Page 17 of Scream For Me
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asks, eyes searching mine for a response.
“No, thank you,” I reply, shaking my half-full Jack and Coke in the air.
“Oh, come on,” he replies, nudging my arm.
“No, I’m going home after this one.”
His smirk drops for a split second before coming back. “Alright,” he says, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “You were great up there, by the way. Randy Rhoads would be proud.”
“Thank you,” I say as I tap my nails on my glass and look anywhere but his face.
“Where did you learn to play so well?”
“I taught myself. That and cello.”
Kirk raises his eyebrows and gives an impressed nod. It’s always mediocre men who look at women like they’re a phenomenon if they have a hobby that doesn’t involve a man.
“That’s impressive. I suppose there’s not much space in metal music for cello,” he says. Not a question, but a statement that has me visibly rolling my eyes this time. This guy is one wrong word away from asking me to be his goth mommy, I’m fucking sure of it.
“There is if you’re creative enough. Plenty of bands do pretty well for themselves,” I say, to which he shrugs his shoulders before moving to take a sip of his drink. The clumsy movement knocks my phone off the bar, causing it to clatter to the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” he says frantically as I bend down to pick it up, checking it over.
“No cracks, it’s okay,” I tell him as I press the power button, the screen lighting up, showing it still works. He seems pleased with that. “No harm done,” I add as I take a sip of my drink.
“I like a girl who knows her music,” he says as his hand comes to rest on my thigh.
I push it off.
“Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?” he asks as he pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch makes shivers run down my spine in the worst way.
I turn away and take another sip.Fuck, this is strong. Was it always this strong? Or am I just that much of a lightweight these days that four is now my limit?
The last call rings out, the bell cutting through the thick air around me.
“I should get going,” I say.
“Let me walk you to your cab. It’s the least I can do for almost breaking your phone.” He laughs as his hand lands on the small of my back.
I nod slowly as I finish my drink. My head suddenly feels too heavy for my neck as I grab my purse. His hand snakes around my waist, helping me off the seat.
How much did I drink? I thought it was four? Maybe it was six?
“Kat!” I hear from behind me. It’s Harper.
Fuck, I forgot about Harper.
“Were you just going to leave without saying goodbye?” She laughs as she reaches me.
I throw my arms around her neck and pull her tight. Half holding onto her for balance, half out of adoration for her. “I’m sorry, I completely forgot.”
She pulls back and looks at me, then at Kirk behind me. She scans him up and down like she’s cataloging him for a ‘wanted’ poster. Knowing Harper, she absolutely is.
“Are you okay? You’re kinda slurring right now?” she whispers into my ear, not taking her eyes off Kirk.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just had one too many drinks. I’m just going to get a cab home.”
She looks at me, and I can see the internal battle raging in her mind. “I’ll take you home,” she insists, and I can tell there’s no room for discussion.
