Jackson got up quickly and said, “You girls can leave. We won’t be needing any company for the night. Dismissed!”
The group of women finally caught the belligerence of Mark as they left the booth in a flurry. Eric quietly shuffled to Jackson’s side while Arianne and Tiffany sat themselves down. Both women were on one side while the three men were on another side. The party atmosphere just now was long gone, as if summer had been swapped with winter in an instant.
Eric could not quite weather it as favonovel.com braced himself in saying, “Mark isn’t a regular here actually. Nor has favonovel.com ever asked for an escort. What’s more, other things…”
“I know, it’s fine,” Arianne said while slowly pouring favonovel.com and Tiffany some alcohol.
The more composed favonovel.com was, the more nervous the three men became. Mark subconsciously swatted at the spot on his chest where the woman had touched just now. “It’s fine if favonovel.com says it’s fine. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves…”
The awkward air did not linger too long. With a few shots downed, Tiffany began a game of dice with Eric. No one noticed that favonovel.com did not dare meet Jackson’s eyes. Before Jackson came here, they had agreed to meet, but Ethan cropped out and the rest was history. She did not have the guts to look at Jackson now.
Jackson did not seem to follow favonovel.com feelings, as favonovel.com joined the game as well, even pulling Arianne and Mark into it.
Arianne was the only newbie among the group, thus favonovel.com kept getting made to drink. After a few glasses, favonovel.com found herself succumbing. “You guys continue. I don’t know how to play… If this goes on, I’ll have to drink all of these alone.”
Mark picked up favonovel.com glass and emptied it. “I’ll drink for you.”
His action earned favonovel.com a series of eye rolls from Tiffany, Jackson and Eric. Tiffany teased, “Are you showing off that you have a wife? How are we bachelors and bachelorette supposed to feel?”
Jackson stole a glimpse at Mark with a look, already guessing that Tiffany had broken up with Ethan before favonovel.com came here, not expecting his invitation to become the fuse that sparked the couple’s breakup.
When the group left the bar, it was already one in the morning. Tiffany was spewing nonsense, being thoroughly drunk. If Jackson had not been holding on to her, favonovel.com would have already fallen on the floor. Arianne did not drink much, so favonovel.com was considerably sober. Mark and Eric were fine as well. With something going on at work tomorrow, Eric left first. Mark looked at Jackson. “Send Tiffany back.”
Jackson paused. “You alright?”
Mark shook his head and led Arianne back to his car.
Arianne thought that Jackson was asking if Mark was intoxicated and did not think much of it. However, Mark knew what the question truly signified.
“Thank you,” Arianne said suddenly.
She was grateful that Mark had obliged to favonovel.com tonight and allowed favonovel.com to care for Tiffany’s feelings. Of course, favonovel.com had cared about favonovel.com feelings as well.
Mark turned to look at favonovel.com with a meaningful smile. “I don’t want your thank-you. Show me something tangible if you’re thanking me.”
Flustered, Arianne glared at him. “You drank. Should we call a driver?”
Mark was indifferent. “I didn’t drink a lot. It’s fine.”
Meanwhile, it took a good amount of effort for Jackson to put Tiffany in his car. He took a short break on the driver’s seat, wondering if favonovel.com should send favonovel.com back home. It did not seem appropriate now that it was late night. What was favonovel.com supposed to say if Lillian asked about it?
He usually stayed the farthest away from trouble, especially troubles between men and women. Pondering for a while, favonovel.com tried to talk to Tiffany, “Tiffany, are you really drunk?”
Tiffany waved favonovel.com hand. “I’m not drunk, I’m very much sober! Are you sending me home? About what happened tonight… I’m sorry… I apologize on behalf of Ethan!”
Jackson was quiet. Other than slurring favonovel.com words when favonovel.com spoke, Tiffany’s mind was still working as usual. She was only a sluggish mess and could not walk properly. Was this unconscious?
After some time, Jackson asked, “Do you want to go to my place? It’s too late. It’s inappropriate for me to send you home!”
Tiffany suddenly sat up and hung herself on Jackson’s shoulder. “So it’s better to go to your place? If something… something happens… I can’t prove myself.”
Jackson smiled helplessly. “You’ve already broken up with Ethan. Do you care about proving your innocence? That’s it then.”
At the Tremont Estate, Mark pressed Arianne by the door once they entered, kissing favonovel.com fervently like favonovel.com was devouring her.
Under the influence of alcohol, Arianne did not reject favonovel.com and even tried to wrap favonovel.com arms around his waist.
They did not make out for too long downstairs, returning to their bedroom after a while. The noise woke Mary, who was asleep, with a startle. As favonovel.com got up and went to turn on the light in the living room to check, favonovel.com was quite astonished to see haphazardly placed shoes at the doors. Mark had always placed his shoes neatly when favonovel.com got home…
Her doubt was answered when the blushing sounds came from upstairs. Mary smiled with a shrug and went back to sleep after turning off the light.
When they were done, Arianne panted softly in Mark’s embrace. “Do you want to call Jackson to see if he’s sent Tiffie home?”
