Page 7 of The Air You Breathe

“Damn, I didn’t think it would be this cool,” Jane said, hugging me tight. After a crazy night at the club, it cemented our bond as friends, and I was so glad because I definitely needed a friend. We had aired out all of our secrets, having a slumber party at her home after we got back from the club.

“I know! I should have known better but who wants to hold a sweater while they drink?” We pulled away and she introduced me.

“Sabrina and Katherine, this is Darcy, a badass woman, who makes a mean cup of coffee,” Jane said, and both girls hugged me.

“Darcy, so nice to meet you! We are so glad you came out with us, and that Jane has a friend here.” Sabrina smiled at me.

“Yeah, we were worried about her being all alone, well other than those hot as hell men she’s got chasing after her.” Katherine rolled her eyes, making us all laugh.

“I can’t help it if they all want me,” Jane shrugged with a small smile, looking a little embarrassed.

“Sure…. act all innocent!” Katherine laughed.

“Come on, let's go. I’m starving.” Jane walked to the gondola and I knew she was still a little uncomfortable talking about the guys. Her relationship with Aiden, Callum and Nathan was still new. I knew she was worried about what other people would think about her being with the three of them especially in this small town when everyone knew everyone's business.

“Let’s go!” the girls yelled, and we all followed.

Once we reached the top, we exited and walked into the restaurant. They sat us down very quickly at a table with a gorgeous outlook. We had a prime view of the mountains surrounding Mountain View. I loved living here but sometimes the small town was exhausting. Never having left didn’t help either. I looked at the women around the table, wondering if one day I could go back to Dallas with Jane, and she could show me around.

Dinner was amazing. Jane ordered a three-course meal with wine pairings and dessert. Each course was better than the last, but the wine was a little harder to swallow. I knew Yellowtail and Cupcake but these fancier wines didn’t taste very different from each other, except the champagne.

A girl could get used to something as delicious as that. I was afraid to ask how much the bottle was because I would probably spit it out and say no thanks from the shock.

The conversation was amazing, making me realize I was definitely missing out on girl talk. Seeing Jane with her sisters-in-law was refreshing and she seemed a lot happier. Or it might be the alcohol or even the fact she made up with the guys, after their big fight. Either way she looked so much better, and I was happy for her.

Jane didn’t let anyone pay for the meal, making me feel guilty. I took a glance at it, and I swear it was over five hundred dollars.

My eyes bugged out at the amount, but every time we tried to pay for any of us, Jane glared at all of us and said she wanted to spend her hard-earned money on a girl’s night out. After she settled the check, we finished our drinks and went out onto the balcony. We wanted to enjoy the view one more time. It was even colder up here so we squealed and went back inside to catch the gondola back down.

Once we made it to the bottom the girls said they wanted to get more drinks. We walked down to Group Therapy, while Katherine and Sabrina sang Miranda Lambert’s “Tequila does”. Jane and I chimed in on the chorus and at the end of the song we were giggling, debating what other song we should sing. Sabrina started singing “Jesus Take the Wheel” by the time we walked into the bar.

I was expecting a comment on how this wasn’t exactly what they pictured for drinks, but the girls went straight to the electronic jukebox to pick out a song. Walking up to the bar to order tequila shots, I talked to Mac the bartender who was the sweetest man you had ever met. I paid for the shots, delivering them to the ladies as we cheered to Katherine’s last night as a single woman.

“So, Darcy—do you have a man waiting for you at home?” Katherine asked, as she swayed to the music that was playing.

The question threw me off, I was stunned for a moment before my brain responded. “Uh—no I don’t,” I said awkwardly.

“Oh, I know that look,” Sabrina chimed in. “Who is he and why aren’t you together?”

“Oh, uh. There isn’t anyone,” I said as I got a pointed look from Jane.

“His name is Evan, and he is gorgeous,” Jane said, and now it was my turn to give her a look.

“That ship has sailed and there is nothing to talk about,” I said, trying to shut it down.

“Ah, is he the “jackass” variety of a man?” Katherine asked, looking through the jukebox again.

“He’s the sweet man who left her because he was protecting her,” Jane said, getting a glare from me. “I’m sorry. I think if you just talked it out maybe you would find out something you didn’t know before. You guys dated and he said all these swoon worthy things. Plus when we saw him at the club he looked like he was still interested.”

“Ooh and the plot thickens.” Sabrina raised her brows. “How long did you guys date?”

I took a deep breath, I definitely needed to. Every time I talked about Evan, I felt like I needed to calm myself down because I always experienced such anger and animosity after I told my story.

“Hold up, before you tell your story. That sigh told me we need another drink,” Katherine moved from the jukebox to the bar and talked to Mac. Suddenly the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and for just a second, I felt like someone was staring at me. I took a glance around the bar to check to see if anyone was looking at us. When I didn’t see anything, I shook off the invasive feeling.

“I’m sorry, I just want you to be happy,” Jane said, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

“I know, I just don’t think he is worth my time anymore,” I said, feeling pathetic. It had been three years and I felt like I was still acting the same. The wound still felt as new as the day he broke up with me, and no matter what I did, the pain never truly went away. I think the more time that passed without him coming back to me just made the wound stay fresh.

---