“A might bit.”
“How long has it been since you went out and had a good time?”
“Well—”
“No. Not when you went out and played the who’s life is better game with the Stepford wives. I’m asking when’s the last time you went out, threw back some shots, and listened to some country music and rock?”
I shake my head. “I can’t tell you.”
“Exactly. Relax. We’ll have a few drinks, play some pool, and listen to some good music. Trust me. We won’t be running into anyone you know here.”
The words are insanely soothing. I’ve been forced to play a role for so long. This is my turn to be me, whoever that is.
Jesslynn hooks our arms and pulls me to her. “I aim to see that smile of yours, darling. It’s gotten lost over the past few months.”
Whitney is at home with her best friend Amy, marathoning movies and scarfing down junk food. This is my time. I take a deep breath as we walk into the silver building with the white rectangular sign with a red arrow pointing us inside. The bar is dimly lit, and Johnny Cash is playing over the speakers.
“Now we know we’re in the right place.” The familiar music and clump of people gathered around tables, and the bar set me at ease. There’s anonymity in being in a new environment with the woman who knows me better than anyone in the entire world. Jesslynn lets out a whoop as she guides me to the bar. The girl never needed much to get a party started. The trait was good and bad depending on the situation. She’d landed us in some pickles. But without her, I would’ve missed out on the most amazing things. Some people just shine a little brighter than others.
Jesslynn is a beacon in the darkness. You can’t help but be drawn to her. She squeezes in beside a dangerous looking man with long brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail. The words Kings of Chaos stand out in blood red against the black patch that has a skull wearing a crown on his leather vest.
“You don’t mind if I squeeze on in beside you, do yo
u?” Jesslynn asks.
I try not to let my jaw drop as the man turns and peers down on her. He’s far younger than I thought he would be with a strong jaw, deep-set hazel eyes, and a light brown goatee that adds to his rugged appeal. When did bikers get so hot?
“Not at all. It’s an improvement to my current company.”
Jesslynn peers to her left toward the muscular blond in black in his mid-thirties and nods her head toward him. “Him?” she mouths.
He shakes his head. “Myself.”
Jesslynn laughs. His witchy hazel eyes twinkle and his smile is a flash of white. The change is devastating. In a split second, he goes from intimidating to inviting. “Me and my best friend, Blanche are here to let loose and have a good time.”
“Is that right?” He arches an eyebrow and smirks. “You always this quiet, Blanche?” he asks.
The words roll off his tongue like honey. I swallow as my hormones flare to life. The man can’t be older than mid-twenties, thirty at the most.
“Well, Jess always does enough talking for the both of us. I like to hang back and observe until I decide if there’s anyone worth talking to.”
He chuckles, and I shrug as heat fills my cheeks.
“I like that.”
“And you are?” Jesslynn asks.
“They call me Freeze.”
“Interesting choice of name your parents choose. They must like the cold an awful lot,” Jess says with a wink.
He laughs. “That’s my road name. Only my close friends get to use my government name, and we just met, sweetheart. Besides, I didn’t hear you give me yours. Only Blanches.” He nods toward me, and I swear his color changing eyes smolders.
I swallow to moisten my dry mouth. I’m so rusty I can’t read his expression properly. He’s too young for me. There’s no way he’s interested in me.
“Pardon me for being so rude. I’m Jesslynn. My friends cause me Jess, but we just met, so.” She shrugs, and he laughs.
“Touché.”