Chapter 71 73

Chapter 71 73
LARA PARKER

The worker came back with Mariah's shots, setting them down in a neat little row in front of her just as she had asked. She wasted no time and grabbed one before he even finished placing them, knocked it back, and set the empty glass down like it was nothing. She is drinking a bit more than she usually does, and though she refuses to say it, i gues sthere must be something bothering her.

I watched her and said nothing. If he does not bring it up, then who am i to ask? I should just give her space and be here for her since it appears she needs the company the most more than my nags. I made a mental note to speak to her later should her drinking become too excessive.

But my mind had already stayed back on what she said and refused to let it go. I did not want to dwell on it, i really did not.

But the question left past my lips before i could stop myself. "What history?" I asked, keeping my voice light. Unbothered. Like I was just asking casually to keep our conversation going and not because something had shifted in my chest the moment the words left her mouth. I tried to ignore the uncomfortable knot that grew in my chest, reminding myslef there is no need for it. I should not have that feeling.

Mariah looked at me through those now slightly blurred eyes from the alcohol, her words holding a slight slure when she shook her head. "Forget I said anything." Her lips pressed into a line, waving her hand as if that would delete what she had just uttered in my mind. It did not. Not in the slightest.

If anything, it only had me prodding in even more. "You already said something though."

She sighed, a breath slipping past her lips as she darted her tongue out to swipe it across her lower lip. I could not tell whether she was reading me to see if she should continue, or if she could tell what i am trying to decieve myself into believing otherwise. But then she reached for the second shot but not drinking it yet, just turning the glass slowly between her fingers. She stared at me for a moment, not saying anything at all "Okay but do not make it a thing please. There is no need to overthink this."

"I am not making it a thing." I was instantly defensive.

She gave me a look that showed we both know i am not. "You have that face."

"I do not have a face." I shook my head, my lips presisng into a thin line.

"Lara." She pressed, her eyes knowing despite the multiple shots of tequila in her system already.

But i did not back down. If i lose to a drunk woman, then i am no good, my reputation as a journalist should be taken away in fact. "Mariah." I stared back at her evenly.

She set the glass down after a moment and then leaned in a little. Exhaling a loud breath, her shoulders slumped slightly. "All I am saying is that Killian Wilde has always had women around him. Like, always. It is kind of his thing. Was his thing at least." She corrected herself quickly witha slight shrug. "Different girls, never anything serious, none of them ever lasting more than a few months. That is all. You should know as well. You are a journalist for crying out loud. This is your field not mine, and even i know this."

I shrugged. "I was not focused on this." My colleagues do gossip, but Mrs. Vance back then did not even assign such tasks to me. I was more fpcused on factual stuff to bring to her, i had no time to waste on gossip. Even though it appears it is more than gossip now.

I expected more from mariah, i just did not expect for her to stop here. "That is it. That is all I know."

"Okay." I said again, though a part of me wanted to prod further.

She narrowed her eyes at me, and i was not surprised when she asked. "You are not even a little bothered?" Mariah has always been the one to wear her emotions on her sleeve, she says whatever is on her mind with no seconds thoughts especially when it comes to people she cares about.

"Why would I be bothered?" I reached for my water, took a slow sip, the cold drink going down my throat and easing the feeling of it closing up. "Everyone has a past. It would be strange to sit here and make it mean something. Besides, i was with caleb all these years as well, but he did not seem to care."

Mariah was quiet for a second. Then she picked up her shot and drank it. "You are very calm about this." She noted with a slight shake of her head. "You and Caleb though were in a commited relationship. Or at least as commited as it was until he cheated. By the way i heard of what happened to Dixie,so sad but she had Karma going her way."

"Mariah--" I warned with a pointed look. "The girl is dead. Do not speak of the dead badly."

She pressed her lips into a slight pout. "Fine, but we both know she does deserve it." She leaned back, twirling her drink in her hand. "By the way, do you know how she died? I heard it was an accident,"
I had brought the water cup to my mouth when she said that, pausing as the question registered. Flicking my eyes up to find her gaze, i knew i could not expose myself to her. Killian had it closed, and my name removed form the case. I have no reason to bring it up. So, i shook my head. "So, i heard as well."

She hummed, holding my gaze for a moment before she suddenly sighed. "Well, whatever. She is gone and the living must keep living, huh?" She waved it off. "Back to you and Wilde, glad he is calm about your past relationships and vice versa. You are right, dwelling on the past is not good."

"There is nothing to not be calm about." I said calmly, dropping the water cup on the table. "But yeah. Leave the past where it belongs."

She gave me a look that said she did not fully believe me but was choosing to move on from it and drop the topic. I was grateful for that. I turned my attention back to the club, watching the dance floor, the bodies moving together under the flashing lights.

The thing is however, I am calm. Or so i tried to convince myself.

I just wished she had not told me about it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

Not because it changed anything. It did not. Whatever Killian had going before me was before me, and whatever this thing between us was, it was not the kind where I got to have feelings about his history. That was not what we were. I knew that.

On rotation. The words floated back up without permission and I pushed them back down.

"Anyway," Mariah said, reaching for her third shot. "He clearly has a type and apparently you broke the pattern so that has to count for something, right?"

"Mariah."

"I am just saying." She shrugged, unbothered. "You are not like those girls. I have known you long enough to say that with full confidence. Whatever he had going before, this is different. You are different. And i am happy that you have found someone after Caleb that genuinely seems to appreciate you. Anyone can tell you ahve him wrapped around your finger."

I did not say anything to that. There was nothing to say that would not either confirm something I was not ready to confirm or deny something that did not need denying. Whatever she views my rleationship with killian, i let it be so. Saves me having to explain the compliacted relationship.

So I just smiled faintly and looked away, and that was when I saw her.

She was already moving through the crowd, tall and easy in the way she carried herself, like she already knew every eye in the room had found her and she had decided that was simply how things were. Beautiful hair in curls, a dress that fit like it was made specifically for her, and a face that I recognised before she even looked in my direction.

My stomach twisted in uncomfortable knots as realization dawned on me.

Savanna. Crap. Can this night get any worse?

I am starting to think meeting bitches at clubs is my thing. Maybe i should stop going to clubs for a while.