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9. All The Good Girls Go To Hell

CHAPTER 9

ALL THE GOOD GIRLS GO TO HELL

BILLIE EILISH

The sounds of music and talking spill out of the building when we open the door. There's already a massive crowd, and it's not at all the atmosphere I expected for a brewery. The open industrial ceiling and giant brewing tanks are the only signs that this was usually a laid-back place with burgers and beer. Tonight, though, one of the host companies rented it out, and someone obviously paid top dollar to have the space redecorated for an impact. Two full bars are already slinging drinks, and trays of finger foods make their way around the room. To keep it semi-professional, they've got a few tables off to the side with literature about different creative groups and places to sign up for job fairs. A DJ setup has transformed the cozy bar into a nightclub and she already has the party very started.

"Oh shit! Okay, this is amazing. I need to get the contact info for whoever did this and hire them for Sam's next event," Dani shouts over the music. She points to a group in the corner near the dance floor. "There's Kennedy."

I'm not sure if that's meant as a warning or a direction to follow, but Dani grabs my hand, and we move through the crowd toward the table where Kennedy is holding court. At least four guys are drooling over her, and she's absolutely in her element. She's changed out of her work clothes and into what I can only describe as a college party girl club dress. Before, I was feeling too exposed. Now I think like I'm dressed for a totally different party. I'm so glad I'm high.

"Oh my god, I forgot you guys were coming!" Her voice is even more grating as she screams too loud. "Guys, these are my friends from work. This is Dani. She's amazing and is in a fucking band. She's also single and looking to mingle. You'll love her! Oh, and this is Lexi. What the fuck?"

It's like she's looking at me for the first time, her jaw dropping open as she stares. I glance down at myself, expecting to see a giant spider or a space vortex opening, but it's only me. Standing there like an idiot.

"WOW! Oh my god, you should dress like this more often so you're not permanently alone for the rest of your life! That outfit is so cute! And look! You have legs!" She slaps the table and the guys around her take the cue and run with it, laughing their fake little laughs. "Seriously, you're going to need to go to confession or whatever after this. What would Jesus think?"

I flip her off and hand my bag to Dani, motioning that I'm headed to the bar. A spot opens as I walk up, so I take it, and a cute blonde takes my order. I think about flirting with her because I'm a flirt when I'm high, but she's too busy. I pull out my phone while I wait, texting the one person I trust more than Dani.

Lexi

I think I'm about to do something stupid and so very you.

BEXXUS

WHAAAT?! Not you!!

Wait, no, seriously…what are u doing?

Lexi

I didn't think you'd answer. Aren't you in Amsterdam?

BEXXUS

Yep, still adjusting to the time change.

TELL ME!

Lexi

I'm out drinking with Dani, and she's invited a guy…

BEXXUS

TELL ME MOOOOORE!

Lexi

She's been trying to set us up for a while. But I work with him now. He's…cute.

BEXXUS

Baby, you're in Cali. They're all pretty boys.

Get railed, little sister! You deserve it. Unless he's an asshole, then just get him to eat you out in the parking lot and bail.

Lexi

Your ridiculousness is why I love you. He just seems… nice.

BEXXUS

Okay, so if the sex is good, marry that man. What are you wearing?

I take a quick selfie and shoot it to her.

BEXXUS

HOT FUCKING DAMN! He's more than nice… you're dressed too good for nice.

Shit, I gotta go!!

Miss you! Stay out, party, and don't let the snake woman get in the way!

Also, if he doesn't work out, go fuck the guy standing behind you in that picture.

The bartender reappears before I can scroll back up. She puts the two drinks I'd ordered down and winks, so I wink back. Before I can even thank her, she's already nodding her head to get the next person's order. Open bar at creatives function? They're going to be exceptionally busy tonight.

"Hi. Can I get whatever she's having?"

I roll my eyes and prepare for the onslaught of awful pickup lines, but they don't come. Someone sits beside me, and I peek over next to me. Oh shit, boba shop boy is here already, and he's giving me puppy dog eyes. Wait, is that who Bex saw in the picture I sent?

"Hey, Dani sent me. I think it was to keep Kennedy away."

"Sounds like a solid move on her part."

"What did I order?"

"Jack and coke. Double." I'm keeping the answers short and trying to remind myself I can't get involved with him, no matter what Dani says.

"Thank god. I was worried yours was the IPA she brought over, and I'd have to drink that shit to look cool in front of you."

"No, that's for Dani. I can't drink that shit either." I laugh. I want to say more but don't want to come across as desperate. I also don't want him getting any ideas that this will be a thing. We work together and happen to be at the same party for creatives. That's all. Okay, maybe a little more than that.

"You, uhm…" he stutters and swallows hard before licking his lips. He has pretty lips. "You look?—"

"JAMIE!" Dani yells and comes running up to the bar and jumps on him. I sip my drink and turn away because there's this strange sensation in my gut. It's not the drink; it's more like some weird part of my brain is unhappy about how close they are. I can't be jealous over someone I met a few hours ago, can I?

"I finally got a chance to break away from Kennedy and her entourage and give you a proper hello," I hear her say, and I slide her beer over to her. "Come on, we've pushed a couple of tables together over there so you won't have to sit next to the Queen Bitch."

"I'll be right there, waiting for my drink." Jamie answers, flashing me a half smile.

That weird uneasiness in my stomach grows as she loops her arm through mine and pulls me away from the bar. Away from him. I don't understand why, but I don't want to go. I turn back and he's looking right at me. He mouths one word, and I almost drop my drink. Amazing .

"Oh, and aren't you already a flustered mess!" Dani says in my ear as we near the tables.

"Shut up!" I peer back over my shoulder again, and now he's smirking at me. Smirking. "Oh my god, I can't stop looking at him! What the fuck is wrong with me?"

"Uhh, you're sexually repressed with a history of shit boyfriends and a family full of bible thumping drama queens that you can't seem to escape. This coming from a Mexican, no less."

"Jerk."

"Just telling it like it is, chica ." She over-emphasizes the word and her grin reminds me of the Cheshire Cat. All she needs is some stripes and for her head to pop off and start floating around the room. "So, you like him? Don't bother lying, because Bex told me you do. She texted my like thirty seconds ago ratting you out."

"Bex? Seriously? She wasted no time. Okay, fine. He's fucking gorgeous, but he's so out of my league. Like, that's supermodel dating material there. I mean, at the least, Hollywood B+ list." I take a drink and sigh. "He deserves to be railing Kennedy all night, not me."

"Stop selling yourself short and enjoy yourself. Besides, Jamie is about as down-to-earth cool as an artist can get. Well, when he's not dreaming of his new muse." She winks at me like she knows something, or at least tries to. Dani can't wink to save her life. "Oh! Here he comes, and he looks like one very hungry wolf eyeing up his dinner. Rawr."

I concentrate on the ice in my glass as he joins us. I don't bother looking until he slides a fresh drink in front of me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him give Dani another beer and I'm not altogether sure how I should interpret any of this. I should have stayed home.

"Aww, trying to get me drunk, Jamie? That won't work! You've seen me drink." Dani turns to me and yell whispers, "It's safe, you can drink it. He used to bring me my drinks when I was on stage. I trust him."

"Hey!" Kennedy yells, the slur already apparent in her words as she joins the conversation. Evidently, she's been here for a while. She points a crooked finger with a long, sharp, hot pink nail in his direction. "Aren't you the guy?"

James looks at Dani and shrugs. "I mean, I'm a guy."

"You are! You're the coffee shop phone guy! Are you like stalking me or something?" She wiggles her shoulders as she speaks, like some kind of deranged mating dance.

"Kennedy, you idiot," Dani smacks her arm. "This is my friend Jamie. He works for Sam as a freelance photographer. He's working on that project with Lexi."

"No shit! WAIT! You're also the Uber pastry guy?!" Her mouth drops open in fake surprise and I'm forced to watch as her figurative teeth come out. She knows I'm interested—or whatever I am—so she wants a piece of him before I have a chance. She leans forward to push her boobs out a little more and flashes her bright white smile. "Well, tell me next time you swing by the office. I could give you a very special private tour."

"Gross, Kennedy. Gross," Dani says, smacking her arm.

"Oh my god, this is my song!" She holds her hand out to James expectantly.

"Oh, uhm, I'll pass. Thanks."

"Ugh, whatever!" She grabs the hands of the two guys next to her instead and drags them to dance in the crowd.

The three of us talk for a while and order more rounds while Kennedy dances with a new guy every few minutes. By round four, I'm hitting right about tipsy levels and the numbness is settling into my body. Dani and James have been cracking jokes back and forth for a while now, and they're having fun, but I'm bored. I feel a bit like a third wheel. Fourth if you count Kennedy.

"Hey, I'll be back," I tell Dani, and head out onto the dance floor. I let the music take over, and the world outside of the beat slips away—no projects, no work, no guys, no parents. It's only me and the bass line.

I catch a glance at Dani and see a round of shots hit the table. Dani waves to one of the girls at another table, and I recognize her as someone she's hooked up with before. Good for her. I had just started getting into the music when someone bumps into me hard . I spin around, and of course, it's Kennedy.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Fuck, I need a drink. Come on!" She grabs my arm and pulls me back toward the table. Dani and James stiffen up at the sight of her, and I brush Kennedy's hand away.

"I'm gonna stay out here." She huffs. I don't need to be there while she climbs all over James. She's just mad because she wants to rub it in my face. She waves me off and slithers up beside him, her hand on his arm, and then on his thigh. Her boobs pushed against him. My stomach drops when he laughs along with her. Seeing the way she's hanging on him makes my insides crawl. She always does this when we're out, so it shouldn't surprise me. But this time it actually hurts.

"Hey! Lexi, right?" comes a voice from behind me. I turn and while I recognize him, I can't place him. He must see the blank stare on my face because he keeps yelling at me. "I'm Shaun! I work at Sintax! We met a few months ago at LACMA."

Oh shit, I do remember him. We might have made out in one of the side rooms of the last mixer I went to. These things always go one of two ways. Either it's a snooze fest and everyone is talking business and sipping on lite beers. Or it's a nineteen eighties corporate holiday party where it's guaranteed someone has done a line of coke off the tits of a coworker while photocopying her bare ass.

"Shaun! Hi. Did you cut your hair or something?" He's not terrible looking, but he's not James. Besides, he was hotter with longer hair.

"Yeah, that's why you didn't recognize me!" Or it's because I never cared to remember you.

Fuck this. I don't need this shit. "Wanna dance?" He nods eagerly, so we dance. He wastes no time before he's grinding on me like a drunk monkey, but I don't give a fuck. I'm drunk, I'm high, I'm pissed off. Why shouldn't I enjoy myself? Maybe, if I act interested enough, Kennedy will swipe this one up in her talons and fly away.

I can't hold a candle to Kennedy. She has that supermodel-level body that matches James's good looks brilliantly. If they were together, people would say things like they'd make cute babies or whatever bullshit they say when pretty people inevitably hook up. I know I'm too thick in all the wrong places. I wear glasses, and my sense of fashion is comfortable cat lady minus the cats. She could be on Baywatch; I could be an extra on a documentary about creepy swamp witches—which suits me just fine.

Dani motions for me to come back to the table, but I ignore her. When I glance back at her a few minutes later, I get the evil eye of doom and know shit isn't going well. Kennedy winks at me and scoots forward on her chair so that he's standing between her open legs. He's not my problem. He's a big boy. I turn back and see that my short-term dance partner has moved on. Against my better judgement, I head back over to the table.

Kennedy looks over her shoulder. She knows I'm right there and that I'll hear her when she says to James, "You've got really pretty eyes. Ever had your dick sucked in a bar bathroom before?"

James coughs, choking on his drink, as Dani grabs Kennedy and pulls her away. I step into the space that has opened up between them out of habit. We do this whenever we're out with Kennedy because we know she'll eventually cross the line. We take turns on who gets to babysit and who gets to dance with the guy she'd made very uncomfortable. I guess it's my turn to have fun.

"Do you want to dance?" I yell over the noise as he stares at me with wide eyes, wiping his drink off his chin. He points to himself and looks shocked, like no one has ever asked him that before. "Yes. Do you dance? Or you could just stay here; I don't really care."

"He's busy," Kennedy blurts out, trying to push her way back in, having somehow escaped from Dani. "Besides, isn't dancing like, against your religion or something?"

"Kennedy, shut your fucking face before I rearrange it. Don't think I won't tell Sam exactly how you're representing his company. Now sit the fuck down and drink some damn water." Dani's voice is stern, and Kennedy responds instantly by pouting and throwing herself into a nearby chair.

"So, do you?" I ask him again, ignoring the situation nearby.

"Fuck yes," he grins, and I grab his hand, pulling him away from the table and Kennedy, who sneers as we walk away. I hear her say something about leaving room for Jesus, but I ignore her. It's Dani's turn to deal with her.

When we finally stop on the other side of the crowd, he offers me a sad smile. "Thanks for the rescue."

"Yeah, no problem." I shrug and lean against a nearby pillar. "We don't have to dance if you don't want to. It was more of an escape plan than anything. Give her five minutes and she'll forget about you and move on, then you can go back. Otherwise, the exit is a straight shot from here."

"Oh, yeah. Uhm, okay." He looks around, confused. I'm close to believing this guy's standard state of living is confused. When he looks back at me, he's got that smirk from the bar again. It's like I can watch his confidence turning on and off again like a switch. "What about a third option?"

"Third option? What's that?"

"What if?—"

A man steps between us, cutting James off. "Hey! Happy un-birthday, uhh," he looks at the slip of paper he's holding with two shot glasses. It gives me enough time to recognize that he's working the party, not a drunk asshole trying to hit on me. "Lexi! Your friend sent you some shots to celebrate. Cool, un-birthday, huh? Fuck yeah."

"Uhm, yeah. Thanks!" I feign surprise and excitement. James and I take the shots and stare at each other awkwardly. "Don't worry. It's a cue that the storm known as Kennedy has been spoken to sternly and promises to be on her best behavior." I scoff at the thought. "Dani's just?—"

"Being Dani," he laughs.

"Bottoms up?" He nods, and we both knock back the shots. I close my eyes and embrace the full body shiver I get from the alcohol slithering through me. "So, you should be good to go back now. She'll stop acting like a cunt for at least ten minutes."

"Is she always like this?"

"We like to call her an acquired taste at the office, and then we hope no one has actually acquired a taste for her." I'm mortified when I giggle, and a snort sneaks out.

"Fuck, you're adorable." I expect to see panic at what he's said, but there isn't any. We might be drunk. He takes the shot glass from me and puts them both on a tray as it passes by. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you the third option I came up with."

"Oh yeah? What was it?"

"It's the option where I don't go back to the table, and I don't leave." He grins, and if I believed in the devil, I'd be reasonably certain this was him. "We dance."

"You actually wanna dance?" I ask. Maybe the devil isn't so bad. My mother would hate him, and that makes me want him more.

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