the table. “Tom called, and I answered the phone.”
“Oh shit. What did he want?”
“He was checking in. He told me he missed me.”
“What a bastard! How dare he even call you? He has no right.”
“It doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm getting the hell out of here, and I'm getting wasted.”
“Oh, Natalie, I think that's a mistake. You can't let him get to you all over again. You have come too far.”
“I need to get out of this apartment, and I want to have fun. I don't want to think about Tom.”
“Natalie, just stay here, and we'll talk about it. You'll feel better once you have a chance to talk about it.”
“I don't want to talk about it. I'm sick of it.”
“I think you're making a mistake.”
“Julie, I'm fine.” I finished my beer in a couple of gulps. I headed to my bedroom to put on something a little more appropriate for the bar. Julie followed me into my bedroom and watched as I got changed.
“You're really going?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, I'm going with you.”
We walked into the club, and headed straight for the bar. We sidled up in our usual spots and ordered a round of drinks. It had been a little while since the two of us had done this, but I needed to forget?that was the most important thing at that point.
As I stirred my drink, I turned in my seat, only to be faced with Jet on the dance floor. He looked a little beat up, and I wondered if he had a fight that night. Just then, I realized who the girl was that he was dancing with. It was the female MMA fighter, Katie, was it? They were dancing really close, and she often put her hand on his shoulder as she moved in close to him. I could tell by her movements and body language that she was really into Jet. She probably had been trying to make a play for him all along. Jealousy coursed red hot through me. I had no reason to be jealous or to have a problem with anyone that Jet spent time with. After all, I had told him numerous times that he and I were just friends. It didn't seem to matter, though, because the sight of them made me want to scream.
“Oh my God, what the hell is that?” Julie gasped. I didn't have to look at her to see what she was talking about. I knew she was looking at the exact same thing I was.
“Ugh, Natalie, I told you we shouldn't have come out. Please tell me you're not going to snap and kill everyone in here.”
I laughed and turned back around. “It's okay, I couldn’t care less.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet. I'll be right back. I'm having a little chat with Jet.”
“Julie, don't.”
“I'll be right back. Don't get drunk without me.”
I looked into my drink and picked it up to take a sip. There was a tap on my shoulder, and I set the glass back down. I turned to find Jet there, and he was smiling.
“What do you want, Jet?”
“Sunshine personified, as always, aren't you?” he said while laughing. “I came to see if you were alright. Actually, you know, it's kind of funny, because when I first got here, I looked around hoping you would be here, and you ended up here after all.”
“Oh, well, isn't it just your lucky night?” I said sarcastically.
“Maybe it is.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why don't you go back to your girlfriend? I'm sure she misses you.” I looked over his shoulder and saw Katie amongst their friends, pacing like a puma ready to strike. Julie had mysteriously disappeared.
“I'm not here for Katie. I told you that there is nothing between Katie and me. I'm here for you. That's where I want to be.”
Great, Julie had clearly gone over and told Jet about my ex calling. Had she left after doing it, too? I could just kill that girl sometimes. I went to pick up my drink, and he pushed it away. Confused, I looked at him. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me in close, kissing me hard on the lips. His lips burned against mine, and it was the first time we had ever kissed without me being intoxicated. He tasted like beer, and the heat radiating off him took me in. I wanted to be close to him, but my mind was screaming no. I pushed him away from me, and as I did, I looked him right in the eyes. I paused as I continued looking at him, and saw more in his gaze than I had ever noticed before. In seconds my mouth was on his again, and the heat took me over again as his tongue found its way into my mouth. I suddenly lost all sense of reason.