Page 33 of Brighter Shades of Light

Now, though, they didn’t seem so bad. As I looked in the mirror, I was surprised at my reflection. The man looking back at me seemed younger, especially when I actually attempted to fix my wavy hair.

At a quarter ‘til nine, I left the house and drove through town.

Emerald Falls at night was magnificent. Downtown was beautiful, something I’d forgotten. The ocean view, the park overlooking the water, and all the stores lit up. It was like seeing a new world, even though I’d been there for years. The fact I had to use a GPS to find the bar was another sign I didn’t get out much.

The street was packed, and it took me a while to find a place to park. Nerves swam in my stomach as I locked my car and stepped onto the sidewalk, seeing all the people and hearing scattered conversations. Sothat’swhere everyone went on Friday nights. I didn’t feel as though I’d missed out on anything. The bar scene had never appealed to me.

“Sebastian!” Vance called once spotting me.

A group of people were with him, and I sighed. I had been under the impression it would be the two of us.

“Hello,” I greeted him before nodding to the others.

“I hope you don’t mind that I invited these guys and ladies,” he said, swaying a little. He’d already started drinking. “Thought it’d do you good to be around people.”

He introduced them to me. Some I recognized as other professors and others I’d never seen before. It also didn’t go unnoticed that there were mostly women with us, ones who smiled at me as if I was a shiny new toy. I tried to smile to be polite, but I was sure my reluctance to be there was obvious.

We stepped inside the bar, and it took everything in me not to step back out. The place was an assault to the senses—music, cigarette smoke, people laughing, dimly lit areas, and glasses clinking.

“One drink,” Vance said in a loud whisper beside my ear. “Then you can leave if you want.”

I’d order the smallest one they had so I could make my escape.

The only available table that was big enough for our group was one in the center of the room. I preferred sitting beside the wall, so I became even more uncomfortable as we sat down with tables full of people at my back.

“What do you want to drink, Sebby? First one’s on me.”

His constant usage of the nickname grated on my nerves.

“Whatever you’re having is fine,” I said. Really, I didn’t know what options there were.

Vance went to the bar and came back with two beers. “Here you go, friend.”

“Thank you.” I stared at the contents a moment before taking a sip.

Revolting.

“Takes some getting used to.” Vance laughed at my expression. “It tastes better if you drink a lot of rum first.”

“I’m sure anything tastes good at that level of intoxication.”

“Yep,” he agreed. “It can get you in trouble, though. It also makes ugly girls look pretty, so if you’re not careful, you can find yourself waking up to Shrek.”

The people around the table laughed, though I didn’t find it funny. One, I didn’t even know who Shrek was. And two, mean-spirited comments about people’s looks were nothing to laugh about.

“So, Sebastian,” the woman beside me said, placing her hand on my arm. If memory served me right, her name was Claudia, and she worked in the English and Literature department with Emily. “I was sorry to hear about your divorce. Emily has been so upset, the poor thing. Are you okay?”

As gently as I could, I moved my arm away from hers. “I’m fine.”

Vance sat on my other side and nudged me, winking when I looked at him. A set-up. Nice.

I want to go home.

Just as the thought entered my head, the front door opened and another group of people walked in. A rowdy bunch by the sound of it.

A girl squealed, and I turned to see a petite young lady being picked up by the tallest boy in the group and carried over to the nearest table. He plopped her down in a chair, and she glared at him, crossing her arms. She didn’t seem to be truly angry, though, by the way her lips started to curve.

“Drinks are on Marcus tonight,” she called out. “Since he insisted on throwing me around like a ragdoll.”