My afternoon shift at the bookstore was busier than I expected. I could barely make a pause between giving book recommendations to customers. Being an avid reader quickly made me people’s go-to person. Luckily, I got a respite from my duties when the evening rolled in.

Checking my phone was the first thing I did. Disappointment filled me at the sight of zero texts from Jim. I was positive he would text or call, but the hours went by, and although I did send him a message, I got nothing in response.

I didn’t want to seem clingy. I knew he was busy, but doubts accosted me, regardless. Could he have seen how inexperienced I was? What if he regretted what happened between us?

Sighing deeply, I shoved the hardback I was holding between two other books on the shelf and surveyed my surroundings. My eyes widened at the sight of Ivy walking toward me, a broad smile pasted on her face.

“Hey there,” she greeted me and kissed my cheek. “How’s the most competent employee in the city?”

“Stop it!” I laughed. “I’m okay. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Ivy winked at me and reached into her oversized purse. Having fished out a folded piece of paper, she handed it to me. “I need those. Do you have them?”

I scanned the list of books about design printed on the page. “Sure. Follow me.”

Ivy trailed behind me as I made my way through the maze of bookshelves. 

“That’s the one,” she said when I grabbed a heavy book with the photo of a luxurious apartment adorning the cover, followed by two other paperbacks. “By the way, when are you done?”

I glanced at my watch and raised my brows when I realized my shift was almost over. “Fifteen minutes. Why?”

Ivy took the books from my hands. “I am meeting the girls. Isla was going to text you, but since I was going to stop by the store anyway, I told her not to. Are you game?”

“I’m not dressed for going out,” I said. “Maybe I should stop by my house first.”

Ivy shook her head. “No time for that. We’re going to have a cup of something hot, and that’s it. Nobody’s going clubbing.”

“Thank God,” I muttered. “I don’t exactly have the energy for that."

Wiggling her brows, Ivy nudged my shoulder with hers. “Had a hot date last night? You can tell me; the viper’s not here.”

“The viper? Jeez, what do you have against Tasha?”

Ivy pursed her gloss-covered lips. “I’m telling shit as it is. She’s a snake. And I’m watching her.”

“Do you know something you’re not telling me?”

“No,” Ivy objected. “It just rubbed me the wrong way when she spoke to you and about you that way. You and Isla are two freaking saints. If it were up to me, I would have kicked her out of our group already.”

“She can say whatever she wants,” I said, making my way to the back of the store. “I don’t care.”

“Don’t you, though? Even I could tell Tasha got to you.”

Groaning, I opened the door to the employee area. “Ivy, please. Wait for me here, okay?”

“I’ll pay for the books meanwhile. Take your time.”

Quickly, I changed into my clothes — an oversized sweater and some skinny jeans — grabbed my purse, and exited the tiny room.

Ivy was already at the checkout desk, holding a bag with the books in her hands. “Ready?” she asked me, tipping her chin up.

“Yeah, Let’s go.”

I said goodbye to Liz, my colleague, and followed Ivy out of the store. The walk to the cafe where Isla and Tasha were waiting for us took us barely five minutes. The tiny place was tastefully decorated in dark tones, and the smell of ground coffee filled the air. I ordered an espresso instead of my usual cappuccino — I was planning to write for the first time in days and needed to stay awake.

Even my tonight’s choice of drink reminded me of Jim. Discreetly, I checked my phone as Ivy  and I weaved through the crowd of customers toward the table where the girls sat. There was still nothing, and I ordered myself to focus on my girlfriends instead of thinking about Jim and the reason why he was unreachable.

After a round of greetings, we settled at the table. I sipped my drink and listened to the girls way more than I talked. At some point, I zoned out and stared at the city lights behind the coffee shop window. The sound of a chair scraping against the floor was what made me look at the girls. 

Tasha jumped to her feet and grabbed her coat from the back of the chair. 

"Are you leaving already?" I asked.

"A little bird told me Jim is at the club. I'm not gonna miss my chance."

"He's not interested," said Ivy. "You can't miss the chance you've never had. What are you gonna do, strip for him in front of everyone?"

Isla stared at our dark-haired friend, her mouth hanging open. Tasha didn't seem to pay attention to Ivy's comments as she reapplied her red lipstick and tossed it and the mirror into her purse.

"Of course, he's interested. If he isn't now, he sure as hell will be tomorrow. He won't be able to resist me."

I glanced at Tasha. My eyes paused on her see-through top. I had a good body but never felt bold enough to show it off. Maybe if I were more confident...

"Ava," Ivy addressed me some minutes after Tasha left. "What's up? We were talking to you."

"Sorry, what?"

Isla smiled at me. "I asked you how your date was."

"It was good. I'm just tired. I guess I'm not quite used to working yet. Girls, I'm afraid I'm gonna head home to rest."

"Okay." Ivy sighed. "At least you're not doing it to chase a rockstar like a desperate fangirl. I feel sorry for that Jim guy. Nothing annoys more than the unwanted attention, but I doubt Tasha will ever get the memo."

"I'm sorry for leaving the two of you so early. We'll catch up soon, I promise."

After saying goodbye to my friends, I walked out of the coffee shop. I wasn't in the mood to be around people, and I struggled to pay attention to my friends' conversation. Leaving was the best decision I could've made.

***

Luckily, thinking about Jim didn't prevent me from writing. I closed my laptop at midnight after managing to write a chapter in one sitting.

Dad was at the hospital. Still feeling the stimulating effects of the espresso I'd drunk earlier, I decided to read before going to bed. 

Something propelled me to check my phone when I was about to grab the novel and get under the covers.

Jim read my texts, but there wasn't a reply, which made me do something completely unlike me. 

I called him despite the late hour. Tone after tone, I waited. When I was about to hang up, a quiet hello sounded on the other end of the line, flooding me with relief. However, that feeling got quickly replaced with apprehension— the male voice didn't belong to Jim.

"Hello. Can I talk to Jim?" I asked.

"You are his girlfriend, right?" the guy answered with another question.

"Yeah. What's going on? Is he okay?"

"I'm Jim's friend. He's at my place, but he's not feeling well."

A nasty, sickening feeling hit me full-force. "What do you mean he's not feeling well? Can I talk to him?"

"I'm afraid he won't be coherent. He's asleep now. Look, it will probably be better if you come here, or wait until tomorrow and—"

"No. Give me the address. Please."

Hands shaking, I scribbled what the guy dictated on a notepad. As soon as we hung up, I put on the clothes I'd worn earlier and grabbed my phone and the page with the address before rushing downstairs and out of the house.

Jim's friend lived not too far from me. I was lucky not to have gotten stuck in traffic. Barely twenty minutes passed when I found myself calling the stranger's apartment on the intercom after I'd parked my car near his apartment complex.

The ascent in the elevator seemed neverending. I clasped my sweaty hands together, fearing for Jim and my safety since I had no idea who his friend was or if the guy was really Jim's friend.

The machine stopped on the tenth floor. I stepped out of it and walked toward the tall guy standing next to one of the doors.

He had dark, messy hair. When I was next to him, I couldn't help noticing the bright blue of his irises. The boy was handsome in an intimidating way. His emotionless eyes assessed me, making heat rise to my cheeks.

"Hey," the guy said when he finished studying me. "I'm Finlay."

"Ava," I replied, shaking his outstretched hand. "What happened?"

"Don't be alarmed. Jim is relatively okay, but he is still drugged."

"Drugged?"I repeated to be sure I didn't imagine things.

"We were at a club. I stepped aside to take a call, and someone must have put something in Jim's drink. He woke up when I brought him here, but now he's asleep again. Do you know where he lives? I don't; that's why he's at my place."

"Sure, I do. I'm going to take him home."

Finlay nodded. "Come on; I'll help you wake him up."

I followed the guy into his apartment. Being so scarcely furnished, it looked almost empty. 

Finlay paused at one of the open doors and waited for me to enter the room first.

A bed stood in the middle of the bedroom. On the bed was Jim, motionless and pale-faced. I rushed to his side and glanced at Finlay, my eyes wide in alarm.

"What the hell did they give him?"

Finlay scratched the back of his head. "I'm inclined toward Ketamine, but it might have been that and something else. Jim's okay, Ava. He just needs to get it out of his system."

"He's not okay," I muttered, trying to lift Jim off the bed. 

Finlay rushed to help me. Together, we managed to wake Jim up. His pupils were wide, and his eyes unfocused. He looked confused and couldn't stand on his feet.

Not without effort, the three of us made it to my car.  Finlay deposited Jim in the passenger seat and looked at me.

"I should probably go with you. I will help you get Jim to bed and leave after."

I nodded. Finlay got into my Chevy, and I drove us to Jim's.

I was grateful for Finlay's help because there was no way I would handle Jim on my own. He was tall and heavy and could barely move his limbs.

Finlay left when we managed to put Jim on the bed. I thanked him and rushed to Jim's side as soon as the front door behind Jim's friend closed. 

Tears welled up in my eyes. I was worried sick, seeing how helpless and weak Jim looked.

I had never used drugs, but I heard enough horror stories about date rape substances and the girls that were abused without them realizing what was going on.

I needed information, but calling my dad wasn't an option. He would be unnecessarily alarmed, and I knew he was busy. However, Harper was at the hospital, too.

I grabbed my purse and took out my phone. Luckily, Harper picked up at the first tone.

"Ava, is everything alright?"

"No," I choked out. "It's Jim. He's been drugged at a club. I'm with him now. He's asleep, and I don't know what to do."

"Holy shit. Okay. First of all, don't panic. Check his pulse."

"It's there, Harper, and he's breathing. He was also awake, but he couldn't move his arms or legs well."

"When did it happen?"

"Almost two hours ago, according to his friend."

I heard Harper sigh. "Okay. I can't tell what substance it is without a test. You will have to bring him here when he wakes up. Watch out for other symptoms, like nausea, irregular breathing or quickened heartbeat. If he doesn't come around in an hour or so, call me and we'll send an ambulance."

"Okay," I said quietly. "Should I give him anything?"

"Lots of water once he's able to drink. Don't panic, okay? Text me if there are any changes."

We hung up, and when I turned to look at Jim, I saw him trying to sit up.

"Ava," he rasped out, swallowing hard as if it hurt him to speak.

"I'm here," I said, walking up to Jim. His hands gripped the front of his shirt. He was trying to get undressed.

"Let me," I said, standing in front of him. My shaky fingers undid the buttons one by one, exposing Jim's sculpted chest and the ridges of the hard muscles of his stomach. I pushed the fabric off his shoulders, wishing that I did it on a different occasion, not when Jim was feeling so bad. 

However, I couldn't stop looking. Admiring. He was handsome and masculine, with the body so perfect I felt hot just by imagining what it would feel like to touch all of it.

My eyes trailed over Jim's strong arms and broad shoulders. Then, my gaze lingered on his throat, and I noticed him swallow several times in a row.

"Jim, come on," I urged him, hooking his arm around my neck so that I could help him stand up.

Luckily, he could move, and we made it to the bathroom. Jim lowered himself onto the tiled floor by the toilet and emptied his stomach in it. I wet a towel and pressed it to the back of his neck. My other hand rubbed soothing circles on his skin. It felt clammy to the touch, and I hated everything about the state Jim was in and the person who was crazy enough to do something so evil to him.

"Ava, fuck." Jim groaned, covering his face with one of his palms. "I feel like shit. Can you give me some water?"

"Sure." I jumped to my feet and darted to the kitchen, where I grabbed a glass and filled it with some water from the bottle I found in the fridge. Figuring that one glass won't be enough, I took the bottle with me.

Jim was feeling sick again. I handed him a glass and sat on the floor next to him.

"Leave. Please," he said after gulping down all the liquid. "I hate that you see me like this. Damn Fin, he shouldn't have—"

"Stop it."

I hugged Jim's shoulders and pressed my cheek to his skin. He was trembling, and I couldn't help him.

Carefully, I made him lean on me. His breaths were irregular and shaky. I knew he would likely be sick again, but for now, I didn't care.

I peppered Jim's face with kisses and slid my fingers into his hair, massaging his scalp gently as he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

"Look at me," Jim muttered. "A fucking mess. Why did you stay?"

"Because it's you," I said, caressing Jim's back with my fingertips. "And I care. I care, and  I like you. Really like you."

So, there's the poor boy. Thoughts?
You will love the next chapter.  Hopefully, this one wasn't too bad.

Love you!