Maybe fooling around with someone would help taper this need.
If I had to think of Roark to get myself going initially, then by God, I’d use that to my advantage. Only rule of tonight—have fun.
Mind made up, I returned his smile, and I could see his blush from here…and was that his heartbeat? I blinked, freaked out that I’d heard it accelerate. Turning my back to him, I noticed we were close to the front of the line. I looked up at the large hanging sign illuminated by neon yellow lights and felt my shoulders loosen.
I would enjoy myself if it killed me. Tomorrow, I could worry.
The bar pulsated with life, muffled by the brick building. I knew if I concentrated, the bar chaos would seep into my advanced hearing.
“Oh, Great Aunt Lucia, my purse!” Camilla exclaimed as her purse went flying. And that was my cue. Without my ID, we’d planned a sneak in. With the guy distracted by Camilla’s over-the-top shenanigans, I used my super-speed and ran into the bar, so fast that the human eye couldn’t see. I hoped no one had been staring to witness my disappearing act.
I slowed in the darkened hallway, glad no one was around, and noticed the drastic difference from what I was used to. The noise, the feel, the smell.
As soon as I stepped around the entrance corner, it was like something was off in the air. The force was disturbed. It felt electric and… animalistic?
My eyebrows met, and I looked around the bustling, noisy, people-infested area. This was the best place to stand and people watch. As my eyes scanned the room, nothing stood out, so I shook off the odd feeling tinging the air. It must be the hormones running rampant in this place.
The girls sidled up next to me with smug smiles.
“You’re quick.” Eliza leaned closer to me and drew the words out, trying to be heard over the noise. I wanted to tell her it wasn’t necessary because I would have heard her, regardless, but I didn’t want them to have another reminder of my differences. “Imagine the sex you can have.”
“Oh, Dios, si,” Camilla said fanning herself.
“Estan locas,” I responded, rolling my eyes.
“I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” Camilla exclaimed, and I just nodded. I didn’t like speaking it, but I knew it well. My Latina mom had spoken Spanish predominantly, mostly to irritate my dad, who didn’t speak it. Annie and I got our tan complexion from her and other than that, knowing the language was the only connection I had to that side of my heritage.
“I feel left out,” Eliza grumbled. Camilla elbowed her, and I rolled my eyes.
“Well, one of the nifty skills when you turn Fae is speaking all languages—allegedly.” Honestly, I didn’t know if that would pertain to us considering we were half-breeds.
“Someone’s leaving that table!” Rosalind rushed to claim it before anyone else did, but the rest of us walked over at a slower pace and plopped into the cushioned circled chairs around the table.
“I’ll go get drinks.” Camilla stood and strutted away. Her dark hair swayed behind her. She looked cute as a button in those cowgirl boots. As soon as she stepped up to the bar, a guy walked up, and she grinned at him, chatting. I smiled from my vantage point and turned, knowing she could handle herself.
“Hey, ladies!” a peppy female voice said, jarring my eyes to her face. The blonde petite girl with a big grin on her face slid in next to Rosalind, who gave her a side-hug.
“Jennie from the block!” Eliza exclaimed.
“I’m Rae,” I introduced myself, forcing a smile. Jennie. The name reminded me of Jens, the supposed friend who’d feigned being sick and slept with my boyfriend.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” She grinned, exuding rambunctious energy. “Do you go to UG?” she asked, using the acronym for the university here.
“Not anymore, I’m taking a break,” I said lamely. Three pink drinks were suddenly thumped in the middle of the table by a grinning Camilla.
“I totally get that! I had to take a break the second year because I needed to work to make money.” Jennie’s smiled waned, and she physically seemed to shake it off.
“Let the celebration begin,” Camilla wiggled a thick, perfectly threaded eyebrow up and down.
As if conjuring the bad memory, a familiar voice screeched from behind me. “Oh. My. God. Brown eyes?”
My lips tightened. As if in slow motion, I turned in my chair. Lissa gaped at me from two tables away. My eyes flicked to the side to Tanya and Jen, who had gone pale. In Lissa fashion, she hopped off her chair. Next thing I knew, I was enveloped and crushed to breasts and tangled up in long blonde hair. The familiar scent of Poppy perfume wafted into my nose. It overwhelmed my Fae senses, and I blinked to get rid of the sting.
“Hey, Lissa,” I said lamely and nodded to Tanya and Jen, who gaped at me.
“We were so concerned something happened to you. It wasn’t until your sister showed up that we stopped worrying,” Lissa said in a quick stream, squeezing my arms. “Especially Jen. She was horrified. The guilt ate at her.”
“I deduct that this is the backstabbing skank?” Camilla said, her twang thick. Rosalind elbowed Camilla. Eliza crossed her arms, and an eyebrow flicked up. I’d forgotten telling them about catching Jeff in bed with a supposed friend.
“I believe so, Watson,” Eliza said slowly.
“I’m Sherlock,” Camilla snapped, and Jen shot Camilla a look.
Wait a second…
“You knew?” I pinned Lissa with my eyes. Jen looked down at the table.
“Ah.” Lissa cleared her throat.
“We had a feeling,” Tanya admitted.
My teeth ground. I wanted to jump up and choke them out. They’d called themselves my friends? All the while they’d kept this from me. Schemed behind my back even.
Rosalind’s hand settled on mine. I looked
