In My Bed (18+)

Chapter 36

Faith and Zane kissed as the last notes of the soft, slow instrumental faded from the speakers. Guests stood as applause and wolf-whistles broke out over the crowd. Posted at the bar, I found myself smiling as they parted. The music shifted, and the air filled with a sweet and sentimental ballad. Faith crossed the dance floor, walking to her father's table and offering her hand to Jason.

He accepted, standing and following her back. As they began to sway to the music, I caught the bright gleam of tears in his eyes. Faith leaned closer, speaking words only he could hear, and he laughed, giving a reply with a tremulous smile.

Behind the bar, I didn't want to stare, unable to shake the feeling that I was intruding on a private moment, but I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

"Hey, you-"

Startled, I turned and recognized the argumentative man from before.

My smile soured on my lips, but I did my best to keep on my polite mask, "Hi there! How can I help you?"

He stared at me for a tense second before muttering, "Beer. IPA. Two of 'em."

I fought a grimace, "I'm sorry, Sir. I can only serve one drink at a time."

Sneering, he asked, "Let me guess, venue policy?"

More like common sense, especially where you're concerned...

"I do apologize for the inconvenience, Sir-"

"This is fuckin' ridiculous." Rolling his eyes, he slapped down his ID and turned his back to me.

Resisting the urge to flip him off, I took a pint glass and filled it from the tap, leaving just a tiny bit more head than was technically proper.

"Here you go, Sir. Do let me know when you're ready for your next-"

"Yeah, whatever." Snatching the glass, he stormed off.

I glanced down, noticing the card he'd left behind, "Sir-" My words faded as I realized that he was certain to come back.

And I'm certainly going to have to cut him off.

Taking the ID, I placed it beneath the bar along with the handful of bills that had been handed to me as tips.

As I took my towel and wiped up a dribble of beer that had sloshed out of his glass, I looked back to the dance floor, and what I saw almost stopped my heart.

Jason and Amanda, his hand on her waist, her face filled with a bright, brilliant smile, dancing together beneath the dimmed light of the chandelier.

Oh, god...

Panic overtook me, consuming my thoughts until-

My eyes broke away, noticing Zane's mother and father dancing as well.

Oh.

A captive breath escaped me as relief flooded in, cool and refreshing.

It's just the parents' dance. Just the parents.

But the gnawing fear in my gut wasn't convinced.

When the dance floor opened up to everyone, a flood of guests took that as their opportunity to refill their drinks. I was mercifully too busy to think-

Too busy to hyperfixate on Jason and Amanda. Too busy to worry if-

The next guest approached, interrupting my train of thought and keeping my hands busy.