CHAPTER 4
924 Words
"You made it!" Tina's exuberant squeal echoed across the bar as she enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug. Her infectious energy made me chuckle as I returned the embrace. When she finally released me, her eyes sparkled with mischief, and she wasted no time in teasing me.
"So, spill the tea! Do you have a date? Where's the lucky guy?" Her words spilled out eagerly, her gaze darting around the bar as if expecting to spot my elusive companion. I rolled my eyes playfully, taking a swig of my beer before responding.
"I bailed. Had my fill of s*x-starved types, Tina," I quipped, shooting her a knowing look.
She laughed in response, offering a sympathetic pat on my shoulder. "Ah, the perils of online dating," she mused. I nodded in agreement, staring ahead as I took another sip. The bar was alive with a buzzing atmosphere of laughter and chatter, everyone seemingly lost in their own revelry. Through the crowd, I spotted Ryan, engaged in an intimate conversation with the same girl from earlier, their chemistry palpable.
Tina's voice pulled me back to the present, her words carrying a hint of wisdom as she leaned in closer. "It's par for the course, honey. Guys are wired that way. They're all about the thrill of the chase, but the moment they think they've caught their prey, they're onto the next," she explained, her gaze fixed on me with a mix of empathy and understanding.
"I wanted a serious relationship, Tina. I don't want to go through another breakup. I need a committed man," I said, taking another swig of my drink.
"You need to loosen up a bit, Kate. If he's meant for you, it'll happen. For now, don't stress yourself out. Just enjoy your new life," Tina replied, smiling genuinely at me.
I pondered her words and realized she was right. She was absolutely right. I smiled back at her and gave her a hug.
"Okay, enough of the drama. I need you to meet someone," she said, gently pulling me away and leading me toward the counter.
Curiosity sparked within me. When I heard her call his name, I couldn't hide the huge smile that spread across my face.
"Hey," Ryan said as he approached us, his brows furrowed as he looked between me and Tina.
"What's up?" Tina asked, beaming with excitement as she looked from me to Ryan.
"Doing good as always, and you?" Ryan responded, leaning in closer so he could hear us over the loud music.
"Great..." Tina said, her smile widening mischievously. Then she suddenly elbowed me and gave me a mischievous grin. I glared at her, but she quickly turned her attention back to Ryan.
"I'd like you to meet my friend, Ryan. This is Kate. She's new here and looking for some fun," she said, beaming at him. Her words made me look at her with wide eyes. What the hell was that?
Ryan chuckled and extended his hand to me, a playful smile on his lips.
"Nice to meet you," he said, winking, which made me giggle.
He reached for a shot of something—I had no idea what it was—and offered it to me.
"Let me buy you a drink, lovely lady," he said, smiling playfully. I giggled again. Just as I was about to take the shot from his hand, Tina grabbed it and took a swig herself. We both laughed, and Ryan quickly grabbed another shot glass, handing it to me. He took another for himself.
We looked at each other, smiling, and made a toast before taking a swig of our drinks, our eyes locked the entire time.
The liquor I had been consuming since I arrived was starting to kick in. I was currently dancing my heart out on the dance floor with Tina, who was grinding with her boyfriend, Ashton. I swayed and gyrated my hips to the rhythm, holding a bottle of beer in one hand. Suddenly, Tina playfully pushed me with her hips, causing me to stumble. I was caught by a strong arm before I fell. My eyes went wide, and I looked at Tina with a shocked expression, but she just smiled and winked at me.
When I turned to face the person holding me, a wide smile spread across my face.
"You..." I whispered. Without a second thought, I kissed him hungrily. We were smiling and kissing, and when I pulled away to catch my breath, he was grinning down at me, his hands holding me close by the waist.
I was about to say something when suddenly the girl he had been making out with earlier appeared beside him, glaring furiously. To my shock, she slapped him hard across the face! The crowd erupted with a collective "ooh."
My mouth gaped open in shock, but I struggled to hold back my laughter. The girl stormed away, leaving Ryan holding his cheek where she had slapped him. We both burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation too much to contain.
Ryan then grabbed my waist again, turning me to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and we resumed our passionate, aggressive kiss. I didn't want this moment to end. His touch ignited a sensation within me, a feeling as if we had known each other for a long time. I felt comfortable, and more importantly, I felt happy.
This is what fun is, I realized. From now on, I'll just enjoy myself and go with the flow.
- Writer
