Susanna gives me a sad face as I begin the long trek up to the bar. There’s only one here at Cy’s Roost, and since this place is packed due to the beer specials, it takes me a while to weave through the hordes, but not nearly as long as it’s taking me to get served now that I’m at the bar. Being short is not in my favor right now. I’m waving my arm like a maniac to get the attention of one of the bartenders when I hear my name.
“Quinn!”
Turning my head to the right, I hear it again but from my left. Rotating my head toward the voice, I smile when I see him. Bryant. Quick as I can, I squeeze past several people until I’m next to him. “Hey.”
Bryant chuckles, and it’s so adorable. “This place is insane, huh?”
“It is. I’m supposed to be getting beer for my roomies, and it’s taking forever.”
Before I can say another word, Bryant has flagged down a bartender. Leaning close to me, he whispers, “What do you need?”
My God, his breath just hit my right ear. It made my skin pebble with goose bumps. I even got a whiff of his breath—minty. His cologne is subtle but manly. My goodness, this guy.
“Hello. Earth to Quinn.” He chuckles again.
“Oh.” I flush bright red. “Sorry. Two pitchers of Light, please.”
I watch as he leans over several people to order my beer. In no time, he’s got both pitchers in his hand along with an empty glass. Then he says, “I’ll follow you.”
“Oh, okay.” I start the long walk back, but this time, he’s right behind me. And I meanrightbehind me. He’s bumped into me several times, and I’m not going to lie, it felt amazing each and every time.
When I get to the table, the girls are all huddled together, laughing.
“Finally, Jesus,” Kara grumbles. “Where’d you have to get it, China?”
She really is a bitch. Without another word, Bryant sets the pitchers down on the table. Turning to me, he asks, “Mind if I join you?”
Oh hell. “Of course not.” I quickly slide into the booth, and he follows close behind.
“Hey,” says Kara with a fake-ass smile. “Who’s your friend, Quinn?”
“Oh, right.” I giggle like a dork. “This is Bryant.” I point to him. “Bryant, these are my roommates.” I pause for a second and point at Kara. “Well, not her.”
Bryant leans forward with his hand out to her. “Bryant Falco. What’s your name, not a roommate?” Then he chuckles. It sounds stupid.
“Kara,” she says sweetly. “Kara Becker.”
I stare in stunned silence as she places her hand in his. It stays there for a long time. When he gives her hand a squeeze, it feels like he just squeezed the hell out of my heart. What the ever-loving—
“Quinn!” shouts Kat from across the table. So, like two feet away.
“Yeah?”
“Did you hear from those hot Brits again?”
“Yeah, like that’d ever happen.” Kara snorts.
I look at Kara and see she still has her hand in Bryant’s. Giving their hands the evil eye, I turn to Kat. “I did, actually.”
I know, I know. I swore I wouldn’t tell anyone about the second phone call, but, well, I can’t let Kara get away with her snide remarks.
“What?” squeaks Patsy from the far end of the table. “When?”
“The next night.”
“The night of our powwow?” asks Kat.
“Yeah. Another late call. Three in the morning.”
