“Hendrick’s with tonic, please. Actually, can you make that a double?”
“Having a bad night?” he asked, grabbing a glass and scooping ice into it.
“Possibly. I haven’t decided yet.”
He laughed and set the glass on the counter. I smiled as he filled it mostly with gin.
“Hopefully, this will help,” he said.
“I have no doubt it will.”
His tongue toyed with the silver loop pinned through his bottom lip as he poured the rest of the drink, plopping a lime on the rim of the glass. I was curious what it would be like to kiss a guy with a piercing, would it be fun or more of a hindrance.
He noticed me staring as he set the drink in front of me, and I swear he licked the ring on purpose.
“You have a tab?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Wilder Welles.”
He smirked. “That’s a great name.”
His cheesy line fell flat, but I smiled for his effort. “Thanks…” I leaned forward and read his name tag. “Mike.”
“Not so great name,” he said and gave me another smile as I took a sip from the drink.
“Whoa, did you put any tonic in this?”
He winked, and any attraction I had for him dissipated. “Hope your night gets better.”
I walked back through the crowd, a little let down by bad boy Mike, and was almost to the table when I saw June texting someone. As I got closer, I realized it was my phone in her hand.
What the hell?
“What are you doing?” I asked as she set it on the table.
“Might I remind you tonight is my night,” she said, blocking me as I attempted to reach behind her. “I’m gonna need you to take a few sips of that drink and have a listen, alright?”
“June…” I tried to get to my phone again and she slapped my hand. “Are you serious right now?”
“Drink up,” she said with a grim smile that told me she wasn’t messing around.
Rolling my eyes, I drank half of the glass. “Why won’t you let me have my phone?”
“My night… I’ll ask the questions.”
“Fine,” I said, sounding more like a teenager than a grown man.
The gin had started to work its way through my system, warming my limbs and stomach. The music was loud, and the bass had my heart thumping in an uneven rhythm.
“Why were you over here looking like you were about to cry earlier?” she asked.
“I wasn’t about to cry.”
“Wilder… I’m not doing this with you tonight. Do you think I’m stupid?” she asked, raising her voice.
“Jesus, June.”
“Answer the question.”
Exhaling, I said, “No, you’re not stupid.”
“Everything okay?” Gwen asked, handing June her drink. “Things looked a little tense from the dance floor, I figured I better make sure you two don’t kill each other.”
“June has my phone and is holding it hostage.”
Gwen raised her eyebrows. “Interesting.”
“Do you know how hard I worked for this educator position?” June asked.
Guilt sobered me up. “I do. And you deserve it.”
“I know you’re not trying to be selfish. And I know you can’t just drop everything that’s going on in your life, but I asked for one night. And you’re sitting over here, staring at that damn phone, looking like the saddest asshole in the room.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have even opened my emails.”
“Did Jax finally respond?” Gwen asked, her excitement making me even more uncomfortable.
“He did, but who cares.” Careful not to spill my drink down the back of her silk blouse, I pulled June into a hug, “I’m sorry I stole your thunder. I definitely should be awarded the most selfish asshole award.”
She squeezed me and I laughed through a cough as she let me go. “I forgive you.”
Skeptical, I said, “You never let me off the hook this easy.”
She shrugged with a secret smile playing at the corner of her lips.
“Uh-oh…” Gwen giggled. “What did you do, June Gailey?”
“I need you to remember I did this for your own good, Wilder.” June reached for my phone and handed it to me.
“Did what?” I asked, my heart more unsteady than before.
“You and Jax are never gonna make things right, pussyfooting around each other like scared little kids. It’s time for one of you to take a leap. You’ve been in your head for a month… longer than that, if you want me to be honest. Jax did what he did, now let’s move on already. Haven’t you given him enough of your life?”
The music in the club, June’s voice, it all went quiet in my head as I read the texts she’d sent him.
“Why would you do this?” I gripped my phone to stop my hand from shaking.
June took my drink from me and set it on the table. “Because I love you, and I want you to be happy.”
The anger drained from my limbs, replacing itself with anxiety. “I’m not ready.”
“You’re never ready, Wilder. And you sure as hell are never gonna be happy. Not with Anders, not with anyone. You have to do this. You both need it. Take the leap.”
“What if he doesn’t show up?” I asked, hating how much I wanted him to show up and how much I feared it.
“Then you know… that he’ll never show up for you. And maybe then you can find someone who will.”
“Wait…” Gwen’s eyes were wide. “Jax is coming here?”
“I sure as hell hope so,” June said, pulling me in for another hug.
“This is exciting.” Gwen clapped, her red curls bouncing against her bare shoulders.
“Holy shit,” I said, numb all the way down to my toes.
June grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“I still don’t know if I hate you or love you right now.”
“You managed to turn my night into your one-man drama show and I forgave you…”
“I need another drink,” I said and sat down on the stool.
“On it.” Gwen leaned into June and kissed her. “Want one too?” she asked, and I turned my eyes to the dance floor as June cupped her ass.
“No, I’m good, baby.”
“I told her you’d love that dress,” I said as Gwen headed to the bar.
“I give you my permission to take her shopping anytime you like.” June sat next to me. “Honestly, how much do you hate me right now?”
I finished off my gin and tonic, hoping it would revive the buzz I had earlier. “I couldn’t hate you if I tried. I know why you did it. I just wish you hadn’t.”
“Do you think he’ll come?” she asked.
“To a gay club, on a Monday night, his first week in Georgia? Let me grab my Magic 8-Ball…”
“It is certain?”
“More like, don’t count on it,” I said.
“I bet he shows up and sweeps you and your skinny ass off your feet.”
“I’m anxious as fuck right now, June. Don’t make fun of me.” I picked up my phone. “I’m going to email him and tell him my friend was drunk and lost her mind, and that he should no way in hell drive all this way.”