I peer at him through my lashes. “Oh, I know how much you enjoyed it. I could feel it.”
If it’s at all possible, a flush of colour breaks out over Blake’s cheeks, highlighting the bridge of his strong nose. But then the overhead strobe light bypasses us again, and his flush disappears.
“Calla—”
“You guys are looking pretty cosy…” I pull my gaze away from Blake’s stare to face my best friend, her faux diamond tiara a little askew in her hair.
With nimble fingers, I reposition it back into place, smiling back at Carmen.
“Thanks babe,” she says before redirecting her gaze. “And you are?”
“Blake.” He sticks out a large hand for her to shake and I flatten my lips to stop from laughing. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“They are indeed.” Carmen flicks her eyes between the two of us. “So, what are your intentions with my best friend.”
“Carmen!” I swat at her waist playfully. “I think we both—allknow how tonight is going to end. Right?”
I glance at Blake, cataloguing the slight raise of his eyebrows before he schools his facial features back into neutrality.
“You’re in charge, Calla. Tonight, can be whatever you want it to be.”
“See” —I gesture to Blake and I— “we’re on the same page.”
Carmen nods seemingly satisfied, until—
“Licence, please.”
When Blake furrows his brow in confusion, Carmen continues, “For safety. You’re a man, so you wouldn’t know, but unfortunately us women have got to go to extreme measures to ensure our safety. That means travelling in numbers, never leaving a woman behind,andvetting their boyfriends. Or, in your case, the man Calla is about to sleep with for the night.”
I smile, although it’s more like a grimace, close mouthed.
“She’s right.”
Carmen bobs her head. “I want your license for your name, date of birth and address.”
Wide eyed, Blake fishes his hand into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a battered leather wallet. He hands it over silently.
“Do you want my phone, too?”
“Calla get his social media usernames,” Carmen directs, forever the mother hen even at her own party, whilst flipping open the wallet and digging her manicured nails inside.
With a quick touch of a button, I request to follow @BlakeMillen91, watching as the screen lightens up with his acceptance.
I’m not quite sure where Carmen is storing Blake’s information, perhaps her phone seeing as it’s in her hand, but then she’s sliding his licence back into its designated slot and handing him back his wallet.
“Here you go—”
“Carmen!” All three of us turn to see Shelby, balancing a silver tray on her shoulder, waving us over.
“Are those—” Blake starts.
“Tequila shots.” I nod, the saltshakers and slices of juicy electric green lime giving away exactly what clear liquid is being held in the small shot glasses.
“Come, do one last shot with us before you go get your brain fucked out, Cal. Pleeeease,” Carmen all but begs me, pulling on my arm.
I flick my gaze to Blake. “Only if you do one too.”
When I see the corners of his plush looking lips curl, I know I’ve caught him in my web.
