As we traipsed through the hallway and the lobby, we had expected Derek and Jesse. They were there, along with Jamie, Tiffany, Cord, and a new date. He held hands with an exotic-looking girl this time, and like the others, she stood in the background. She was chewing her lips as she eyed Tiffany.
Go figure.
Hannah put the brakes on. “What the hell? You cannot come.”
Tiffany tossed back her golden locks. “Like hell. You’re getting serious with this guy. I’m checking him out.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
The two squared off and Jamie eased away from them. He stepped sideways, around Derek and Kara, and saw me. “Looking good, Connors.”
An arm came around my waist. I was pulled into Jesse’s side as he remarked, “Are you hitting on her now?”
“No.” Horror flashed in Jamie’s eyes. “No way, man. No way at all. Just saying, she looks good. You’re a lucky man.” Leaning forward, he patted Jesse on the shoulder. It was the most awkward exchange I ever witnessed between the two.
“Thanks.”
“Oh helllll noo.”
Beth and I snapped to attention. That was Hannah’s war cry. As we turned around, the two girls from the bathroom were there. They were dressed to go out in tight, short dresses. But when I expected them to leave, they didn’t. They stayed. That was when I clued in to what Hannah had realized right away. Even though they didn’t come over to the group, they lingered close enough to overhear the conversations.
Hannah stepped up to them. Her arm twisted in the air and her hand found her hip. She stuck it out. Her elbow mirrored the motion as her eyes bulged at the girls. “You are not doing what I know you’re doing.”
They both tried to look bored. Only one succeeded. The other’s chest was rising too quickly and she wouldn’t look away from Jesse. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped to a small o. I couldn’t blame her as I snuck a peek. His shirt clung to him, but it wasn’t too tight. It showed off his lean physique. Then Hannah purposely moved to block her view. I moved to the side and saw the girl looked ready to piss her pants, but the first yawned, “Can you get out of my breathing space? You’re sucking all the air in.”
Tiffany stepped next to her sister. That was when I learned where Hannah had gotten some of her fighting ways. The two looked so similar, almost like twins, as they turned their noses up at the other two. Well, Tiffany tilted her head back so she was snubbing the two. Hannah had her head bent and her eyes were locked on her target. If she could’ve drilled holes into the girl, she would’ve. Tiffany and Hannah were a unified front.
I was close to pissing my pants and their hatred wasn’t directed at me.
Beth sighed as she locked elbows with both of her cousins. “Come on. This is stupid. If they find out where we’re going, they’re going to find out. Let’s go.”
“No way.” Hannah dug her feet in.
“Tiffany.”
She swept a hand to the girls. “I’m supporting my sister. I’m trying a new leaf too. Join, not judge. I’m a supportive sister.”
Beth’s eyebrows shot up. I frowned. Hannah’s mouth dropped. “You’re doing what?” But she didn’t wait. She rolled her eyes and grabbed her sister’s arm. “Let’s go. I’ll text everyone directions from the car. No way are these two riding coattails.”
The one harrumphed. The second one’s teeth started chattering. She was still holding her breath.
Everyone separated into cars. Beth and Hannah rode with Jesse and me. Cord, Cord’s date went with Jamie and Tiffany. Derek and Kara took their own vehicle. When we got into the vehicles, the two girls from my floor hurried into their own car.
“I should slice their tires,” Hannah grumbled.
“Don’t. You’ll get into more trouble.”
She shot her cousin a glare and stuck her bottom lip out. “Whatever. Jesse, go fast. Those two pariahs are going to tell everyone where you’re at.”
“No, they won’t,” Beth corrected her. “They want him to themselves. They won’t tell a soul.”
After we got directions to The Jukebox, Jesse grinned when he pulled into the parking lot. There was a line outside of the single door to a small dive bar. Three giant-sized security guards were in front checking drivers’ licenses.
“Nice one, Hannah,” Beth griped. “They’re checking IDs; no one in this car is twenty-one.”
“Shut up. I’ll call Emerson. He’s in the band. I’m sure he can get us in.”
“Wait.” Jesse twisted around. “You said Emerson?”
She nodded, holding her breath at suddenly being Jesse’s sole focus. “Uh, yeah. He’s my boyfriend.”
“Around five foot ten?”
She nodded, still holding her breath.
“Bald?”
Another nod.
“Scar across his face?”
Once again.
Jesse grinned. “Attitude up his ass?”
“You know him.” She didn’t look happy about that.
“Yeah. We’ll get in just fine.” Then he got out of the car and made a phone call. A minute later, a girl opened a back door. It’d been overlooked since it was hidden behind two large dumpsters. She waved at Jesse, who gestured back.
As I got out of the car, I knew that girl. She was the same stunner from The Shack. Black hair, black eyes, and a body that I knew every guy wanted. I tugged on Jesse’s sleeve. “Isn’t that…what’s her name?”
“Bri.” As the group walked over, he flashed her a grin. “Hey, Bri. The guys are playing tonight?”
She rolled her eyes and swiped back some of her hair. Tiffany instantly lifted her top lip in a faint snarl. Hannah was all smiles, wiggling her fingers at the girl. Eyeing Hannah cautiously, recognition flared in her depths when she switched to me. “Hi. You’re…”
“Alex. From the—”
“Yeah,” she cut me off, skirting a nervous glance to the others. “I remember. Luke texted you, Jesse?”
“Nope. Not this time.” He gestured to Hannah, who linked elbows with me. “She’s a friend of Alex’s. I believe she’s dating your cousin.”
“Yeah.” No warmth traveled to her gaze as she lingered on our linked arms. “That’s too bad.”
Beth started laughing. Hannah stiffened and Jamie snorted. “Even she knows you’re a whore, Hannah.”
Before she could twist around and slap him, I tugged Hannah with me into the overcrowded bar. As we passed by Bri, who was holding the door for us, I murmured, “Thanks for letting us in like this.”
She shrugged. “Luke really likes Jesse. It’s no problem.” After everyone was inside, she shoved through the crowd back to our side. “Just don’t get in trouble since you’re underage and don’t—”
But whatever else she was going to say was cut off. A guy from the bar shouted her name, “Brielle! Help please!”