“Hear, hear,” she cheers, clinking her glass against mine with a smile and a wink. “Okay, enough about boys—how long have you been tattooing?” she asks.
My brow furrows. “How did you know that?”
She reaches out and jiggles my lanyard. “It’s on your badge.”
“Shit, I forgot I was wearing it.” I remove it from around my neck and stuff it in my purse. “I’m finishing up my apprenticeship, but got my license a little over a year ago.”
My phone vibrates on the bar top, and the screen lights up with Logan’s face.
“Whoa!” Rosa exclaims, using her finger to turn my screen to face her. “Please tell me this is the new guy.”
My heart beats a little faster as I swipe the screen and pick up the phone. “Hey,” I answer, with a laugh.
“Staying out of trouble?” His voice is deep and gravelly, and I have the impulse to kick my feet. Aside from his sporadic comments throughout the day, we haven’t spoken about anything from last night. After traveling and all the extracurriculars in Logan’s bed, I crashed hard. Today was so busy, even though we were in close proximity, it wasn’t like we had any quality time during the convention.
“No.”
Rosa bounces her eyebrows up and down.
“Uh-oh. Sounds like it’s time for me to take you home,” he teases. “Where are you?”
“The bar across the street from the convention entrance.” I glance down at my coaster with the establishment’s logo on it. “The Griffin.”
“I’m pulling up now. Get out here.”
“You’re here now?”That was fast.
Rosa sets her drink down, then digs in her purse for her wallet. I cover my hand over hers. I’m buying this round.
“I’m here now.”
I bite my lip and smile. “’Kay. Be out in a minute.”
He ends the call, and Rosa looks at me with a big smile, chewing her straw knowingly. “Who was that?”
I open my mouth but am unsure how to answer. I haven’t actually said it out loud yet. “That’s Logan” is my response.
“Atta girl!” She slaps her credit card on the bar top. “You got the last one, this round is mine. With a man like that, you have much more important things to do,” she says with a chuckle. “It’s way past my bedtime anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely! Have fun!” She shoos me off. “Oh, wait—let’s exchange info! Work sends me all over the place, and I’m in Minneapolis occasionally. We should grab a drink when I’m in town.”
“I’d love that! What’s your Instagram handle?”
She cringes. “Actually, I’m not on social media. I can’t doomscroll responsibly, had to give it up. What’s your number? I’ll put it in my phone.”
I nod. If I didn’t have to rely on social media for a source of income, I’d probably do the same. I rattle off my number as she types it in.
“I’ll text you!” she says, and I quickly shove my phone back in my bag. After a quick hug and promises for future drinks, I throw back the last of my cocktail and hurry out the door.
I feel his gaze on me before I spot him.
When our eyes meet, my desire is drawn taut—all-consuming and possessive. It feels inevitable, like lust and friendship have joined forces. This is where I belong. As I close the distance between us, my body clenches with anticipation for him.
“Hi,” I say, hopping in the passenger seat and closing the door.
“Where’s Thor?”
