Heart of Light by T. K. Leigh

and drinking, trying to make their voices heard over the DJ playing classic rock tunes. It all seemed so normal to her. Everyone appeared to be rather carefree as they hung out with their friends and family. She wondered if she would have been that laid back and relaxed if she hadn’t been ripped from her life all those years ago. She probably would have gone on to college. She may already even have a family by now. Her blood rose when she thought about everything that he had taken from her.
    “Bottoms up, Tomorrow,” Elsie said, waking Jolene from her thoughts.
    “Do you work here, too?” she asked, grabbing her beer and taking a much-needed sip.
    “Nah. But it’s kind of an unspoken rule on this island. Bartend at one bar, free rein to grab your drinks at any other bar. Call it professional courtesy. You’ll learn the ropes,” she explained, pushing a shot glass across the table. “To new friends.” Elsie raised the small glass containing a clear liquid.
    Jolene mirrored her movements. “New friends,” she repeated, clinking glasses with Elsie before throwing back the liquor, the alcohol warming her entire body as it traveled through her. The shock of it made her cough.
    “Not a big tequila drinker, are you?” Elsie asked as Jolene choked through the shot.
    “Not much of a big anything drinker, really,” she admitted, trying to catch her breath. “But that was in my old life. I’m starting a new chapter. My real life starts tonight. And who knows?” She shrugged. “Maybe the new me will end up liking tequila.”
    “Well, only one way to find out. More shots!” Elsie shouted so half the bar could hear her. She nodded to the bartender behind the counter and he began pouring another round from the Patron bottle.
    After her third or fourth shot, Jolene stopped worrying about whether he would find her. She lowered her guard for the first time in days and finally relaxed into her new life, the hours passing with ease as the girls got to know each other.
    “What the fuck are they doing here?” Elsie slurred a few hours later, staring at the entrance.
    Jolene turned to see who she was looking at. Her heart skipped a beat when her vision unexpectedly fell on those beautiful silver eyes. Eyes that just that morning were cold and removed, but became warm and caring throughout the day. Eyes that she could not erase from her mind all evening. Eyes that, when she thought of the person they belonged to, made her stomach do summersaults.
    She didn’t know why she felt that way about someone she had just met and who had behaved like a complete ass during their first meeting, but there was something about the tall man that made her want to find out more about him.
    “Good evening, ladies,” Benny said, approaching their table.
    “If you even think about joining us, you better think again,” Elsie spat out, not even missing a beat. “It’s girls’ night so, unless you have a vagina, be on your way.”
    Jolene tore her eyes from Cam’s, her face flaming red at Elsie’s words.
    “Awww… I made the new girl blush.” Elsie grinned in amusement. “Get used to it. I wasn’t born with any brain-to-mouth filter.”
    Benny rolled his eyes. “Yeah. That’s definitely the truth. She’s got quite the mouth on her.”
    She smacked him playfully on the ass. “I didn’t hear you complaining about my mouth last night, Benjamin.”
    “Enjoy your evening, ladies,” Cam interrupted. “I’m not sure about Benny here, but I certainly do not have a vagina.” He raised his eyebrows at Jolene.
    Just one look and she was ready to drop everything she had learned over the last ten years. One look and she wanted to melt into her barstool. One look and she was a blubbering mess, incapable of even putting together one coherent thought.
    She gawked as the two men made their way across the crowded room to an empty high-top table of their own, meeting Cam’s eyes once more. “I love that smolder,” she remarked quietly when