “And even then, I offered to pay him back.” 

“It’s one date, Esme. Just tell me why you changed your mind.” Michael’s eyes were unwavering and still focused on my own. I could tell this was a man that was rarely refused what he wanted and I figured answering him honestly might be the quickest way to get this over with. 

“Are you kidding me?” I asked, the menace finally filling my voice. “Did you see him on the dance floor?” I demanded. “He was all hands.”

“And?” Michael asked with what almost sounded like confusion. Even his brows seemed to draw together for a moment. 

“And? What do you mean, ‘and?’ There is nothing else.” Did he expect me to just be okay with that? That was seriously sick. 

“Well don’t take this the wrong way but you were also pretty handsy,” Michael smirked which only infuriated me more. Yeah he had a point but that was… well besides the point. 

“Only because he started it!” I lowered my voice considerably when two girls from the closest table gave me a quick glance. “Also why is this any of your concern anyway?” I demanded. 

“Because he’s my best friend, Esme. And for the first time since I met him I’m seeing something new in him that I’ve never seen before. You should give him a chance.” Michael pleaded though his cold expression made it sound more like a threat than a suggestion. 

“Well maybe go tell that to Kenzi because he seemed pretty happy with her last night.” Michael’s face physically changed into one of confusion and it seemed like I had broken through his tough guy armour. 

“What?” He asked. 

“You obviously saw it all. I’m not going out with someone like that and no amount of begging can change my mind. Forget it,” I shook my head. Michael remained silent for a moment and seemed to be in his own thoughts. I looked at the clock and thanked the lord that I only had thirty minutes left of my shift because Michael was getting under my skin. 

“How did you get his number?” Michael suddenly demanded. 

“What?” I asked, not sure where he was going with this. 

“How did you get his number?” His face was back to being a calm and almost unreadable expression. 

“He left a note in my car,” I answered. 

“Can I see it?” I started to ask why but Michael cut me off with almost a pleading expression. “Please, just for a second.” I looked around and after making sure no one else seemed like they were about to get into line, I slipped into the back room and to my purse that was tucked into my locker while nodding to my boss, Tucker. 

“Is it busy? Do you need help?” He asked. 

“Oh no it’s all good. Just grabbing something.” I grabbed the folded piece of paper and took it with me back onto the main floor before handing it over to Michael. He opened the piece and examined it as I collected an empty coffee mug someone had dropped off at the counter. 

“What is this?” Michael asked, sliding the paper towards me on the counter with an extended index finger at the bottom of the page. I resisted the urge to look at the veins popping on Michael’s hand and forearm and instead focused on where he was pointing. 

“The J?” I asked, wondering if that what he was really meaning to point at. 

“Esme, that’s not a J. It’s an I. An I for Ian.” I looked up at him as the pieces started to connect together. “You’ve been texting Ian, not Jasper.”