In fact, I’d rather be here than at home lately.
“Ava!” Jackson shouts, jumping up on the bar and leaning over to wrap his arms around me. “Feels like I haven’t seen ya in ages!” His voice goes high pitched and he pulls a face before pulling back and grabbing a glass to pour me a drink.
“On your own tonight?” Jackson asks.
I shake my head and look around for Jess; she was right behind me. “No, Jess is here with me.” I frown, not being able to see her in the crowd and spin on the spot. I finally find her on the dance floor, dancing to the music that’s playing through the speakers.
“Ah, she’s over there,” I say and smirk at her sloppy movements.
“Thanks,” I say when Jackson hands me my drink and I turn around, seeing J move towards the stage, showing the band where they need to set up.
She spots me at the bar and waves me over. Shaking my head, I try to tell her ‘no’ silently but it doesn’t work because she puts her hands on her hips and stares at me, giving me that ‘get your ass over here right now’ look.
Huffing, I push up off the bar, holding my drink tight in my hand and making my way through the small crowd that’s gathered to watch the band set up.
“Hey!” she shouts over the music and pulls me into a tight hug. I hug her back as best as I can without spilling my drink all over her and give her a big smile when I pull away.
“Did you tell him?”
“Yeah.” I chuckle at her enthusiasm. “I told him.”
“Good.” She claps, jumping up and down on the spot. “This is so awesome! I wish he could see it.” She frowns.
“I’ll record it and show him,” I tell her and can’t help but laugh when she jumps up and down again, her face covered in possibly the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.
Hooking her arm through mine, she leads me back over to the bar and sits on a stool, tapping the one next to her to indicate for me to sit down.
“So you talked?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t for long though.” I shrug, biting my lip.
“Never is,” she says, looking off into the distance at nothing in particular.
“J?” I ask, putting my hand on her arm softly as to not spook her, her eyes are glassed over and I can see that she’s caught up in memories.
“Huh? Oh, sorry.” She shakes her head and laughs at herself, although she’s clearly trying to clear her mind and brush it off as nothing. “What was I saying?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I tell her and when she goes to say something, I try to change the subject. “So... this band any good?”
“Yeah.” She claps her hands together again, the excitement back full force. “They’re just gigging at the moment but I swear, they’re going to be huge.” Her hands wave about as she’s talking and she turns when one of them calls her name. “Better go.” she winks and jumps down off the stool.
I look around at the packed bar and start to feel my nerves going haywire. I need to step away, gain control and then come back out. Lifting up off the stool, I tilt my head to the ‘staff only’ door when Jackson looks over at me and I start to push through it, heading straight for the office.
Stepping inside the big space, I walk straight to the big chair and sit down on it, spinning around looking at all the photos that Corey has put in here. I spot one on the desk and I reach forward, picking it up and snorting at the picture.
It’s one of me and him, lying together on the sand at the lake, both pulling funny faces.
“Ava?” I jump at the deep voice and nearly drop the photo.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask, looking around.
“I just want to talk... to explain...” Shaking my head, I place the photo down gently on the desk and stand up.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I grit out, not moving from my spot behind the desk.
“You don’t understand, Ava, I didn’t know about you until a few months ago. I searched for you as soon as I found out but when I found you, you looked so happy that I didn’t want to rock the boat-”
“Happy?” I snort. This is unbelievable.