Chapter 1
I was hanging out on my couch, binge watching Netflix. I knew it was Saturday evening. I knew that most young 20-somethings were getting ready to go out and get drunk and stupid tonight. I also knew with one-hundred percent certainty that I didn’t give a single fuck.
My name is Cassidy. My friends call me Cas or Cassie. I’m 24, I’m single, I guess I’m cute...guys hit on me a lot. I’m also a bartender though, so that’s probably why. Provide a stupid frat boy with shots, and he’ll fall in love with you every time. I guess the attention was nice, sometimes...but usually I just ended up rolling my eyes and wishing they would get that I’m not having it.
Hopefully, I could graduate out of bar tending, eventually. I closed my eyes shut for a moment and lightly tugged on my hair. My favorite (and only) uncle passed away about 6 months ago. He had liver cancer, but he was only in his early 50′s....so they didn’t find it until it was pretty advanced....I shook the thoughts from my head, still tearing up at the thought of his death.
Anyway, he’d left the bar he owned to his favorite (and only) niece, me. He’d loved the place, so I was going to take good care of it and I was currently enrolled in business school so that I could learn to run the place better.
It had been a little run down, but I was rehabbing it. I took out a small business loan and borrowed some money from my parents to update the inside, add a dance floor, and do general repairs. I had kept the name, Kelso’s, the same, to pay tribute to the one who left it in my care.
The place was finally doing well enough for me to higher a relief bartender and take a night off. So that’s why I was not doing one damn thing tonight, and I sure as hell wasn’t going clubbing with my cousin Martina, like she had wanted me to.
I loved Marty. We had been cousins all our lives, and best friends since the third grade. She was everything I wasn’t. She was cute and confident and extroverted. I was more reserved. I guess I was kind of sassy and chatty when I was behind the bar, but it didn’t come naturally to me...not the way it did her. She was low key pissed at me right now for staying home, but whatever. She lived with her parents in their guest house and had never worked a single day in her life. She also wasn’t ambitious the way I was. I wanted to be a success, you know...leave my mark in the world. I had big dreams of making Kelso’s wildly successful and opening franchises all over the country. It would be such a wonderful tribute to my uncle, and would be fulfilling on a personal level as well.
I got up to make some tea, stretching and rubbing my eyes. Maybe I’d go into full-on old lady mode and go to bed at 8pm? I giggled to myself as I made my tea. I jumped as I heard the tumbler turn in my lock and my door flew open.
“This is not happening!” Martina stated, giving my jammies and messy hair a once over.
“Marty...” I started, but she cut me off, dragging me into my bedroom and going through my closet like a whirlwind. It took her a minute to find what she was looking for- I’m a casual kind of girl- until she smiled triumphantly and threw a dress down on the bed, next to me.
“Ok, I’m going to get ready to fix you up, so change” she commanded, charging out of my room and closing the door.
Damn it...
I reluctantly changed into the short, strapless silver dress she had picked out. It went to about mid thigh. I was extremely uncomfortable showing so much skin at once, preferring jeans and baby-doll T-shirt’s That were sexy, but not over the top. I felt naked in this. I looked over at myself in the mirror and my attitude changed a little. I still looked naked, but this dress did good things for my figure. It made me look curvy, and the short skirt made my legs look long and shapely.
Ok, what the hell. It’s not like Marty isn’t going to drag me out of here anyway. This could be fun...
Half an hour later my hair was curled and sprayed to perfection and my normal blue eyes looked twice as big and way prettier due to the skillful application of eyeliner and mascara. I threw on some clear lip gloss, loving how it made my lips sparkle, and followed Martina out the door.
We caught an Uber to the club and waited in line for a while. My feet hurt from the heels that Marty had made me wear, by the time we got in.
The interior of the club was typical. Strobe lights? Check. Bar against the far wall? Check. Skanks in cages hanging from the ceiling? Check. My place had everything but the skanks, a fact I was totally fine with, thank you very much.
Marty squealed and pulled me out on the dance floor. “I love this song!” She exclaimed, dancing to the rhythm and shooting flirty looks at the guys around her. I just tried to keep from bumping into anyone as she was soon swallowed up by a crowd of guys, all trying to get and hold her attention.
All accept one guy, who was sitting against the far wall at a table. He was by himself, but I kept feeling his eyes on me. He smiled the last time I looked over and I smiled back, trying to not seem like a weirdo. He was very attractive, with short dark hair that fell in his eyes when he looked down at his phone. He was thin, but muscular...he definitely worked out.
I continued to dance, trying not to look at him. I wasn’t here to be picked up. He was hot, but that just wasn’t my style...I decided to have a drink. My feet hurt, and Marty was busy anyway.
I walked to the bar and leaned on it, waiting for the bar tender to get to me.
“Hi” I heard to my right. I looked over at the obviously drunk guy who had addressed me. I inwardly rolled my eyes as he looked me up and down.
“Hi” I said dismissively, turning my body slightly away from him. He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me to turn towards him.
“You’re hot...it’s colder outside...why don’t we get to know each other out front?” He slurred, trying to drag me away.
“Hey! Knock it off!” I said, trying to pull my hand out of his grasp. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
He turned and decided to change tactics. “Chill, baby....I just thought you might like some air...” he said, smirking at me. His grip loosened and I pulled my hand back, giving him a disgusted look and putting some distance between us as I walked to the other end of the bar. The bar tender noticed me this time, taking my drink order and walking away.
I felt a hand on my back and moved away from it, frustrated to realize that the creep had followed me.
“Look, I’m not interested. Ok?” I said, irritated that he wasn’t getting the damn hint. He just smirked again and ran a finger down my arm. I pulled away just as I felt a heavy arm drape casually around my shoulders.
“Hey, sweetheart” I heard in my ear, and then the guy who had smiled at me earlier moved himself in between me and the creep. “You’re a little close...don’t you think?” He asked, giving the creep a warning look.
The creep backed off and put his hands up. “Hey man...she was all alone. I didn’t know she was with you” he said, backing off.
“Well she is. Bye now” the guy said, turning to me so that his body was blocking the creep as he turned and walked off. He grinned down at me and removed his arm.
He was even hotter close up. He had pretty dark eyes that sparkled down at me as he grinned, hair falling into them a little. His lips were soft looking...I was mildly shocked to realize that I wanted to kiss them. He was muscular, but lean, and he was a good 3 inches taller than me, even in these damn torture heels I was wearing.
I wanted him. It was crazy. Not my style at all. I’m not the random hook-up kind of girl...but I couldn’t help but wonder what he tasted like, or how his body would feel pressed up against mine...
“Are you ok?” The hottie asked, pulling me out of my slightly dirty thoughts. I swallowed and shook my head.
“I’m fine” I said, smiling up at him. “Thank you for...that” I said, gesturing towards where the creep had been standing. The hottie chuckled.
“I’m glad I could help...” he trailed off and looked down at the floor. I took a sip of my drink that the bartender had left in front of me. “I’m Jeon Jungkook” He said, offering me his hand to shake. I took it with a grin, feeling crazy amounts of chemistry between us as our hands touched.
“I’m Cassidy, b-but people mostly call me Cas or Cassie...” I murmured, drowning in his eyes. He held my hand for a beat too long and I blushed, looking down at the floor.
“Can I ask you a question?” Jungkook asked. I looked back up at him and nodded, just enjoying the view.
“You don’t seem like a club girl...I noticed you earlier, on the dance floor. What brings you here?” He asked, seeming genuinely curious about me. I was flattered. I couldn’t help but be when a guy this hot was paying me this much, non-creepy, attention.
“It’s more like who brought me here” I said, pointing to Marty, who was laughing and grinding against like three different guys in the dance floor. Jungkook chuckled and smiled, looking like an adorable bunny. I smiled back. I couldn’t help it.
Fuck he’s hot...
“Your friend looks like she’s having a good time with my buddy, out there” Jungkook said, pointing to one of the guys Marty was with. “Taehyung loves this kind of thing...I’m just kind of saturated. I tend bar here part time, so this has kind of lost its charm” he said, shaking his head.
I gasped. “You bartend?! Me too!” I said, giving him an incredulous look. “I run a bar across town, Kelso’s.” I said, smiling up at him as he grinned. He nodded his head.
“I live right by there. You must be the person who’s fixing the place up” he said, pretty eyes sparkling down at me as he smirked.
I finished my drink and looked over at where Marty had been...only to see that she was now making out with Jungkook’s friend on a couch along the far wall. I shook my head.
“Marty...” I murmured, slightly exasperated.
“What? She looks like she’s having a good time” Jungkook said, biting his lip as he looked at my lips. I gulped.
“It’s not that...it’s just that I worry about her...she hooks up with randoms a lot...I’m worried she’ll get hurt” I said, trying not to think about how good it would feel if he were to kiss me right now.
He smiled that adorable bunny smile again. “Dance with me?” He asked, pointing to the dance floor. I raised my brows.
“I’m not very good...I mostly just sway” I said, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of him. He grinned at me and bit his lip, giving me chills in the very best way.
“I saw you earlier....dance with me” he said softly, leaning into me slightly. My breath caught and I nodded. Jungkook grinned and laced his fingers with mine, leading me out to a clear spot on the dance floor.
Jungkook was a great dancer. The way he moved his body gave me goosebumps. He was so fluid and sexy in his movements. It was all I could do just to sway my hips to the beat of the music.
“You’re really good!” I said, leaning in close to his ear so he could hear me. He rested a hand on my hip, moving with me to the beat of the music.
“I think you have nothing to be self conscious about, Cassie...” he said close to my ear. I could feel his breath when he spoke, making me shiver again. “I could teach you...if you want to learn some moves though. That’s my main job. I just bartend here to finance it” he said, grinning at me.
The song changed and I giggled. “I love this song!” I squealed, putting my hands up over my head and moving my hips to the rhythm. Jungkook looked at me as I danced, heat in his gaze. He pulled me in closer and matched my movements. I loved the way our bodies moved together, grinding to the beat of the song. His body felt good against mine, and I was definitely getting hot and bothered.
The song ended, but Jungkook kept me close to him, looking at my lips again. His pretty eyes, filled with heat and something else...some warm emotion, moving slowly from my eyes to my lips. He licked his lips and chuckled softly when my breath caught.
“I want to kiss you” He said, matter of factly. I nodded, and tilted my head up as he pressed his lips against mine. His kiss was soft and sweet, not the kind of kiss a girl would expect from a random guy at a club. He reached up and cupped my cheek with one of his hands and I tilted my head more, deepening the kiss. It felt good to feel wanted, and it felt good to kiss him. His lips were soft and he tasted like lip balm and whatever drink he had been drinking.
He pulled away and smiled down at me. “Thank you” He said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
I felt a hand pull my arm as a very drunk Marty came to hang on me.
“Hey, sweetly! Who’s this?” She slurred, eye-fucking Jungkook. I gave her an eye-roll and shot Jungkook an apologetic look. “This is Jeon Jungkook” I told her, partially supporting her weight to keep her from falling down.
“Oh...I don’t feel so good” Marty whimpered, obviously starting to feel sick. She almost collapsed, nearly dragging me with her, but Jungkook scooped her up and headed outside, me in tow.
I called an Uber as we got to the quiet of outside, shivering slightly in the cold as Jungkook sat Martina down on a nearby bench. She immediately slumped over and passed out. I stood next to her and stroked her hair soothingly.
“You can stay with me tonight, hun” I cooed, trying to sooth her. She nodded drunkenly.
Jungkook took his jacket off and wrapped it around my shoulders, seeing me shiver.
“You’ll be cold!” I said, trying to give it back, but also distracted by the way his shirt stretched over his chest...
He pulled the jacked around me and used it to pull me in closer to him again. ” I really like you, Cassie...” he said softly, grinning down at me, our faces very close together.
I leaned in and kissed him again. I wasn’t even thinking. I was ridiculously attracted to him. The chemistry was mind-blowing, and I’d never felt this way before.
He rested his hands on the small of my back and held me close, slipping his tongue into my mouth and rubbing it against mine. I let out a little, involuntary whimper and his breath caught. He pulled away slightly and just hugged me.
“We should...can..you should call me” I said, completely disorganized and out of sorts. He chuckled.
“I have to have your number first” he teased, dark eyes sparkling and bunny smile beaming down at me. I giggled and gave him my number, watching him program me in as Cassie🍿. I laughed.
“Why did you put popcorn next to my name?” I asked, amusement in my tone. He grinned, eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Because you’re a snacc” he said, chuckling when I blushed down at the floor, biting my lip.
I looked over as the Uber pulled up, and Jungkook helped get Marty into the back with me. “I had a good time tonight, Jungkook” I said, smiling warmly at him.
He grinned,“Me too.. I’ll call you” he said, waiving as we pulled away. It was only when we were a couple blocks away that I realized I was still wearing his jacket.
I smiled and sighed, feeling giggly and high like some silly school girl with her first crush. There was just something about him....