Bad Decisions

Undefeated

Kassie

My heart was beating painfully against my rib cage as I ran, blood rushed loudly in my ears. I was pleasantly surprised I had the common sense to change before leaving the house first. I didn’t even look at what I grabbed. I just ripped my damn clothes off over my head and pulled on the first thing my hand touched. I damn near tripped over my pants as I tugged them up over my thighs at the same time I was trying to rush out of the bedroom.

I felt his eyes on me as I scrambled into the hall, just as I was finishing buttoning my pants. s**t, he probably saw my panties. f***k it, I didn’t even care.

But I made the mistake of looking up at him briefly, just a brief split second, and it was enough to make the breath rush out of my lungs. His eyes were the darkest shade of black, as dark as a starless midnight sky, swirling with emotions I wouldn’t put names to.

I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.

Normally, between fight or flight, flight wasn’t my go-to-reaction. When it came to the weird tension between me and my best friend? I was a flight risk all the way. Especially after a fuck.ing mind-shattering kiss like that.

I didn’t say a goddamned thing as I turned from him and ran faster than I thought possible. I slipped down the stairs a bit, barely recovering from catching the rest of the steps with my face. Micah might have called after me. I wasn’t sure. I just ignored him and skipped the last couple of steps, jumping the rest of the way down. I zoomed to the front door, grabbing my boots on the way out. I didn’t bother putting them on until a ways away from the house and I didn’t even notice if I closed the door behind me or not.

Fu.ck. It.

I had to get out of there fast, before Micah decided to follow after me. God, what if he had followed after me? Would he kiss me all over again? If he did, I didn’t think I could stop myself from jumping at the chance and risking it all just to ride out this s****l tension. I’ve never been good at self-control.

I was borderline a fuc.king panic attack as I stopped short in front of the familiar building that I was at just an hour or two earlier.

The bar.

My go-to when things get hard. A place where I didn’t have to think, I could just drink my problems away. Somewhere that maybe, just maybe, I could be safe from my own feelings.

The trouble called to me, urging me forward. I knew there was nothing good awaiting me past the front door, but did I care? No. Not one bit. The alternative was worse.

Going back and facing the music.

And that just wasn’t going to happen.

Micah crossed a line and I wasn’t sure where we would go from there. But I knew one thing as I plopped my happy ass at the bar.

I needed something strong before I could figure it out.

The bartender looked at me, a brow raised.

“Weren’t you in here earlier?” Whatever-his-name-was asked. “Kassie, right?”

“Yeah…uh…”

“Daniel,” he supplied.

“Right. Well, Danny boy, I need a drink, stat.”

“What can I get for you?”

“Your strongest.”

He looked taken aback. “You sure? That s**t is pretty potent for someone your size.”

“Listen, Dan, a little friendly advice from me to you. Don’t ever comment on my size. You’ll find it hard to walk out of here with two broken kneecaps.” I wondered if he had a baseball bat on hand just like Rosie did.

He smiled, thoroughly amused. At least one of us was.

“Alright, lady, you got it. Just be careful, a lot of customers complain about hallucinations from too much,” he sends me a wink.

“On second thought, better make it a double.”

He chuckled as he poured his mystery brew into separate shot glasses, sliding one towards me and taking the other in his own hand.

“That one’s on me,” he lifts the glass, clinking it against mine. “Welcome to our little town of Horizon, Kass.”

The drink burned going down worse than anything I’d ever tasted. I couldn’t stop the sour look on my face. Don’t get me wrong, though, I loved it. Just strong enough to put me on my ass.

“What the hell is this?”

He smirked again and gave me a wink. “Witch’s brew.”

As I already felt the warming sensation that usually took me several drinks for me to get, I knew that trouble had already found me.

“Keep ‘em coming, Danny boy.”

~~

I didn’t know how, when, or why I ended up at a corner table, away from the bartop. One minute, I was talking to Danny, telling him the harrowing tale of my life as he slipped me another drink, and in the blink of an eye, I was there at the back table throwing back another drink that I most definitely did not pay for. I think one of the guys sitting with me did.

If I thought this drink was trouble before, I didn’t think much of anything after several more. Maybe eight? Twelve? Who actually cares? It was the best drink I ever had.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this drunk. The head spinning, room blurring, kind of drunk. It was spectacular.

Yet, the drink did s**t to numb my mind and body to what waited for me back at the house. In fact, the alcohol only made it worse when I remembered how intimately Micah had grabbed me, crushing me against his chest. His lips were possessive, claiming me so fully, parting to allow his tongue to dance with mine. I had succumbed to him so quickly, so willingly that I’m surprised I was able to come to my senses at all.

God, it was so hot.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I had left this bar and went back to him…would it? Continue where he left off, show him exactly who he was challenging.

I needed to stop thinking about it. I had to press my thighs together in an attempt to ignore the ache that my imagination was working up. All just from one single kiss. And trust me, it was never really all that fun getting worked up in front of other beings with super sniffers. It was just awkward as all hell.

I had my hand outstretched towards the big burly man across from me, my elbow resting on the table.

“Alright, you know the drill,” I said. “If I win, you have to buy me my next round.”

I couldn’t remember what their prize was if they won, but it didn’t matter- I hadn’t lost yet. The man grinned, and wrapped his fingers around mine. His palm was clammy, sweating from anticipation.

It wasn’t entirely lost on me that the guys around me were probably willingly filling my cup, urging me to get drunk in order to lower my inhibition, thinking I would make an easy score. I wasn’t there yet, and I doubt I would ever be. None of them were to my standards, especially with a certain demon on my mind.

But I’d willingly take the distraction.

It almost seemed like the guy was actually trying, his muscles bulging under pressure, but when I “accidentally” brushed my leg against his under the table, he faltered. It was all I needed to overcome his strength, slamming his hand down on the table.

He looked shocked and angry all at the same time, and I smiled at him, batting my eyelashes innocently.

They never expect a little girl to win.

“Guess I won again.”

I had no problem playing dirty to get what I wanted. There were no rules against it. He huffed and walked away. As long as he went to retrieve my victory drink, I didn’t care. Otherwise I’d find him later to collect.

Another guy sat down in front of me, and I paused, narrowing my eyes.

Light hair, dark eyes, and broad shoulders gave him total Micah vibes if I stared at him with squinted eyes.

Fu.ck.

So much for a distraction.

“My turn,” he grinned.

“Okay,” I shrugged.

“Different rules this time.”

“Oh?” I asked, intrigued.

“You vs me. I win, I take you home with me.”

Oh, this guy had some balls, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

“And if I win?”

He leaned forward. “Still want that drink?”

Fu.ck yeah, I did. I smile wickedly. “Always.”

I took his big hand in mine, thankful that he wasn’t sweaty like the last guy.

“But I have to tell ya, I never lose,” I told him.

He chuckled. “Neither do I, sweetheart.”

Unlikely.