Page 73 of Save Your Breath

“They won’t,” he assured me.

I chewed my lip, debating.

“Come on,” he teased on a laugh, flicking my arm. “You wanted to go out. Well, here we are,” he said, sweeping his hand over the scene of the bar. It was an indoor/outdoor space, with a third of the bar giving off a club vibe complete with a dance floor and lights, a third of it feeling more like a dive bar with arcade games and pool tables, and another third of it acting like a park with outdoor tables and lawn games.

When I took too long to reply, Aleks smirked, moving to stand. “It’s okay. I’ll go.”

“No!” I hopped up immediately. “I want to do it.”

Aleks grinned and took his seat again. “Atta girl.”

“You want anything?” I asked.

“Surprise me.”

I popped off my barstool, shaking a bit as I made my way to the bar. I had to push my way through the crowd to get to where I could order, and I didn’t miss how people pointed and smirked at me.

“Nice whiskers,” a girl said to me on a laugh, holding up her shot she’d just ordered before she squeezed past me.

“You know Halloween isn’t for another two months, right?” a guy teased, but he did so with a drunken grin. “A for effort, though.”

Other than those teasing remarks, everyone left me alone. And to her credit, the bartender didn’t even seem fazed when she asked me what I wanted. It was like she’d seen crazier shit, and my cat mask didn’t so much as make her blink twice.

I ordered a vodka water with lemon and lime for me and a whiskey, neat, for Aleks. While I waited, I tapped my fingers on the wood of the bar, looking around and taking it all in.

All while not a single person gave a shit about me.

God, it felt nice, to be somewhat invisible. Even with a fucking cat mask on, I was no one to these people. I was just some weirdo at the bar getting drunk on a Friday night. I could just walk up to the bar and order a drink like a normal person.

I’d missed out on all of that.

My career took off when I was nineteen — something I prayed for and dreamed about. But sometimes, I wondered what experiences I’d unknowingly given up when I took this path, what rites of passage I’d never have access to. I’d written songs about going out, about being young and reckless, but the truth was that most of the parties I attended were ballgown attire and consisted of champagne more than shots of any kind.

With that in mind, I added two shots of tequila to my order once the bartender was back.

And when she told me my total, I balked.

Because it was that exact moment I realized I didn’t have any money on me.

I wasn’t used to carrying a purse with an actual wallet in it. Any time Ididhave a purse, it was for a fashion statement and to maybe hold my lipstick and mascara for touchups. I had a team who took care of paying for things for me, and most of the events I attended, we paid for in advance. There was noreasonto take money out with me.

Even if I did have my wallet on me right now, what was I going to do? Pay with a card that had my name on it? The bouncer may have been oblivious, but would this bartender be?

My neck felt red hot as I stammered, “Um…”

She cocked a brow at me, an annoyed expression taking over her face even as she nodded at the next person and got started on their order.

Panicking, I looked back at the table where Aleks sat.

And again, I knew the bastard was smirking under that damn fish mask as he held up two twenty-dollar bills.

I rolled my eyes, assuring the bartender that I’d be right back. I mutteredexcuse me’sto get to Aleks through the crowd, swiped the cash out of his hand, pushed my way back to the bar, paid, grabbed our drinks, and carefully maneuvered my way back to our table.

By the time I made it, I had sticky hands from our drinks spilling a bit, and I was sweating under the mask, my breath labored.

“Cheese and rice, that was a production,” I said, picking at my shirt to let some air in.

“Welcome to the world of getting things yourself.”