With too few hours of sleep from traveling, I shake off my weariness as I head through the bar. I hope I can extricate Ana fast. I’d like to get something to eat, then head home. A couple strangers try to get my attention one grabs my arm and another tries to talk to me. Blowing them off, I scan the crowd for Ana. When I spot her, I’m surprised she stands out from the crowd, dressed all sexy and flashy.
With a big, flirty smile she catches my eye, waves her hand high over her head in an exaggerated movement, and then she heads my way. A sinking feeling fills my soul. Logan’s warning from a couple days ago plays in my mind. This is not the Ana I thought I was falling for. This one looks high maintenance and like a player. My sister warned me that Ana might be a gold digger and I told her she was being ridiculous. I want a woman who wants to be with me, not my money. I thought Ana and I were on the same wavelength. Seeing Ana in this environment, makes me debate if Logan was on to something.
As Ana gets closer, something seems off. Then I spot a second Ana,my Ana. Flashy Ana must be her sister. They really look similar. Some guy grabs my Ana by the arm. I watch as she gives him one of her beautiful smiles, giggles, and flips her hair. My stomach twists as I witness her flirt.
Her sister reaches me quickly. I can’t hear what she says, but it’s a full on pick-up line as she runs her hand over my chest and sticks her boobs in my face, blocking my view of Ana. As I attempt to maneuver her sister around, she falls into me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
“Let’s get out of here,” she breathlessly purrs.
Simultaneously I feel someone grab my arm. “Let’s get out of here,” Ana’s voice rings in my other ear.
I pull the sister off me and grab Ana by the hand. With my focus on the front door, I create a path through the crowd. Outside, we finally can hear each other and are no longer being jostled by so many people. Her sister follows us.
“Wow, Ana, change of heart?” Ana’s sister chides her and then she rubs herself against me. She turns and gives me her undivided attention. “Let’s head back to your place, the three of us can have a private party.”
“Jazz!” Ana gasps as she maneuvers herself between her sister and me.
“Hey, I would have shared that last guy with you.”
“No sharing, not happening,” Ana defiantly exclaims.
“What the hell is going on?” I interrupt.
“This is my sister, Jazz.”
“That I gathered.”
“You can’t muscle in and take him for yourself,” Jazz spits out.
“Jazz, he’s not in line to be your latest conquest.”
“This is so typical of you, Ana. You always think you can tell me what to do.”
“Now you’re acting like a spoiled child.”
“There you go again. You’re not my mother and I resent you talking down to me.”
“You’re such a hypocrite. You want me to make all the decisions, pull your ass out of problems, but you’re shockingly thin-skinned about your own behavior.”
“Don’t act so above it with me. You’re not ‘Miss Independent.’ I know you called Dad and asked him for money. Now you’re trying to muscle in and catch yourself a rich guy.”
Jazz turns her eyes back to me. She gives me a big flirty smile. “I think we should share. I bet you’d enjoy a sister act.”
“Jazz,” Ana exclaims.
As their argument escalates, a wave of exhaustion meets a wall of annoyance. Not wanting to deal with this insanity I lean into Ana. “I’m getting the car. I’ll drive past and pick you up.”
She waves her hand, dismissing me.
“ Okay.”
Where the hell is Ana? I circle the block. Then call her phone. I get her voicemail.
“I’m in the car, where are you?”
Making a bigger perimeter, I check my messages. Nothing. I circle the bar again. No Ana. I call again and get her voicemail again.
“Ana, I have no idea where you are. I’m tired. Call me. If I don’t hear from you in the next ten minutes I’m heading home.” I also text her for good measure.
Brody:Circling around looking for you, text me.
Ten minutes later I call and get her voicemail.
“Pick up your damn phone!”
I wait five more minutes.
Brody:I’m heading home.
The last hour spins in my head as I drive home. Nothing was right about that scene. And the comment her sister made about borrowing money and looking for a rich guy. Logan and my sister’s warning about jumping in too fast with a woman I just met wreaks havoc in my mind. I thought I knew who Ana was. But what was her sister talking about? Could Ana really be a different woman than the one I know?