Sparks - Wendy Higgins Page 0,30

was I so fucking boring? And why did he have to go and get a face tattoo? His eyes really were nice. And his sideways grin was cute. A warm buzz overcame me as I surveyed him. As he watched me, waiting, my inhibitions suddenly fell off the muddy side of a hill and slid down sloppily. I leaned forward and kissed him.

Rick took the back of my head and our tongues met, his velvety smooth. Hello tongue ring. He smelled like metal and smoke and cologne. Everything about it felt edgy, especially when his hand tightened in my hair enough to pull my scalp and make me whimper. I pressed my hips upward automatically and felt the tingle. Holy shit. He pulled back enough to look in my eyes. “Want more of that, babe?”

Yes. But no. It felt good, but his voice and vibe were scary as hell. My non-answer made him chuckle. “You ain’t ready.”

“No,” I whispered. He nodded and pulled back, turning to face the bar and his drink as if I weren’t there. It took me a full minute to catch my breath and calm down, and then Beth was there, her bright eyes beaming at me. I noticed the four guys standing, pulling on jackets and coats. Oh, thank God.

“That kiss was so hot!” she whispered. “I’m proud of you!”

“Oh. Thanks. I mean, no.” I shook my head.

“You ready?” one of the guys was at Beth’s shoulder, leering down at her with drooping eyelids.

“Yeah,” she said, then looked at me, practically bouncing on her toes. “We’re going into the city.”

“Huh?” My brain must have been fuzzy. “Who? Wait…no.”

Her head tilted in annoyance. “Don’t be like that. What do you have to do tomorrow? Nothing. Let’s go have some fun.”

My heart began to accelerate. “Beth, no. I need to go home. I’m sorry.”

The guys were standing there now looking at us. Except Rick, who acted as though we were invisible.

“You just kissed him,” she said at full volume, causing hot blood to creep up into my face. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”

“I’m tired!” I wanted to strangle her for putting me on the spot like this.

“You’re ruining a perfectly fun night out. I’m not ready to go to bed. I’m staying with them.”

“You can’t go alone,” I said, feeling guilty and torn. I wanted her to have fun but letting her go alone was breaking girl code. “Beth,” I hissed, lowering my voice. “I don’t have money for a cab home. Please, let’s just go. Get their numbers and you can hang out another night.”

Her face hardened and her tiny mouth puckered, filling me with dread. “I’m going.”

I looked to Rick, but he ignored me, so I met eyes with one of the other guys. “Would you be able to drop me at home?”

“Jersey City?” His whole demeanor was lackadaisical. “Nah, that’s the opposite direction.”

“Yeah, not happening,” the other guy said. “Just call a cab.” Their faces were so serious. I hadn’t seen any of them smile other than Rick’s humor at my overly-innocent expense.

Fear kicked through my bloodstream at the thought of being abandoned here. I pleaded with Beth through my eyes until she groaned and threw her head back.

“Fine. I’ll call you a cab. But you’re paying me back.”

I blanched. “You’re not coming with me?”

“I told you, I’m going without you.” She looked so pissed, pushing her skinny arms into her jacket, glaring pixie-daggers at me. I continued to silently beg her to change her mind until she looked away from me with an exasperated shake of her head and the five of them walked to the door. She was really going.

“Be careful!” I called to Beth. “Don’t forget to order my cab! Please!”

I heard her mumble, “Oh, my God” just before the doors of the pub closed behind them, leaving me with eighties music playing lightly overhead. I turned to the bartender, who raised an eyebrow.

“We close in ten,” he said.

I nodded. “Okay. I have a cab on the way.” I walked to the window to watch. My stomach felt like I’d eaten ten lemons. Was Beth really going into Manhattan with four sketchy guys we’d just met? It was a Sunday night! Places would be closing, so they’d have to go to someone’s home. What was I thinking? I should have womaned-up so she wasn’t alone!

I chewed my thumbnail. The streets were dark and barren tonight. Maybe because it was a Sunday. Maybe because only Beth and I, along with