The Switch Up

Chapter 1. A Wedding

I took a big gulp of champagne as I leaned against a tastefully decorated pillar at my best friends wedding. Zane and El were swaying across the dance floor, both with blissful looks on their faces. I felt my chest tighten in jealousy. I flagged down a passing waiter to exchange my now empty glass for a full one. There was just something about weddings for us unmarried girls. Always made me feel like the clock was ticking.

My eyes wandered around the room looking for my errant boyfriend. They landed on him, tucked into a darker corner, a skinny young blonde practically wrapped around him. I downed the rest of my glass with an eye roll. Of course Blake was off flirting, that's what he did best. I remembered what it was like when that attention had been on me.

I turned and headed to the desert table, desperate to drown my sorrows in chocolate. "Please tell me these can cure any kind of funk," I groaned to my friend Olivia. She smiled at me and popped a chocolate covered strawberry in her mouth.

"Depends on the funk but I think you're on the right track."

I reached over and grabbed a chocolate cake pop. In a very unladylike manner I shoved the whole thing in my mouth. Olivia managed to look appalled and entertained at the same time.

"What's wrong Adrienne?"

I shrugged my shoulders while I chewed the soft and gooey dessert. After managing to swallow it all down I took a sip of her champagne. "I'll give you three guesses."

Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Knowing you, boyfriend troubles."

"Ding ding ding, and you didn't even need three guesses!" I leaned against the table and grabbed another treat at random.

With a chuckle Olivia said, "I didn't have to be a lawyer to figure that one out. You and Blake have been acting strange tonight. You are hardly around each other and when you are there's an odd tension in the air. I thought he'd faint when you mentioned your own wedding."

I felt myself deflating at her words and fighting back tears. I shook my head slightly and bit into a strawberry, the juice dripping down the sides of my mouth. With a shrug I turned to survey the dance floor. Olivia's comments hit close to home. There was an odd tension between me and my boyfriend of two years. Her hand rested lightly on my shoulder as she stepped up next to me. Her eyes never leaving the dance floor she asked, "Is everything ok Adrienne?"

I took a deep shuddering breath. "I don't know Liv. He won't touch me. He barely looks at me. We've been together 2 years and we are no closer to moving in together let alone getting married." My shoulders slumped in defeat. Olivia reached over and grabbed me a full champagne flute.

"And that's what you want?" She asked, "To get married to Blake?" I grabbed the drink and downed it quickly. She easily replaced it with another. Something about this conversation and setting made me feel the need to keep tossing back alcohol.

"Isn't that what every girl wants? To meet a handsome man and live happily ever after?"

Liv crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at me. "Since when have you been like every other girl?"

I glanced at the champagne table and frowned. Something told me I was going to need something stronger than that. "Thanks for the listening ear Liv," I said with a small smile. "I'll think on it." I patted her shoulder and headed toward the bar. I leaned against the polished wood lost in thought. Did I want to marry Blake? Not that I thought he would be asking anytime soon. To be honest I felt like a break up was imminent. Part of me felt relief at the idea. Our relationship had become quite tedious. But I'd already put so much time into us.

"What can I get for you?" A soft sweet voice broke through my thoughts. I glanced up to see a bartender leaning across from me. Never one to deny beauty I found my mouth going dry just looking at her. She was smaller then me, with pale skin and plump pink lumps. Her green eyes were cat like and lined with black liner as fiery red curls framed her face. The white button down she wore had two buttons popped open giving a view of her milky cleavage.

Arousal curled in my lower abdomen. I knitted my brow in confusion at the feeling. Maybe I'd already had too much to drink. "Ummm... a vodka shot please. And some water." She nodded with a smile and grabbed the liquor.

"Enjoying the wedding?"

I shrugged noncommittally. "I'm happy for Zane and El."

"How do you know the couple?"

"Ella's been my best friend for ages. We went to school together." The women slid my shot across the counter and set a water down next to it. I reached out and grabbed the shot, throwing it down my throat in one quick motion. I felt the women's eyes on me. I set the empty glass down between us and licked my lips slowly. The burn of the alcohol tingling down my throat.

She smiled at me, her eyes glinting in the darkened room. "Then why aren't you having fun?"

I picked up my water and took a slow sip. "Who says I'm not?"

She shrugged and grabbed a towel. She began wiping out glasses and placing them in rows. "Call it bartender intuition. Didn't anyone ever tell you we are practically therapists?"

I smiled at the pretty bartender. "You know, I may have heard that once or twice." For some reason I didn't want to tell her about my boyfriend troubles. "I'm Adrienne," I said, holding my hand out. Her hand slipped into mine, warm and soft.

"Kenna."

Behind me I heard the tinkling of knives on glass and I turned to see everyone sitting as Olivia prepared to give her toast. With a sigh I turned to Kenna. "Duty calls. Thanks for the drink." She smiled prettily at me and I found myself pausing for a moment.

Like practically every girl in college I'd done what I would consider experimenting. I'd kissed a few friends at a party, done some heavy petting. Usually under the influence of alcohol and with a male audience. I'd enjoyed the thrill, the taboo surrounding it but that's as far as I'd dare go. But something in Kenna's smile had me clenching my legs together, fighting off a need that was building. I blinked rapidly and turned to head back to the reception.

Taking my place at the head table I tried to keep my eyes from roaming back to the bar. Blake slid in next to me. "Enjoying yourself?" He asked calmly, his arm resting along the back of my chair. I rolled my eyes before turning to him.

"I can see you have been."

He frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I sipped the drink that was by my plate. "Could you at least reign in the flirting for a time when we aren't surrounded by my friends?"

"I'm allowed to talk to people Adrienne."

"Talking is one thing, having their legs practically wrapped around you is another." Our conversation was quiet as we tried not to draw attention to our fight. Blake smiled at me falsely as he leaned closer.

"We'll talk about this later, now is not the time."

"Obviously," I said with another eye roll. Blake huffed and grabbed his own drink. I could tell the night would be a long one.