chapter 6

Mason and Kathy decided to go to the bar arranged for wedding visitors and get a couple of drinks.

        Mason handed her glass of wine, and he ordered himself a whiskey on the rocks. They were at ease and started talking about the memories during university days except for that unhappy event.

        Kathy learned that Mason has taken place to pursue his medical degree in London, and just came to California to witness Lindsay’s wedding. He would be leaving the day after tomorrow to continue his studies abroad.

        Kathy shared her job experience as a nurse and told him the story of how she and Lindsay became acquainted.

        They were in a cheerful conversation when Kathy felt someone was watching her. She turned around and seen Miles sitting at the bar-stool behind her. Kathy’s curved lips went straight. She wasn’t expecting Miles was nearby and had probably heard the conversation with Mason. His face was blank.

        “Miles,” she said, “You're here.”

        “Hey, Kathy, enjoying the night?” His eyes appeared dark and cold, looking at her then shifted at Mason.

        “Ah, Yes, by the way, this is Mason, Lindsay’s cousin” She introduced, “Mason, this is Miles.”

        Mason extended his hand to shake with Miles. “That was a nice speech back there” Miles took his hand. “Thank you,” He stated coldly.

        Kathy felt the tension building up between the two men. Testosterone was rising.

        Something was wrong. Kathy just couldn’t point it out. She needed to stop it. She couldn’t think straight as the alcohol was already clouding her thoughts, then Idea arose in her head.

        “You know what?” She then turned around and asked the waiter for three shots of tequila, the two men beside her watched in stiffed, the waiter served the shots in a whim. She took one raised it up. “let's take a shot for the newlyweds, cheers!”

        Mason picked his glass and smiled at her, while Miles took his share and clanked it with hers.

        Three of them drank the bitter liquid. She winced in disgust when she tasted her share of a tequila shot. She silently cursed herself for doing that stupid stunt.

        She was about to speak to say goodbye to the two handsome men when suddenly Mason’s phone started ringing. He fished it out from his pocket and answered it.

        “Excuse me,” He said to her and Miles. And walked away from them.

        Miles leaned his back at the bar’s counter, “Friends, huh?” Miles suddenly said. Taking a sip from his glass

        She glared at him. Lifting an eyebrow, “Are you insinuating something?” her judgment right now was being clouded with the spirit of the alcohols she had intaken.

        “Well, you don’t seem looked like at the dance floor a while ago,” Miles said sarcastically.

        ‘Oh wow, he was watching us, for all you care, of course’ she thought

        “Well, He was a good friend back home. I recently just found out, actually this morning, that he was related to Lindsay,” she huffed.  It was the drunk-state Kathy talking to Miles now.

        Miles chuckled before taking another sip. That explained why they were dancing warmly on the dance floor a while ago. ‘Friends?’ He wouldn’t believe what Kathy said, the way they acted was more than that. She’d probably been with other men before, just like the man she left at her house. The way that Mason guy looked at and kissed her said differently. It was intimate. He admitted, he felt a small pang of jealousy watching them dance, especially the way they carried their conversation earlier.

        Kathy felt uneasy again, Miles must be thinking about how slutty she was at this moment. His reaction towards Josh’s spending a night at her house, which was nothing of course, and to Mason’s dancing with her, which was nothing as well had been already judged by him.

        “Kathy!” she heard Mason calling her name. She turned around and saw Mason walking towards her.

        “Is everything okay?” she worriedly asked.

        “I got to go, Uncle needs his another shot of his prescription, he had overindulged himself with food and alcohol tonight. I don’t blame him, but he needs quick attention right now, he’s fine though, just didn’t want anyone to administer his medicine but from me… you know, old peeps.” Mason explained.

        “Okay, as long as he’s okay,” She said.

        “I owe you this night, maybe we can meet for breakfast tomorrow? my flight will be in the evening.” He asked.

        Mason was hoping for her to say yes since their night was cut-out early by an emergency call from his uncle. He would love to pursue her again. He made a mistake in the past, and he was determined to make it right. Kathy ignited the dormant feeling inside his heart since she left him.

        Kathy nodded, thinking their flight would be tomorrow after lunchtime. They had already to patched-up things right. Though they were fine tonight, it won’t hurt to meet him at least one last time.

        “Oh, sure. Just give me a call” then Kathy gave her phone number to him.

         “I'll see you then, Mason,” She said. Mason moved closer to her and kissed her on cheeks.

        “Goodnight, and thank you, Kathy, for this perfect night.”

        She smiled. “Likewise, goodnight Mase,” She said, then Mason left.

        Little did Kathy know, Miles was observing them. The closeness they show made him twitch with envy.

        “Ahem,” Miles hawked his throat. He did it on purpose to catch her attention.

        “Oh, hey Miles, you’re still here” Kathy looked him as if she wasn’t aware he was there all time.

        “So he left you to attend his uncle’s needs?” He said harmlessly

        “Yeah, you heard it all right,” she said. She thought Miles must’ve seen the kiss as well.

        “Yeah, I was here all the time, Just so you know,” he sniggered.

        “Come on, have this,” handing her another shot. Kathy hesitantly took it. In her head, she had so much tonight and can’t risk another drink that she will for sure regret taking the next day.

        “Do I really need to, Miles?” She doubtfully asked him

        “Yes, this is for tonight, It’s unfair to get me a shot and not downing that”  Miles pointing at the little glass on her hand.

        “take it and stop whining like a baby. It’s only a drink,” he mocked.

        Kathy gasped on what he stated “Me? A whining baby, huh? Watch me,” She gulped the bitter liquid straight. She grimaced from its foul taste.

        Miles snorted, “That’s unfair, you didn’t wait for me” handing her another shot. She scowled at him “Come on, last one” he offered

        “You’re silly, I’m going to pass out after this,” She said, alcohol was slowly blurring her senses, though she can still think straight.

        “Last one, Cheers!” She sighed as she clinked her glass to Miles

        She took and chugged it in one go and thumped the glass on the table. Her face flinched from another distasteful liquid she took. He chuckled at her reaction.

        “Miles, I think I’m drunk.” She giggled. “I need to go.”

        Miles still has his mind clear. He didn’t drink much tonight—just his usual consumption amount of alcohol.

        “Okay, I’ll escort you to your room” He got up from his bar seat and held her close. He grabbed her elbow to support her as she was getting down from the stool chair.