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Chapter Three - Seattle

Amber smiled as the small blonde plopped down next to her. “It’s a gorgeous day, Amber.”

“It is,” she agreed as she lifted her face to the last stretch of warmth before the sun went down. Her eyes closed in pure contentment. She was dirty, sweaty, and dog tired, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Sitting crossed leg on their tiny balcony, Amber soaked up the feeling only a new adventure could rouse. Excitement laced with the fear of the unknown. College and internships were in the rear-view mirror, and the big scary world beckoned her with wide arms and a scheming smile. “I can’t believe we made it here in one piece.”

Tina patted her knee. “Yeah, I know.” Jumping up nearly as soon as she sat down, she held out her hands and wiggled her fingers at Amber. Grinning at her friend, Amber got pulled to her feet. “C’mon, we need to shower, eat, and get wasted. In that precise order. ”

A long-suffering groan had Tina lifting an eyebrow. “I am beaten,” Amber defended. “Where the hell do you get this level of enthusiasm after lugging boxes and furniture all day?” Casting a suspicious eye at Tina, who caught the look and laughed.

“Oh, relax mother! I drank approximately one hundred gallons of Red Bull.”

Amber scoffed, “Yes, because that is the healthier alternative.”

They navigated their way between unpacked boxes and scattered furniture towards their rooms to wash the day off. Amber had already unpacked her room, save for a few more boxes with clothes–buried somewhere in the common area along with the coffee machine. They would tackle that disaster tomorrow, or Sunday, depending on the level of intoxication they would reach.

Showered and dressed, Amber allowed herself one last look in the mirror before she stepped out of her room. Her dark brown hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders, the volume of it framing her oval face. Her green, almond-shaped eyes popped at just the slightest swipe of brown eye shadow. Full lips shined with a nude gloss. The dress she picked for the evening was a modest length of black lace, curving around her neck and flowing just above the knee. She nearly shuddered as the image of her appearance, not an hour ago, flashed in comparison.

Tina was still punishing her blonde bob with a hair straightener. Amber winced at the steam emitting from the combination of heat and hair. Her black strappy heels were a good three inches taller than Amber’s three-inch nude wedges. It did nothing to even out their height difference. Tina was five-four to Amber’s five-seven. Nobody would ever describe her best friend as lean, but neither was she pudgy. She had curves in all the right places. Said curves showcased in an electric blue, short strapless dress. She looked fantastic. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she spied Amber in the mirror. “Looking hot, Amber!”

“We look hot,” She corrected.

Much to Amber’s relief, she switched off the iron and turned. “Let’s!” She took her friend’s hand, and all but skipped out the door. Amber had to pull her back long enough to close and lock the door behind.

“So where do you want to go?” Tina asked as they strolled, arms hooked, down the dry sidewalk. Amber secretly prayed for rain to wash away the dry heat. “You pick the restaurant and I pick the club. Naturally.”

“Naturally,” Amber smirked and considered their options. “I have a yen for pasta.”

With tummies full of tomato, herbs, and carbs, and a bottle of red wine between them, they entered a packed and deafening Divine. The ten-minute elbow wrestle to the bar was thirsty work and as a reward, they ordered a double round of tequilas in short glassed and tall glasses of Paloma. Tables were a scarce commodity at Divine, especially at eleven o’clock at night. They had no choice but to slam the shots in succession and take their drinks to the dance floor, into the wave of gyrating bodies.

After another round of double shots and a Paloma, Amber was carefree and high on life, dancing like no one was watching. This was the perfect way to end a very long and emotional week. She opened her eyes and saw Tina dancing with a beautiful stranger; built, blond, and tanned. Not the usual Seattle type. Not even the usual Tina type, if Amber was going to be honest. But she didn’t mind. If Tina wanted some action along with their celebration, who was she to cut the fun. Besides, she needed to use the restroom, anyway. She cupped her hand over Tina’s ear. “I am going to the loo. Stay here!” And if the words got lost in the din, she pointed to the sign and left her friend with a stern look. Tina smiled, nodded and draped her arms over the blond Adonis, and continued to bump and grind.

The line was long; it was no surprise. It gave Amber a much-needed break away from the pulsating sounds. The muffled thud of intense clubbing brought on a sudden wave of extreme exhaustion. They had been running around all week to prepare for the move, to move, and then to move in. Amber would slap the next person who uttered the word. Except for this line to the loo. That had better get moving, or she was going to pee on this dirty floor. It took another ten minutes of waiting, but she made it into a stall. Feeling as empty as her bladder, Amber needed a bed. Coaxing Tina away from her chosen entertainment for the evening, she gave the poor guy a sympathetic smile and gestured to her watch. It was two-thirty and time to go. Tina pouted but gave her a wink, pulling back to shout something in his ear. Amber couldn’t possibly believe he’d hear a single sound but to her tipsy amazement, he nodded with an enormous smile, dug out his phone, and was typing furiously. Tina checked, nodded, grabbed his face in her hands, and lay a long, wet kiss on him before sauntering away. Leaving the deprived soul to stand dazed and nearly quivering on the dance floor. God, she loved this woman.

The fresh air hit them like a brick wall. Amber could have sworn she was currently a lot drunker than fifteen minutes ago–it took them that long from deciding to head home, through all the twisting bodies, bar lines, and improper advances, to get out of the club doors. They were good and wasted. Just as Tina predicted. They made quite the picture, leaning against each other for support. If one of them went down, both of them were going down.

“I think we should get a taxi.” Amber slurred then hiccupped, which made her snort. Pretty.

“We live two, no three blocks away, Amber.” Tina’s eyes squinted as she tried to focus on the path ahead. “Nearly there.” She announced after approximately ten wobbly steps.

“You ladies alright?” A voice to the side had them slowly, one step at a time, turning in its general vicinity.

“Who wants to know?”

“There!” Amber pointed to the man leaning against a brick wall, having a smoke. “He wants to know,” she informed.

The stranger smirked at Amber’s response. “How far do you need to go?”

“Not far, just two blocks.”

“I thought it was three. We should get a taxi, Tina.”

“We are not getting a taxi, Amber.”

“Let me walk you home,” the man suggested. A man, Amber, with her blurry vision, could see was quite delectable.

“Stranger danger,” Amber whispered, or intended for it to come out as a whisper.

He chuckled. “My name is Devyn Vichter.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the building behind him. “Live up here.”

“Give me your driver’s license,” Tina demanded, her hand stretched out.

“What for?”

“Well, if you kill us on the way, the cops will come looking for the man whose card stuck in my cleavage.”

Amber nodded comically. “Smart.” Her head continued to wobble for seconds more.

“If I kill you on the way, I’ll just remove my license from your cleavage when I am done.”

“Smart,” Amber repeated, head bobbing again.

After a brief consideration, Tina shrugged. “You walk in front.”

Devyn smiled, two charming dimples flashed. He pushed away from the wall and started walking ahead of us. “Follow me, ladies.”

The walk seemed to take hours, but with each step, she could feel her mind slowly clearing and her steps aligning to that of an adult human as opposed to those of a newborn giraffe. They nearly walked past their building and Amber had to call for Devyn to stop. He turned around and looked up at their building. “Just so you know, that was closer to six blocks than three.” No wonder it felt so damn long. They should have gotten a taxi, it was very close to three in the morning.

“Sorry about that.” Amber winced. “We just moved in today, still finding our way around.”

His eyes, the color of cool blue ice, danced with humor. “Not a problem.”

“Thanks for not killing us. It was very sweet of you.” Tina was already pulling herself along the railing, up the steps.

“Yes, thank you, Devyn.” Amber smiled at him as she followed Tina. “See you around.” She gave him a small wave before she closed the door.

“My pleasure, Amber.”