Had Vern released Dalton’s secrets to the media? He’d always seemed so loyal.
Who knew, besides me and Vern? I didn’t know who else Dalton had confided in, besides his manager and legal team. Could one of them have slipped up? Delicious secrets were difficult to keep.
That awful girl, Alexis, knew, but they were making friends with each other now. And besides, she’d known for years.
So, why now?
More importantly, without Keith around to keep me busy, how was I going to stay away from that charming liar, Dalton-whatever-his-real-name-was?
Shayla took me out that night to drink and get my mind off all things Dalton-related.
We started with dinner and sangria at DeNirro’s, where I was happy to note they’d changed the decor back to the red-checked tablecloths.
I took that as a positive omen that things were going to work out.
Then a framed print spontaneously fell off the wall as I was sitting down. Shayla said I bumped the artwork with my chair, but I swore I had a foot to spare. The glass broke when it hit the floor, and a small piece flew out and nicked my ankle. I pressed a paper napkin between my crossed ankles and didn’t say anything, because the staff was already horrified and apologetic.
I took that as a negative omen that my life was going to get way more disastrous.
After a pitcher of sangria, though, I didn’t really care.
I just wanted to dance.
We finished our pasta, sucked the last of the sangria off the ice cubes, and wobbled our way down the street to Cougar Town.*
*The bar is actually called Kaleidoscope, but who can say that shit when they’re partying? Also, it’s full of older women in leopard print dresses, so maybe management needs to open their eyes and embrace reality with a new, more appropriate name.
The place wasn’t too full yet, because the night was still young, even if the regular patrons sitting at the bar were not.
We hit the bathroom to sling on extra makeup before we lost hand-eye coordination, then found a choice table and ordered a round of drinks. Soon, we were joined by some friends, including Golden, her brother Garrett, and Chantalle, who was dating Garrett.
Shayla and I hit the dance floor for a few songs, and when we came back to the table, Adrian was on my chair, taking up all the space with his ridiculously tall, muscular body. His blond hair was styled to point up, making him another ridiculous inch taller.
I poked him in the chest with one finger. “You messed up my bookstore. I spent the last two days fixing everything!”
He grinned, as if he hadn’t heard me over the music and thought I was complimenting him.
I grabbed a chair from a nearby table and dragged it over. Everyone was talking. I had plenty of things to say, but couldn’t get a word in. The drinks were really going to my head, and I found myself caring less and less every minute.
At one point, I tried to contribute something to the conversation, only to be interrupted by Adrian saying, “One time, in LA…”
He grinned, and they all laughed. I hadn’t been talking about LA that much, had I? They were all envious jerks, that was it. Oh, they patted me on the shoulder and said they were kidding, and to go ahead and say what I was going to say about my trip to LA, but I wasn’t having any of it.
“Fuck all of you f**kers,” I said, and I grabbed my purse to leave.
The world was blurry, and chairs kept getting in my way as I pushed my way toward the exit. When did Cougar Town get so big inside? I found an exit sign and pushed the metal bar below, only to find myself on another planet.
Wait, no, it was just the alley side, where I’d never been before. Two people were kissing over by the dumpster. My eyes adjusted to the weak light of the alley. Oh, gross, they were doing more than kissing.
I turned around to go back in the way I’d come out, but the door had no handle. Instead of doing the logical thing, and walking around to the front, or to the taxi stand to get a lift home, I banged on the door and swore at it.
The door opened, and Adrian walked out, looking concerned and sweet.
“There you are,” he said. “We were worried about you.”
He let the door close behind him.
“You weren’t worried. They were all making fun of me, and you were, too. Jealous cheese-fucking motherfuckers.”
Twenty feet away, the gross couple was making grunting and panting sounds, only adding more charm to the moment.
“I was just teasing,” he said. “Your friends love you. They’re all dealing with your success as best they can. Trust me, I’ve been through this myself, when I was on the way up.”
I stared up into his face, at his eyes, which were still beautiful even though I couldn’t see their blue color in the yellow light of the alley.
I remembered the last text message he’d sent me, before the dick pic, and before I got back in town and started sending him my shit list items.
“Did you really know in high school that I liked you?” I asked.
“On some level, I think I did. But denial can be a powerful thing.”
I laughed, my voice ringing through the alley. “I think I know a thing or two about denial.”
“Why are you so upset tonight? Shayla said your boyfriend Dalton is coming here to visit. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
“We’re not together. I need to stay away from him.”
Adrian blinked down at me silently.
“Can you help me?” I asked.
“How?”
I reached my hands up and clasped him behind the neck. He didn’t want to budge, and he was so much taller, even with me on my toes. I pushed him back against the door and pulled at his neck harder, until he was leaning down, his lips coming closer and closer.
His mouth touched mine. He tasted like beer.
Hot buttered noodles, I’m kissing Adrian Storm.
The End of Starlight, Peaches Monroe #2