So I could hear her better.
“What happened?”
“Och, what didn’t?” Lily rolled her eyes. “His name is Kyle. He works in finance. He was twenty minutes late and didn’t apologize. He didn’t ask me one question the entire drink at the bar or the walk here. I don’t think he knows my name. But he managed to make a bunch of passive-aggressive comments about me being a student, and he is now talking to his friend on the phone.”
“What a prick.” I pressed a sympathetic kiss to her temple. She smelled amazing. A different perfume tonight. Something headier. “Let me get you a drink.”
Harry and Zac said hello and introduced Lily to the girls they’d met while we waited for the bartender. I caught the older guy next to us staring down at Lily’s legs and glared at him in warning. He blanched and turned away.
“There you are!”
The booming male voice had us all turning around.
Something sharp and ugly swept through me at the sight of the finance guy named Kyle.
He was very good-looking, and I was very glad Lily thought he was a prick.
Well-mannered, however, Lily introduced us all and asked him what he was drinking.
Once we all had a glass in hand and were huddled in a group, I casually rested my free arm around Lily’s shoulders as we chatted.
Kyle the prick didn’t say much, but I could feel his eyes on me.
Finally, he blurted, “I’m sorry, but I thought you and I were on a date.”
Lily gaped at him. “Thatwasthe intention.”
I smirked at her smart response.
“But you’re with this guy?” He pointed to me.
“We’re just friends.” I took a casual sip of my pint, but I couldn’t resist the challenge in my expression. And I didn’t remove my arm.
Kyle the prick shook his head in aggravation. “I knew I shouldn’t have swiped right on a student. Sorry, you’re gorgeous, but this is not my scene, and I can’t deal with the drama.” He slammed his half-drunk pint on the bar and abruptly pushed through the crowds to leave.
“Good riddance.” I raised my glass to his departure.
“Drama?” Lily gestured after him. “Heturned up late.Hebarely talked to me. What an absolute turd!”
“Aw, sorry about the bad date, Lil.” Zac gave her a sympathetic nudge. “Let us buy you another drink to cheer you up.”
“Are you two not dating, then?” the girl Harry had spoken of before—Elaine or Illan or something—asked. Her eyes were fixed on my arm around Lily’s shoulders.
“Sawyer and I are just good friends.” I pulled her closer so her warm, curvy body pressed to mine. “Aren’t we, darling?”
She clinked her pint against mine. “That we are.”
We chatted among ourselves, about classes, music, plans for the future. We laughed and joked and took the piss and Lily seemed to fall in with my friends as easily as she had with me. I could tell Harry and Zac really liked her, which pleased me.
Then the band started to warm up, so we edged closer to the stage.
“Who are these guys again?” Lily asked.
“Local band. I think you’ll like them. Here.” I pushed closer to the stage so we had a good view and positioned Lily in front of me. “Lean on me. Get comfy,” I urged, sliding my arms around her waist to draw her back against my chest.
After a second or two, she relaxed. I gave her a squeeze and leaned down to murmur in her ear, “You’re not upset about that prick earlier?”
She shook her head slightly and I thought I heard her breath hitch.
