Page 54 of Almost Ravaged

“I have no idea where to go, what to order, or what’s good around here,” I say to Cam, forcing myself to focus on someone other than Ty.

She claps and bounces in her seat. “Challenge accepted. Kai, hand me a pen and paper.”

Kai glances up from their device and scoffs. “What makes you think I have a pen and paper on me?”

Cam tilts her head, her expression deadpan, and stares at them until they fish out the requested items from their backpack.

“Love you, mean it,” Cam gushes as Kai holds out the supplies. “Consider this your first lesson in Holt 101.” With a scribble on one side of the paper, she ensures the pen works. “We’ll make a cheat sheet for you. All the best places to eat and drink, as well as the best places to pick up—” She raises one brow.

“People,” I offer. I identify as bisexual, though I lean more pan by textbook definition. I’ve never talked to my brother about any of my partners, though, and I’d rather not come out to him in a crowded bar.

“People.” She breaks into a knowing smile. “And which drinks you should be ordering at every location.”

The lesson becomes a loud, chaotic ordeal once the others around the table start sharing their opinions and expertise.

After an hour of information overload, plus another Molson and a Long Island that’s as good as promised, I’m ready for a break.

“Where’s the bathroom?” I yell. Cam is no longer sitting beside me. Instead, she’s floating around the table, chatting like the social butterfly she is.

As she sashays over to me, she grins, her eyes glassy. “Are you having a good time?”

“The best time,” I reply breezily. I just really need to pee. “Bathroom?” I ask again.

She grimaces. “Ugh. Sorry in advance.”

“Why?”

“There’s only a single stall up here, and there’s always a line. But it’s quicker than fighting the crowds downstairs.”

I shrug. I’d rather wait in line now than walk home with a full bladder an hour from now when the place closes down. “Where is it?”

“Your funeral,” Cam quips. “It’s on the other side of the main room, to the right of the bar. You’ll see the line.”

I stand and only wobble slightly before finding my footing.

Before I can walk away, Cam grabs my wrist. “Get me another drink while you’re going up. The tab is under Bryant’s name.”

“Hey now,” Bryant calls from the end of the table. His low, sexy baritone voice makes my stomach swoop. “Pace yourself, pretty girl.” He lobs a flirtatious smile at Cam.

I turn to my friend, both brows high on my forehead, I’m sure.

She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “He’s always a flirt when he drinks.”

“So nothing there?” I press.

Kai snorts. They haven’t engaged much at all over the last hour, but they don’t seem to be anxious to leave, either.

“Notnothing.” Cam toys with the bracelets on her wrist, avoiding my gaze. “But nothing faithful or repeatable. I learn my lessons the first time.”

I press my lips together, mentally stashing away that comment so I can get the full story later, and head toward the bathroom. As I round the table, I pull out my phone and check the time. It’s almost one, which means I need to decide whether I’m done for the night or going for one more drink for myself as well.

I make it all of four steps from the far side of the table when I sense him.

Despite the way my heart picks up its pace, I don’t wait for him. I navigate around the bar like Cam instructed without looking back, then join the line that I assume leads to the restroom.

When a warm presence appears behind me, I say, “I’m a big girl, Ty. I can go to the bathroom by myself.”

I glance over my shoulder then, wearing a saucy smile, going for playful. His response is anything but. The look he gives me is intense, causing my lungs to seize and my heart to stutter.