Her eyes widened and she let out a sad little sound. “Boyfriend? Do you have girlfriends ever?”
“No, sorry,” I said with another friendly smile I wasn’t really feeling.
“Oh well.” She sighed and shook her head.
“I want a girlfriend,” Brisco said with a wide grin. “And I would be lucky to have a girl like you.”
She giggled as if she thought he was kidding, so he would have to work harder, but I gave him a thumbs-up that had Milo chuckling. I wasn’t really sure how the guys from the team had ended up taking half a sorority out tonight, but there were other girls, who had those same black dresses and pins, at a couple of tables spread out around the place, and I wasn’t sure if they were all here for moral support, to make sure the basketball team behaved, or if they’d just wanted to go out drinking. I waved at them for something to do, and they laughed and waved back.
A fresh wave of boredom struck, but every time I went to check my phone, Milo glared at me, so I put it in my back pocket and left it there. I stared at the paintings of scowling old guys that broke up the stained white walls around the room. I was pretty sure they were writers, but I didn’t care enough to walk around and read the tiny placards underneath the severe faces. I was considering going to talk to a table full of the sorority girls, just because I was sick of listening to Brisco bomb at convincing Tori to give him a chance, when something in the mirror behind the bar caught my eye. I sat up straight.
A group of older guys walked in. That wasn’t the interesting part because the entire bar was mostly full of a midthirties crowd. But Micah trailed behind them, staring at his shoes while another man talked his ear off.
I instantly disliked this guy, and I couldn’t say why. Maybe it was the way he got one of Micah’s unhappy smiles—the ones he wore when dishes of food exploded on the floor or he had cum in his hair. The stranger was put together and attractive in a way that had me gritting my teeth. He had on a gray suit jacket with a T-shirt and jeans, which might not mean anything, but I felt like he was trying too hard with his clothes. His short blond hair was peppered with gray, and his trimmed beard surrounded a nice mouth that was smirking when it wasn’t moving a mile a minute.
And his gaze was all over Micah.
I knew in a heartbeat this guy was gay because he was looking at Micah—I still considered himmy boyfriend, despite the bullshit that had blown up—like he wanted to ask him to go somewhere to fuck. I gripped the handle of my beer mug, then downed what was left of it while I watched them find a spot at the other end of the bar. Micah hadn’t noticed me yet because he was too busy watching his feet, then his hands as he rested them on the bar. My entire body tightened into an unpleasant cramp as the man laid his hand lightly on Micah’s shoulder. Discomfort flashed across Micah’s face.
I didn’t realize I was on my feet until Milo snagged my elbow.
“No. Jesus, really? They had to pick this place to come to?” He glared at Micah, and I elbowed him.
“I’m going over there.”
Milo grunted and didn’t let me go. “You’re still trying to win him over after that fight?”
Wincing, I nodded.
“Then there is no way you should do that.”
My new mortal enemy slid his hand down Micah’s back, and Micah finally shifted away. I didn’t know what he was saying to the guy, but the man removed his hand, thankfully. I gestured in their direction and glared at Milo, but he shook his head.
“No. You can’t. You already ended up injailonce over this guy. What kind of friend would I be if I let you go start shit over him again?” Milo glared, which he rarely did.
“Why?” I growled out. “Ano kusoyarou.... Micah ni betabeta sawariyagatte.”
“Okay, so I didn’t understand that second thing.”
“He’stouchingMicah.”
“Well, he’s not now.” Milo squeezed my elbow.
I glared at the guy again, and Micah still hadn’t looked up and noticed me.
Inspiration struck, and I motioned the bartender over.
“Refill?” he asked with a grin. He lazily tilted his head and gave Tori another once-over. She noticed and waved her fingers at him, and he stood taller.
“Yes. Also, can I send a tequila sunrise to that man down there? The one with the curly hair? His name is Micah.”
The bartender laughed and drummed his hands on the bar. “Sure thing.”
Milo sighed and knocked his shoulder against me. “Is that a good idea?”
“Just hit on your sorority girls.” I glanced at the nearby table. “The redhead over there likes you. She keeps staring at your ass.”
“Really?” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled, and I rolled my eyes as the long-distance flirtation began.
