Chapter 20

Bre

It's Friday, which means tonight is the night we meet with Barbi and attempt to get her confession. I planned to tell Olivia what we were doing when I hung out with her a few nights ago to watch Drag Race, but I didn't have the heart. She was so torn about what to do with Kipp and Grady and seeing Van. It didn't feel right to add to her troubles.

I arrive at Van's place and make my way inside, greeted by the familiar scent of his apartment. Settling onto the couch, I pop open a can of Cherry Pepsi I brought and take a long sip, feeling the sweet fizz dance on my tongue. Van, on the other hand, seems restless, pacing back and forth across the living room.

"What is taking her so long?" he frets, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Relax, Van," I reassure him, lounging back against the cushions. "This is going to work. And if it doesn't, we'll just come up with a new plan. We're going to nail this bitch, one way or another. She's as jealous as they come, so I have a good feeling about tonight."

I take another sip of my soda. "Calm down. She's not going to believe we're fucking if you look like you have a stick up your ass."

Just then, Van's phone chimes with a new message. "It's from Barbi. She just texted; she's on her way to the bar," he announces, glancing up at me. "You ready to go?"

"Ready to put on the show of my life," I reply, a smirk playing on my lips.

We leave the apartment and make our way down to my car. The only sound during the drive to the bar is the rhythmic tapping of Van's fingers on the passenger door.

I park in a spot on the street, and we step out onto the sidewalk, the cool night air washing over us. Together, we head inside, the dimly lit interior casting a warm glow over the patrons. It's not too busy tonight, which works in our favor. We quickly find a high table toward the back and take our seats.

"We'll have a round of waters, please," I ask the server, leaning in. "But can you bring them in drink glasses? And make sure if we get more, it's water, but say two Titos." I hand her a hundred-dollar bill. "That's for helping with the show. I'll add more when we leave and pay our tab."

"Yes, ma'am." The server smiles. "Two Titos coming right up."

We're setting the stage for our little performance, and every detail counts. As we wait for our ‘drinks', energy courses through my veins, anticipating our unwitting co-star's arrival.

Barbi's entrance is nothing short of dramatic, her presence commanding attention as she strides into the bar with an air of arrogance. Her attire leaves little to the imagination. Her shorts look as if they were painted on, while her crop top barely covers her rubber nipples.

When her gaze lands on Van, her smile widens, and I can see the unmistakable spark of desire in her eyes. It's as if the world narrows down to just the two of them, oblivious to everything else around them. But then her gaze flickers to me, and the warmth in her expression turns to ice.

"Van, baby, sorry I'm late," she says, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Bre, how funny to run into you here. Small world, right?"

She sidles up to Van, her hand slipping into his back pocket, and I feel a surge of anger coursing through me. Without a second thought, I grab her hand, wrenching it away from him with more force than necessary.

"What are you touching my man for?" I snap.

Barbi's smile falters for just a moment, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features before she quickly masks it.

"Excuse muah? You two are together? Since when?"

I bite my lip and flutter my lashes at Van, and he smiles. "It's still new, but we ran into each other earlier this week and had coffee and things just escalated. He asked me out again tonight. He didn't tell you I'd be here?"

I look at Van and give him what I hope is a sexy, but scolding, look. "Baby! You didn't tell her I was coming? I thought tonight was about you telling her, since she's your closest friend." Friends is a total lie. She's more like a piece of gum on his shoe he can't get rid of, but I know ‘friends' will piss her off.

"Friend," Barbi chokes out.

"This is date two for us, so that's like the standard of a relationship in your world, yeah?" I ignore her dramatic antics.

The server shows up and hands me and Van new drinks. "Two Titos. And for you, miss, can I get you anything?"

Barbi sneers. "I'll have a Ranch Water."

"I'll be right back with that."

Barbi turns her narrowed eyes back to me. "What about Olivia? She's just okay with you being with her ex?"

"Well, she is my best friend. Plus, she found someone new as well. So it was whatever."

Barbi snatches her drink from the server rudely and heads to the corner of the room where the DJ is set up. With all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, she flirts shamelessly with any man who so much as glances in her direction. She engages in every interaction with exaggerated movements, too-loud laughter, and a reckless intensity that borders on desperation.

I watch from the sidelines, my eyes narrowed as Barbi twirls and gyrates on the dance floor, her gaze locked on Van with a laser-like focus. It's clear that she's trying to make him jealous, to provoke some kind of reaction out of him. But Van remains unfazed. He is head over heels for Olivia still.

"It's like a bad '80s movie that won't turn off," Van groans beside me. "Does she really think this is what will get me going?"

I can't help but laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. "Yup," I reply, smacking Van's chest playfully before biting my bottom lip in amusement.

Leaning close, I whisper in his ear. "She's getting even more pissed watching us. It's definitely working. Just make sure if you get her alone and talking, hit record on your phone. Otherwise, this was all for nothing."

"I know," Van sighs.

"I need to tinkle, so be right back." With that, I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss the corner of Van's mouth. But I'm hoping from Barbi's view it looks like a full kiss on the lips.

I slip into the crowd, leaving Van alone to watch the spectacle unfold. As I make my way toward the restroom, I can't help but chuckle.

Barbi may think she has the upper hand, but little does she know, she's playing right into our hands. With each passing moment, her desperation becomes more palpable, her attempts at seduction growing more frantic.

Inside the restroom, I take a moment to collect myself, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. But as I glance at my reflection in the mirror, a smirk tugs at the corners of my lips.

I slip into a stall, the door creaking softly shut behind me. As I sit down, the main door opens and I hear the sound of running water. I finish up and step out of the stall, not surprised to see I have company. Barbi leans against the door with a look of pure fury etched across her features.

Her eyes narrow into slits as she corners me, her voice dripping with venom. "I'll get rid of you just like I did that other slut," she hisses. "Van is mine. He was always supposed to be mine."

Despite the gravity of her words, I can't help but scoff. "I don't scare as easily as Olivia," I retort, my voice tinged with defiance. "So good luck with that."

Barbi's anger only seems to intensify at my response, her features contorting with rage. Without missing a beat, I reach into the pocket of my skirt, fingers brushing against the smooth surface of my phone. With a swift motion, I activate the recording function.

"Sorry, it was Olivia," I say nonchalantly, pretending to send a text message as I hold my phone close to my chest. "She wanted to know if we could have a double date next weekend. She's wanting our men to meet each other."

Barbi's expression darkens further. "He'll be mine soon," she spits. "Once he realizes that no one can give him what I can."

I roll my eyes at her arrogance, refusing to be intimidated by her. "An STD and a night he doesn't want to remember?"

Barbi lunges forward, her hand raised as if to strike me. But I'm quicker, grabbing her wrist and shoving her against the wall.

"Don't even think about it," I growl, low and dangerous. "I know exactly what you did to Van, and that shit won't fly with me."

Barbi laughs, a cold, heartless sound. "It was easy the first time," she admits. "So I'd like a challenge. A little temazepam, alcohol, and Van was putty in my hands."

My blood runs cold at her confession, the weight of her words sinking in like a stone. "That's rape," I hiss, trembling with anger. "You're absolutely disgusting."

But Barbi just sneers, her eyes glittering with crazy. "It's not rape if he enjoyed it," she retorts. "And he did. I made sure of that."

The bile rises in my throat at her words, and I feel a surge of righteous anger coursing through my veins. "I hope your next roommate shares your twisted views," I spit.

Letting her go, I leave the bathroom and head back to Van. When I reach him, I grab his hand and pull him with me. I throw another hundred on the bar to our server. "Thank you!"

"What happened? Why are we leaving?" Van asks.

"I got her." I smile.