Colt turns, his head following my gaze. Before he can glance back at me, I say, too loudly, “Oh, it looks like space opened up at the bar. I’m going to head over and get a drink.” And then I hightail it out of there, hoping that Colt didn’t actually notice the way I was looking at Aidan, and praying that if he did, he doesn’t say anything to AJ and McCabe.
I head to the bar, and when my phone buzzes, I’m expecting it to be a text from Aidan. Instead, there’s a new text from Sean, below the messages we exchanged an hour ago when I was busy finalizing the postgame content for social media.
Sean
My friends are too drunk for a place like The Lamppost, so we’re going somewhere more appropriate. I’ll be in touch once I’m back in Boston.
Morgan
No worries. We can connect then.
The eye roll emoji in that text made me think they’re headed to a strip club and he wasn’t thrilled with the choice.
But then there’s another text, sent just now.
Sean
Actually, I just realized we’re only a block away from The Lamppost. I’m going to sneak out and come have a drink with you. Hope that’s okay...
Shit, no, this is not good. Going on a date with someone else is one thing, but doing it right under Aidan’s nose is just plain rude. If I’d thought Sean might show up here, I wouldn’t have come.
I turn, leaving the bar behind to head back toward AJ. “Hey, I’m not feeling awesome so I’m going to head back to the hotel.”
“You okay?” she asks, while McCabe and Colt look on with concern.
“Yeah, I just have a headache. It’s probably best if I head back and go to sleep.”
“Do you want someone to make sure you get back okay? I can go with you if you want,” she says.
“No,” I tell her, my skin itching with anxiety. I need to get out of here. “I’m fine. You guys stay and enjoy celebrating another great win. Bye.”
I turn to leave, and I’m about three-quarters of the way down the stairs when I glance at the front door in time to see Sean walking in. I freeze, hoping that if I don’t move, he won’t see me and I can slip out. It’s just my luck that his gaze lifts and our eyes lock.Shit.
His face splits into a huge grin and he heads straight toward me. I feel terrible that I was trying to sneak out without him seeing me, when he’s so obviously happy to have found me.
“You came to meet me at the door? That’s sweet. Let me buy you a drink before I have to run back and babysit those drunk idiots I’m with,” he says, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me over toward the bar.
Shockingly there are two seats available. As we order, an odd sensation rolls up the back of my neck. I feel like I’m being watched and sure enough, when my eyes flick up to the VIP section, Aidan stands at the metal railing, his head turned away from McCabe as he watches me.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
AIDAN
Morgan’s gaze lifts to meet mine, then shifts back toward the guy she’s talking to. In his collared shirt and khakis, he looks like he walked out of the yacht club to come here. When she tucks her head in toward his, it takes everything in my power not to react. I can tell she’s just trying to hear what he’s saying, because they’re sitting right by the live band that’s playing tonight. But her close proximity to another guy, no matter who he is, has me feeling downright murderous.
“Nothing going on there, huh?” McCabe asks, the laughter in his low voice unmistakable.
Fuck. I forgot he was even here, much less that we were mid-conversation before I caught sight of Morgan at the bar. Morgan, who just told everyone she didn’t feel well and was going back to the hotel, but is now sitting at the bar with another guy.
“Nope,” I say, but with my jaw clenched as I say it, thePis a sharp sound that vibrates against my lips. I’m so damn annoyed that he’s noticed the jealousy that’s radiating off me, but at this point, who wouldn’t?
“You sure? Because you look jealous as hell.”
“It’s not jealousy. I just don’t like the look of that guy.”
McCabe glances over again. “He looks perfectly harmless. Like the kind of guy who’d bump into you accidentally and then buy you a beer to apologize.”
“Those are always the guys you have to worry about.” What I really mean is he’s the kind of guyIhave to worry about, because he’s the kind of guy Morganshouldbe looking for.
