Red Flags by C.C. Brown Page B

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