Chapter One
Myla drove throughthe streets of Denver.Even at 7:00 PM on a Friday, the traffic was still horrible.Or maybe it was bad because it was 7:00 on a Friday, she thought to herself and grinned.The fact that Monday was a national holiday and many people didn’t have to work made that night a bit more hectic.
She snorted as she listened to her friends rib each other on the men they were interested in and talk smack about a few of the people meeting them at the bar for pizza and beer.It was the same every week, but she wouldn’t change a thing.She considered her group of friends as lifesavers.They always helped her decompress after a long week at the law firm.
There were about sixteen original people in the group that went out every week.The group was different every time, with people not being able to come, or new people others brought.
They had tried different places, but still seemed to come back to McMalley’s Bar.The staff knew them well and always had a long table reserved if they knew they were coming in.
There was also a dance floor the group used.Over the months they’d been having the get-togethers, some people had paired off, and one of the couples was even engaged to be married.
She loved hearing stories like that.One of them had been brought by one of the original people and had instantly connected with someone else at the table, and they’d been together ever since.It was fun to watch them.They were so into each other, no one else existed.She wondered if she’d ever find that for herself, but she didn’t dwell on it.Her life was full.She loved her job and friends, and that’s all she needed now.
Myla drove around the block a few times, waiting for a parking space to open up.She didn’t want to park four blocks away from the bar and have to deal with getting her drunk friends to the car at the end of the night.Finally, after ten minutes, a spot opened up in the same area as the bar.
Amy tapped Myla on the back of her shoulder.“Nice going, girl,” Kelly said before she exited the back seat of Myla’s four-door car.
Myla, Kelly, and Amy stood and waited for the last of their small group.
“Come on, Sonia,” Kelly complained.“We’re going to miss the pizza.”
Kelly grabbed her purse.“I’m coming, stop bitching.”
Myla chuckled and turned after she locked the car and followed the three others, listening to Kelly and Sonia bicker back and forth.The four friends were very close.They had all met in college and then shared an apartment together until they found jobs.Now that she lived alone, she missed the companionship of the others but knew it was time to grow up and be on her own.
Myla stepped inside the bar to let her eyes adjust to the dimness and shadows before moving toward the long table where the rest of the group sat.
Myla sat down between Amy and a girl she hadn’t met.Myla smiled and held out her hand.
“Hi, I’m Myla.”Myla’s smile dimmed when the girl looked at her with disdain and then turned her back.
Kelly’s eyes widened, and she mouthed,what the fuckto Myla.
Myla shrugged.She knew she hadn’t done anything to insult the woman.Myla waved Kelly off before she went to confront the woman.
“It’s not worth it, Kelly.I’m here to have fun.”
“Here you go, Myla.”Mark grinned and handed her a piece of pizza from across the table.
Myla grinned.“Ohhh, you saved me a veggie piece.I owe you.”
Mark chuckled.“Great.You’re buying the next pitcher of beer.”
Myla rolled her eyes.“Wow, thanks, bud.I don’t even drink the stuff.”
“Hey, no problem.It’s more for us,” Mark said and laughed out loud.
For the next hour, the group talked about their week, laughed, and ate.Periodically, Myla looked around the table to see if there were any new people besides the bitch next to her.She caught sight of another woman and a guy at the other end of the table.
The night wore on, and more of the group paired off and danced.Myla waved off a guy from the bar who asked her to dance to a fast tune.She probably would have danced if not for her shoes.Her feet were killing her.She could have kicked herself for not changing her shoes before picking up the other women.
Myla chuckled at her friends on the dance floor who tried to do line dancing.She could tell they were already buzzed by how terrible they were.She turned to take a sip of her drink and paused.The new guy she hadn’t noticed before sat at the end of the table alone.They were the only ones still there.
She watched him for a bit.She couldn’t really see his features because he sat in the shadows, but she could tell he had dark hair.She could feel a blush cross her face when she knew he caught her staring.She tried to smile, but the look on his face caught her attention.He had a wall up around himself she could detect without trying.From what she could see, he was handsome.But his standoffish attitude would keep most people away.
She looked back toward the dance floor as another song started.She turned down a few more guys who asked her to dance.She bit her lip when she caught the new guy staring at her.
She made a decision, grabbed her glass, and made her way around the table toward him.She bit back a smile as his eyes widened with what looked like shock, the closer she got.She pulled out the chair beside him and sat facing him.She held out her hand.
