Forever Together (Forever Love #2)

by Jade Whitfield

"Babies?" Liv asks, completely horrified. And the panic is back it seems. "Fuck no, no babies." She shakes her head back and forth furiously.

  "Ok no babies." Trina pats her shoulder while rolling her eyes.

  "This is a disaster." Liv groans. "A motherfucking disaster."

  I nod my head solemnly, in complete agreement. I'm not totally sure I'll still be one Liv’s bridesmaids after tonight. 'Tub-thumping' by Chumbawamba starts playing through the club and my eyes can't help but travel to the dancefloor. Let me tell you, for a minute I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse. I was wrong because now I'm watching as four forty-something woman jump up and down, tutus half hanging off and Sex on The Beach cocktails that they all "just have to try" spilling all over the place. It seems that watching Trina's Mom slipping on said spilled drink and falling on her ass in fits of giggles is the last straw.

  Liv and Trina’s chairs scrape back and I’m pulled by my arm so I'm standing too.

  "That’s it, let's go." Trina says in a clipped tone, gathering our stuff. "I can’t watch this crap anymore. I’m about five second away from throwing myself in that damn river."

  "I'll call my Dad; he can come pick them up." Liv sighs, pulling out her phone and walking away from the table towards a quietish corner.

  "This is all my fault."

  "Uh huh, yep it is but hey we can go get ridiculously drunk and you dancing to Gangnam style can make it up to us. Anyway we should definitely leave cause I’m pretty damn sure the strippers just walked in."

  "What do you mean the stripper's just walked in? I though we agreed no stripper. Liv definitely said no stripper."

  "Yeah well it was a weak moment." She shrugs her shoulders.

  I look around the almost empty club for the stripper in question.

  "I don’t see one." I frown.

  "You see the potbellied hairy guy by the door?"

  "Yeah." He looks about five minutes from a heart attack and is dressed like a cowboy. "Wait, no!"

  "He didn’t look like that in his ad."

  "How do you know it's him?" I ask.

  "Because he pretty much described what he was wearing in a text he sent me two minutes ago. So let's go go go boo two."

  I help her grab our coats and snatch Liv by the wrist as she walks back to the table.

  "Woah what's the rush? Can't cope with any more of this fucking torture?" She says struggling to catch up as her other wrist is grasped by Trina.

  "Excuse me?" We freeze at the sound of the crackling voice.

  "Sorry dude we are in a rush." Trina laughs, pulling Liv forcefully.

  "I'm just wondering if you know where the bride is, I've gotta lasso her up." He wiggles his overgrown eyebrows, stepping towards us. I almost gag at the overwhelming scent of cigarettes.

  "Wait what?" Liv asks, looking towards me. I shrug and nod towards Trina, ignoring her hiss of "snitch".

  "What can I say boo? I'm weak. The thought of a cowboy was just so... juicy."

  "He looks juicy alright." I mumble, shrinking at the glare Trina throws my way.

  "Listen ladies, do you know where the bachelorette party is or not?"

  I’m pretty sure the guys gotta be blind not to see the giant learner plane stuck to Liv’s stomach and the ridiculous get ups we're in. I’m not gonna go pointing that out though be cause... well you know.

  A sly smirk spreads across Liv’s face as she snatches her wrists back and takes a step towards the greasy looking guy who looks a little like he should be on the Crime Network.

  "You see that bunch of women on the dance floor? Yeah they’ve been waiting for you. The one with the short brown hair, lifting the tutu up is the bride. Make sure you give ‘em the whole show. She’s dirty too so I’m pretty sure she’s gonna want lots of grinding and humping."

  My mouth drops over as the grease ball walks towards our Mothers with a creepy smile on his face.

  "Why did you do that?" I ask, shocked and slightly concerned for my Moms well fare.

  "Eh my dad will be here in like ten minutes to take them all home. Plus, she’s turned into a bitch with this whole wedding business. Might as well take entertainment where I can get it ."

  She shrugs , walking off and out the door, us trailing behind. The last sound we hear are disgusted gasps from the few people in. I’m guessing greasy cowboy guy ripped his shirt off.

  ***

  The floor vibrates from the bass roaring from the huge speakers practically covering the walls. I'd like to say I know what song this is but I have no idea, the booming overtaking any tune that I should be hearing.

  "Bottoms up!" Liv shouts, gulping back the Buttery Nipple. I don’t know who the hell comes up with the names for these shots. I swear I saw a sign on the way in advertising a two for one offer on Red Headed Sluts.

  I eye my own drink before taking the bull by the horns and knocking it back, squinting my eyes and going through a full body shudder as it drips down my throat. Well I guess that’s another drink I'll make sure never to try again. That’s about the thirteenth tonight.

  Thirteen? Wow, I should be way more drunk than this.

  "Trina?!" I point to the shot still standing on the bar, not willing to let her get away with avoiding it.

  "Driving." She sings, jangling car keys in front of my face. I faintly remember her already telling me this about ten thousand times tonight.

  "Great, more for me." Liv swipes the small glass and empties it, wiping her arm across her mouth afterwards. "So . I’m getting married!"

  "WOO!" We scream.

  "I’m gonna be Mrs. Noah Travers!"

  "WOO!"

  "And my Dad text ten minutes ago to let me know the old fogies are safely tucked up in bed back in Franklin!"

  "WOOOO!"

  "And there’s a hottie at nine o clock right over there." Trina squeals, wagging her brows and pointing her thumb behind her.

  "You know the rules, bitch. Five minutes and if you don’t get a number he's just not that into you." Liv shrugs, holding two fingers up to the bartender and gesturing to our empty glasses littering the bar.

  "Oh he’s into me alright. He’s just begging for a bit of Trina for his birthday cake. Wish me l uc oo k boo's."

  "Good luck." I shout, giggling at her strutting across the packed up dancefloor, bumping into people and more than once almost toppling over in the bright pink heels on her feet.

  "Shot." I get a glass almost thrust into my face by Liv and can’t help cringing at the sight of the brown drink swooshing around inside.

  "Again?" I whine.

  "They're good. They taste like coffee."

  "You need to go to CA meetings." I grumble.

  "CA?"

  "Coffeeholics anonymous."

  "Coffeeholic s anonymous huh? I like it. We could totally make that a thing."

  I down the drink, ignoring the need to gag it back up and jump up and down a few times to dispel the internal shivers. One stumble and I can feel my vision blurring . I lean against the bar, taking some of the weight off my aching feet which are right this moment cursing me for wearing these shoes. The lights flashing before my eyes, some from the green and blue strobe lights, others from the alcohol cause my eyes to swing from side to side. I can actually feel them ping ponging in my head. This is why I shouldn’t drink. Damn, being back in Franklin may have been good for my heart but it’s terrible for my liver.

  "Cindy you better not be wussing out on me." Liv warns, a perfectly manicured finger pointing my way.

  "I’m good."

  Blinking seems to help. Yeah, I'll just carry on blinking.

  "Good. This is my last night a free fucking women."

  "Technically-"

  "Yeah technically I don’t get married for another week blah blah blah."

  I giggle at the contorted face she pulls and pull my hair off my neck which is slick with sweat. Crap it’s hot in here. The volume of people and the fact that it’s like a hundred degrees outside even though it’s like eleven at night
means it’s basically a pressure cooker in here. The elastic waist of my tutu is digging into the skin of my waist, the bone of my brand new bra is stabbing me in the armpit. What a night!

  "What do you think the guys are doing?" Liv asks, yelling into my ear as the bar area becomes more and more full.

  "Probably drunk and tying Noah up to a lamppost." I scoff.

  Brady’s probably the one doing the tying as well. I can imagine Tucker holding the camera. I’m pretty sure I saw him waving it around earlier when he came to Brady’s to drop off their matching t-shirts. I don’t even wanna know the things that camera's seen. I mean, this is Tucker we're talking about.

  "So you and Dickwad are getting on then?" Liv's eyebrows rise and a smirk overtakes her face.

  "Yes." I roll my eyes.

  "What're you gonna do when it comes time to go back to college? The whole long distance thing?"

  Ok that’s a new one. How did I not think of that? How could I have forgotten about college?

  "Well-"

  "You have talked about it right? I mean, I’m guessing you two had a long conversation about why the fuck you broke up in the first place and what to do to stop that shit happening again, right?" I stay silent. "Right? You two did talk?"

  "W-well we had a conversation and admitted we still loved each other and then I went to his house and... never left." I bite on my lip waiting for her response a nd s she stares at me as if I’m the stupidest person on the planet. It’s possible, it’s very possible.

  "So you two haven’t spoken at all about why you broke up?"

  "I just thought that it would be best to put it behind us." I say weakly, the alcohol dimming my surroundings, all except Liv’s shocked face.

  "What about college?"

  "I forgot."

  "You forgot about the place you spend most of your time?"

  "It’s been a busy few weeks." I shrug. It has. This has absolutely nothing to do with head burying or carpet sweeping. Nothing at all. Ok, maybe a little. "What am I gonna do?" I wail.

  "I don’t know. Hey, you wanna try a... OH MY FUCKING GOD!"

  Liv’s beautiful blue eyes darken, turning from the Mediterranean ocean color to an almost sapphire. It temporarily freaks me out and for a second I wonder if she’s some kind of demon. I then realize it’s probably the strobe lights. I do all this as steam practically blows out of my friends ears as she throws an evil glare daggers over my shoulder.

  "Liv, are you ok?" I ask. Maybe she’s lost her mind.

  I turn around wondering what’s got her in such a state and straight away find my answer. Oh no, this is not good.

  "Oh crap."

  "Liv, Cindy, what a surprise seeing you here." That voice is like being punched in the stomach. It’s like being punched in the stomach by the biggest dick in the world. No actually dicks not the right adjective for this guy. What’s worse than dick?

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" Liv growls, gripping onto the bar.

  Chris Lyons smirks. It’s not like Brady’s smirk whe n re he’s being playful. It’s not like Noah’s smirk when he’s being flirty, always towards Liv of course. Even Liv’s smirk is more of a tease. Chris' smirk is just full on creepy. It’s a cat that got the cream smirk.

  "What’s this, your bachelorette party?" He reaches for the learner sign stuck to Liv only to have his hand slapped away. "Oooh touchy. Cindy you look as... sexy as always. I can’t believe the pit balls let you loose in Savannah without them or are they hiding out somewhere?"

  "Chris, we're trying to have a nice night. Maybe you should just leave." I actually speak. Wow I was not expecting that.

  He leans his face close to mine, his breath rolling over my face and causing me to suppress a gag.

  "Do I make you feel uncomfortable Cindy? Or maybe it’s something else. Maybe your attracted to me. Maybe you can’t control yourself around me."

  "Oh my fucking God. Are you kidding right now? Get the fuck away from her unless you want dickw... I mean Brady knocking your teeth down your throat!" Liv yells, getting in his face and shoving me out the way with her shoulder.

  My hip bangs into the bar and I know if I was completely sober it would hurt like hell. Right now I’m full of Irish liquor and vodka so I don’t feel a thing.

  I stare down at the floor, shaking my head at the sudden dizziness that comes over me. I see a pair of bright pink shoes attached to long dark caramel legs storming our way and hear Trina’s voice around the same time I see her. Oh lord, she looks almost as mad as Liv. I hope they don’t get in a fight, I’d be useless sober, right now I’d probably be a liability.

  "This douche bothering you boo?" She says, cocking her hip and giving Chris an eye sweep from head to toe.

  "He's leaving."

  "You don’t own the fucking bar bitch. Maybe you should pipe the fuck down. Travers and Cooper aren’t around right now to have your back." His smarmy voice grates on me. "You know I always thought you girls were out of their leagues but I guess it’s the other way around huh? Damn, I almost feel sorry for that asshole Noah being stuck with your fucking ass. Mind you, he’s probably the only fucker that hadn’t already had it."

  What happens next can definitely be described as a girl coming out swinging. Figuratively and literally. My head snaps up and a sudden anger overtakes me. I’m not scared of the confrontation. I’m not scared of the backlash. I’m. Mad. As. Hell. Liv’s sticking up for me. She’s defending me from this asshole and instead of being pushover Cindy, I return the favor. Before I can stop myself I step up, unsteady on my feet. I’m pretty sure my hand comes out before I even get my balance back. The heavy bass booming through the club seems like a whisper compared to the slap that seems to echo when my hand connects to Chris' face.

  "Don’t talk to my friend like that you fucking penis head!" I bellow. Well I think I bellow, I doubt I sound like that.

  "YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Chris roars in my face.

  "Holy shit boo two that was fucking amazing." Trina laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the red faced guy that looks about five seconds away from giving me a slap back "Next time don’t mess with us bitches. And don’t worry, I'll make sure to let Brady and Noah know how you talked to their women. I bet they'd love to pay you a visit."

  "I can’t believe I just did that." I gasp.

  "That was fucking brilliant boo two but I think it’s time for us to go now. This clubs pretty packed and he looks mighty mad. Plus, I think Liv’s about to unleash some whoopass."

  I turn around to see Liv taking her earrings out. Before she gets the second one out, her wrist is yanked like mine and we're being pulled into the direction of the entrance exit .

  "Let’s go home." She sings, a smile splitting her face.

  "It’s like eleven boo, we'll just go somewhere else."

  "Are you kidding me? Sweet little ole Cindy just bitch slapped Chris Lyons. Best. Wedding. Present. Ever. I wanna end leave his night on a high."

  ***

  You know Liv’s drunk when she’s singing along to Taylor Swift with a pink tutu hanging off her head. For some reason we seem more drunk since leaving the club than we were in the club.

  "Will you sit still? You’re gonna get me pulled over." Trina mumbles from the driving seat.

  I’m slumped in the back, staring through the window at the lights from the lampposts scattered along the highway.

  "What would you do if you did get pulled over?" I ask in a monotone voice. I feel groggy from the alcohol.

  "Flirt."

  "Huh?"

  "Don’t tell me you've never flirted to get out of a ticket." Trina laughs.

  "No, what do you do?" I thought people only ever did that in movies and shows on the CW network.

  "Well first you stick your chest out a little and flutter your eyelashes-"

  "Shut up Trina, that’s a dumbass way. Cindy, don’t listen to her. L ook W w hat you gotta do is put your voice kinda husky, you know like a come to bed voice."

  "Oh an
d you act totally innocent." Trina interjects.

  "Well yeah that too."

  "What if they don’t fall for it?" I ask, genuinely interested.

  "They’re gay!" Trina booms, slapping the steering wheel.

  I look towards Liv who nods.

  "Oh Cind y s , I was thinking about what we were talking about earlier, about the college situation. Why don’t you just transfer? I’m pretty sure you have a couple more weeks to transfer to Savannah in time for fall semester." Liv says, her face lighting up apart .

  "Wow you’re really smart when you’re drunk boo."

  "Why thank you very much bitch."

  I zone them both out, absorbing Liv’s words. Well I’m absorbing them as much as I can in my state. At the same time my mind can’t help but wander to thoughts of Brady. I wonder what he’s doing right now. Is he missing me as much as I’m missing him? Is he having fun? Is he thinking of me? Christ I feel like a sixteen-year-old all over again waiting for him to throw stones at my window.

  Tap! Tap! Tap!

  What the hell was that? This is why I don’t like my parents going to dinner late at night. All kinds of weird noises sound out and it takes me right back the millions of horror movies that start just like this.

  Tap! Tap! SMASH!

  Ok I’m pretty sure Michael Myers didn’t break a window so maybe I’m safe.

  I throw the comforter away and climb out of bed. I walk towards my window and stoop my face to see the cracked pane of glass. I really wanna look but who knows what'll happen. What if someone’s face pops up? What if they lunge at me? I know I’m being ridiculous but I still can’t help my heart almost beating out of my chest or the sweat gathering on my brow.

  I lean over, poking the pane which probably isn’t the smartest thing to do. It’s only a crack. Just as I’m about to ignore my fears and take a look at the ground below another Tap! sounds out. This time I see the stone coming though.

  I rush forwards and lift the latch up, leaning my head out. There’s a shape below. Would Michael Myers throw stones at my window? I’m pretty sure crazy murderers don’t need to be let in.

  "Cinders?" I hear a familiar voice yelling. "You there?"

  "Hello?"

  It’s too dark to see a face. I can only make out the shape of a person, thankfully a human person.