Page 3 of Wicked Dares
We reach the bar, order ridiculously expensive cocktails, and find a free booth.
We sit, and I sink into the soft leather of the seat.
Alexis raises her drink in toast and stares back at me with a wistful smile. “Here’s to all the years of our friendship and the future.”
I raise my drink, and we clink our glasses. “Hear, hear.”
It’s hard to believe we’ve been friends for so many years. We met when we were twelve. I’d just gone to live with Aunt Bess in San Francisco after my parents died in a car accident. Alexis was like an angel then, too, always saving me, even if that meant saving me from myself.
She crosses her legs at the ankles and takes a sip of her drink, closing her eyes to savor it. I do the same.
I got a Boulevardier. It tastes like heaven. The sweet bourbon mix is exactly what I need to give me the buzz I crave.
Alexis rests her drink on the table after a few sips and regards me with concerned curiosity. “Is your drink good?”
“It’s fantastic.”
“And the club?” She waves her hand around dramatically.
“Yes.” I nod my approval and grin, looking around again as the music changes to an upbeat club classic. “I love it.”
“Yay!” She pumps a fist in the air and rests her hands on her knees. “I’m so thrilled. I really wanted you to have a great time tonight.”
“I know. And I am having a great time.”
And maybe I love the feeling that no one here knows me. No one here can pity me, or whisper about me. There’s no history clinging to my back.
So far everything is going good. I arrived in New York yesterday afternoon after a long flight from San Francisco. I walked into my new home, a dinky apartment on the East Side, that was way smaller than I’m used to but livable and safe.
“Perfect.” Alexis looks pleased. “I also have a little surprise for you.”
Instantly, I perk up. “What is it?”
“I’ve booked time off work, so I’ll be around for the next three months.”
My eyes snap wide. “Oh my gosh.Really?”
“Yes.” She claps.
I squeal. I’m thrilled I’ll have her around, and admittedly relieved. New York suddenly feels a little less enormous and more manageable.
Alexis is a successful yoga instructor. She works for a prolific cruise company that tours the Caribbean and the Mediterranean seas. She’s usually gone for several months at a time. That was the main reason I hadn’t seen her in almost a year.
“I thought you could use the company while you settle in.”
I place a hand to my heart, a pang of gratitude warming my insides. “You booked the time off for me?”
“Of course.”
I place my drink down and move closer to give her a hug. “Thank you so much. You’re the best.”
She gives my shoulders a squeeze before releasing me. “I felt you needed me.”
“Yes. I do need you. A lot.”
“I’m glad my instincts were right. Are you okay otherwise?”
Slowly, I nod, knowing what she’s asking without saying the words.
