Switch by Janelle Stalder Page A

their table just a few feet away. He stopped and turned to face her, blocking her from the other guys. “I swear, if you’re here to start trouble I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “I’m here for a drink. That’s all.” They stared at each other challengingly. “Does this mean your friends don’t know…?”
    Pete hesitated for a second, then shook his head no.
    “You didn’t tell anyone?”
    She sounded surprised, which made him both happy and offended. Didn’t he say he’d keep it to himself? Before he could answer, Seamus appeared with a pitcher in one hand and a glass in the other.
    “Drinks are up!” he announced happily.

    Dinah didn’t think she had ever laughed so much in her life. She actually felt, sort of…normal. The beer that was poured for her a couple of hours ago still sat in front of her, warm now. She’d taken small sips and decided she didn’t like beer. It was the first time she ever had alcohol. Surprisingly she was enjoying herself with McKay’s friends, even though McKay himself had hardly said a word to her. He joined in some of the conversations, but never directed anything to her specifically. He was a silent, brooding presence beside her. Despite that, she was still painfully aware of him. Every time he shifted in his seat, his arm or thigh brushing against her, or every time he’d laugh or say something, her heart would pick up speed.
    The others included her as much as possible, but for the most part, she simply listened and laughed along with them. It was a strange night for sure. She got up, excusing herself to go to the washroom. A few men smiled at her as she made her way to the ladies sign and she smiled back, finding it easier to be friendly the longer she stayed.
    The bathroom itself was as rundown as the bar. Only one stall had a working toilet, but no lock on the door. She did her business quickly before anyone else came in. As she washed her hands, the door behind her opened and two girls around her age walked in. She met their glances in the mirror for a second before looking back down at her hands under the running water.
    “You new around here?” one of them asked. Dinah looked up in surprise. Both were staring at her.
    “Yeah, I just got into town,” she lied.
    “How do you know McKay?” the other asked.
    Dinah turned to face them, letting her hands drip water onto the worn, linoleum floor. Both were wearing way more revealing outfits than her tights and blouse. Four inch heels gave them enough height that she was forced to slightly look up at them. The brunette had dark red lips set in a sneer, while the blonde’s bright pink lips were in a full-on frown. Neither looked impressed. Figures she’d make enemies without meaning to, it was sort of her ‘thing’.
    “We met last year,” she answered, continuing with the lie he’d made up initially.
    “Are you two dating?” said the blonde.
    Ah, now she understood. If she’d hung out with normal people more often it probably would have come to her quicker, but considering she had no female friends to name, it hadn’t occurred to her this was some sort of jealousy thing.
    “No,” she answered. “We’re just….friends.”
    They both looked at each other and snickered. “No one is ‘just friends’ with Pete McKay,” the brunette argued.
    Pete? That was his first name? Dinah looked them over with a confused face. What were they expecting her to say exactly?
    “Look,” said the blonde, stepping closer. “I get that you’re new, so you don’t know how things are around here, but let me make it clear for you. We don’t like new people, especially around our boys.” Dinah bit back her laugh and retort. Our boys indeed, she thought wryly. “So I suggest you call it a night and take off.”
    The reply, ‘or what’, hung on the tip of her tongue. It was really hard not to fire, but Dinah was trying to be on her best behaviour. It wouldn’t do her any good to get in a hair