Just Breathe (Blue #1) Read Free Page B

looking at the guys. Or at least, I hope they are.
    After a few songs, I glance over to Dar and tell her I’m leaving the dance floor. She catches up with me and slings her arm over my shoulder as we make our way back to the bar. Dar twirls in circles on her stool while waiting for the bartender to approach us. He has his back against the liquor showcase with his arms across his broad chest. He resembles a sulking kid who didn’t get his way.
    “Had all you can take?” He licks his lower lip as he breathes out. I shake my head, partially to answer him, but also to stop myself from thinking how his tongue would feel moving in rhythm with mine.
    Dar orders three more shots for each of us and completely draws my attention away from him and his sinful tongue. Seriously, I have no idea what kind of chemical reaction is going on with me right now, but I’m acting like this is the first time I’ve ever seen a guy lick his mouth. I need to rein in my hormones before I do something completely idiotic, like taste him.
    We slam our shots one after another. As soon as one leaves our lips, the next is there to take its place. “Phewsh! I don’t know about you, Cass, but I’m starting to get a little drunk,” Dar slurs as she hops off the bar stool, immediately crashing into my side and giggling afterward. “I’m going to pee.” She pulls at the back of my shirt. “C’mon! You’re going with me!” She gazes at me through bloodshot eyes and pulls a little harder on my collar to get me up and moving.
    Every time we’re drunk together, I’m reminded how hard it is to walk, especially when I’m the one holding her up. To say I’m glad when we finally make it to the restroom would be an understatement.
    “Cassandra?” I hear her call from the stall beside me. Over the many years we’ve been friends, she’s only used my first name in its entirety when she is truly wasted or she’s pissed about something.
    “Yes, Dartanya?” I have to bite my tongue because I almost say, “No, this is your conscious,” just to mess with her head.
    “Can we go home after this? I think I’m more than a little, d-r-unk. Scratch that. I know I am.” Speaking must take her full concentration because she pauses briefly after each word as if trying to force herself to spit out the next.
    I slaugh, before replying, “Of course we can, Dar. I’m kind of tipsy myself. Good idea...I’ll go ahead and call a cab for us, ‘kay?” After I wash and dry my hands, I pull my cell phone from my pocket and place the call. “They said it’ll be ten minutes.”
    “Awshum!” she slurs again, doing her best to fling open the stall door and stumble over to the sink. I eye her suspiciously. Unless she’s done a few more shots in which I’m not aware, we’ve drunk the same tonight. I pull her under my arm as she leans against my body, letting out a slow sigh. The unmistakable stench of tequila rides on her breath and makes my stomach churn. I had forgotten she’d had the Tequila Sunrise earlier, which could be one reason for her current sidestepping.
    People bounce around us, shaking various parts of their bodies. They call it dancing, but some of the moves I’m seeing look more like they’re convulsing under some drunken stupor than any dance moves. I focus my eyes on the floor, getting a bit dizzy watching all the people move around as they let the music take over them. The next thing I know, Dar and I smack against the concrete wall and fall hard to the floor.
    Dar bursts out laughing. “Smooth move, Cass. I think I should’ve been the one driving us on this one.” She laughs again, playfully waving her hand in the air. The bartender makes his way from behind the bar to us with a slight grin on his face. He pulls us up from the ground before we have a chance to get up ourselves.
    “Thanks.” I nod, feeling my skin burn with embarrassment.
    He flashes a glorious smile that spreads across his entire face, and he winks. “Don’t mention