Stripped

Chapter 20

A week had passed since my date with Jake. I hadn't seen Mark yet but we'd been texting back and forth. He hadn't asked what had happened between Jake and I, which I found to be suspicious. But he did seem excited to meet us at Grady's Bar for my birthday.

"Layla? Are you ready?" Kara called to me from the living room. All week my friend seemed anxious about something. Today though, she was stressed beyond belief. I didn't understand why, we weren't doing anything special, just a trip to the bar. I suspected maybe she was meeting a guy there. She mentioned being worried that she would be the third wheel if Mark joined us.

"Yes! Give me a second. I'm almost ready." I hollered back, while making small adjustments to my makeup in the mirror. Kara was in the living room absolutely fretting to the point where I banned her from my room. Her stress was passing onto me and I needed a break. At last I smiled at my reflection as I finished my outfit with a pair of hoop earrings.

For the first time since my date with Jake, I wasn't feeling completely awful. This was mostly because Kara had been keeping in touch with him and said he seemed to be doing okay. Finally happy with my appearance, I headed out to the living room where Kara was pacing by the door, repeatedly checking her phone. "What is going on that you're so worked up lately? Is a guy being dumb or something?"

Kara laughed nervously before tucking her phone into her back pocket. "Nothing, sorry I had a drama with a girl at work and she's blowing up my phone." Her eyes darted around the room, never once meeting my gaze.

I narrowed my eyes, Kara always had been the worst liar and usually a good stare down would break her. Not tonight though. She stared back with a stubbornness that I'd never seen from her. "Well lets get going then." I said, eyeing her curiously. Something was definitely up.

Even on our walk to the bar Kara hardly spoke, and continually checked her phone. We turned a corner and saw the bar sign a few buildings down. From the outside the bar looked far too quiet, which was peculiar for a Saturday. "Is it closed?" I said as I reached for the door and pulled it right open. "Guess not." I said just before there was a loud blast of noise.

"SURPRISE!!!!" There were about thirty people standing inside holding signs that read, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA!"

"What is going on?" I said through a grin.

Ellen came rushing toward me and crushed me in a hug. "Happy birthday sweetheart!"

Over her shoulder, I could see some girls from the club, Tom, and if I wasn't mistaken Mark's mother. I recognized her instantly from the photos hanging on his walls. But Jake and Mark were mysteriously absent from the crowd. Ellen released me at last and I turned to Kara, "Is this what you've been worked up about all week?"

Kara nodded, grinning widely. Clearly proud she had managed to surprise me. "And you didn't think I could keep a secret."

"I stand corrected," I pulled my friend into a hug and squeezed her so tight she gasped for air. "Answer one thing for me. Where are Jake and Mark?"

She didn't get a chance to say anything though, as there was feedback coming from a small stage in the back of the bar. Jake and the guys were set to play, "Good evening everyone. As you all know we are here to celebrate a very special person, my best friend, Layla." Jake said into the microphone. "Happy birthday Baby!" He said, waving to me. "We have prepared a little ditty for her, so if everyone could clear the path for our guest of honor...thank you."

The crowd shifted, making room for me to approach the stage. "What are you up to?" I said. He looked way too mischievous for my liking.

Jake gave me a sly wink and pulled his guitar strap over his head, adjusting it so it sat properly on his shoulder. "I know that the beautiful Layla usually sings vocals with me but tonight, we have a very special guest. If he could join us up here on stage please."