“I am?”
His dark brown eyes lock onto mine, briefly drop to my mouth, and then lift. “Of course.”
I look away before he does, which somehow feels a little like playing a game of chicken and I’ve lost.
“He’s been talking about you nonstop since you moved in next door,” Danny adds.
Shep nods.
“How do you feel about love at first sight?” Danny asks. His lips hitch up at the corners and I get the sense that I’m missing a lot of context needed to answer that question appropriately.
“I’ve never really thought about it,” I say truthfully. “Possible but not likely?”
“Fair enough.” Danny continues grinning at me, then waves a hand to the middle of the table. There’s a bucket filled with ice and bottles of Modelo, plus a fifth of vodka and another of bourbon. “Help yourself to anything you’d like, or the server should be over again soon if you want something else.”
As he talks, he grabs the bourbon and an empty glass and pours a drink, then slides it down to Travis.
Travis takes it with a dip of his chin, then says, “Let’s get some champagne.”
“Champagne, huh?” Conrad’s voice is barely audible over the noise, but his expression is friendlier now, making me think maybe he’s just the quiet one of the group and not a cocky asshole. “I guess that means you’re finally up for celebrating the big twen?—”
“It’s Hannah’s big night!” Travis raises his voice as the DJ picks the same moment to yell into the microphone. “She…” He pauses and looks to me. “What’d you do again?”
This makes me laugh. He’s sort of adorable when he’s not trying so hard to be just that.
“She convinced the best coach in women’s gymnastics to take her onto his roster,” Kinsley is quick to shout my success. God, I love her.
“He only takes on the best of the best. He’s coached most of the Winter Games medalists from the past five years,” Skylar adds.
“You do listen when I talk,” Kinsley says to her girlfriend with hearts in her eyes.
Skylar laughs as Kinsley leans forward to kiss her. They’re so cute they make my insides all gooey.
“Then we should definitely celebrate,” Danny says as he tips his drink toward me. “Congrats,theHannah.”
“Thanks,theDanny.”
He grins then shoots me a flirty wink that somehow doesn’t feel flirty at all.
“I don’t like what’s happening here.” Travis narrows his gaze at Danny and moves closer to me, draping an arm around the booth behind me. He isn’t touching me, but I can feel his warmth. It’s pleasant and has me wanting to lean back into him. I don’t, of course. I have my dignity.
When the server returns, Travis orders two bottles of champagne and a round of shots. Kinsley catches my eye and gives me a taunting yet approving glance that I pretend not to understand.
Still, it’s hard to be in this place and not get lost in the music and fun.
“I like him for you!” Skylar shouts as we dance a foot apart in the middle of the floor.
“Who?” I play clueless as I glance back toward our table where Travis is sitting with his friends. Unfortunately, he picks that exact moment to look this way and catches me staring at him. My face flushes (from the dancing) and my stomach does some sort of weird swoopy, dip thing like the first time I did a handstand on the high bar (also probably from the dancing).
Fanning my hot cheeks, I turn back to Skylar and Kinsley. “I’m going to get some air.”
“Do you want us to come with you?” Kinsley asks.
“No. Stay.” I back away from them with a wave of my hand. “I’ll be right back.”
I weave my way off the dance floor and stand in line for the bathroom. I lean one shoulder against the wall and text Wren to check in. My sister calls me two seconds later.
“Hello?” I answer, putting the phone to one ear and placing my hand over the other to block out the noise. Luckily, there’s some stellar soundproofing in the hallway.
