Chapter 13

Marissa's Pov

“ Was starting to think you'd left the party early." He chuckled lightly. He looked more relaxed and confident. The words seemed to flow easier now. I reckoned that was thanks to the half filled glass of champagne he held lazily in one hand.

“I just came to grab some punch and I got sidetracked.” I replied, chuckling back.

" I can see that.” His eyes fell on the man beside me and his smile dipped just a little. Still friendly and warm but also with a hint of something else. " Hello. Jack Tinsel. I run the place.” He extended a hand to Zayne in greeting.

Zayne had gone rigid since Jack arrived. never mind a smile dip, his was completely gone from his face.

“Ah. The Jack Tinsel. I've heard about you." He replied. There was a two second hesitation before he accepted the hand shake. Two seconds but it felt longer.

“Zayne. Zayne Blackwood."

A name. A name just like any other but all of a sudden the breath seized up in my lungs and my head spun. I teetered on my heels and Jack caught me first.

“Hey hey. You ok?"

“Yeah. I'm fine I just…..I think the alcohol is getting to me." He stroked my shoulders, trying to comfort me.

Zayne's eyes were filled with concern for me as well but he was staring at the place where Jack's hand met my shoulder.

“I think so too. hey maybe you should sit down for a bit?" Jack said soothingly.

“Yeah I think you should." Zayne added, pulling his eyes away from Jack's hand to rest on my face.

I allowed Jack lead me to the far end of the room where the chairs had been piled up. Zayne didn't follow. Jack pulled a chair free and urged me to sit.

“A glass of water usually helps. And a bite to eat too." He said gently.

“No, that's fine. I don't think I can keep anything down yet." I had no idea what was wrong with me. I hadn't drunk that much alcohol. I knew my tolerance level and had paced myself accordingly. or did someone spike the punch?

looking around, everyone seemed a little more talkative than usual but otherwise fine.

Jack pulled up a chair and sat beside me.

“oh you don't have to stay with me. I wouldn't want to keep you from…” I began.

" I have to. at least till you can stand on your feet again.” He replied, adjusting so he was sitting in a way that he could pay me enough attention and still keep an eye on the party. “I don't mind, really."

His smile was warm. comforting. And in spite of the misgivings I previously had about him, I felt myself relaxing.

He made light conversation. About work, the town, his nieces who he described as the loves of his life and the banes of his existence. That got me talking about Asher and Ashlynn and we laughed easily as we swapped stories.

I saw Bridget surrounded by a trio of old men, leering at her and doing their best not to show it. She smiled and entertained their stares, throwing in a giggle here and there. I knew she didn't need me to come to her rescue. She loved the attention.

Sure enough, our eyes met and she winked at me and gave a secret thumbs up.

Talking with Jack turned out to be easier and more fun than I thought it would be. He was funny and charming when he wasn't tongue tied from being nervous. Although I still wasn't sure it wasn't entirely because of the alcohol.

“I love this song. Wanna dance?" he asked.

"I don't really know how to,” I smiled sheepishly.

" Oh it doesn't matter. Just have fun.” Before I could protest further, he hauled me to my feet and tugged me along to the middle of the dance floor.

Needless to say all eyes in the room were on us. I felt even more self conscious than before.

“May I have this dance?" He asked with a little sheepish smile. He held out his hand for mine and I slipped it in.

" certainly.” I responded.

He bent low and planted a kiss on the back of my palm before gently placing his hand around my waist.

I'd never slow danced Before. or maybe I had in my past life but I couldn't remember it now.

In any case, I was glad my first experience was with Jack. We danced around the room, completely taken with the music. Bridget passed me at some point, firmly in the arms of one of the old men. His eyes shone as though he could not believe his luck.

I tried to find Zayne in the crowd. Shouldn't have been hard to do since he towered above at least more than half the room but I couldn't find him anywhere.

The music changed tempo into a faster beat and Jack took his hands off me and began to dance freely. He urged me to join in and how could I say no?

By the time the party winded down, I was pleasantly out of breath and laughing uncontrollably.

As we joined the guests in filling out into the parking lot, I looked around for Elias. I couldn't believe I had forgotten about him all through the party

It was very unlikely for him to disappear on me like this but maybe he'd been right about coming here for work.

“I could drive you home." Jack offered.

“Oh that's alright, I'm here with Bridget and a close friend of mine."

" I'm sure they can find their way home. “ Jack chuckled.

True enough, Bree waved to me from within a group of people. She mouthed the words " Go on."

I still hadn't seen Elias but I assumed Bridget would let him know I'd gotten a ride home. I allowed Jack give me a ride.

By the time he dropped me off at my door, he'd managed to get me to agree to a date with him the next day.

Bridget was going to be really excited for me. I was excited for me too actually. It was going to be my first date in almost a year.