Samantha
“Three, two, one, shoot!”
I lifted my shot glass and tipped it back into my mouth. The tequila burned as it slid down my throat. I shivered before sticking the lime into my mouth to suck.
“Woohoo!” Mandy exclaimed, already well beyond tipsy. “Another round!”
Letting out a laugh, I grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the bar.
“Let’s take a breather,” I said. “We don’t need you passing out before midnight.”
Mandy blinked at me and nodded. “Oh! You’re right! Thanks for looking out for me, Sam.”
I led her to a table and sat her down before turning back to get her some water from the bar.
The other bridesmaids made their way over to the table to gather around her, but Jessica stayed back and met me as I reached the bar. She was part of the bridal party as well, though it wasn’t surprising.
We lived in a small town, after all. Everyone was pretty much friends with everyone.
“How’re you feeling?” she asked me with a grin.
I chuckled and sighed. “I’m good. It’s been a while since I’ve been out like this. Have to remember to pace myself.”
Jessica laughed. “It’s not such a bad thing for you to let loose now and then. I never get to see you anymore between work and Henry. Don’t get me wrong, I love that little guy, and I know he’s your number one priority. I just miss you, is all.”
“I know.” I nodded to show her I really did understand. “I know, and I’m sorry. Sometimes, I get too focused on everything I think I have to do, and not always what I want to do.”
“I know,” she assured me. “I’ve known you for years. I know how your brain works.”
“You’re a gem, you know that?” I grinned. The bartender came over, and I ordered a water and two beers. I handed one of the beers to Jessica. “Come on. My parents have Henry for the night, so I can really enjoy myself and let loose without having to worry about waking up early.”
Jessica took the beer with a nod. “Well, in that case, let’s not waste this opportunity. Bottoms up!”
We clinked our glasses and tipped our beers back to chug them like we would’ve done as teenagers. When our glasses were empty, I felt giddy and a little lightheaded. It seemed like I was more of a lightweight than I’d thought.
Grabbing two more beers to sip on, as well as Mandy’s water, Jessica and I wove our way through the crowded bar to get back to our group.
“Here,” I told Mandy, handing her the water. “Drink that. Hydrate yourself some.”
Mandy took the water with a grin. “Thanks, Sam! You’re the best, you know that?”
I nodded and said, “Of course I do. Drink your water, and you can have another shot if you want.”
“Okay,” she said before taking a long drink.
Jessica elbowed me in the side. “Look at you, super-mom.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m letting loose tonight, remember?”
“Yeah, you are!” Jessica exclaimed with a laugh.
Our group stood around the table, chatting and drinking for several minutes. I knew all the other women, though I wouldn’t say I was friends with any of them other than Jessica and Mandy. Still, I felt at ease and lighthearted as we laughed and enjoyed the evening together.
However, my calm was quickly erased when one of the women asked a particular question.
“Mandy, you have to tell us about Ryan Carson. Is he single?”
I tensed, pressing my lips together so I didn’t blurt out anything I might regret.
Mandy shrugged. “I’m pretty sure he’s single, but I don’t know him that well. He’s kind of quiet. Stoic. Very cool and collected.”
I accidentally snorted into my drink. All the women turned to look at me, and I stared back at them like a deer in headlights.
Oh, shit.
“Oh, wait!” one of the other girls declared. “Sam grew up with Ryan, right? Sam, you can tell us what he’s like.”
I gawked, my cheeks burning as they all continued to stare at me. Jessica was trying to hold in her laughter as she stood next to me, her fist clenched against her mouth.
I elbowed her in the side.
“Um, well, he’s my brother’s friend, not mine,” I said, trying to dissuade them from asking me any more questions about Ryan.
Of course, these thirsty bitches would not be distracted.
“Oh, come on,” one of the girls insisted. “You’ve got to know plenty about him. Spill!”
Maybe it was the alcohol making my head swim a little, or maybe I was just sick of being constantly reminded of Ryan Carson and how much everybody seemed to idolize him, but my patience snapped.
“Well, for one, he’s not really the cool, calm, and collected type.” I grimaced. “That’s all just an act. He’s really a huge asshole.”
Everyone’s eyes went wide with shock, and a few audible gasps filled the air.
“Really?” one woman mumbled. “I can totally see it.”
I frowned. “Really?”
She nodded. “Yeah, he’s got that hot, bad boy vibe going on.”
“Bad boy?”
“I agree!” another of the girls declared. “It’s so sexy. I bet he’s really demanding in bed.”
What the hell was happening? I tell these weirdos Ryan’s an asshole, and that only makes him more intriguing to them?
I did not understand women.
They all started chatting about how hot Ryan was, and I took a long drink of my beer.
“I would absolutely let him bend me over and do terrible things to me.”
“He could throw me against a wall.”
“I bet he likes it really rough.”
I grimaced again. I thought I was going to be sick.
One of the girls noticed my reaction and grinned at me. “Oh, come on, Sam. You wouldn’t sleep with him if given the chance?”
I arched a brow and scoffed.
Loudly, I declared, “I would rather remain celibate for the rest of my life than ever sleep with Ryan Carson.”
To my surprise, Mandy’s eyes went wide, and she gasped. Jessica slammed her elbow into me and let out a hissing nose.
“Shit, Sam,” she murmured, gazing at something over my shoulder.
Frowning in confusion, I turned around to see what was freaking her out.
I froze, my heart dropping straight to the floor.
Jason and Ryan were standing there, watching us. Jason looked as though he were holding back laughter, but Ryan…Ryan looked pissed.