Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

I return to the table, handing Emma her drink. Her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"What did he say?" she asks eagerly, having watched my exchange with the bartender like an umpire at a match.

"Well his names Ryan," I reply with a smirk. "And he suggested we come back to him for more drinks." I chew my lip, glancing over to him once I take my seat to find him still staring in our direction.

"Well, he seems interested," Emma says, nudging me playfully. "Maybe he's your next contender in this crazy love triangle you've got going on!" She jokes, as I hush her hysterically with a laugh.

Shaking my head I try to avoid Ryan's hot gaze. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. For now, let's just enjoy these drinks and be glad that he even served us!" I smile, clinking my cup against hers as she giggles.

The music pulses through the air, and we soon find ourselves on the dance floor, moving to the beat together - given the burst of confidence from the first drink.

The carefree atmosphere is infectious, and for a while, I forget about the confusion with Daryl and Vincent and everything that has happened since moving here to town.

After a few songs, we even decide to try the mechanical bull. Emma goes first, her laughter echoing as she tries to hold on but fails miserably. When it's my turn, the thrill and challenge of the ride is exhilarating, before I go flying off of the machine in a swift toss.

"You're a natural!" Emma says sarcastically as I stumble off the padded area, laughing.

"Like you were any better!" I retort, as we help one another fix our now messed up, disheveled hair.

We take a moment to catch our breath at our table before we head back to the bar for a refill, finding Ryan who greets us with a knowing smile.

"Back for more already?" he teases, handing us another round of margaritas.

"Your drinks are too good to resist," I reply, enjoying the playful banter between us as Emma just smiles knowingly.

"Here's some shots, on the house!" He reveals four shots, encouraging us to both drink two each as our eyes widen.

There was no going back after these... they were pretty damn big ones too!

"Cheers!" I say boldly, not wanting to seem like a wimp in front of Ryan, as myself and Emma shot them back one right after the other.

"Come back again for more when you finish these blondie!" Ryan calls as we walk back to our table with our second margaritas in hand.

Feeling a buzz from my pocket, I fish out my phone once I sit down, to find that both Daryl and Vincent had text me.

"Oh!" I announce in surprise gaining Emma's attention as she eyes me oddly.

"What is it?" She asks, as I swipe to unlock the messages to read them in full.

Vincent: 'Are you both ok at the house? Want us to bring you back some dinner? We should be done here in an hour or so.'

I recite the first text from Vincent as Emma laughs at the fact he thought we would have just stayed in all night. Little did he know we would be capable of going out and finding our own fun without them!

I quickly respond: 'Hey, we are good thanks! We went out for drinks but we are only a fifteen minute walk away from your place. We will see you when we get back.'

Next, I click to open Daryl's text, which sends a flood of guilt through me.

Daryl: 'How's your night? Missing me? Your hair really suits you by the way - you looked gorgeous! Remember to call if you need anything.'

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Crap!

"Why didn't he compliment you when he first saw it!" Emma groans, as I nod in agreement but appreciate the comment nonetheless.

Now I felt bad for being friendly with the bartender... maybe Daryl does really like me that way?

"Don't overthink it, we are only having some innocent fun!" Emma smiles as I sigh and agree.

She's right...

Quickly responding I write back: 'Thank you, I'm glad I got it done too it was needing a freshen up! We are good, just out having some fun!'

"Boys! Who needs them!" Emma announces, before her own phone lights up from on top of the table - gaining my attention as I almost collapse off of my stool when seeing Reid's name appear. "Emma!" I gasp, as she grabs it quickly and grows embarrassed at being caught.

I knew that Reid had shown an interest in her last weekend but he had been a complete asshole to me at the bar the other night...

"I'm sorry Sofia! He's just... different with me... he's been texting me since the party! I don't know what he has against you!" Emma sighs, having clearly not wanted to tell me about them both texting which I was more hurt about. "Emma look, I get it, you like him and he likes you. I just wish you would have told me! I want to know all of your boy troubles the same way I tell you about mine - even if yours does involve Reid. You can't help if he treats you better than he treated me..." I decide to put my differences with him aside, knowing that I certainly didn't want a divide to develop between myself and Emma.

It must suck to be in her shoes, finally liking a guy but having to hide it...

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"You're right, and I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you, and I even confronted him on the phone about what he did to you at the bar and he assured me that he planned to apologise. I was going to wait until after he did before I told you about it..." Emma's eyes plead with mine, evidently worried about whether or not I would be upset with her.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Seriously it's ok. Please don't worry. I know about it now and if you're happy, then I'm happy." I nod in final confirmation, visibly seeing her shoulders relax at my words.

"You're the best, Sofia!" Emma says, pulling me into a quick hug. "Now, let's try to just enjoy the rest of our night."

We raise our margaritas in a toast and take a long sip, the tangy sweetness mixing perfectly with the shots we'd just downed. The music shifts to a faster beat, and we find ourselves drawn back to the dance floor, losing ourselves in the rhythm. We swing our hips and copy some of the dancers who seem to know what they are doing to each song - proving themselves to be keen regulars.

"Mind if we join you?" We turn to find Ryan the bartender and another guy who was working the bar, as he moves behind Emma and Ryan gravitates towards me.

I nod and continue to dance, allowing for him to move behind me, feeling a little wilder than usual as he holds my hips and grinds on me...

I'm blaming the alcohol for this!

"Shouldn't you be pouring drinks?" I giggle, as he grins down at me and leans into my ear.

"I'm off now, finished my shift early and I couldn't leave without properly getting to know you." He purrs, as we continue to dance and move together in a careless motion.

Getting lost in the moment, I almost scream feeling Ryan's swift detachment from me - turning around quickly and growing instantly startled to find somebody on top of him - fighting him on the floor.

Everyone nearby separates, as Emma rushes to my side in a panic before I finally recognise who it was...

Vincent!

What the hell is he doing?!