Free Everything I Want by Natalie Barnes Page A

wipes the counter down real quick before making her way over.
    “I’m gonna need a shot of Grey Goose and… ” He looks back over to me. “What are you drinking, sweetheart?”
    “Coors light, please,” I tell him. Frankie rolls his eyes and continues our orders with the bartender. “And one dirty Coors light. Wait a second… make those two shots of Grey Goose.” He glances down at me with his dirty little smirk like he has something planned up his sleeve. Oh, no. I don’t know about this.
    “I don’t think that’s gonna work too well. You see, I’m already drunk and have been drinking tequila, gin, and beers all night so far… ”
    “I think the idea was to get you wasted girl.” Fuck me!

CHAPTER NINE
     
    The bartender returns with the two shots of vodka and my beer. Frankie pushes some cash at her then nods. I reach out with both hands and grab my shot and beer from the counter. He reaches for his shot with one hand, and with the other, he picks up his Bloody Mary that he already must have ordered before I came out of the bathroom. “Okay, here’s to the start of a fan-fucking-tastic friendship.” Frankie raises his shot glass against mine, and we down our shots. If I was sober, I probably would have felt the burning from the vodka a little more; but with my buzz on, it’s less noticeable. “So… Having a good time so far, sweetie?” Frankie is now sipping on his drink with his dainty, well-manicured pinkie sticking out every time he takes a drink.
    I find myself rolling my eyes when Frankie asks me how my night was going. Frankie narrows his eyes, peeling the pickle out of his drink. He starts pointing the pickle from his drink at me and begins to say, “Girl, let me tell you something, mmm-kay? If you rolled your eyes because of who I think it is, then you just need to step up. Don’t let him ruin your night or this whole experience for you. All right, girl?”
    I couldn’t help my laughter. Frankie was trying to be a little serious with me, but all I can focus on was his damn pickle flopping all over the place when he spoke. He must have noticed it too because he looks down at it and bites the end off, giggling when he does.
    I cast my glance over at the booth; all the guys were still there, minus Cory and Caleb. But now, I notice one of the blondes from earlier tonight that was with Tristan is back. She is squeezing into the booth with Tristan, and for some fucking reason, I hate it. Turning back to Frankie, I decide to ask him if he wants to go dance. “Hey, Frankie, do you wanna dance?” Frankie starts nodding his head slowly and grabs my hand. “I thought you’d never ask. Let’s go downstairs, more people.” He points over the balcony, and I agree and follow him to the elevator.
    We approach the dance floor, and its packed! It’s a sweet dance floor with the blue lights underneath making it almost look like you’re dancing on water. The kind of lights they had underneath are made up of different shades of blue and they move in what looks like a rolling motion. It’s pretty fucking sweet but definitely not a good thing to keep staring into when you’re drunk.
    Frankie takes hold of my hand and starts pushing through the crowd. I’m following behind him, trying not to fall flat on my face. Wait! I don’t mind dancing at the edge of the dance floor, but he’s taking us to the center. Figures. Frankie, from what I’ve gathered, loves attention.
    He drops my hand and whips around. Placing one hand on my right hip, he pulls me close against his lean body and starts to move. I don’t really listen to modern day dance stuff, but the song on isn’t that bad. The bass is pumping through the speakers that are surrounding the entire dance floor—the whole club, for that matter.
    My body is feeling warm and fuzzy from the drinks, but now I can feel the music start to take its effect on it, too. My hips start to move to the rhythm of the music. I raise my arms above my shoulders and