Page 21 of My Best Friend's Sister

I don’t even realize I’m moving faster down the street until I’m slightly out of breath when I reach the first ATM in between a broken payphone and a group of rats feasting on a pile of trash.So, what, you’re jealous of Kennedy now?I think to myself, wondering where this feeling of annoyance came from all of a sudden.

I’m back at the club and hand the bouncer one-sixty. “You going to give me my change or?”

“Service fee,” he says, stamping my wrist.

“Of course.”Not that I give a fuck about the ten dollars or the one hundred and fifty others, but principle.I walk down a long corridor that is only lit with low purple lighting as I can hear the bass of the music through the wall. I enter the main club, and there are people everywhere.How the hell am I going to find Ava?

Here, where are you?

Ava: When you walk in, go to the left! I’m at the bar there.

I move through the crowds and stop in my tracks when I see Ava dancing with a few of her friends. Her eyes find mine as I head toward her, and she gives me an enthusiastic smile.

“You made it!” she says, and I waste no time pulling her into my arms and holding her tightly. I tuck my face in her neck and press a brief kiss on her cheek before pulling away. “Hi, Ava, long time no see, stranger.”

“Sorry.” She blanches. “Been a crazy week.” I nod, knowing it’s a bullshit answer. “Do you want a drink?”

“I’m going to go to the bar.”What the fuck am I doing here? Her friends are young law school students; they don’t want me hanging around.

“I’ll come with!” she tells me and links her arm through mine, leading me to believe she’s also a little bit drunk. We get to the bar, and she leans over slightly to get the bartender's attention.

“We should take a picture to send to Tucker; he’ll be so jealous he’s not here.” She taps the person next to us before I can protest. “Can you take our picture?” she asks a girl with fiery red hair and a dress too tight for her. She points her phone at us and takes one.

“You guys are such a hot couple.” She giggles as she takes a sip of what is probably a very strong drink.

I wasn’t going to correct her, but I wasn’t going to say anything either. Ava, however, perks up. “Thanks! His dick is huge.” She giggles, and I pull her away from the equally drunk girl.

“Ava!”

“What? From what I felt, it was big.”

“That’s not the point!” I chuckle. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Not that much.”

“What does not that much mean?”

“Not enough to forget that the only reason you’re here is because you think I’m mad at you.”

“Are you?”

She looks at me for a beat, then shakes her head. “No. I’m not. A little bummed out, but I get it. I’ll get over it.”

But did I want her to get over it? I wasn’t over it. I want nothing more than to take her home or to her place so we could talk or…something. But I couldn’t do it here. I needed her alone.

“Ava, I--”

“Hey, babe, I was looking for you,” I hear as an arm slides around Ava’s shoulders, effectively interrupting me.

Babe? What the fuck? Stop touching her!

“Sorry, Jackson got here, and we were just getting a drink!” She smiles up at him.

“Oh, Jackson…friend of Ava’sbrother,right?” he says, and I resist the urge to punch his face in.

“I’m a friend of Ava’s too.”

Ava shoots me a warning look. “Jackson, this is Kennedy.”

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