One Deep Breath

Chapter Four

After another hour filled with champagne and dancing on and around their VIP table, Jolie knew she was reaching her limits. Stumbling back to the bathrooms, she decided to turn her phone on, just in case Landon had anything to say for himself.

After a few minutes of nothing, Jolie realized he wasn't going to respond.

"Ughh," she groaned. Tossing her phone back into her bag, she turned and pressed her forehead against the wall outside the VIP-only bathrooms.

"Everything alright over here?" a deep voice inquired, causing Jolie to snap her head up. Mixed with all the alcohol she'd consumed, her knee jerk reaction caused her to stumble and an unfortunately placed puddle of someone's spilled drink sent her crashing to the floor.

Jolie stayed on the ground for a minute, covering her face with her hands. When she moved them, she was staring up at a handsome stranger, with familiar eyes, who was crouched down in front of her.

"Jesus Jolie," she heard Rachel say as her best friend hurried over to help her up. Jolie felt her cheeks flush as Rachel and the man got her to her feet.

"I got her, you're dismissed," Rachel spat, sensing Jolie's humiliation.

"Starbucks?" he asked, causing both girls to look up questioningly. "I mean, I'm sorry, I think I've seen you before. Starbucks? In the parking lot? Right?"

Jolie looked at the tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed man in front of her and realized he was the guy who caught the tail end of her panic attack at Starbucks a few days ago. Except this time instead of a suit he was dressed much more casually, clad in jeans and a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

She burst out laughing. Whether it was because Jolie was drunk, or embarrassed from falling, or nervous from talking to such an attractive guy, she lapsed into a fit of giggles while Rachel looked between the two, confused.

"I think you need to babysit your friend here a little better," the man told Rachel, his face a mix of confusion, concern and judgment.

"I think you need to mind your business," Rachel countered.

"Stop. I'm fine, really. I just slipped," Jolie spoke up. Turning to her best friend she lowered her voice, "I was seeing if Lan had even bothered calling and he obviously didn't. This one just caught me being dramatic," Jolie jerked her head towards the man, "and then I slipped."

Jolie turned towards her handsome coffee-shop-nightclub mystery man who had made no attempt at walking away. He was staring hard at Jolie but with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Yeah, Starbucks. That was me. That's twice now I've embarrassed myself in front of you. I'm Jolie. I swear I don't usually need a babysitter."

Rachel snorted but silenced herself with a sharp look from Jolie.

The man's eyes softened and the corners of his mouth tugged up into a half smile.

"Jesse."

Jolie held his gaze, sobering up from the heat spreading rapidly through her entire body. She had never seen anyone so gorgeous, and the way he was looking at her made her insides light on fire.

"Hm. Alright I'll meet you back at the table..." Rachel excused herself. She threw a knowing look over her shoulder at her friend as she made her exit.

Jolie pulled her lip in between her teeth, desperately wanting to say something clever to keep the conversation going, but she had nothing.

"Can I get you a drink? Maybe a water?" Jesse asked her with a cheeky grin.

Jolie felt herself blush furiously.

"Ha. Ha. But yes, I suppose water might not be a bad idea."

Jesse put his hand on the small of her back, which made Jolie's heart skip a beat, and led her to his own VIP booth. Catching the cocktail waitress on the short walk over he requested two waters be sent to the table.

Sitting at Jesse's table was another handsome man, possibly even taller then Jesse, but Jolie couldn't really tell since he was sitting down, occupied with a little blonde.

Jesse coughed, catching the man's attention. A flash of surprise crossed his features as he looked over, but he quickly recovered.

"Who's this pretty girl?" prompting a scowl from his lady friend.

"Charlie this is Jolie. Jolie this is Charlie and his friend Anna," Jesse stated.

"My name is Sarah, actually," said the girl with a frown. Charlie sent Jesse a glare as Sarah scurried out of the booth, mumbling something about needing another drink. Jesse shrugged and Charlie let out a soft chuckle as he shuffled out after her, leaving the two of them alone.

"Wanna sit?"

"Sure" Jolie slid into the booth as the waitress showed up with their waters.

Jolie nervously started sipping her water while her mind raced a mile a minute.

God this guy is HOT. Landon would be so pissed. Is this slutty of me? Does he think I'm a one night stand? Do I want that?? Jesus Jolie he offered you a glass of water not a marriage proposal.

"So how often do you fall down outside of club bathrooms and coffee shops?"

She snapped her head towards him, surprised at his statement. The twinkle in his eye showed he was just teasing her, so she gave a mock scoff and giggled, making his smile grow.

"I didn't fall at Starbucks, I just spilled my coffee. Which might be worse," Jolie countered, causing him to laugh.

"Okay. So now I know you really like your coffee, you may or may not have clumsy tendencies, and you have one sassy best friend. What else should I know about you?" He scooted a little closer to her as subtly as he could, but Jolie noticed and the air started feeling heavy around her.

"Um. What else do you wanna know about me?" Jolie said flirtatiously, grabbing the straw of her drink, trying to turn on her playful side.

"Everything." Jesse replied, completely serious. Her breath hitched and she froze, locked in that moment and captivated by his eyes laser focused on her once again.

"Did you need anything else?" the cocktail waitress interrupted.

Jesse looked at her questioningly, so she shook her no.

"No, thanks, we're done for the night. Can you close out my tab, please?"

Jolie shifted in her seat, butterflies erupting in her stomach. She didn't want him to leave already.

"I like going to the food trucks after a night out drinking," she blurted out. "That's something else you should know about me." And then she burst out laughing at herself and how pathetic that sounded. Luckily he looked at her incredulously and then started to laugh too, otherwise she might have just died right there in that booth.

"Do you have one in mind?"

"The street meat station is my favorite. Hot dogs at 3am. Soaks up all the alcohol. It's right around the corner."

"Street meat?" he looked at her like she was crazy.

"I know, it sounds gross but its honestly so good. I swear!"

"Alright. How about you go tell your friend you're grabbing 'street meat' with me while I close out, and then afterwards I'll bring you home myself. If that sounds okay with you, I mean," he added with a fleeting look of self-consciousness.

A million thoughts crossed Jolie's mind in that second, but all he saw was her sweet smile before she said "okay".