Red Flags (11 page)

I rolled my eyes, but felt the need to
explain because if I didn’t, I would be interrogated all night.

“No, it wasn’t the hair… well, not exactly,”
I paused, and both of them stared at me intently, waiting for me to
finish. “He was mad because I drank that vodka. He doesn’t think I
can handle it, plus the wine.” Both girls looked at me completely
flabbergasted, and Chelsea could no longer contain her anger.

“Seriously Cara? He needs to get a fucking
grip. I think you can handle a drink.” Chelsea had hit pissed off
and I had to make her promise not to say anything to Jason –
because if I didn’t, she would.

We got dressed in record time. I had on my
frayed jean shorts, the white tank top, covered by the sheer
lavender top. The belt I picked up matched nicely and the cowboy
boots were just the right touch. Mila had on tight, dark skinny
jeans, a red strapless top and brown cowboy boots. Her bone
straight hair was thrown into a messy side braid, while Chelsea was
in black shorts, a white t-shirt, and black cowboy boots. We looked
pretty damn sexy, and luckily for the guys, they would be with us
all night. We headed out to the living room area and found the
guys, submerged in guy talk, with drinks in hand. Jason walked over
and grabbed me by the hand, turned me around to get a good look at
me, and whispered in my ear something dirty enough to make me
blush. Mila -- Ms. Life of the Party, went to the fridge and
grabbed a bottle of dark liquor.

“Alright, shots all around, pre-gaming it
before Wranglers.”

Everyone darted in Mila’s direction, and
Jason gently grabbed me by the elbow.

“No shots,” he gave a subtle warning, but
from the icy glare in his eyes, I knew he was serious.

“Why can’t I have one shot?”

“Because you already had wine and vodka? Now
you want shots? Are you going to be fucking conscious tonight – at
all?”

“I think I’ll be fine Ja…” and before I could
even finish what I was trying to say, he gave me the death stare
and walked towards the others in the kitchen to have a shot. As
pissed off as he was making me, I couldn’t help but be slightly
aroused by the fact that he looked absolutely delicious in his
fitted jeans, white button up that was hanging out of his pants,
and brown boots. I looked around the room and took a mental note
that everyone except me was drinking. I had no desire, and would
not be relegated to designated driver -- not on a night where five
other people were fully, and happily intoxicated.

“Hey… how are we getting there?” I yelled,
startling them from their drunken laughter.

“I have a driver coming to get us,” Jason
yelled back.

Mila, Ryan, and Chelsea were leading the pack
on the shots, and were challenging Jason and Hunter to meet them.
The five of them indulged in their shot taking, and I was watching,
laughing at the fact that Hunter, who was not much of a shot taker
and was spilling most of it on the counter due to lack of ability
to open his throat. Hunter was more of a wine drinker and it
showed.

Within a few moments, the doorbell rang. We
grabbed our things and headed out to the big black Expedition
waiting in the driveway. The driver greeted Jason in a very casual
manner, giving some secret handshake, and tipping his hat. He was a
tall African–American man, by the name of Patrick. He was in his
late 40’s, with a hint of grey in his goatee. He wore a suit, and
looked impeccable in it. He opened the door and we all scrambled
in. Jason and I took the very back, and he nuzzled himself into my
hair, commenting on how appetizing it smelled. I reminded him that
the reception my hair received from him was less than welcoming,
and he apologized, saying he was just shocked by it. The response
was unwarranted, and I wondered why something as silly and trivial
as straightened hair would spark such a reaction.

The ride to Wranglers was rather loud and
obnoxious, and that was probably because I was the only truly sober
person in the car – besides Patrick. By the time we arrived at the
club, I just wanted out of the car, figuring once we were inside,
they could be as loud and obnoxious as they wanted – away from me.
We walked right in, right past the line. Jason high fived the
bouncer at the door, and we were ushered in, past the line of
people waiting to get in. I noticed Ryan and Mila holding hands as
they went in and headed straight for the dance floor. It was then
that I realized that there was more to them than I had previously
thought. Hunter and Chelsea followed me and Jason to what looked
like a cornered off VIP section. Once seated, the guys got up and
yelled over the music, asking what we wanted to drink. Chelsea
asked for a Whiskey Sour, and I seconded her request. The guys left
and their exit gave us girls some time to chitchat.

“So Cara, how do you like Bradley?” She
watched me, looking to see if she could intimidate me into an
answer.

“I really like him. I wish I didn’t, but I
do.” My answer threw her off guard, as she sat back, mouth falling
open.

“Why do you say that?”

“Just because it’s been so easy to fall for
him, and so quick.” I tried to reassure her, but she didn’t look
appeased.

“And, let’s not forget the fact that he is
completely, fucking overbearing.” The alcohol filled Chelsea was
out in force and her angry side was starting to pour out of her.
She was yelling at a level that was unnecessary, even given the
loud music blaring throughout the club.

“Chels, he isn’t that bad. Trust me, if he
were, I wouldn’t be with him,” I tried to assure her, but I think I
was doing a piss poor job of it. She gave me a strange look, but
didn’t say anything more, instead just shook her head and allowed
her silence to speak for her.

The guys were back with the drinks, and Mila
and Ryan finally joined us at the table. Ryan sat down next to me,
and I finally had my long awaited opportunity to speak to my
brother. I leaned over to speak in his ear, hoping that no one else
would hear our conversation.

“So, Mila? Is it serous?”

He took a gulp of his beer, smiled, and
shrugged his shoulders.

“What happened to Grant? I haven’t talked to
her since I last saw him a couple of nights ago.”

“I don’t know. I don’t care. I asked her out,
she said yes, and she has been all over me ever since. Not even
going to worry about that fucker,” and he gave me that sly grin
that told me that he was up to no good.

“Ryan. Grant is a nice guy,” I scolded him in
my most sincere voice.

“Oh well, nice guys finish last,” he shrugged
again, and scooted closer to Mila to start whispering something in
her ear. I sat speechless and tried hard to contain my shock.

Jason snapped me out of my trance, and
questioned what had me so dazed. I lied, and told him nothing, just
taking in the music, and he leaned back over to speak to Hunter.
Their conversation looked quite intense, and at the end of it, they
shook hands in a most business-like manner. What was that about?
There was a waiter/bartender at our table asking for drink orders.
The guys had just gotten us drinks so I thought having this waiter
here was a waste of time. Jason thought otherwise and ordered
another round of what everyone had, plus waters. The table
conversations continued, the drinks arrived, and we finished them
in record time.

Mila asked a random person to snap a picture
of us all with her phone. Pretty soon her inner photographer was
out and she was taking pictures of the couples, the guys, and of us
girls all together. She was a social network junkie, and
immediately posted the pictures to every social networking site
that she had an account to. My phone buzzed, informing me of a
notification, and showed a notification for the pictures that I was
tagged in. I tagged Jason in the picture of the two of us sitting
together. He looked so sexy with the low lighting, and his tanned
skin. My phone buzzed again, only this time there was a comment on
the picture of us together from Jacob Bradley.

*WOW! Can’t wait to meet her bro!*

Jason must not have been getting
notifications sent to his phone because he hadn’t checked it. He
didn’t like his brother, so I wondered how this would go over. I
decided not to say anything at the moment because I didn’t want to
ruin what was turning out to be a pretty good night. Another round
of drinks came to the table. Jason passed them out, but gave me a
glass of water.

“Drink this. You’ve had too much alcohol
tonight,” he yelled over the music.

“No I haven’t, I’m fine. I’m probably the
most sober out of the crew.” I eyed him warily, knowing an argument
could have been brewing, especially given the fact that he had been
drinking.

“Do I need to go over everything you’ve had
tonight? Two Whiskey Sours here tonight. I’d say enough,” he said
as he slid the water in front of me.

I looked up and saw Chelsea eyeing me -- lips
pursed, and I took her expression as a sign to be bold. I grabbed
her drink, gulped it down, and heard Jason curse under his breath.
He grabbed his beer and stalked off for the outdoor deck. Ryan and
Hunter were in a deep conversation. Mila looked at us both, and
then scooted in to figure out what had just happened.

“Um, What the fuck was that?”

Chelsea jumped in before I had an opportunity
to say anything, “Bradley is pissed because Cara dared to defy
him.” The sarcasm in her tone was as thick as the tension that was
in the air.

"What? With the drink?”

I nodded my head and Mila laughed.

“Um, okay. So drink the damn water after this
drink.”

I took that opportunity to ask Mila some
questions of my own.

“So Ryan? What happened to Grant?

She looked like a deer in headlights; the
guilt was emanating from her.

“Well, Ryan asked me out, so here we
are.”

I could tell she was evading, so I grilled
her a little further, “right… but two nights ago you were all into
Grant, and tonight, you’re kissing my brother -- so what’s going
on?”

Chelsea was awestruck at the fact that I was
so forthcoming; her eyes were fixated on Mila, awaiting her
response.

“Grant is a nice guy, but I do like Ryan,
Pinks.”

She sounded sincere, so I gave her a polite
nod and let her know that I was only looking out for my brother.
She acknowledged my concern, but reassured me that she was not
going to hurt him.

Jason came walking back to the table, and
held out his hand for me. What the hell? All of a sudden he’s
feeling better? I didn’t hesitate to take his hand, and he whisked
me off to the dance floor. After a few up-tempo songs, a sweet,
romantic slow song played and Jason pulled me in close so that his
warm, albeit, beer loaded breath, was breathing down my neck. He
kissed my neck a few times then held me back so that he could take
a good look at me.

“Do you even know how gorgeous you are?” He
was pouring on the charm, and when drunk, his southern drawl was
magnified 100 times.

I laughed because it was all I could do. I
hated that question; why did people ask it?

He looked at me intently, “you are – I don’t
know why you find humor in that.”

My goal at the moment was to change the
subject because this one was making me rather uncomfortable.

“So are you feeling better?” I asked, hoping
he would move on.

“I’m whatever.”

I looked around the dance floor and found
Chelsea and Hunter dancing, as well as Ryan and Mila. I would have
to get used to Ryan and Mila dating. Jason brought my focus back to
him by pulling me back into his body, and humming along to the
words of the song. I could get lost in him. He smelled so enticing.
Thoughts started to wander through my head: why was he so serious
about a few drinks? Why was he so up in arms by the slightest
things? Would he ever lighten up? Do I even want him to? In a
strange way, his domineering, cavalier attitude was a bit of a turn
on. I couldn’t tell Chelsea that because she would try to slap some
sense into me.

The song ended and Jason kissed me before
breaking for the restroom. Mila sensed her chance and tore away
from Ryan, pulling me over to the bar.

“Two Jager shots please?” She screamed at the
bartender, and I believe it was partly due to the blaring music,
but more so because she was already drunk.

“Is this on Mr. Bradley’s tab ladies?” The
bartender asked us, with a smile on his face.

“Yes it is,” Mila nodded and handed me the
shot. And we both pounded the thick, warm liquid down our
throats.

That shot might have been the last straw. My
head was swirling and I was suddenly very light on my feet. Mila
pulled me away from the bar before Jason could see me. She was
inconspicuously guiding me back to the dance floor when Chelsea
came bounding up, pulling us into the restroom. She was laughing
hysterically at the fact that some girl tried to give Jason her
number, and he turned around, tapped some guy on the shoulder, and
handed him her piece of paper. That’s right!

I stumbled into a stall, and had never been
so thrilled to sit down. My head was pounding, and it had me
question if the Jager shot was laced with something. I took my
phone out, and remembered that Jacob commented on our picture, so I
commented back.

*Thanks Jacob. Look forward to meeting you too!*

I finished and placed my phone back into my
pocket, careful not to drop it in the toilet; I was notorious for
doing that. Walking out of the stall, I pulled my phone out of my
pocket and sat it on the counter. Chelsea grabbed it, keeping it
away from the sink, and played around with the apps. She caught a
glimpse of the picture of Jason and me, and then her mouth
dropped.

“You mean to tell me he has a brother? Holy
hotness!”