Page 84 of Forgotten Pieces

I turn to face her. “And the most heartbroken when he left me in the dust.”

“Is it worth it to you? Are you willing to risk everything for a chance at that happiness again?”

“I don’t know.”

She lays a hand on my shoulder. “Then you need more time to figure it out. Don’t be too hasty over it.”

I give her a sad smile and then head to my closet to find a pair of stilettos. I don’t care if we are just hanging out in this dead-end town. I want to look good. And it has nothing to do with Ryder. I think.

* * *

“I’ll take another shot, Dick Tracey,” I shout across the bar. He shakes his head at me but grabs the vodka and pours me another.

“Girl, you need to slow down,” Laney slurs as she nearly slides off her bar seat.

“You should talk you are barely sitting up straight!”

“It’s my birthday. I can do what I want!” Laney shouts back to me.

I feel the heat of a body against my back as a hand reaches down and pulls the shot from my hand. “I’ll take this one.”

Chills spread across my body at the sound of Ryder’s voice. Then the warmth of anger when I realize he took my drink. “Don’t tell me what to do!” I say as I spin around in my seat. “Laney is wasted. I can be wasted too.” That’s when I notice the haze in Ryder’s eyes and I can tell he is just as drunk as I am. I test my theory by pushing him back slightly. He shifts slightly on his feet.

“You’re drunk too.”

He just shrugs at me and I punch him in the shoulder.

“Who cares if I’m drunk?”

“I do because then how you gonna get home this time? I ain’t gonna be able to drive you.”

He smirks at me. “Your accents coming out again.”

I push him again. “Who cares if my accent is comin’ out. You like it anyway!” I slap my hands over my mouth. I did not mean to say that aloud.

He leans over to place the empty shot glass on the bar, close enough to whisper in my ear. “I do like it. I would like it even more if you shouted with it when I make you come.”

My eyes go wide as he winks at me and walks away.Did he really just say that to me?

I still haven’t made up my mind about him. Although if I were to make that decision now, I would probably be ripping my clothes off and humping him on the dance floor.

“What is going through your mind? Do I need to run upstairs and get you a new pair of panties?”

I roll my eyes at Laney. “I’d have to be wearin’ them.”

“Ughh, every time.” She grabs my hand. “Let’s go dance.”

Even though it’s a Sunday night, the bar is slammed. I don’t know how I got out of working but I am taking full advantage. I join Laney on the dance floor as we swing and grind along to the pop country band playing. I can feel Ryder’s eyes on me so I play it up, making every one of my moves just a little more sexual than usual.

Time flies by and Laney has ordered us both way too many shots. I sneak away to the bathroom hoping some cold water on my face will snap me out of it. My head is foggy and I am pretty sure I have been openly flirting with Ryder. Bad combination. The water helps a bit but I know I need to slow down on the drinks. I fear I might make a bad decision or two if I don’t.

I stumble out of the bathroom. I only make it a few steps before I run into a giant. I look up and notice it’s Ryder. But in all fairness, my intoxicated brain really thought it was a giant.

“You okay?” he asks me.

I look at him confused. “Just fine.”

“You were gone a while.”

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