Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(64)

He looked around and scratched his head. He looked down the stairs, then at my shoes. “Okay, ma’am. Why don’t I escort you there? If no one knows you, you shit outta luck. That work for ya?”

“Yes. Lead on good Sir Bouncer.”

He shook his head and motioned for me to go first. When we got closer, though, I saw that everyone I wanted to avoid was at the railing. I decided walking home without money or a jacket was better than seeing jerk-face again. So I stopped.

The bouncer was not privy to my thought process, judging by his thick mass slamming me from behind. I bounced off, fell forward and nearly took out some other VIP’er.

“Whoa there Missy. Where you off to?” The stranger asked.

Too bad I was so done with boys at the moment.

“Sorry. The Gestapo back there doesn’t believe I am going to my table.”

The stranger looked at the bouncer and smiled. “I can take you over. Wouldn’t want you gettin’ lost now.”

“Now wait—“

The chatter behind me cut off suddenly. The stranger stopped his hard look and smiled at me. “All set?”

The bouncer was headed in the opposite direction.

I got a wave of panic. Who was this guy? What did he want? Why couldn’t I shake this fear of strangers Dusty cursed me with?

“Shall we?” he asked, walking by my side.

With a quick glance around, making sure there were still people to hear me scream, I started walking quickly. William may have been the world’s biggest ass**le, but he was still safety.

“So, pretty girl, what’s your name?”

“What? Oh, Jessica.”

“Jessica, huh, now that is a pretty name.”

I looked at him with disgust. If it wasn’t so much effort, I would have made fun of him. Jessica is a pretty name? Well, yes, my mom thought so, but it is also extremely average.

Next he’d be asking if I liked his boots, and then if I wanted to knock ‘em.

“Well, now, here you are.”

As we walked into the area, someone yelled, “There she is!”

Several heads at the balcony turned toward me, one of which was William. Instead of the blank look I was so used to seeing, this time it was one of contempt.

I can’t do anything by your standards, can I?

I thanked the stranger for the walk over, and wandered away as he asked for my number. Let’s not fool ourselves, I needed a guy with better lines.

I bee-lined for Candace. Brad practically sprinted up to hand me a beer. I can’t say it wasn’t welcome, but I needed boys to clear out. I just wanted to hang out with Candace and let my troubles slip away.

“Jessica!” someone shouted.

Adam was waiting by the banister. He motioned me over. I thought very hard about ignoring him. I didn’t want to deal with him, his friends, or anyone but Candace. I just wanted to sit, relax, and pretend I wasn’t mortified.

But Adam had always been nice to me. He’d helped me out a few times by now, and I didn’t owe him rudeness. I didn’t owe him my bitch side.

With Brad shadowing me, I walked over.

“Where were you?” Adam asked quietly when I bumped against him.

“I don know. Dancing. Drinking. Peeing. Being stopped at the top of the stairs because I don’t look VIP like all y’all.”

He ignored me. “Willie, put down the pretty blond and come up here.” William was sitting next to Boobie McGee.

Bitch was going to get punched in the mouth.

“What?” Adam asked. He had a giant smile on his face and leaned all the way down to put his face right next to mine.

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“What about bitches getting punched? Jessie girl, are you violent?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I didn’t even care that I had resorted to saying my thoughts out loud. Adam had pure glee on his face.

“Shut up,” I muttered, shooting William with angry eyes.

William, in his turn, glared back.

Over it!

Adam loudly cleared his throat. “Okay drunk boys and girls, we got here the two contestants in tonight’s dance-off. Let’s give ‘em a round of applause for probably the most interesting dance-off to date.”

Interesting?

“Cert’nly the most entertaining!” he continued. Everybody laughed. The males of the group, which were most, nodded their heads.

“The judges have convened and the winner has been chosen.” He paused to draw out the suspense. “And the winner is...” He looked at William, which was smirking and looking at all the guys at the table. I looked at Candace, who was smiling and chanting my name.

“JESSICA!”

“Oh my God!” I shouted. “I won! Yay! I won!”

I lit up! I was so excited! I do hate losing, but if William had won it would have been insult to injury. At least I did something right.

With light feet I stuck out my hand to William to shake. Beaming, I met his eyes. Then my grin faltered. All I saw was distance. A great, wide open space. No friendship, no past, just good-bye. The Kung Fu master gave me a spin kick to the gut as I stuck out my hand anyway for good sportsmanship, my eyes burning from held back tears.

Why he then looked deep into my eyes as he took my hand, I couldn’t say. He probably noticed that I was a hair’s width from bawling. Or maybe checking that I wouldn’t brain myself on the dance floor because not one, but two guys, rejected me in the same night. Whatever it was, it had him lingering, my hand in his. Thank God for the darkness.