her regular clothes to and from work.
Finally back in her denim capris, sandals, and a blue, loose-fitting blouse, Jenna grabbed her purse and closed her locker.
“Hey, lady,” Marie greeted her as she and another nurse who’d been assigned to a different department walked into the room. “You off or just coming on?”
“Off. You?”
“Same. A few of us were going to check out a club we heard about. It’s not too far from the hotel. Wanna come with?”
“Now?”
“Why not?” Maria shrugged. “You got something better to do?”
I would if I hadn’t made Adrian leave.
The guy hadn’t even put up a fight. She’d told him she didn’t need a babysitter, asked him to leave, and he had. Guess the jerk wasn’t as into her as he’d lead on.
Can’t get mad at him for doing what you asked.
The voice in her head was right, which only angered Jenna that much more. Pushing all thoughts of Adrian aside, she asked her new friend, “Are we even allowed to go to bars?”
There had been so many rules and policies during that first welcome meeting, she couldn’t remember them all.
“Technically, no.” Maria’s rosy lips curled. “But hellooo…we’re responsible adults who’ve more than earned the right to blow off some steam. Besides, what Taylore doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?”
Jenna mulled the idea over. Despite not having experienced any trouble in the slightest, Gabe’s concerns about the dangers of this area floated around in the back of her mind. So did the risk she knew she was taking by going against the rules.
I bet Adrian would go if he were here.
Gah! Why did every single conversation make her think of him?
Screw it.
Jenna’s desire to forget all about Adrian Walker trumping everything else, she smiled back at Marie and said, “I’m in. Although”—she looked down at herself—“I should probably wear something a little more club-ish, though. Don’t you think?”
Maria waved a hand toward her own twill pants and white t-shirt. “Girl, you think I’d wear this out dancing? We’re all going to back to the hotel to shower and change, first. Besides, that way we’ll be telling the truth when we check in with Taylore to say we made it back to the hotel safe and sound.”
One of the many rules she’d been informed of after she arrived last week.
On the days they worked, the nurses were allowed to go from the hotel, to the hospital, and back to the hotel. Period. They also had to check in with Taylore or one of the other Saje admins when they got back to their rooms every night after their shift ended.
If they needed food, they could order room service or have something delivered. If they needed a necessity of some sort, they were to call Taylore, and she’d arrange for a Saje escort to and from the store.
They also weren’t allowed to go anywhere on their own during their days off. If they wanted to go sight-seeing or shopping, they had to take a buddy.
Jenna still found it odd that her new boss had never mentioned the nurses who’d gone missing. Taylore had only explained the rules as ‘precautionary’.
Either way, Jenna hadn’t been kidding when she’d told Adrian—and Ellena and Gabe—that she didn’t need someone watching over her.
This was further proven when, two hours later, after arriving at their destination safely, Jenna was sipping on a delicious fruity drink while watching Maria and two other girls dance the night away. They were having a good time and were perfectly safe doing so.
The club they’d found wasn’t very big—the entire place was about the same size as her apartment. But it was packed.
“You ready for another one?” The bartender spoke loudly over the thumping music.
“Sure,” she offered him a smile.
Sucking up the remainder of her first drink of the night, Jenna turned and sat the empty glass on the bar behind her. She couldn’t remember the name of the drink, but whatever the concoction was, it was yummy.
A subtle warmth spread through her veins as the alcohol she’d already consumed took effect. Enjoying the pleasant buzz, Jenna looked back over the crowd. Feeling more relaxed than she had in months, she began swaying her hips back and forth to the beat of the music.
“Here ya go.” The bartender sat the filled-to-the-rim glass in front of her.
Feeling generous, Jenna held out a ten and a five. Leaning over the bar so he could hear her, she said, “Keep the change.”
“Keep it.” The young man smiled but waved her off. “It’s already