Is he going to reject me again?
“Here you go.” Cole’s arm appears between Ally and me, sliding our drinks in front of us. He takes up a spot right by me, close enough for our elbows to touch as they rest on the table.
Is Liam scowling?
Ally’s knowing chuckle is curious.
“What are you laughing at?” I ask.
“He’s got it bad,” she answers, dangling her drink between her fingers as she nods toward the dance floor.
“Liam?”
“Am I missing something?” Cole asks, looking intrigued as his eyes dance between Ally and me.
“Liam’s had a boner for Emily since middle school,” Ally blurts out like the answer is obvious to everyone—it’s not.
“Excuse me?” My brows arch upward, and my eyes feel as wide as saucers. “No, he hasn’t.”
Ally rolls her blue eyes, the purple glitter shadow highlighting her exasperation. “Not everyone is as oblivious as you.”
“Liam is not interested in me. He told me so last night.” I shake my head, but his words replay in my mind again—weshouldn’tdo this, not hedoesn’t wantto.
My heart starts a weird beat in my chest.
I’m his best friend. I would know if Liam liked me… wouldn’t I?
“Is he here?” There’s a mischievous glint in Cole’s eyes.
Ally discreetly nods in Liam’s direction. He’s moved to the bar, nursing a drink, his stare not wavering from me.
“Why doesn’t he just come over?” I ask. He’s making the situation even weirder by being… weird.
“Me?” Cole lifts his beer to his mouth and gives me a sly, playful smile. “Have you two ever…”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “No. No. We’re just friends.”
Even as I say the words, they feel thick and dirty on my tongue—a lie.
“Do you want to?” Cole asks.
“I…” My answer catches in my throat. Talking about this with a stranger feels… odd, but a guy’s perspective would be interesting. I sigh, giving in to the confession. “I tried—last night—but he turned me down.”
I narrow my eyes on Ally. “Which proves that he isn’t interested in me.”
“He turned her down because she’d just dumped her ex and was drunk,” Ally says, narrowing her eyes and challenging me to argue.
“I’d never turn you down.” Cole turns toward me, his eyes darkening. “Ask me to take you home. You’ll forget about everyone else when I get my tongue on you.”
Ally chokes on her drink at his brazen offer.
My core clenches. The heat in Cole’s eyes promises his words aren’t lies, and I need those promises. I’m so sick of my fingers, so sick of wanting men that don’t want me.
But my gaze slides to Liam. He watches me with an intensity that makes me burn, one look more potent than any of Cole’s promises. “I like you, Cole, but…”
He lets out a sigh but offers me a smile. “I get it.”
I want to believe Ally, but my fragile,boringego can’t handle being rejected twice in twenty-four hours. “I don’t want to make a fool of myself again.”
