Page 97 of January

“We should go over there, right?” Jill asked.

“What would we even say? We caught you staring at us?”

“Why not?” Jill asked. “It’s the truth.”

“Okay, I’ll go,” Bridgette agreed reluctantly. “But youhave to lead because I’m clearly shit at this. Just look at Kyle and Mel over there.Isaw Kyle first and couldn’t say a damn word. Now, Melinda is all over her.”

“Hey!” Melinda laughed before she took a drink.

“We’ll be right back. Wish us luck,” Jill said, nodding for Bridgette to start walking that way.

“Hey, how are you?” Melinda checked on Kyle once they were alone.

“Good. I’m having a great time,” Kyle told her.

“Me too,” Melinda replied. “Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?”

“There’s not really anything you could say after that that’s good, is there?” Kyle turned to her.

“It’s more a question.”

“Okay.”

“You kind of led me to believe that you normally don’t drink that much, but you’ve had several drinks tonight. I’m not the alcohol police – if you want to get wasted tonight and tumble into my bed later, I’m fine holding your hair and making sure you drink water – but I wanted to make sure you were okay. If you’re just having fun hanging out with my friends, great. If there’s something bothering you, though, and you’re–”

“Mel?”

“Yeah?”

“My mom solves her problems with alcohol. I don’t,” Kyle replied. “I’m having fun tonight, and thisisgood beer. It’s local, right?”

“A brewery just outside the city,” Melinda said, placing a hand on the side of Kyle’s neck. “And I just wanted to be sure.”

“I’m okay. Tonight has been really good. And I like your friends. They’ve helped me take my mind off everything that’s going on.”

“How did it go with the lawyer today?”

“He said everything is airtight, but we set up a meeting. We’ll go over options and everything then.”

“Options?”

“If she tries to fight,” Kyle explained.

“Do you think she will?”

“I have no idea,” Kyle replied. “But can we talk about something else?”

“Want to watch Bridge and Jill try to hit on women?”

Kyle laughed and said, “Absolutely.”

An hour later, Jill had a new phone number in her contacts, but Bridgette wasn’t into the woman who had been into her, so that hadn’t worked out. They’d gone to a new bar. Kyle had gotten a tourist drink at Tropical Isle and now held a Hand Grenade to her lips, which made Melinda laugh. That drink was all ice and sugar but was deceptively strong. Kyle was about to be on her ass if her flushed cheeks and loud laugh were any indication.

“Okay, baby. I think it’s time to go home,” Melinda said, wrapping her arm around Kyle’s waist.

“Why didn’t I party in the Quarter before this? It’s so much fun.”

Bridgette and Jill laughed at Kyle.

---