The Risks we take

Ten

Sloane

Galentines day.

Because men are useful for mediocre sex and free drinks and nothing else.

So why would I spend one of the most commercialized, overrated, unimportant days of the year with a guy who lasts 45 seconds and then leaves me to finish myself off in the bathroom and acts like I'm being the difficult one.

No.

A girls night out is well deserved and with Drew, Hannah and Sabrina, it was set to be a fun night. We'd met up for brunch, watched a romcom with face masks whilst they sobered up then we went shopping, dropped the bags at Hannah's and now it was dinner at some fancy restaurant and a few bars where I'd inevitably be in charge of getting everyone back to Hannah's without someone being maimed.

I didn't mind. Being the responsible one came with not drinking. I don't miss it too much. Sometimes after a hard day, I just want to sit with a bottle of something. I couldn't though. It messes with my meds and I'd end up in a major anxiety spiral that I won't be able to claw my way out of. It's difficult enough as it is. Telling myself hundreds of times a day that my fears are irrelevant. 99% of the population have never been held at gun point and it was coincidental that I happened to be their target that night. Chances were it wouldn't happen again.

New York was a whole lot huger than I think I ever realized. Obviously I knew it was huge. But in the 7 weeks I'd been here, I'd spent almost every one of the weekends with the girls as they showed me around. Each trip got me more and more confused. They took turns so confidently but they all looked identical to me. Straight lines that left me disorientated. Luckily, if I wasn't with the girls, I was in Stan's car, at work or at home. I guess I didn't need to know specifics for my temporary stay.

We'd been talking almost nonstop all day. Boys, books, work, TV. Every possible topic and the more alcohol the girls consumed in these bars, the more chaotic the topics got. From Hannah's sudden decision she wanted to scale Everest to Sabrina's agreement she would do Everest if they could all walk along the bottom of the Mariana Trench. I told them that wasn't possible but they laughed, said anything was possible if enough money was put into it. I wasn't about to break it to the drunk trio that science hadn't developed that far yet so they'd be spending billions on it. Let them dream. How that conversation went from deep sea diving to breeding dogs and creating new breeds, I don't know. I never did understand a drunk girls thought process.

Reed Lawson @ The Echo- A smile wouldn't kill you princess.

I lifted my head from the corner I'd been sat in at the quieter end of the high end bar. He was here? Why was Reed here? It's a little main stream for him. Not some speakeasy behind a password protected door.

A waiter approached the table slowly, sliding a Bellini towards me with a smile.

"Said you'd know who it's from." I gave the waiter a smile as a thank you, staring between my phone and the drink.

"Who's sending you drinks?" Hannah slurred. "Is it gym guy?"

"No Zac seems like the kind of guy to crash girls night if he saw us. Besides. He'd probably prefer a sports bar or something." Drew always seemed to think into things. Even drunk, she acted like a member of the FBI.

"Here." I passed it across to Drew. "Enjoy."

Reed Lawson @ The Echo

23:43
A smile wouldn't kill you princess.

I don't drink.

Since when?

Since I decided I didn't want to drink
anymore??
Why are you here Lawson?

Dampening my mood.

Theo said he'd seen you out with girls.
Thought you'd be all wrapped up in your
boyfriends' arms tonight in some hotel room wishing
it was me.

I looked up again, wanting to find him and stare at his judgmental eyes. I didn't owe Reed an explanation as to why I was with my friends and not some guy on international sex night. I was curious as to if he was here with a girl though. It wouldn't shock me if he was texting me whilst she was blabbing on about something he couldn't care less about. I don't know what would be worse.

Him being here with some girl or him being here alone.

I hoped he was alone though.

I don't know why.

It's not like I care either way. He could be rotting in hell and I would happily lay back on a sun lounger with my sparkling apple juice and smile.

Okay. A few things on that one.
You know Theo is your PA. Not a PI.
There is a difference. Give the guy a day off.
Secondly. Neither Zac, nor Logan are my
boyfriends. I had date choices for tonight
and I turned them down because spending time
with my girls is a lot more satisfying than
any guy I've met. Thirdly. Even if I was in a hotel
 room being railed by some guy, I can assure you,
Mr. Lawson, I would not be thinking about you for

even a second.

You know, you could still end the night
being 'railed' as you put it.

I know.
Zac said to give him a call later 😊

🙄
I'm sending you another drink.

Don't waste your money, we're leaving soon.

Spending money on you isn't a waste Sloane.

It is when it's a dead end.
There's dozens of girls in this very bar
looking for someone to make their Valentines.

Are you one of them?

Not for you.

Then I don't care.

You're drunk. Go home.

I'm not drinking.

Good. You're already insane.

Stop arguing and leave with me.

I'm blocking your number now.

Sloane.

It's not happening Lawson.
You had your chance and left it uptown.

I said I was sorry.

Doesn't take back that it happened. I only sleep with
people I trust.

So, you trust this Zac guy that you've known 2 minutes?

A hell of a lot more than I trust the guy who already
left me to find my own way back in strange city.

The bubbles of him replying bounced along the screen as I squeezed behind the girls, needing to pee and get my head away from the speaker behind me. My ears were ringing though whether that was from the music or me getting pissed at Reed again, I wasn't quite sure.

The bathroom was, surprisingly empty and I was able to take my time washing my hands, thinking about everything I could to stop Reed and his stupid little smile running through my mind. Until gunshots echoed through the room from the bar and my heart dropped to the floor.