Chapter 16
1067 Words
***Dylanne
My friends and I booked a table at the finest bar in town: Downton Michaelson. I sat among my girls—Kim, Brooke, and Kendall. I knew Brooke through Kim, while Kendall and I had become friends when she used to work with Rhys. We hadn't seen each other much recently, so when Kim called, they showed up fast.
Brooke had been away for tailoring classes and was now back at NYU. Kendall, on the other hand, now owns a beauty salon in uptown Manhattan.
The girls took over the table, downing shots of pure whiskey and slamming the glasses on the wood. They each picked up a line and popped it into their mouths for effect.
“Dyl, you're next!” Kendall and Kim said.
“Hit me.”
“Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” I scoffed.
Brooke’s eyes scanned the whole bar, seat to seat, until they landed on someone. A devilish smirk spread across her lips.
“Him,” she said, pointing at the guy who sat calmly, typing whatever it was on his laptop. He wore glasses and looked like one of those characters from Scooby-Doo.
I groaned while the other girls laughed.
“I dare you to walk up to him and offer him a night. Just a few kisses and some smooches here and there,” she said, pursing her lips and making kissing sounds.
Kim and Kendall laughed along. I stood up and looked back at the guy. He wasn't even drinking alcohol, just a fruit juice from the bottle..
Poor guy. Anyway, this is just a game. I rolled my eyes and left the table. I tugged the hem of my short dress down to my knee, but it popped up again. As I approached him, I could still hear the girls' voices, their bickering and quiet laughter.
“Hi,” I said when I reached him. He looked up, and I could tell he was a ginger with grey eyes.
“Is this seat taken?” I drawled, placing a hand on his shoulder as I looked down at him. His face showed shock; he stared at me, brows knotted in confusion.
“I didn't order anything, Miss.”
Miss? Oh dear. He’s probably never spoken to a girl before, even though he looked twenty-four. Don't get me wrong, he was mature; he was just a geek. I sat down beside him, and immediately I felt the urge to look back. It was like someone had eyes on me.
I glanced back at the girls. They had their thumbs up, laughing with their stomachs shaking.
I reached out. “I'm Dylanne. And you?”
“Oh… so you're not—”
“I don't work here,” I chuckled. “I want to get to know you. See where the night takes us, you know?”
I watched him. His face lit up as he pushed his laptop aside and made room for me. Still, I couldn't shake that feeling on my back.
It felt wrong, like being watched. I turned slowly, after what seemed like ages, and saw him: sitting behind the booth, eyes fixed on me. I knew it was Kai before I saw his features.
Why was he here? Had he been following me?
I turned back to my dare.
“Johnny,” he smiled. “The name's Johnny.”
I tried to relax, leaning in toward Johnny for something warmer, but I couldn't. Something kept stopping me; everything about it felt wrong.
“I haven't seen you here before, Johnny. You don't live around here?”
“Actually, no. I just moved in from Singapore.”
“That's pretty cool,” I said, sliding closer to close the space between us. I glanced back at Kai. He stood with his arms folded, jaw twitching, eyes boring into mine. Fury brewed behind them and I could feel it like a heat at my back but I tried not to care.
This was the distraction I wanted, and yet here he was, making things harder.
I leaned in toward Johnny and pressed my fingers lightly to his lips to stop whatever he was about to say. His eyes widened in surprise; he licked his lips. It annoyed me a little, but it worked for the plot.
If I did this, maybe Kai would see I didn't care about him or his stupid deal.
I moved slowly, whispering into Johnny's ear while he goggled. I closed my eyes, ready to kiss him, when a shove sent me backward. My eyes snapped open to find Kai towering over me, his hand clamped on my wrist.
“Of course…you had to show your face to prove a point,” he spat.
“What the f**k do you think you're doing?”
“It’s called having fun, Kai. Deal with it.”
Johnny stared between us, confused. “Is there a problem? Are you okay? Do you know this guy?” he asked.
Kai fixed him with a death glare and Johnny fell silent. Kai finally let go of my hand, but not gently.
“Get your s**t. Let’s go.”
“I can't…Kim is here,” I tried to warn him.
“I don't give a s**t, Dyl. You should've thought about that before you decided to kiss another dude right in front of me!”
His voice was raw, veins standing out on his neck. Heat rushed through me; shame or fear. Maybe guilt and defiance tangled together. The room had gone quiet; every head turned toward us. Kai had made a scene, exactly where I didn't want one.
“No,” I said.
“Okay then. Since you want to act stubborn.” He tightened his grip and started pulling me away.
I stumbled to keep up on my flimsy heels. As we neared the girls' table, Kim jumped up and rushed forward. Her brows knit as she looked from Kai to me, taking in the way he held my wrist. She gave me a questioning look but I couldn't meet her eyes.
I turned my face away.
“Kai, let me go this minute!” I demanded.
“Not a chance.”
Kim planted herself in our path, Kendall and Brooke behind her. Her gaze flicked between Kai and me, stunned.
“Kai? What are you doing here? What's going on, Dyl?”
- Writer
