Page 68 of Tease
Kailey hiccups and points to the bathroom. “She had to go, real bad.”
Brittney walks out of the bathroom, but she doesn’t look nearly as drunk as Kailey and Ajani. Her eyes are rimmed red, like she’d been crying.
“Hey, are we taking you to Skyler’s?” I question her once she’s standing a foot away.
“No!” Her answer comes out rushed with a hint of emotion.That’s odd. “I mean, I’d rather just go home tonight, sleep off this hangover that’s sure to come.”
Kailey loops her elbow through Brittney’s arm, leading her toward the exit. “Then let’s go, my beautiful, amazing, total knockout of a best friend.”
I turn around to see Beau is attempting to let Ajani walk, as she continues to trip over her own feet. Beau grabs her by the elbow and stops at the bar. He exchanges a few words with one of the bartenders, fist bumps him, and lifts Ajani into his arms like she weighs nothing. I hold the door open for Brittney and Kailey, waiting for Beau. When he walks past me, I say loud enough for only him to hear, teasing him, “I fucking knew it.”
“Shut. Up.” His elbow jabs me in the gut when he walks past me. “KC, you can sit up front with Jared. I’ll sit in the back with Ajani, in case she starts puking.”
Brittney opens the back door and gets in first, then helps Beau lean Ajani on her, sharing the back seat with them. After I shut the door, I jog over to the passenger side door. Kailey is already sitting inside the Range Rover, door closed, and she’s smiling at me through the window.
“My bad.” I laugh, holding my hands up, walking in front of the hood and hopping in the driver’s seat.
“Is everyone good?” I say while looking in the rear view mirror. Brittney’s looking out the window, and Ajani’s head is resting on Beau’s shoulder, her eyes closed.
Kailey looks back at her friends and then at me. “All good. Take us home,Jared, my trusted chauffeur.” Her elbow bumps against mine, and she gives me that beautiful, real smile, the one that makes her dimples show.
Most of the drive is quiet with random tunes playing in the background. Kailey’s words are hushed next to me when she asks, “Do you still talk to him?”
I don’t have to ask who she’s referring to; it’s Joey, my brother. Instant pain radiates throughout my chest at the mention of his name, remembering all the torment he caused. I clear my throat before telling her the truth. “Not since the day after everything happened. He took off in the middle of the night, and I’ve never heard a word from him since. My parents haven’t either.” I take a quick peek over at her to check her reaction. She only gives me a small nod, then turns her head to stare out the window.
Moments go by and my fingertips are drumming on the steering wheel, when Kailey’s voice is a whisper, pulling my attention. “I’d go on a date with you, if you asked, you know.” Her eyes have welled with tears and she’s staring at me, her chin resting inside her palm.
Wait, what did she just say?My mouth falls open as my pulse quickens. Beau kicks my seat from behind, making me snap out of it.
“Are you sure this isn’t the alcohol talking, Kailey?” I raise my eyebrows at her, giving her a quick glance.
She twirls a piece of her hair. “No, I’m notthatdrunk, Jared.”
“I’ll ask you when you’re sober then.”
Kailey doesn’t argue with that, then she gives me directions on where she and Brittney live. Slowly, I pull the car to a stop. I reach my arm over to Kailey’s headrest, gripping it. “Do you want me to walk you ladies up?”
Brittney giggles from the back seat. “Nah, we’re good, Jared. Thanks for the ride though.”
Kailey opens her own door, but pauses at its threshold. She turns around fast and leans in, her lips leaving a quick peck on my cheek. “Thank you, Jared.” She slams the door and runs up the steps to catch up with her friend, holding her face in her hands.
My fingers trace the spot where her lips just were.
Beau whispers from the back seat, “I fucking knew it.”
I make eye contact with him in the rear view mirror. “Yeah, yeah. Alright hotshot, where does Ajani live?”
CHAPTER 51
KC
My day-to-day life has been the same, but also different, this past week. I still haven’t heard from Mattie, which isn’t surprising, since we’ve always just been fuck buddies. I remembered to finally post the video I’d made for my xxSparkleySkittlexx account on the TEASE app, for my subscribers to bid on. The war will last 24 hours, then automatically go to the highest bidder.
Incognitocomments on the post: I need to meet you in person, soon.
This guy doesn’t know when to quit. Thank god my location says New York.
But now, as I sit here in the living room alone, my free thoughts keep pulling back to Jared and how he’s made me feelevery single timeI’ve run into him lately.
