“That bar was seriously lacking in fun. Let’s find another one.” Jerry slurred his words.
“Sounds like you’ve had plenty of fun already.” I looked to my other two friends. “What about you two?”
“Nah, man, Jerry’s had enough for all of us.” Alex shook his head. “His girlfriend broke up with him.”
“Ah, that explains it, but I think he’s done.” I lifted his arm and let it drop in a thud. “Yeah, he’s done.”
“Where were you tonight?” Alex leaned back in his seat. “I mean, it’s a hundred percent your business but you don’t usually stand us up.”
“I had to meet up with my cousin at the ballet,” I shrugged. “She never asks me to meet her, so I thought something was up.”
“Ballet? Cota Hawthorne at the ballet?” Alex grinned. “Which cousin?”
“I know how to enjoy more than just the clubs,” I scoffed. “You should try it sometime.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Alex said. “You didn’t answer. Which cousin? Must have been the pretty one.”
“I don’t think I wanna hear you talk about her like that.”
“Ha, it was Murphy?” Alex leaned forward. “When you gonna set me up with her?”
“No way. No dating my cousin.” I adjusted in my seat. “I love you, man, but no. Besides, she’s way too smart for you.”
“Whoa, dude, that’s harsh,” Alex fake frowned. “In case you forgot I just graduated from college with a degree.”
“Yeah, a degree in chasing women.” I slapped his leg. “Or is it a degree in eating junk food?”
“Well, let me back up. I have three degrees.”
“Of course, let’s not forget that degree in history. No idea what you’re gonna do with that.”
“No idea myself, but I had fun getting it and it made my mom happy,” Alex smiled. “Maybe teach.”
“True, I like that for you, too,” I nodded.
“So, you gonna get into the family business?” Tom finally spoke out. “Isn’t that why you got your engineering degree?”
“I hope to, but my dad’s being difficult. Thanks to partying with you turkeys for four years, he thinks I’m not ready.” I pointed to Jerry passed out next to me. “Look at this guy.”
I put the window down to my driver to let him know we were done for the night and to take us to my penthouse. I thought it’d be better to let Jerry and the guys sleep it off at my place. Suddenly I didn’t feel like partying tonight.
ChapterSeven
SABRINA
Iwoke in a daze. At first, I couldn’t remember why I was on the floor in the dark. Slowly, the fuzz cleared from my brain and I realized I’d fallen asleep on the stage floor while I iced my feet. I reached for my water bottle, wondering what time it was. I was done for the night but too tired to bother going to the hotel.
Won’t be the first time I’ve slept on a floor from practicing all night, and won’t be the last.
The clock on the wall said it was five in the morning, which meant the troupe would be arriving within an hour. I went into Jacqueline’s little room, closed the door, and collapsed on a pile of towels, until I woke to blinding lights.
“Sabrina, why are you on the floor? Are you alright?” Jacqueline knelt next to me. “Has something happened?”
“Jacqueline, I’m so happy to see you back.” I wiped at my eyes. “Are you feeling better?”
“No, Sabrina, I am not better and Yury is sending me back to Russia today.” Jacqueline sat on the floor next to me. “I will miss everyone, but I will not miss the exhaustion and never-ending ridicule from Yury.”
“What will happen with you now?” I turned to look her in the eyes. “Will you come back when you are better?”