I stood up a little straighter, letting out a quiet breath as I inched away; I threw a glance over my shoulder at Callie and Lucas, and they both shrugged.
When I turned back to the bar to wait for my refill, the brunette was gone, but a woman with sandy blonde hair was standing in her place.
She smiled. “Hi.”
Not afraid to speak first. I could appreciate that. “Hi, yourself.” And then, I was just…staring. It was like I suddenly forgot how to speak to a woman.Jesus Christ, get your shit together, Callahan. I cleared my throat, holding out my hand. “Wes.”
“Loralei,” she said, her smile broadening as she placed her hand in mine.
“Nice to meet you, Loralei.” I glanced around her, feigningnonchalance but not wanting to make the same mistake I almost did before. “Are you here alone?”
“I’m waiting for some friends…but I’m alone at the moment,” she replied with a smirk.
I smirked in return, taking notice of her near-empty glass. “Well, how about I buy you a drink while you wait?”
Five minutes later, I returned to the table where Lucas and Callie were, sliding into the booth with my drink in hand.
“Well, my pick didn’t work out, but what about the one you started talking to?” Callie questioned.
“She was meeting some friends, and they just got here.”
She slightly deflated on my behalf. “Oh…”
“But…we exchanged numbers to maybe meet up another time.” I smirked, and Callie grinned while Lucas chuckled.
“We’re gonna make an honest man out of you yet, Wes Callahan,” Callie teased.
I shook my head. “Let’s pump the brakes a little, Calliefornia. I’m not looking to settle down tomorrow. I’m just…looking.”
Looking for someone to take my mind off Morgan Hayes.
Was I going about this for all of the wrong reasons? Probably. However, that didn’t mean something real couldn’t come out of it. I’d never know if I didn’t make any attempts and put myself out there. And it was a hell of a lot better than sitting around while sulking and drowning in thoughts ofher.
I never dwelled on what-ifs and could-have-beens, and I wasn’t about to start now…no matter how much my mind wanted me to go there.
It wasn’t easy to not think about her, though.
I struggled that night while scoping out the scene.
I struggled over the remainder of the weekend when I hadmore downtime and because I couldn’t help but notice the empty chair at the bar on Saturday.
Even at work, she’d pop into my head at random times throughout the day.
I never thought I’d be the guy trying to “move on” from something that wasn’t even mine tomove onfrom in the first place.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gabe was helping me proof some case briefs. “I really hate doing this shit…”
Gabe chuckled from his seat at the conference table as he flipped through pages in one of several binders we had spread out on the table. “So, how’d yourdatego last night?” he asked.
“I don’t think there will be a second with that one. But I have one tomorrow with a girl I met at Agora last Friday.” Gabe lifted his eyes to mine, wearing a curious smile. “What?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head with a chuckle. “It’s just…strange.”
“Why is it strange? Jesus Christ. You’re acting like I’ve never gone on a goddamn date before.” My words came out more steely than intended. “I don’t know why the hell you, Luke, and Callie seem so damn invested in my dating life all of a sudden anyway.”
“Because you’re not going out looking for a random hookup or fling. So, we have a genuine interest in who you’re seeing since they might be around for more than a couple of weeks.”
“Shut up,” I scoffed through a laugh.
