He turned toward me fully now, eyes the color of storm clouds. Up close, he was even more gorgeous. He had a sharp jaw, faint stubble, lips made for trouble.
His gaze flicked over me, taking in my rolled-up sleeves, the open collar of my shirt. Then back up to meet my eyes. The look wasn’t subtle. My wolf rumbled with interest.
“I’m Mark,” I offered. “Wedding singer, part-time emotional support for drunk guests.”
That got another laugh.
“Zack,” he said. “And I’m apparently the sad friend of the groom tonight.”
I raised a brow. “Apparently?”
“Was supposed to perform here,” he said, swirling the ice in his glass. “Me and my ex, were in a band. Were, I guess. He bailed when we broke up, and I didn’t feel like showing up solo.”
“Guess I saved your friend’s wedding, then,” I pointed out.
Zack chuckled. “Guess you did.”
We clinked glasses, the brief brush of his fingers against mine sending a small jolt through me. My wolf hummed, restless and intrigued.
It wasn’t just attraction, it was recognition. Some instinct deeper than reason whispering,this one. I ignored it, or tried to.
“So,” I said, leaning against the bar, “how long were you two together?”
“Too long,” Zack said dryly. “It was great until it wasn’t. He’s one of those jerks who thinks compromise means you agree faster.”
I smirked. “Sounds fun.”
“Yeah, a blast,” he said, rolling his eyes. “What about you? You seem too calm to be nursing heartbreak.”
“Not heartbreak. Just life.” I took a sip, savoring the burn. “Family stuff. My dad’s sick, and things at home are a lot rightnow. Figured getting out of town might keep me from biting someone’s head off.”
“Ah.” His tone softened. “That’s rough. Sorry.”
I shrugged, though the knot in my chest tightened.
“It is what it is. He’s hanging in there. I love them all, but I needed a breather. This gig came at the right time,” I confessed.
Zack’s gaze lingered on me, thoughtful. “Sometimes you have to leave to breathe again.”
Something in the way he said it, quiet and knowing, hit too close. I looked away, watching the bubbles rise in my drink.
Around us, the laughter of wedding guests spilled over the music, a world spinning on joy while mine felt like it was stuck in pause.
“Anyway,” I said after a moment, forcing a lighter tone, “you live around here?”
“Couple of towns over. You?”
“Same. A couple of towns over,” I said. “My family and I live somewhere remote.”
“That sounds…” He smiled faintly. “Nice?”
“It’s alright,” I said. “But what about you? You gonna start a solo act now that your ex’s out of the picture?”
Zack tilted his head, giving me a crooked grin. “Maybe. Unless you’re offering to join the band.”
I laughed. “I’d say yes, but I’ve been in enough bands to know they don’t usually end well.”
Zack’s eyes gleamed with amusement, and maybe something else. “Fair. But for the record, I’m better at harmony than I am at relationships.”
