going to destroy half of Florida when you let it loose.”
“Becca.”
She laughs on the other end. “I’ll be safe in California.”
“I gotta go,” I grumble, hanging up the phone.
When I get to Oblivion, it is for once calm. Sundays are our only easy day. Most people are still messed up from Saturday and our crowd is older this evening. I am preoccupied, completely and utterly preoccupied by Kent. I know the nothingness is gone, but it existed. It’s real. Kent is running toward that every single second of every day. I doubt last night will be his last time passed out drunk. What if I’m not there the next time? What if he’s quietly choking on the floor and James can’t hear him and his date leaves him? I mess up my orders, fill the wrong drinks, and overall I earn every empty tip of the night.
“What’s wrong with you today?” Sophie inquires on my lunch break. “I saw you arguing with one of your customers. You never argue with them.”
I eat for the first time today, digging into my salad with vigor. “He forgot he didn’t want cheese. Who forgets that?”
“We’re supposed to ask if they want cheese. You taught me that.”
She’s right. “Whatever.”
She pats my shoulder as she walks by. “Are you going to Sam’s party? She’s starting late so we can all go.”
“I don’t know.”
“You should come. That way I have a ride,” she hints coyly. “You know, because my boyfriend has my car…”
“Oh gee, Sophie. Do you want a ride?”
“I’d love one. Don’t worry. It’ll be fun. We’ll get drunk and forget whatever’s bothering you. Or who,” she adds, giving me another coy look. “I’m not naming names, but I hear Kent Nicholson has been in here every night this week for you. I can imagine wanting to forget that man all night long.”
“How’s your boyfriend doing?”
“He’s no Kent Nicholson.”
I stab at her with my fork. “Be gone, witch.”
She snickers. “I mean seriously. I heard he has back dimples.”
“From who?”
She touches her lips and leaves the room.
Who hasn’t seen him naked? Acid laces my thoughts, following me around for the rest of my shift. I’m glad it’s slow and don’t even mind the fifty dollars in tips. My bank account does, but then again my bank account can mind its own damn business tonight.
“Ready?” Sophie asks at the end of our shifts.
I can’t help feeling like I was roped into going to this party. She tells me how to get to Sam’s place in between chatting animatedly about her boyfriend. I wonder for the first time what it would be like having a man worth talking about. Sometimes she smiles so big I have to smile back.
“Okay, enough about me. Tell me about you. Are you dating anyone?”
“No.”
“No one?” she hints.
“No.”
“Don’t make me say his name. Your left eye twitches every time I say his name.”
“Trust me. We’re just roommates.”
“You sound so sad.”
I look out my window. “I am eye-twitchingly fine.”
When we get to Sam’s the party is in full swing. We find a spot on the street and walk together. Inside we’re bombarded by Sam Hunt and his sexy voice. I start singing along immediately and Sophie joins in. People laugh at us, but we don’t mind. We sing all the way to the kitchen where we find Samantha taking shots with a tall, long-haired guy.
She gasps when she sees us and runs over, giving us each a big hug. “You’re here!” she squeals, spilling her shot all over the floor.
She’s drunk already. I laugh and try to keep her from swaying. Her friend takes her hand and gently pulls her against his side to keep her up. “Thanks, Jax. Guys, this is Jax. He’s my best friend.”
Jax smiles pleasantly at us.
“Hey. My name’s Raina,” I introduce myself since Sam forgot.
He smirks. “Hey, Raina. What’s up, Sophie?”
“Nothing much. You let her get drunk?”
He puts his hands up. “She did that all on her own. Telling her no is like asking to be attacked.”
“Whatever,” Sam drawls. “Let’s go out back. It’s loud in here.”
Together we four make our way to her patio. There’s a swinging bench in front of a fire pit and we all gather around it. I sit on the floor next to Jax.
“You want a shot?” he asks, having brought out the bottle of Crown. I scrunch up my nose and he laughs. “After the second one it all tastes the same.”
“She totally needs one. Unrequited love is a bitch,” Sophie chimes in.
I