𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊

𝟏𝟒 | 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄

𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓 slides down my backside underneath my small, white crop-top. I feel it cool against my skin as I lean against the leather booth and toss another shot of tequila down the hatch. Sour soaks my teeth and tongue as I bite deeply into a lime.

Baby By Me by 50 Cent is raging over the speakers of the Ascent Lounge while I slam my shot glass on the round table and permit a full-toothed grin to cross the totality of my face. I laugh out loud, barely hearing myself over the volume of the music as I take in my little brother's horrid expression at the first-ever shot he's taken of my favorite alcohol.

I rock my shoulders back and forth, dancing to the rhythm of the beat, and pat Aeris's shoulder. He quietly places his glass on the table and man-spreads, lifting both of his hands to his cheeks. I leer in drunken inertia and take in his reaction to the Mexican drink.

"My face is so hot!" he yells to me.

"Yeah, it is, babe!" I call back, hooting.

Aeris rolls his eyes but can't hide his smile. He drops his hand, and rests his neck against the cushion of the booth, allowing the fabric to calm his fervor.

I grab the bottle we bought for the night and start to pour myself another glass. The silver Casamigos twinkles under the yellow-tinted, wooden interior, and I lick my lips in anticipation.

I'm two shots deep, and ready for more.

The liquor sends a shiver of tranquility through my body that only inhibits my true thoughts. It's been two weeks, fourteen days, three-hundred and thirty-six hours since I've had contact with my special visitor from Spain. It's been twelve million, nine thousand, and six-hundred seconds since my father took me to the doctor and forced me to become inherently engaged with a man I have no interest or sexual attraction to.

In those two weeks, I have not been let out of that fucker's sight.

But tonight—tonight, I am allowed a night of complete freedom for my Bachelorette Party.

Of course, Aemon was disinterested in coming.

But who said we couldn't party with two?

"Will you dance with me?" I ask Aeris.

"Hell no, woman," he shakes his head, "I doubt I can even stand."

"Bitch, you had one shot," I approximate.

"Bitch, it's Casamigos!"

Irritated, I roll my eyes and shove out of my seat. My black, leather skirt is like a second skin sticking to me as I smooth it down and stall in front of the edge of the booth, right where my brother is perched. I throw my hands up and begin to bounce on the balls of my feet, practically jumping with the rest of the scattered crowd.

My hair is a white curtain in the air as I head-bang and swing my hips to the beat of the son. Aeris continues to shake his head at me, going as far as to groan and cover his eyes with his hands as I place my palms on my hips and begin to belly dance. I scoot to the floor, enjoying the hollers from random men around the lounge in the air, and bounce my ass up and down.