“As soon as we’re alone, I’ll show you why you love it.”
“Let’s leave then.”
I stroke her cheek. “Not without giving you the dance I promised you.”
“Okay.” She melts against my chest, gaze softening lovingly. “Let’s go meet my friends. I’ve been gone too long.”
“That’s your fault,” I tease, earning a light slap on my chest. Chuckling, I turn around and open the door.
Luckily, there’s no one outside.
Masking my love for her and keeping my distance as we walk to her booth is excruciating. All I ache to do is hold her hand and show her off as mine. The woman who made me want to live again.
The voices of her friends chattering travels to us before we even round the corner. All eyes snap to us when we enter the dimly lit room. The round table around the velvet couch is littered with empty shot glasses, flutes, and two half-filled bottles of champagne, along with snacks.
“I brought someone. Everyone, meet Nathan,” announces Arya in a high-pitched voice, revealing she’s more inebriated than I thought. Then glances at a tall dark-haired man lounging beside Noor. “I hope you don’t mind, Caleb.”
“I invited him,” jumps in Noor before he can say a word.
“Any friend of yours is welcome, Munchkin,” he replies with a chuckle. “You don’t need my permission. The more the merrier.”
Pushing to his feet, he comes up to me. “Nice to meet you, man.”
“Likewise.”
Kabir, who’s standing near the bar with a brunette woman, who I’m guess is his girlfriend Eleanor, judging by his palm resting on her ass, stride over to us. I don’t see the third guy named Jared.
“Kabir,” I say when he halts before me.
“Nathan,” he greets, then smugly baits, “Here as Arya’s date again?”
I hear Arya’s low intake of breath but keep my gaze forward. “Can’t a guy come to a club alone?”
“Sure he can,” he drawls, then turns to his woman. “Meet my girlfriend, Eleanor. We never found you guys yesterday.”
“Hey,” Eleanor murmurs, her smile friendly.
“Hello, nice to meet you. Arya and I left early from the party.”
Kabir tilts his head curiously. “What was so urgent?”
“Jetlag,” I dryly retort. Either this guy is more perceptive than he appears, or he just likes to poke. My gut bets on the former.
“Stop hounding him, Kabir,” scolds Noor, pushing her brother aside and joining our group. “Hey Nathan.”
“Noor.” I smile. “How have you been?”
“I’m good. So glad you could make it,” she acts perfectly. “Let’s get you a drink.”
“I don’t drink.” All of them gape in shock, except for Arya. “Is that a crime?”
“Uh… no,” mutters Noor. “It’s not an answer you hear often. At least I haven’t.”
“That’s ‘cause you used to bartend,” says a new voice.
“Jared,” scoffs Noor with a roll of her eyes.
I glance at the broody looking man who stops beside us. He’s dressed in a black button down and matching slacks. His golden watch gleams as he crosses his arms over his chest and quips at Noor, “The statistics of you hearing a no is very less.”
