Page 28 of Breaking Free

Yeah. That’s the plan. One week. Then I can figure out this thing with Dominic.

13

“Knock, knock,”Jayden says right before bursting through my front door.

I finish sliding my wallet into my pocket. “You sure we have to go to this bar?”

“You should really lock your door,” he says, ignoring me as he walks to my kitchen. “I could’ve been anybody.”

I swipe my phone off the counter and pocket that as well. “I knew you were coming over. Plus, it’s a pretty safe neighborhood.”

“Pft, you’re telling me. Your neighbors are all retired folks.” He pulls a bottle of Jack Daniels out of my cabinet followed by two shot glasses.

“My parents got me this place,” I say, watching him pour the amber liquid.

“Yeah, apparently they thought if you lived in a retirement community you wouldn’t get in trouble. But look at you, drinking before it’s legal,” he says with a grin, handing me a glass.

I make a face. “It’s not a retirement community.”

Jayden snorts. “At least they don’t call the cops on you for having parties.”

“Probably because they’re asleep at eight o’clock.”

We both laugh and then down the shots after clinking our glasses.

“All right. Uber should be here soon, because I am not gonna be a DD and I don’t have one lined up.”

“Dude, you know I’m not gonna be able to drink over there. I can obviously drive us back.”

“But I’m gonna slip you shots, because it’s my duty to get you fucked up.”

I shake my head and laugh. “You’re terrible. I’ll just get drunk when we come back here.”

“Well, I already ordered the car, so there’s that.” He looks out the window. “And they pulled up. Let’s go.”

* * *

It’s nearingten-thirty when we get to the bar, and we spot Bryant and Olivia walking up to the door just as we pull up.

“Hey, perfect timing,” Liv says with a huge smile. “We missed you last night.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t lie to me.”

She smacks my shoulder. “Look, there may not be a bull to ride in here, but we’re still gonna have a good time.”

“I’m not even trying to be here that long, but Jayden wouldn’t take no for an answer,” I say, jerking my head in his direction.

“Yeah, he’s just used to getting his way.”

Jay rolls his eyes. “Come on, Bryant. Let’s leave these two behind.”

Inside, the bar is playing some Nirvana while a handful of people in their forties or fifties sit at the bar. It’s a fairly small place, but it’s well-kept. The guy at the door was sure to slap a neon band around my wrist after checking IDs, but just to make sure I don’t cut it off or cover it up, I also got a huge black X on my hand in Sharpie.

Me and Liv find a booth while Bryant and Jay go up and order drinks. Besides the people at the bar, there’s three other booths full of people. Two of the tables look like they’re probably in their thirties, and the other table has a couple underage girls, based on the neon bands.

Thirty minutes later, Renzo, Ronan, Dex, and Violet all come in, and our one table quickly grows to three. Thanks to the huge group of people surrounding our booth, I’m able to sneakily take a shot without any employees seeing.

When I hear a chorus of “Heys!” ring out, I look around, wondering who else showed up, and my gaze locks onto Dominic.