Forever Together (Forever Love #2) (24 page)

"Coffeeholics anonymous."

"Coffeeholic
s
anonymous huh? I like it. We could totally make that a thing."

I down the drink, ignoring the need to gag it back up and jump up and down a few times to dispel the internal shivers.
One stumble and I can feel my vision blurring
. I lean against the bar, taking some of the weight off my aching feet which are right this moment cursing me for wearing these shoes. The lights flashing before my eyes, some from the green and blue strobe lights, others from the alcohol cause my eyes to swing from side to side. I can actually feel them ping ponging in my head. This is why I shouldn’t drink. Damn, being back in Franklin may have been good for my heart but it’s terrible for my liver.

"Cindy you better not be wussing out on me." Liv warns, a perfectly manicured finger pointing my way.

"I’m good."

Blinking seems to help. Yeah, I'll just carry on blinking.

"Good. This is my last night a free fucking women."

"Technically-"

"Yeah technically I don’t get married for another week blah blah blah."

I giggle at the contorted face she pulls and pull my hair off my neck
which is
slick with sweat. Crap it’s hot in here. The volume of people and the fact that it’s like a hundred degrees outside even though it’s like eleven at night means it’s basically a pressure cooker in here. The elastic waist of my tutu is digging into the skin of my waist, the bone of my brand new bra is stabbing me in the armpit. What a night!

"What do you think the guys are doing?" Liv asks, yelling into my ear as the bar area becomes more and more full.

"Probably drunk and tying Noah up to a lamppost." I scoff.

Brady’s probably the one doing the tying as well. I can imagine Tucker holding the camera. I’m pretty sure I saw him waving it around earlier when he came to Brady’s to drop off their matching t-shirts. I don’t even wanna know the things that camera's seen. I mean, this is Tucker we're talking about.

"So you and Dickwad are getting on then?" Liv's eyebrows rise and a smirk overtakes her face.

"Yes." I roll my eyes.

"What're you gonna do when it comes time to go back to college? The whole long distance thing?"

Ok that’s a new one. How did I not think of that? How could I have forgotten about college?

"Well-"

"You have talked about it right? I mean, I’m guessing you two had a long conversation about why the fuck you broke up in the first place and what to do to stop that shit happening again, right?" I stay silent. "Right? You two did talk?"

"W-well we had a conversation and admitted we still loved each other and then I went to his house and... never left." I bite on my lip waiting for her response a
nd
s
she stares at me as if I’m the stupidest person on the planet. It’s possible, it’s very possible.

"So you two haven’t spoken at all about why you broke up?"

"I just thought that it would be best to put it behind us." I say weakly, the alcohol dimming my surroundings, all except Liv’s shocked face.

"What about college?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot about the place you spend most of your time?"

"It’s been a busy few weeks." I shrug. It has. This has absolutely nothing to do with head burying or carpet sweeping. Nothing at all. Ok, maybe a little. "What am I gonna do?" I wail.

"I don’t know. Hey, you wanna try a... OH MY FUCKING GOD!"

Liv’s beautiful blue eyes darken, turning from the Mediterranean ocean color to an almost sapphire. It temporarily freaks me out and for a second I wonder if she’s some kind of demon. I then realize it’s probably the strobe lights. I do all this as steam practically blows out of my friends ears as she throws
an evil glare
daggers
over my shoulder.

"Liv, are you ok?" I ask. Maybe she’s lost her mind.

I turn around wondering what’s got her in such a state and straight away find my answer. Oh no, this is not good.

"Oh crap."

"Liv, Cindy, what a surprise seeing you here." That voice is like being punched in the stomach. It’s like being punched in the stomach by the biggest dick in the world. No actually dicks not the right adjective for this guy. What’s worse than dick?

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Liv growls, gripping onto the bar.

Chris Lyons smirks. It’s not like Brady’s smirk whe
n
re
he’s being playful. It’s not like Noah’s smirk when he’s being flirty, always towards Liv of course. Even Liv’s smirk is more of a tease. Chris' smirk is just full on creepy. It’s a cat that got the cream smirk.

"What’s this, your bachelorette party?" He reaches for the learner sign stuck to Liv only to have his hand slapped away. "Oooh touchy. Cindy you look as... sexy as always. I can’t believe the pit balls let you loose in Savannah without them or are they hiding out somewhere?"

"Chris, we're trying to have a nice night. Maybe you should just leave." I actually speak. Wow I was not expecting that.

He leans his face close to mine, his breath rolling over my face and causing me to suppress a gag.

"Do I make you feel uncomfortable Cindy? Or maybe it’s something else. Maybe your attracted to me. Maybe you can’t control yourself around me."

"Oh my fucking God. Are you kidding right now? Get the fuck away from her unless you want dickw... I mean Brady knocking your teeth down your throat!" Liv yells, getting in his face and shoving me out the way with her shoulder.

My hip bangs into the bar and I know if I was completely sober it would hurt like hell. Right now I’m full of Irish liquor and vodka so I don’t feel a thing.

I stare down at the floor, shaking my head at the sudden dizziness that comes over me. I see a pair of bright pink shoes attached to long dark caramel legs storming our way and hear Trina’s voice around the same time I see her. Oh lord, she looks almost as mad as Liv. I hope they don’t get in a fight, I’d be useless sober, right now I’d probably be a liability.

"This douche bothering you boo?" She says, cocking her hip and giving Chris an eye sweep from head to toe.

"He's leaving."

"You don’t own the fucking bar bitch. Maybe you should pipe the fuck down. Travers and Cooper aren’t around right now to have your back." His smarmy voice grates on me. "You know I always thought you girls were out of their leagues but I guess it’s the other way around huh? Damn, I almost feel sorry for that asshole Noah being stuck with your fucking ass. Mind you, he’s probably the only fucker that hadn’t already had it."

What happens next can definitely be described as a girl coming out swinging. Figuratively and literally. My head snaps up and a sudden anger overtakes me. I’m not scared of the confrontation. I’m not scared of the backlash. I’m. Mad. As. Hell. Liv’s sticking up for me. She’s defending me from this asshole and instead of being pushover Cindy, I return the favor. Before I can stop myself I step up, unsteady on my feet. I’m pretty sure my hand comes out before I even get my balance back. The heavy bass booming through the club seems like a whisper compared to the slap that seems to echo when my hand connects to Chris' face.

"Don’t talk to my friend like that you fucking penis head!" I bellow. Well I think I bellow, I doubt I sound like that.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Chris roars in my face.

"Holy shit boo two that was fucking amazing." Trina laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the red faced guy that looks about five seconds away from giving me a slap back "Next time don’t mess with us bitches. And don’t worry, I'll make sure to let Brady and Noah know how you talked to their women. I bet they'd love to pay you a visit."

"I can’t believe I just did that." I gasp.

"That was fucking brilliant boo two but I think it’s time for us to go now. This clubs pretty packed and he looks mighty mad. Plus, I think Liv’s about to unleash some whoopass."

I turn around to see Liv taking her earrings out. Before she gets the second one out, her wrist is yanked like mine and we're being pulled into the direction of the
entrance
exit
.

"Let’s go home." She sings, a smile splitting her face.

"It’s like eleven boo, we'll just go somewhere else."

"Are you kidding me? Sweet
little
ole
Cindy just bitch slapped Chris Lyons. Best. Wedding. Present. Ever. I wanna
end
leave
his night on a high."

***

You know Liv’s drunk when she’s singing along to Taylor Swift with a pink tutu hanging off her head. For some reason we seem more drunk since leaving the club than we were in the club.

"Will you sit still? You’re gonna get me pulled over." Trina mumbles from the driving seat.

I’m slumped in the back, staring through the window at the lights from the lampposts scattered along the highway.

"What would you do if you did get pulled over?" I ask in a monotone voice. I feel groggy from the alcohol. 

"Flirt."

"Huh?"

"Don’t tell me you've never flirted to get out of a ticket." Trina laughs.

"No, what do you do?" I thought people only ever did that in movies and shows on the CW network.

"Well first you stick your chest out a little and flutter your eyelashes-"

"Shut up Trina, that’s a dumbass way. Cindy, don’t listen to her.
L
ook
W
w
hat you gotta do is put your voice kinda husky, you know like a come to bed voice."

"Oh and you act totally innocent." Trina interjects.

"Well yeah that too."

"What if they don’t fall for it?" I ask, genuinely interested.

"They’re gay!" Trina booms, slapping the steering wheel.

I look towards Liv who nods.

"Oh Cind
y
s
, I was thinking about what we were talking about earlier, about the college situation. Why don’t you just transfer? I’m pretty sure you have a couple more weeks to transfer to Savannah in time for fall semester." Liv says, her face lighting
up
apart
.

"Wow you’re really smart when you’re drunk boo."

"Why thank you very much bitch."

I zone them both out, absorbing Liv’s words. Well I’m absorbing them as much as I can in my state. At the same time my mind can’t help but wander to thoughts of Brady. I wonder what he’s doing right now. Is he missing me as much as I’m missing him? Is he having fun? Is he thinking of me? Christ I feel like a sixteen-year-old all over again waiting for him to throw stones at my window.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

What the hell was that? This is why I don’t like my parents going to dinner late at night. All kinds of weird noises sound out and it takes me right back the millions of horror movies that start just like this.

Tap! Tap! SMASH!

Ok I’m pretty sure Michael Myers didn’t break a window so maybe I’m safe.

I throw the comforter away and climb out of bed. I walk towards my window and stoop my face to see the cracked pane of glass. I really wanna look but who knows what'll happen. What if someone’s face pops up? What if they lunge at me? I know I’m being ridiculous but I still can’t help my heart almost beating out of my chest or the sweat gathering on my brow.

I lean over, poking the pane which probably isn’t the smartest thing to do. It’s only a crack. Just as I’m about to ignore my fears and take a look at the ground below another Tap! sounds out. This time I see the stone coming though.              

I rush forwards and lift the latch up, leaning my head out. There’s a shape below. Would Michael Myers throw stones at my window? I’m pretty sure crazy murderers don’t need to be let in.

"Cinders?" I hear a familiar voice yelling. "You there?"

"Hello?"

It’s too dark to see a face. I can only make out the shape of a person, thankfully a human person.

"Cinders let me up!"

"Brady?" I frown, squinting my eyes to try and get a better look.

"Yeah it’s me, let me up."

"Climb up the tree." I yell down, feeling giddy all of a sudden.

Actually no I shouldn’t feel giddy. Brady’s never been in my room and right now I have my Edward Cullen comforter on my bed. I leave the window open, quickly rushing back and flipping it over so that instead of Robert Pattison’s handsome face staring back at me, it’s just navy blue. That looks much more grown up. I rush a brush through my hair and feel irritation that I’m wearing my winter pajamas rather than something more... beautiful.

"Shit!" I spin around on hearing Brady hiss, just in time to see him fall through the window. "Uh a little help here please?"