Page 34 of Breathing Without You

“We should all hang out together, I’ll text Winter to see if she’s up for it, if that’s cool with you guys?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood before things become more awkward.

“Yeah, that’s fine with me, I’m sure she’d like that a lot actually.” Carsten smiles. I love that every time he talks about Winter it brings a big smile to his face.

“I’m cool with that too.” Creedence chugs down the rest of his beer before reaching for his other one he placed on the counter. Probably trying to distract his mind and calm his nerves. Sometimes dealing with grief that you’ve been trying to ignore can take a lot out of you and be exhausting.

I take a sip of my cherry vodka and Sprite and text Winter.

Emerald

hey bitch

Winter

sup hoe, miss your face

Emerald

Miss your face too, I’m with the guys, do you and Carsten wanna hang out when you’re done working?

Winter

I’m down with that, what did the guys say?

Emerald

They’re cool with it… I told them I’d ask you

Winter

yeah lets do it what do you guys want to do?

“She wants to know what we want to do?” I look back to the guys, accidentally interrupting them mid conversation.

“Well, Winter loves to dance,” Carsten says sarcastically. “We can always head to Black Velvet and eat and have some drinks.” His shoulders shake as he laughs at what he just said. We all know how much Winter dislikes dancing but still does it to make her friends and Carsten happy. I think she secretly likes it and just doesn’t want to admit it though. I laugh to myself at that one because who am I kidding even I know that isn’t true.

“That’s fine with me, what about you, Creed?” I ask him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He seems spaced out since he sat on his motorcycle. I really hope me bringing it up and standing by it didn’t upset him and he’s just trying to act like he’s not bothered to not upset me? I know he wants us to be open and honest so I think he’d tell me if he was, at least I would hope he’d tell me.

“What’d you guys say? Sorry, I was zoned out.” He blinks a couple times and shakes his head quickly.

“Do you wanna go to Black Velvet to eat, drink, and dance?” I give a big smile, “Please, you know I love dancing?” I ask givinghim a pouty face knowing he’s not a fan of dancing, but he’ll dance with me. And he has a weak spot for my pouty face.

“Anything for you, Sugar.” He winks at me. “I love watching you dance; god is it sexy. So, I’m down.” He rubs my shoulders a little before sliding his arms around my waist stirring the butterflies in my stomach.

“Awesome, let me see what Winter says.” I open my phone back up to respond to her text.

Emerald

Black velvet?

I send it to her and see a typing response then it stops before she starts typing again.

Emerald

food, drinks and dancing please bitch you know you wanna shake your ass with me? Lol

Winter

was literally just typing. FINEEEE. Of course we can I miss shaking my ass with you lol

---