I scanned the bar. Mandy leaned closer and closer toward Dean, grinning like he was worth it. As usual, he didn’t notice. He hadn’t even looked at her when we walked in.
She was setting herself up for another crash.
Two songs later, I stood. A wall of bodies blocked my view of the bar, and Mandy was taking forever. Sitting here alone was awkward. I could get my own drink and maybe pull her onto the dance floor—if she wasn’t too busy feeding Dean’s ego.
As I pushed through the crowd, a few guys smiled at me. One’s gaze dropped to my chest and stayed there. I crossed my arms and shot him a glare. He got the hint, turning his attention to a girl in a red dress, and through the gap I caught sight of the far end of the floor.
A girl with sleek black hair stood near the wall beside a guy in a white button-down. I looked away, then glanced back—drawn not to her, but to him.
Tall. Lean. Dark-haired. Familiar in every line after two weeks under the same roof.
A sharp pang sliced my chest, and my eyes stung.
Asher.
And he wasn’t alone. His date was older, gorgeous, and standing too close. She said something, and he leaned in, his face inches from hers. My stomach lurched, my hands trembling. Were they going to kiss? Irrational or not, I couldn’t bear to see it.
On the way here, I’d daydreamed about running into him—me in makeup, in pretty clothes. But now, given the chance, I’d trade anything not to see him like this.
A girl bumped my shoulder, breaking the spell. I nodded at her apology, then looked back. Asher angled his chin toward the staircase, and my stomach clenched. Of course he’d have a table or private room upstairs for him and his date.
I wasn’t stupid.
Or maybe I was—because I’d thought our walk in the park meant something. Clearly it hadn’t. I was no better than Mandy, lost in my own delusions.
My eyes burned. I blinked fast, chasing away stupid tears. This was what happened when I imagined things that weren’t there. Asher had never led me on. So what if he offered to pick me up from work? He probably agreed to go to the park out of politeness after I rambled.
I shouldn’t have come.
“Your drink.” Kyle appeared with two glasses of red liquid. “Sorry it took so long.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks. And Mandy?”
“Talking to Dean. She’ll be a while. Want to sit?”
What I wanted was to go home. Watching Asher flirt with someone else was more than I could take.
“Kaia?” Kyle’s voice cut louder. “You spaced out.”
I downed the mocktail in one go. Too sweet, unlike my mood. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
Chuckling, Kyle took my empty glass and returned moments later. “Nothing important. Let’s dance?”
A glance past him confirmed Asher was gone. He must’ve left with his date. But Kyle was here—cute, interested, available. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could pretend he was the one I wanted. Staying beat sulking at home.
I nodded and let him lead me into the crowd. A slow melody rolled through the speakers. Kyle’s arms slid around my waist, and I looped mine around his neck. We swayed, but tension clung to me, heavy and unyielding.
He wasn’t Asher.
Midway through the song, pain shot through my foot. “Ouch.” I winced.
Color flared in Kyle’s cheeks. “Sorry. I don’t usually dance.”
I shifted, trying to ease the awkwardness. “It’s okay.”
Encouraged, his fingers spread across my waist, tugging me closer.
“Kaia.” The deep voice cracked the music like thunder.
