In My Rearview Mirror, JACK.HUGHES

TWENTY EIGHT

JACK'S POV

Jane won't stop following me, and honestly, it's kind of odd. She's typically an independent girl, so the fact that she's sticking close is unusual. The timing, with Morgan present, adds an extra layer of complexity to the situation.

Who even takes the moment to have a full-on conversation at the bar? I can barely hear her over the loud music, and there she is, talking about her brand-new car she just bought. Attempting to engage in the conversation, I nod and respond, but my mind is preoccupied with the dissonance between the surroundings and the poor subject matter. The annoyance intensifies as I struggle to comprehend why she would choose this moment, of all times, to delve into such topic.  

I've been trying to give Morgan attention, but it has been difficult since we arrived. She put on quite a show, and gosh, she was amazing. Even though Luke stole the spotlight a couple of times by tripping over his own feet.

Holtz shakes my shoulder, seemingly aware of my urge to be saved from this conversation. "Hey bud, come on," he says, tilting his head to point to the group. 

I join the group as they all dance near the booth. Morgan seems to be enjoying her time with Nico, so I decide to head to the bar to get a beer. Of course, Jane follows me. I feel her presence behind me, and as I try to contain my boredom, I can't help but wonder what she's after.

As I approach the bar, the lively atmosphere and country music envelop me. I order a beer, attempting to focus on the upbeat surroundings despite the persistent presence of Jane behind me. I can sense her hovering, and a subtle tension begins to build.

I glance over my shoulder at Jane, my patience wearing thin. "Jane, seriously, can we stop with the dull small talk?" My tone takes on a sharper edge, signaling my annoyance. Jane, taken aback by the abrupt change in my tone, finally gets the message. She nods awkwardly, realizing that our interaction isn't going the way she might have hoped.

Before returning to our table, I also order a glass of white wine for Morgan. As the bartender pours the wine, I can't help but steal a glance back at the dance floor where Morgan is.

With the wine in hand, I head back to the table, the clinking of glasses and the laughter of friends creating a symphony around me. I present the glass to Morgan, offering it with a smile. "Thought you might enjoy a glass of wine," I say, hoping for a chance to engage in a more personal and enjoyable conversation with her.

She accepts the drink with a grateful smile, mentioning that it's going to be her last one for the night. I raise an eyebrow, a bit surprised, considering the last time I saw her drink, she seemed to have trouble knowing when to stop and ended up regretting it. Nonetheless, I nod in understanding and take a seat beside her. 

She takes her first sip, and a subtle blush creeps into her cheeks as she looks at me with a shy yet playful expression in her eyes.

"You were good earlier," I say, pointing towards the dance floor where Holtz and Mercer are still displaying their dance moves. She turns to look at them and lets out a soft giggle. "Well, you know, it's running in my blood," she says, her gaze returning to mine. "Yeah, well, you seem to know them all by heart, I remember," I tease, and she looks at me with a mixture of surprise and amusement, a small, genuine smile playing on her lips.

I decide to share the amusing episode with Morgan, recounting the slightly awkward conversation with Jane at the bar. As I describe Jane's persistent attempt at small talk and my direct yet polite response, Morgan listens with a growing grin.