“Yeah, sorry. I want to hear more about this, but I need to find George.”
I nodded, and she slipped out of the booth, leaving Connor and me alone.
The atmosphere around us buzzed with the energy of the bar, and I found myself once again locked onto his gaze. Framed by dark lashes, his eyes looked like sunlit forests in autumn.
“So …” Connor began, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of interest. “Are you okay after last night?”
I glanced down at Connor’s lips and then back to his eyes. “Yes, I’m completely fine. A little shaken up, though. It was kind of you to help me out like that.”
Connor’s smile was warm. “I was just in the right place at the right time. I’m glad I could be there for you.”
I could feel the distance between us shrinking, his words drawing me in. “I don’t want this to sound weird, but do you believe in fate?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I used to when I was young. But now I’m not so sure.”
Connor’s fingers lay on the table, close to the edge of my hand. “This might sound crazy, but meeting you felt like something clicking into place. There’s something about you that’s … different.”
I caught a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes, and it struck a chord within me. “Different how?” I asked.
Connor hesitated for a moment, his gaze never leaving mine. “I’m not sure yet. Maybe it’s just that you seem mysterious.”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“No, I’m serious. There’s something intriguing about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you last night, and then you showed up here today. It’s a strange coincidence.”
The air between us crackled as I felt an overwhelming urge to bridge the gap between our hands.
“I could say the same about you.” I leaned in slightly. “And as you said, it’s a small town.”
“It’s not that small. Makes me almost think you’re stalking me.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I flirted with a playful tone. I enjoyed teasing humans.
“Yeah, I would.” This time, he leaned in, his breath warm on my ear. His lips were so close, one movement and I could catch them with my own.
“Am I interrupting something here?” a voice interjected.
I looked up and saw a man covered up to his neck in tattoos with slicked-back black hair. It looked like he used a full tub of gel to style it. He arched his pierced eyebrows, and a mischievous grin played on his lips. I recognized him from his guitar performance.
Connor pulled back. “Sam, this is Rose. Rose, this is my cousin Sam.” He leaned back in the booth, and I felt the absence of his closeness. I smiled up at Sam, and he joined us in the booth.
“Can I get you another drink?” Sam offered, eyeing my empty glass.
“I’m good, thanks,” I replied, and he looked at me, searching my face. My immediate reaction was a sense of distrust toward him. There was something about his piercing gaze that left me with a lingering sense of caution.
Sam’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the small drug baggie Vail left on the table. With a sudden, deliberate motion, he picked it up, holding it to the light and examining it. Mystomach tightened, and a cold wave of alarm washed over me.
“What’s this?” Sam’s voice was low and edged with something I couldn’t quite place. He let the baggie fall back onto the table, his eyes now fixed on me with a penetrating stare. “You shouldn’t mess with this stuff, it’s bad for you.”
I met Sam’s gaze with a steady, defiant look. “It’s not mine,” I said firmly.
At that moment, three more people squeezed into the booth, pressing me closer to Connor. In the commotion, I slipped the baggie into my pocket. Our bodies pressed together, and my breath caught as Connor moved his hand and rested it on my thigh.
Connor introduced them: Diana, the girl singing onstage; Donovan, the drummer, a powerhouse of strength; and Ivy, the bassist. Ivy sat on Sam’s lap, her gaze cutting through the dim lighting in the room. She wore a deep red lipstick, which contrasted with the blue tips of her black hair. Her expression was all business, no smile, just a cold, unwavering stare.
The heat of too many bodies pressed in around me, the rhythmic pulse of their heartbeats thrumming beneath the music. I complimented them all on their show, trying to distract myself from their human scents that filled the air, gnawing at the edges of my self-control. I forced myself to focus, pushing back the hunger clawing its way to the surface.
As we talked, Vail returned to the booth, her sharp gaze scanning the room.
