Page 48 of Sidelined Love

“Hailey!” Jade's voice draws my attention to the door. “You ready?”

“Almost. Be there in a sec!” I call back as I zip the dress up and put on a pair of black boots I'd stuffed in the back of my closet when I moved in.

When I step out into the living room of our shared apartment, Jade is dancing to a song coming from her phone,the pink dress she decided to wear tonight shifting with every movement she makes. I watch her for a few seconds with my arms crossed over my chest, and when she finally sees me, her face lights up like it’s Christmas morning as she stares at my hair. “Look at the stunner that just walked in here. And your hair is actually down, holy fuck.”

“Don’t get used to it. I can easily toss it back up in a bun.”

“Don't you dare!” Jade exclaims as she takes a step toward me as if she might grab my arms. “If you do, I'm cutting your hands off myself.”

I can't help but laugh at Jade. “Alright, I won't put it back up. But only because I know you'd find a way to follow through on that threat.”

“You're damn right.” Jade grins triumphantly, clearly pleased to have won this small battle. She gives me an approving once-over. “But seriously, you look fantastic.”

“And the same can be said about you. Thanks for leaving your red dress in my closet.”

She flashes me a dazzling smile. “You're welcome. Let's finish getting ready.”

We both make our way to our bathroom, where Jade starts rummaging through her makeup bag. “You want to wear eyeshadow, right?”

“Sure, that's fine,” I say as I watch her remove a compact case with several different colors of eyeshadow included. She carefully applies a brownish shimmery shade to her lids before she looks at me in the mirror.

“I've got this. I'll make sure we both look stunning tonight.”

I'm willing to put my look in Jade's hands because I trust her completely. Once she finishes applying most of our makeup, she turns to me holding a red lipstick. “This is going to look perfect with that dress.”

I take the lipstick out of her hand, uncap it, and bring the tube to my lips. After I finish putting it on, I can confirm that she's right. This lipstick looks great with this dress and with my skin tone.

“Okay, I think we're all set,” Jade says as she takes one final look at herself in the mirror.

“Great. Let me grab my keys, coat, and purse.”

“Okay, I'll meet you in the living room.”

Both Jade and I leave the bathroom and go our separate ways. I gather the things I need before walking into our living room once more. I say a quick prayer that my coat will keep me mostly warm tonight as Jade joins me and we leave the apartment.

The night air hits us as we step outside, and I shiver in response. Jade tries to talk to me, engaging in small talk, but I'm only half paying attention. My mind is on what tonight will bring and the things I revealed to Emily. It's all a lot to process, but I'm hoping tonight will give me an opportunity to quiet all of the other noise in my head.

We take a campus-owned bus downtown where a bunch of restaurants and shops are located and walk up to a building with Sapphire Tavern written across the front. We push through the doors of the bar, and I'm impressed by what we see.

As we walk into Sapphire Tavern, I start to understand why it is the new trendy spot in Crestwood. The exterior is sleek and modern, and the words of the bar lit up in neon-blue signage are icing on the cake. The interior of the bar is spacious, bathed in a soothing blue glow from the strategically placed lighting. The walls are adorned with contemporary art pieces, giving an even bigger artistic flair to the space.

The central attraction is the long, polished bar counter, topped with sparkling sapphire-colored tiles that shimmer under the overhead lights. Behind the bar, shelves of assortedliquors create a mesmerizing backdrop. This place is stunning, and I can see why it has become the newit place.

The seating area is a mix of booths and high-top tables, and near the rear of the venue, there is a dance floor if we want to shake our asses. Once again, normally not my vibe, but if I get enough drinks in me, I can be persuaded to do so.

Jade grabs my hand, pulling me toward the bar. “I promised you a few drinks, so this first round is on me!” she shouts over the noise from the music and the talking.

I smile, letting her lead the way. Once we are there, a bartender immediately comes up to us. “What can I get you? And would you like to start a tab?”

“Two Jack and Cokes and yes, please,” Jade calls out to the bartender, who nods and begins mixing our drinks. That drink is my go-to outside of the occasional beer and wine, and I'm not surprised Jade ordered one for herself too.

As we wait, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, coming face-to-face with Ben, one of my coworkers from Brewed Beginnings.

He grins at me and says, “Hailey, I thought that was you.” His eyes shift from being focused on my hair to my face as his smile widens.

I do a double take, still questioning whether I'm truly seeing him outside of work. Then again, he is more than likely more surprised at seeing me outside of Brewed Beginnings given I rarely go out and party. “Ben! What are you doing here?”

He shrugs, leaning against the bar. “Hanging out with some friends after a long week. You know how it is.”

---