Chapter 4

“Want another one?” The cute bartender asks me while holding up my empty bottle. I smile at her and nod and she bounces off to the bar for me. I like Sam. She is bubbly and sweet. Her dark hair is in two buns on the top of her head and her ever present spiked goggles sit on top of her head like a headband. She completes her look with tight red pants and a black T with fishnets sleeves. We got close when the band was still a thing. She was dating the then guitarist, so we spent a lot of time hanging out together.

“So where is Zain?”

“Oh, I am sure he will be here. He was pregaming at the house with everyone before coming. We are kind of doing our own thing tonight.”

“Cool.”

I prop my feet up in the empty stool next to me as I chat with her. These damn boots are sexy as hell, but so uncomfortable.

“Tell me how you are really doing.”

Sam doesn’t pry, but she has been a constant shoulder in the last year. I appreciate her friendship and her easy acceptance of me. She never judges me.

“Hey Sam…” Before I can finish my sentence, the back door opens and in walks Z. As always, he is dressed in all black. Tonight he has add a black cloak with a hood, black boots, silver chain and his usual spike protrudes from under his lip.

“Hey Love!” Z wraps his arms around me and catches me in the neck with his spike.

“Ouch, you got me!”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry Ash!”

“It’s…..okay”

Seeing Hannah twist up behind Zain makes me pause for a second. The timing was too on point. Which means she was at the house pre gaming with them before heading over here. He gives her a hug like they hadn’t just been partying together. They are not as slick as they think they are. Z likes to keep his business private. Hannah is a different story. I roll my eyes and Sam gives me the same exact look. Hannah isn’t popular with most of the females on the scene. From what others say it’s because of her personality or lack thereof.

Zain takes off to say hello to someone else he knows and Hannah trots along behind him.

“What’s up with that?” Sam asks with her eyebrow raised.

“Who the hell knows…actually we all know, but I am not going to even speak on it other than to say that he says it’s not serious.”

“Of course, it isn’t serious, no one gets serious with her.”

“Wonder if she knows that?”

Sam and I exchange a look and giggle together.

“I am going to wonder off back. Looks like you have some customers and I want to say hi to people. Thanks for the beer!”

I stand up and take a second to balance on these stupid heels. I grab my purse and my phone and suddenly there is warmth on my back that I wasn’t expecting.

“I see you, those boots look great.” Z’s deep voice rumbles through my back and whispers into my ear.

He kisses my cheek before taking off to visit with more people. I feel a blush creep into my cheeks and shake my head trying not to read too much into it. Z isn’t a flirt and he often gives genuine compliments. It means nothing. Grabbing my beer, a take a hard pull before sauntering off to see what’s going on outside.

After saying high to everyone I find a couple of the old band members.

“Hey Ashton, want a shot?” Mark hollers at me.

“Hell yes!”

I should have asked what it was first. Three Jager bombs later and I am feeling nice and wavy. We here the band start playing, and all make our way in. I stand at the front next to Z for a while listening and dancing.  They are good, but the crowd is getting a little two excited. Z keeps having to stand between me and the crowd to keep me from getting knocked down. I can tell he isn’t getting to pay as much attention to the show as he would like so I duck out to find a seat. I need two seats. One for my ass and one for my feet.

And that is how the night went. Wondering in and out, visiting with people, and taking shots. The last band was finished, and the crowd was getting thin. I was once again perched on a stool crowd watching. Z slid up beside me and gave me a hug.

“Are you having fun, Love?”

“I am.” I say with a sloppy smile.

“Are you good to get yourself home? It’s just, well everyone is going back to the house to party and I was going to go with them.”

I look up to spot Hannah hanging back just out of earshot with her eyes on us. My heart instantly sinks a little. Fuck it. He can do what he wants. He doesn’t owe me anything, I can handle a night of being on my own.

“It’s whatever. Go have fun.”

Zain gives me a little frown, but he is too drunk to give much thought to my reaction.

“Are you sure, can you get yourself home safely?”

“I’ll hang out and sober up with Sam before I leave.”

“Okay, I trust you.” Zain give me a squeeze again, looks back at Hannah and I swear I hear him whisper “I’m sorry” to me. Sorry for what? I must have imagined that. Why would he feel he needed to apologize? It's not like he is in any position to see me safely home. 

He gives another wave as he heads out the door with Hannah in tow. A stupid grin across her thirsty face. I am not upset, really I am not.