Page 8 of Something that Could Last

“Look at them, Tiff.” I jab my arm in their direction, palm facing the sky. “And look at us.”

“And?” Her worried expression turns to irritation. “What about us?”

“A Range Rover? Really? And you saw how they’re dressed. How are we supposed to compete with that? These guys obviously come from money. We don't exactly fit in with them.” Maybe this is just something rich guys do. They find local girls to go slumming with when they go out of town and then forget about them when they go back to their Stepford Barbie girlfriends.

“It's not a competition, Abby. Besides, they don't seem to care about any of that, so why should we? We fit in just fine. It's not like we're hobos.” Her lopsided grin puts me at ease. “They just want to have a good time and so do we. What's the big deal?”

For once, Tiff is being the rational one and I'm a little ashamed of myself. I've judged them unfairly because of my own insecurities about not being good enough. They deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt.

“You're right. We should just go out and have fun and not worry about the rest.”

“That's the spirit,” Tiff jokes and punches me in the arm playfully.

I pull up to the driver's side of Jacob's SUV and Tiff rolls her window down.

“The Red Stallion is just up the road,” she says, pointing in the direction of the bar. “Just follow us.”

We pull into the parking lot a few minutes later and the guys park next to us. My hands are shaking when I reach for the door handle and I'm overcome with nervous energy.

Before I have a chance to open my door, Tiff places her hand on my arm and I look up at her. “It's alright,” she reassures me. “We're just having a few drinks with a couple of hot guys. No big deal. Just relax and have a good time. We've done crazier shit than this.” She gives me a knowing grin. Once again, she's right, and I'd like to forget about some of those crazy things she's referring to.

I release the anxious breath I'm holding and nod my head.Just relax.I can do this. It's no big deal. Just have fun.I repeat this to myself as I step out of the car and walk over to meet Jacob. He's standing with his hands in his pockets, leaning up against his SUV with a subtle, show-stopping smile on his gorgeous face. My skin warms at the sight, despite the chill in the air. As I close the distance between us, my pulse quickens and I remind myself to breathe.

“Ready to go in?” he asks, placing his hand on the small of my back. The gentle contact sends a tingle up my spine.

“Hell yeah, we're ready!” Tiff answers enthusiastically for both of us.

Tiff and I lead the way to the door. Music from inside the bar drifts out into the night and I feel the bass thumping in my chest. Butch is working tonight, as usual, and lets us in without so much as a second glance. He never cards us. I'm not sure he ever cards anybody.

Once inside, we head for the bar. The floor beneath my feet vibrates with the heavy bass thumping through the sound system. Jacob turns to me, and though I can see his lips moving, I can’t hear what he says over the din of too loud music blasting from the speakers.

“What?” I yell back.

He leans down, his mouth a mere inch from my ear, and I breathe in his intoxicating smell. I close my eyes and bask in his heady, masculine scent and the sound of his smooth, deep voice. Our bodies are so close, but not quite touching. Every cell in my body is on high alert, anticipation of physical contact consuming my senses.

“So, how about that shot of whiskey?” he asks with the sexy timbre that makes my stomach clench and my pulse accelerate.

“That sounds great.” I’m going to need some liquid courage for this.

Jacob orders me a shot of Crown and I immediately down it in one gulp, earning a chuckle from him. I'm going to need another just to still my nerves.

“Maybe I should've gotten you a double.”

I swallow nervously and straighten my shoulders.Here goes nothing. “Maybe you should have,” I reply, attempting a seductive tone.

Jacob grins deviously at my sassy response and his eyes darken with desire. Heat floods my lower belly and between my thighs. He hasn't even touched me yet and already my body is responding to him. I have never felt this way about a guy before. I'm no virgin but desire this strong is uncharted territory for me.

Jacob turns to the bartender and orders me another shot, a double this time, and a beer for himself. I drain my glass in two big gulps, the smooth liquid going down easier than the cheap whiskey I usually drink. Jacob watches me over the brim of his bottle, his lips curling up on each side as he takes a swig. I reluctantly pull my eyes from his when I feel someone grab my arm.

“I wanna dance.” Tiffany has a cup filled with amber liquid. She's drank most of it and I hear Luke ordering another from the bartender. I hope she doesn't get so drunk tonight that we have to carry her out. It wouldn't be the first time, and it certainly won't be the last. She drains the rest of her drink and discards her cup before Luke hands her a new one.

“Oh, come on, dancing queen. Let's hit the floor,” I tell her. She squeals, bouncing on the balls of her feet before grabbing me by the hand and pulling me onto the dance floor. I'm already starting to feel the effects of the whiskey I consumed just a few moments ago. My mind and body relax a little as warmth from the liquor spreads through my veins. I begin to move to the music, letting the rhythm guide the sway of my hips and the motion of my arms. Tonight, the DJ is playing mostly pop and hip-hop, the best kind of music to dance to.

Tiff and I dance for a couple of songs as she sips her drink. At the end of the second song, I glance over my shoulder to find the guys leaned up against the bar watching us, a bottle of beer in each of their hands. Jacob's eyes burn into mine. He’s watching me intently and I can tell he likes what he sees. His intense observation of my body moving to the music sends a shiver up my spine. I wonder what his hands would feel like grasping my hips, in my hair, all over me. I tear my gaze away from him and turn to Tiff when she yells my name.

“I need another drink. And so do you,” she insists, pointing her finger into my chest. “Come on.” Once again, she grabs my hand and leads me where she wants me to go.

“Need another drink, beautiful?” Luke asks her, his self-assured grin never leaving his face.

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