Bottoms Up
1134 Words
“Hurry up, Laura, we need to get out of here,” Jenine's voice thrilled.
“Why?” Laura's face creased. “What's the hurry?”
“This place gives me the creeps. The whole lot of it. The Alpha especially. He gives me the heebie-jeebies. Please let's just go.”
“You really need to take a chill pill. We're literally in the safest place in all our territories. The f*****g pack house and you're already pinning to leave?”
Jenine swirled around. “You know, you barely escaped death by the whiskers. You almost became a ghost. You should keep quiet for a bit.”
“Whatever you say scaredy-cat.”
Laura looked around.
“You know what? Let's get the hell out of here. The place gives me the creeps too.”
The hallway was rowdy, people swarming through it like flies.
“What's going on?” Laura held an omega by the hand.
“The Alpha's son, Luca. He's been found.”
“Found?”
“He's been missing for days now. Almost a week.” The omega looked around sharply, her sunken eyes glistening. “I didn't say anything to you.”
“My lips are sealed.”
Jenine's eyes met the Alpha's as she strolled through the gate.
“Don't stare too hard,” Laura jabbed into her ribs. “Focus on getting home.”
The sun had glimmered down when they got home. Laura turned the doorknob letting them in. The door thudded after them.
The air in the rooms stank of quiet emptiness. Jenine touched Laura's shoulders lightly.
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Laura threaded lightly on her feet towards the door. Slowly. The door opened as she reached for it.
A frown spread across her face.
“Elisha. What do you want?”
“Is Jenine in? I need to speak with her.” His face was blank as a chalkboard. “May I come in?”
Laura slammed a hand across the door.
“You're not allowed into my house. You WILL wait outside.”
He shook his head. “You know, Laura, I…”
“Jenine!” Laura bellowed over her shoulders. “Elisha wants you.” She turned to face him. “Whatever it is you have to say, I don't want to hear it.”
Jenine's feet slapped across the floor board. Laura eased away from the door as she came.
“He's not allowed into my house.”
She banged the door shut.
“She doesn't like me.”
“I think that's pretty obvious,” Jenine cooed. She threw herself into his arms, burying her face into his chest. Elisha stroked her hair. He kissed her face as she cuddled up against him.
“Let's get out of here.”
“Sure. Your place.”
His brows raised. “My place?”
“Yeah. Your place. I've never been there before. I don't even know where you live.”
Her hair bounced as she hopped down the stairs. “You coming?”
His lips curled up in a smile. “Yeah. Sure.”
The birds chirped as they strolled out heading to the road. A cab screeched to a stop as Elisha hailed him.
“Where to?” the chubby, middle aged man croaked.
“13th, Moonrow avenue” Elisha grunted as he settled down into the seat. Jenine nestled into him.
They sat in silence, their eyes taking in the scenery wheezing past fast in a blur. Elisha caught the driver staring at him through the mirror.
“You got a problem with me, old man?” he asked, his brows furrowing.
“Not at all, lad. You remind me of my son. I… miss him.”
“I'm sure he misses you too,” Jenine sat up. “Did he travel or something?”
“He… died.”
“Oh my gosh,” Jenine's hand flew to her mouth. “I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to reopen old wounds.”
“It's fine,” the man said, his voice shaky. “He was a good kid. Couldn't have asked for a better son.”
The engines hummed to a stop. “Here's your stop.”
“Keep the change,” Elisha pushed the bills into his hands. “I'm sorry about your son, man. I'm sure he loved having you as his father.”
The man nodded. “Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Elisha stood there as the car eased back into the road. His arm slipped around Jenine's waist. “Let's get going.”
Jenine's eyes flickered around the quiet neighborhood. She'd never been to these parts before. Everything looked neat. Big. Wealthy.
“I didn't know there were places like this here.”
Elisha's eyes twinkled.
“This way.”
He led her into a mansion. The interiors were well decorated and lighted. With paintings on the walls and colourful designs that screamed of affluence.
“Wow,” Jenine mouthed, her eyes roving all over the place. “This is where you live?”
“I wouldn't be bringing you in here if I didn't.”
Her eyes widened. “What are you? Some sort of secret millionaire or something?”
Her fingers traced the delicate designs on the furniture. The light above shone on the polished wood making them glisten like pearls.
“Where are my manners?” Elisha coughed. “What can I offer you? Food? A drink?”
“A drink is fine.”
He pulled out a bottle of wine from the cabinet that stayed just at the side of the sitting area. The glasses clinked against each other as he withdrew them from the racks. The wine sloshed in a red swirl as he poured into the glasses.
“Here,” he handed her one. “To… whatever it is we're celebrating.”
“Friendship,” Jenine's eyes glowed with mischief.
“To friendships.” Their glasses clinked together. Jenine threw the red liquid down her throat in one gulp.
“Woah, easy.” His eyes squinted as she reached for the bottle.
“What? I just want to drink and forget the events of these past few days. Either you help me do it or I do it myself. Alone.”
Elisha's eyes settled on her face. Her eyes shone clear as day, beckoning him. Her lips curled up in a smile when their eyes met.
“Well, If you're planning on getting wasted, that's the wrong drink for that,” he took the bottle from her.
Jenine's eyes followed him as he went back to the wine cabinet. He came back with a bottle of tequila and shots. He poured them.
“You wanted to get wasted? Bottoms up.”
- Writer
