With Katie on her iPad and doing her own thing, I thought it would be a good idea to have some time to myself. The bar, though, is really loud. Either someone is having a party, or the staff has turned on the music to keep everyone else entertained. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.
I am about to leave, not wanting to blast my ears out with that noise, when I see the woman from earlier in the hall ahead of me. She’s with a young man near her age with blond hair who looks like he lifts weights for a living. He’s trying to talk to her, but she’s clearly furious. Her body language says she wants to be away from him.
What’s going on? Is she having a drunken argument? I should leave them to it, but I find myself approaching them. If she’s drunk and this guy is harassing her…
The relief in her eyes is palpable as she looks at me.
“Everything’s fine,” she said stiffly. “Nate was just going back to the party.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” the guy says defiantly. “We need to talk, and I’ve waited most of the week for this.”
“I’ve said all I need to say, and you should listen for once in your life,” she snaps back. “Just go away.”
Nate frowns, and I can see him close to protesting again. Was this a potential boyfriend? Was she quarreling with her other half?
And why is the idea of her being taken leaving me feeling jealousy from the pit of my gut?
“I was just about to go on a walk,” I say suddenly, seeing both of them turning towards me. I focus my attention on the woman. “Do you want to come with me?”
What am I doing? Why am I offering this to her? But I’m not about to take this back. Something tells me that she needs someone to help her. The relief in her eyes confirms that as she comes over to me.
“That sounds like a good idea,” she declares, looking back at Nate. “We’re done here, Nate.”
“Jade…”
“Just tell Carmen that I’m rethinking our friendship. I’m not interested in being friends with someone who sides with a cheater.” Jade looks up at me. “Shall we?”
As we walk away, I look back to see Nate staring after us. For a moment, I think he’s going to chase after us, but instead, he turns away and storms off, going through the door into the bar. The music gets exceedingly louder for a moment before the door slams shut again.
I look down at the woman beside me. Jade, I remind myself. With those stunning eyes of hers, it almost seems appropriate that her name is Jade. Now those eyes are looking worried, a frown on her pretty face.
Are you seriously checking her out? Have you lost your mind?
“Thank you for that,” she says quietly, not looking at me. “I thought he would never go away.”
“Had a little tiff, have you?”
“I would say our relationship was blown out of the water earlier this week.” She shakes her head. “I’ve told him it’s over, and he won’t let go. I didn’t realize he was so stupid.”
I don’t know what to say to that. All I can think is I now know she’s single, which makes me feel pleased. That pulls me up a little. What? She’s practically a stranger, and I’m behaving like she’s a possession I need to own. I haven’t thought about anyone like that.
I must have frozen my brains out on the slopes.
“Thank you for your help, Mister….” Jade says, peering up at me, and it’s then that I remember I haven’t told her my name.
“Finn.” I clear my throat. “It’s Finn.”
“I see.” Her mouth twitches. “Finn. Thank you.”
“That’s the third time you’ve said thank you.”
“Is it?”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Maybe you should lay off the alcohol if you keep repeating yourself.”
“I don’t drink.” Jade makes a face. “Can’t stand the stuff. Besides, given what stupid situations I can get into when I’m sober, God only knows what will happen if I ever get drunk.”