Page 15 of Wolf.e
“Brinley,” I say.
“Sorry, Brin.” Layla rolls her eyes. “Anyone new…they get dramatic.”
“Hope you brought your thirst and your appetite tonight,” Sean says to me on cue as Chantel returns, passing us all shots of dark amber liquid. “Around here, we drink and eat well.”
I take it from her as does everyone else.
“What is this?” I ask.
“Don’t ask, new girl, just drink. You’ll like it,” Amber promises.
I smell it first then look up at everyone in our circle.
“I like to know what I’m drinking. What liquors are in it?” I ask simply. They all look at me like I just proposed we sing a church hymn.
I relax my stance, trying to appear casual. It smells like cinnamon.
“It’s liquid cocaine,” Sean says with a smirk and a nod that says he doesn’t think I can handle it. He laughs, my worry probably apparent.
“Jägermeister and Goldschlager,” Layla says, swatting Sean. “No actual cocaine. You’ll like it.”
Sean raises his hand and even Shelly is ready to knock hers back. If this little old woman can take it, so can I, I decide.
“Try to relax,” Layla whispers to me.
“To the beautiful woman who will promise to love and obey me forever tomorrow.” Sean chuckles evilly, and Layla swats him before we all tip our shots back.
Damnnnn,it’s like straight cinnamon fire burning downmy throat. I make a face to keep from choking. I don’t even have that one back before the next one is placed in my hand.
I take it, yet I question how much these people drink. I rarely drink, but I remind myself this is my weekend to let loose. I can beanyoneI want to be here. They don’t know Brinley the girl who watchesFriendsalone in her fuzzy pajamas on Saturday nights. And this new Brinley wants to feel a little less nervous, so down the hatch the liquid cocaine goes.
I screw my eyes shut as the fire slides down my throat and the guitar intro to Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” fills the air at a deafening level. Layla gives a whoop as I smile and shake my head.
Before I even open my eyes, I can feel the air around me has shifted. When I do, I’m met with that hollow mercury gaze that pulls me in, and the air shifts again, turning downright electric. My knees weaken as Wolfe leans against the bar not ten feet away, watching me. Perfectly fitted jeans, motorcycle boots and a black and white flannel Carhartt under his cut. Wolfe doesn’t look away when my eyes meet his, he raises the glass in his inked hand up to his mouth. This close, I notice each finger has Roman numerals on them and vines weave through.
He draws a long sip from his glass of what looks like some sort of whiskey. His eyes stay on me over the rim, the same curious way they did the first time I saw him, slow, like he’s taking in every inch of me. I can’t tell whether it’s the intense way he’s staring or the liquid cocaine, but my body feels warm and dizzy under the weight. I place my shot glass on the tray at the bar without looking away from him.
“Wolfe, this is Brinley. I know you two haven’t been formally introduced but she’s my best friend from elementary school,” Layla says.
Wolfe nods at me. His face remains expressionless, but his gaze is like velvet and courses over me in a way I’ve never felt. I nervously fold my hands and let them hang in front of me.
“Uh… You two already know each other?” Shelly asks as Wolfe and I just stare at each other in silence.
“We saw each other once. We don’tknoweach other,” I answer her nervously, pulling my eyes away from Wolfe’s.
“We saw each other?” Wolfe asks in a deep timbre, the hint of a smirk playing at his lips, and I want to die. Of course, he didn’t notice me the way I noticed him that day. And why would he rememberme? I fold my arms across my chest awkwardly. I feel everyone’s eyes remain on me, including his, when I do.
“Well, Isaw you because…it’s kind of hard not to notice four tanks rolling down Main Street,” I bite out like I’m proving my point in debate class. “I would’ve been able to hear those bikes from the other side of town.” I tilt my head and looking down my nose at him like I’m judging my opponent.
Sean starts to laugh at my reaction.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious she’syourfriend,” he says, kissing Layla on the neck.
I grin at Sean, my eyes flit back to Wolfe’s. They’re still on me, less amused. I fight the feeling that tells me I like his attention, knowing Ishould notwant it with everything in me.
“Let’s eat, ya bunch of fuckin’ hooligans!” someone yells out over a megaphone.
Wolfe stands to his full height. I internally shrink as he walks straight toward me, his eyes never waiver as he approaches. The smell of leather and spice fills my senses; it grows stronger the closer he gets. I stand frozen, waiting with bated breath for him to pass but he doesn’t. To my surprise, Wolfe stops dead in front of me. He towers over me looking down. The feel of hiswide knuckles slinking down my forearm sends me into a sort of frenzy. My skin breaks out in goosebumps and my stomach somersaults. I know fear, I should feel fear now, but my body has other ideas. My pulse starts to race and heat creeps up my throat and over my cheeks.
