“This place is wild!” Adam shouted over the music, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “Come on, let’s dance!”
I allowed myself to be pulled onto the crowded dancefloor, hyperaware of his warm hand clasped around my wrist. As we found a spot among the throng of dancers, my gaze was drawn to a couple nearby—two men moving in perfect sync, lost in each other’s eyes. A familiar ache bloomed in my chest.
What would it be like to hold Adam that way? To run my fingers through that soft blond hair, to taste those full lips…
I shook my head, pushing away the useless thoughts. I’d lost count of the times I’d wondered if there was something more in the way Adam looked at me, only to get thrown back into the cold, harsh reality when he introduced me to yet another girlfriend over and over again.
“You okay?” Adam’s concerned voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “You seem distracted.”
I forced a smile. “Just taking in the atmosphere,” I lied because I couldn’t confess he’d dragged me to my very worst nightmare.
As he moved to the pounding rhythm, my eyes roamed over his body. The way his hips swayed, how his T-shirt clung to his toned chest… It was intoxicating. And torturous.
My movements felt stiff and awkward in comparison. I’d never been much of a dancer, always too caught up in my own head. But Adam made it look so effortless, so natural. Like everything else in his charmed life.
A couple bumped into me from behind, jolting me out of my brooding. I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with Adam. Strong hands steadied me.
“Whoa there,” he laughed, his breath warm against my ear. “Maybe the beers we had at Tanner’s weren’t enough. Let’s grab another one, loosen you up a bit.”
My skin tingled where he'd touched it. I swallowed hard, willing my racing heart to slow. “Yeah,” I managed. “A drink sounds good.”
As we made our way to the bar, my thoughts swirled with conflicting emotions. Desire and frustration. Longing and resignation. How much longer could I keep pretending I loved Adam only as a best friend? How much longer before these feelings tore me apart?
Hopefully not long now. Just three more weeks…
I wasn’t naive enough to think those feelings would go away the moment Adam left for his honeymoon, ready to start his new life. A life that would include a wife. But I had a plan. All I could hope was that it would work.
As I leaned against the bar, catching my breath, a familiar voice cut through the din of the club.
“River? Is that you?”
I turned to see Mia, a regular at Lusitana, beaming at me. Her curly hair bounced as she pulled me into a quick hug.
“Mia! What are you doing here?” I asked, genuinely pleased to see a friendly face.
“Night out with my girlfriend.” She winked. “But more importantly, what are you doing here? I thought clubs weren’t your scene.”
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “They’re not, usually. I’m here with Adam.” I gestured toward my best friend, who was chatting with the bartender.
Mia’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Ah, I see. So, how’s the restaurant doing? I’m craving your chocolate mousse something fierce. Work has been killing me lately. I miss my weekly fix of Lusitana’s amazing Portuguese food.”
“It’s going well.” I smiled. “We’re actually planning a new seasonal menu. You should come by next week. I’ll save you a portion of that chocolate mousse.”
As we chatted, Adam returned with two drinks in hand. “Here you go, Riv. Oh, hey, Mia!”
“Adam! Long time no see.” Mia grinned. “I was just telling River how much I miss the restaurant. Haven’t seen your parents in forever.”
Adam’s face softened with pride. “You should come by. I’m sure Mom and Dad would love to see you.”
“I’ll do that. Besides, River has promised me some chocolate mousse. Well, I should get back to my girl,” Mia said. “It was great seeing you both!”
As she disappeared into the crowd, Adam turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Ready to show off those moves, boss?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You know I have two left feet, Adam.”
“Drink up,” he insisted, waiting patiently as we finished the drinks before grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the dancefloor again. “I’ll teach you.”
“I’m not drunk enough for this,” I groaned. “Can I get another beer?”
