Liar (Madison Kate #2)(92)

"Maybe just have another drink and relax a bit," Jase suggested with a sneer, like he found me totally pathetic for being concerned. "You're so fucking uptight. Have the boys stopped fucking you or something?"

He was drunk as shit, but that was no excuse. I grabbed him by the collar and hauled his unkempt face to mine. "Insult me again, Jase. I fucking dare you."

But he just curled his lip at me, and I released him with a shove. Something was wrong, I could feel it. My stomach was churning with anxiety, and I could feel sweat rolling down my spine.

"Dallas, something isn't right," I declared, my worried gaze still on that back room doorway. "How long has he been gone?"

My friend shook his head. "Like, maybe two minutes? Don't stress, Katie. Kody wouldn't leave you out here with me for long." His smile was all arrogance, and I snorted a laugh.

"Uh-huh, 'cause he's so worried you'll put the moves on and steal me away?" I grinned, trying desperately to shove aside the gnawing feeling of panic that had seemed to manifest in me as physical illness. "Remember the one and only time we slept together?" I wrinkled my nose, expecting him to laugh with me.

I'd been a fourteen-year-old virgin, woefully inexperienced in anything sexual, and he'd been one of my best friends. We'd also been crazy high from smoking joints in my bedroom. To say it’d been awkward was an understatement, then we'd ended up in a huge argument because I saw Dallas's fresh Wraith’s tattoo...

"I remember it," he replied, but his tone was so much more serious than mine. He stepped closer to me, crowding me against the edge of the pool table and reaching a finger up to stroke my hair. "I think about it all the time."

"Uh..." The room was starting to spin, and I second-guessed what I'd just heard. Had he just hit on me? What the...? "Dallas, I'm not—"

I didn't get any further before Bree appeared beside us with an expression of pure betrayal and horror on her face. "Are you fucking serious?" she shrieked. "This is so fucking typical." She spun on her heels and took off in the direction of the bathrooms, leaving me feeling like a total fucking shithead.

"What the fuck, Dallas?" I shouted, shoving him in the chest to move him away from me. "What is wrong with you?"

He shook his head, swiping his hands over his face. "That's not what I meant! Fuck, fuck, dammit Kate, I wasn't hitting on you! Ugh, Bree thinks—"

"I know exactly what she thinks, you moron," I snapped, shoving him again for good measure. "I need to talk to her." I started to follow her, but Dallas caught my wrist with his hand.

"Wait, I should go," he told me, looking all kinds of tortured. "I need to explain. She'll be fine when I can explain."

I bit my lip, considering. As badly as I wanted to go and comfort my friend, I also cared about Dallas. He needed an opportunity to redeem himself. "Fine," I growled, "but you better grovel and kiss her shoes and, for the love of God, Dallas, make her understand that you're not into me."

He nodded frantically and took off after Bree, not even hesitating before barging into the women's bathroom after her.

I let out a shaky sigh, glancing around. Jase was nowhere to be seen, unsurprisingly, and the Reapers we'd been playing pool with seemed to have moved on to a game of flip cup with a bunch of older MMA fans.

My stomach rolled again, and I swiped my hand over my forehead. It came away damp with sweat, and I swallowed heavily. I'd been right before. Something was wrong, really wrong. But I hadn't realized it was me that was in trouble... until now.

Breathing in short, sharp gasps, I tried to make my way across to the bathrooms. I needed to find Bree and Dallas. I needed to alert them that I’d been drugged. I needed water. I needed to ride out whatever had been in Drew's drink. More than anything I needed my guys... But I couldn't go barging in there now. Not like this. I needed to just weather the storm and hope to fuck Drew had only spiked her gin with a recreational drug like MDMA or speed.

Halfway to the bathroom, my ankle rolled in my heels, and I started to crash to the floor—only to be caught by a strong arm around my waist.

"Whoa, Madison Kate," the vaguely familiar voice said with a laugh, "I think maybe you've had one too many?"

I blinked up at my rescuer a couple of times, trying to clear the double vision that had just started. "Bark? What are you..." I dimly remembered seeing him in the parking lot on my way in, arguing with his dad, Professor Barker. "I'm fine," I lied, swatting his hand away from me. "Seriously, I just need water."

He frowned like he didn't believe me, or like he was going to argue, but another guy in an SGU Ghosts jacket grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him away to the bar where a bunch of other football players were hanging out with girls.

Bark turned once, shooting me a concerned look, but I waved him off while doing my very best sober face. The whole venue was spinning dangerously, though, and I was almost positive I'd vomit before I reached the exit. Fuck finding Bree and Dallas, I needed fresh air.

"Miss," someone asked me as I staggered my way to the front doors, "are you okay? Do you need help?"

I shook my head, waving them off. "I'm fine," I insisted, but it just came out as a slur. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth and my chest was tight, like I couldn't get enough air. I brushed the helpful person off and burst through the doors, desperately trying to suck in air as I stumbled down the steps.