In His Dreams

“Dammit, Marcus,” I muttered, getting his voicemail for the third time.

I reached up to shield my eyes as I searched the airport pickup line for my brother’s car.

As if it would be hard to spot among the mere half dozen vehicles picking up other travelers at the tiny, small-town airport.

Internally, I rolled my eyes at myself despite the growing anxiety that something might be wrong.

Marcus was nothing if not responsible, almost to a fault. Being late was out of character for him.

Missing my repeated texts and calls? Unheard of.

I tapped my fingers against my leg as I tried to decide my next move.

Calling my parents was out of the question. I left to prove that I was in fact an adult capable of being independent and making my own decisions.

Reaching out an hour after my plane landed was as good as admitting defeat. No doubt, they would strike at the opportunity to point out that I should’ve listened when they said to go to the university minutes from home.

Okay, don’t panic. You’re in a city you’ve never been to, traveling by yourself for the first time, but it’s fine. Just get an Uber, Cali.

I unlocked my phone just as it started ringing.

“Marcus?”

“Cali! I’m so sorry!” He sounded out of breath. “I got stuck in a meeting and didn’t have cell service. I’m running to the parking lot now.”

I breathed a sigh of relief just in time for him to mutter, “Shit, Google says there’s a road closure. I’m about ninety minutes away.”

Fuck.

“Marcus, you promised you would be here to pick me up. I’ve already been waiting for an hour.”

He groaned. “I know. Look, just wait by the luggage carousel -“

“I’m going to take an Uber,” I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder with newfound determination. “Don’t worry about it.”

He was quiet for a beat. “Are you sure? I’m on my way -“

“I’m sure,” I cut him off. “I’ve been traveling for almost 8 hours. I’m not sitting in the airport for another hour just because you forgot about me.”

“I didn’t forget. I was caught in a meeting.”

“Whatever,” I muttered. “Just send me your address.”

I could hear the tapping right before a message pinged through. “Text me when you’re in the car and when you get home.”

“I’m not a little kid, Marcus.”

“You’re my baby sister and it’s my job to look out for you,” he argued, sounding irritated.

I hated the way he said ‘baby sister’. I’d been the baby of the family my entire life.

Moving here to attend university was supposed to be a fresh start into adulthood.

Never mind the fact that I would be living with my older brother because my parents didn’t trust me to take care of myself. At least I was finally out of their house.

“My roommate might be there,” he continued. “I let him know you were flying in this afternoon. Try to play nice until I get home.”

“Hmm,” I hummed thoughtfully. “How nice? Is he hot?”

A strangled sound came over the line. “Absolutely not! He is almost ten years older than you and knows to keep his hands to him-fucking-self, Calliope Marie.”

“Jesus,” I scoffed. “I was joking, Marcus Aurelius.”

“Hmm,” he all but growled and I rolled my eyes.

Marcus hated when anyone used his full name. Pretty much all of us siblings did.

Before he could chastise me, my app alerted that the driver was pulling up. “Ride’s here. Talk later.”

“Text me.”

“Sure.” I did little to hide my annoyance.

The driver was a middle aged woman who I could already tell liked to chat. Her hair was a mess of wild curls and she had about sixteen crystals hanging from her rear view mirror.

I could spot her type from a mile away.

She beamed when I opened the back door. “Hi, honey! Cali, right?”

I forced a smile, “Yeah.”

“Well, get on in.” Her eyes flashed to mine, as I scooted across the backseat. “Just getting home or out to visit?”

“Oh, well, actually I’m moving here,” I admitted. “For school, I mean.”

“A college girl!” She suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands and notably not steering the car. “You’re going to have so much fun. It’s a small town but the downtown area is so lively! Especially on Fridays! Oh you should go to O’Malleys!”

My interest was somewhat piqued. “Is that a bar?”

“Yeah,” she nodded in the rearview. "It's so cute. All the youngsters hang out there.”

She turned in her seat at the stop light. “The bartenders are not super strict about double checking IDs, if you know what I mean.”

She winked before the car behind us honked. “I’m moving!”

The rearview mirror crystals clanged together when she stomped on the gas suddenly.

This woman’s driving is going to kill me.

Still, I couldn’t deny that I was itching to rebel a little.

Marcus would be pissed. But what was he really going to do? Ground me?

Actually, I wouldn’t put it past him to try. He took his role as eldest sibling annoyingly seriously.

I stared out of the window, taking in the unfamiliar town.

It was Friday night, and I was a freshly enrolled college student.

Sure, the regular semester didn’t begin for another month, but I was starting early with some summer classes.

I might as well have some fun before my life was entirely consumed by school.

I glanced at my phone and read my driver’s name. Very fitting.

“Hey Starshine? Do you mind taking me to that bar instead?”

“Ooooooohhhhh girl!” She whooped. “Hell yes!”

Ten minutes later we pulled up outside of a rustic looking building with a surprising amount of people milling about considering the early hour. The work day was barely ending but it did not seem to slow the foot-traffic.

“Do you think I look okay?” I asked Starshine, feeling a little self-conscious in my travel-worn clothes.

At least I had chosen some cutoffs and a crop top for my flight instead of my usual baggy sweatpants and sweatshirt.

“Honey, I think you could wear a paper bag and still have the boys drooling all over you,” she drawled. “Now, be smart. You’ve been to a bar before, right?”

“Umm…” I hesitated but she barely seemed to notice, seemingly lost in her own excitement.

She held out her fingers and started counting off. “Don’t take a drink you didn’t watch the bartender pour. Stay away from creepy men. And don’t go home with anyone you don’t know. Do you have a ride after this?”

I winced. It probably wasn’t smart to call Marcus to pick me up from the bar I was legally too young for.

“Here.” Starshine quickly jotted her phone number on a crumpled receipt she picked up off the dash. “Just call me.”

“Oh, I couldn’t -“

She quickly waved off my protest. “Please. I can’t have the pretty girl I brought to O’Malley’s getting kidnapped on her first night in town. That’s bad karma.”

I shook my head with a giggle. “Thank you for this.”

“Don’t mention it. Have the best time!”

I flashed her a grateful smile before grabbing my backpack and heading inside.

A live band was just setting up and most of the tables were packed full. I saw an open chair at the bar and beelined for it, hoping I looked like I knew what I was doing.

Only once I was seated did I take a deep breath.

Don’t look like a criminal. Don’t look like a criminal.

I nearly jumped when the bartender tapped the counter in front of me.

“I need some ID, sweetheart.”

My stomach dropped as I met the eyes of a very attractive man in a backwards ball cap. His tan skin and greens eyes were striking.

So much for not checking. I thought, mentally cursing Starshine.

Luckily, my best friend and I had paid off an acquaintance to get us fakes before we graduated.

“Here you go,” I said, batting my eyelashes despite my suddenly racing heart.

He looked from me to the fake ID and raised an eyebrow like he was questioning how dumb I thought he was.

“New here?” He asked finally.

“Umm…”

He rolled his eyes. “Look, it’s slow right now so I’ll play along. But you’re getting one drink and leaving. Capeesh?”

I smirked, deciding I liked him. “Play along? But I’m perfectly legal.”

“Sure, you are,” he said with a wink and then leaned in. “You get caught, and I am throwing your ass under the bus.”

I gave him a mini soldier’s salute. “Aye aye, captain.”

He chuckled. “What are you having Ms. Perfectly Legal?”

I felt my eyes widen, “Uhh…”

My experience with alcohol was limited to whatever cheap beer was in the keg of the few high school parties I attended.

“Jack and coke.” He nodded. “You got it.”

I watched as he mixed my drink.

“Going to the college?” He asked without looking up.

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.” He set my glass in front of me and leaned his elbows on the bar. “Little advice? Your classmates all left for the summer, so the guys in here who like to hit on them? They’re all sharks and you’re blood in the water. Be smart.”

I shrugged. “It’s just one drink. Besides, isn’t this like the third safest town in the country or something?”

He shot me a look. “Safe does not mean pretty girls should let their guard down.”

“So you think I’m pretty?”

He threw his head back and let out a genuine laugh. “Finish your drink and get out of here, smartass.”

Someone called out before I could respond and the bartender gave me one last warning look before moving on to take care of the other patrons.

I let my shoulders drop with a sigh. Holding on to my confident facade had been exhausting.

My palms were sweating and I was almost certain my heartbeat was visible through my chest.

Still, the entire experience was exhilarating. The loud bar, the flirty guy, the live music - I loved it. The alcohol was starting to make my brain fuzzy enough to relax.

And I had been brave enough to get there on my own.

Take that Marcus.

I scanned the room and realized there were several men noticeably glancing in my direction. The warnings from both my driver and the bartender played back in my mind.

I had no plans of giving any of them my attention beyond a casual conversation.

A quick pit stop to spite my brother was fun, but sleeping with a random guy on my first day in town was far out of my comfort zone.

Plus Marcus would lose his goddamn mind. And probably send me back to our parent's house.

I shuddered. One drink was more than enough.

I waved my finger to get the attention of the bartender so that I could pay my bill. He nodded in my direction and turned back to the man he was chatting with to say something before heading my way.

Just before he got to me a middle aged woman snatched a hand out and grabbed his sleeve. He laughed but smoothly tugged out of her grasp.

I watched the exchange with a smile, realizing he probably dealt with many handsy patrons.

Looking at him, there was no doubt women came here just for his company, and probably tipped quite well for it. I was just a pretending-to-be-legal adult passing through - low on the priority list.

I settled into the wooden slats of the chair back with a sigh, happy to enjoy a few more minutes of my taste of freedom.

Suddenly, there was a shift in the air, like a strange itch at the back of my neck.

It wasn't unfamiliar. I’d always felt like I had a sixth sense for impending doom.

I took a steadying breath, looking up just in time for the most attractive man I’d ever laid eyes to sink into the open barstool next to me.