“What guy?” She grinned.
I shook my head. “Two guys, sorry.”
“Two guys?” Kat cackled. “Tori, that’s kinda jumping into the deep end of dating, don’t you think?”
“It’s not adate. Just employees. Talking. In fact, I was kind of hoping you’d go with me,” I said, glancing at her from under my lashes.
She touched her cross. “Aw. I would, but—”
“Please?” I clasped my hands. “You’re better with that kind of scene. You’ll know more people than me.”
She rolled her eyes affectionately. “I only went there once.”
Okay, maybe bars weren’t exactly her scene. But she had more confidence. And cute outfits. That had to mean something.
“Was it fun?” I asked her.
“Yeah. Victor and I had a great time.” She twisted her necklace and glanced away.
He must’ve dragged her to a dark corner for her to blush at the memory.
Angel was a flirt, but I doubted he’d do anything too scandalous—especially if he was with his friends. And my sister would be right there. Why should I care if he hit on me at all?
Cheeks hot, I untangled some of the belts. “The guys who told me about it aren’t interested like that. I’m not sure why they bothered inviting me at all.”
She furrowed her brow. “Because you’re worth knowing platonically. You’re smart; you’re sweet, and—”
“That’s the thing.” I let the cool metal slip through my fingers. “For one night, I want to be something more than ‘smart’ or ‘sweet.’ Maybe I want to be ‘fun.’ I want tohavefun. Will you help me?”
Worry clouded her dark eyes. “Youarefun, Tori.”
“I-I know I can be, in the right setting. But I don’t go out andhaveit very often. I’m not sure I remember how,” I admitted.
She twirled her cross necklace, mentally calculating something, like inventory or how to let me down gently. “I’d have to rearrange a few things.”
I used my last resort: “If you don’t want to go, I can always invite Jen.”
Kat snorted. “You want to bring a pregnant woman to a bar?”
“She needs to get out more,” I said. At least that part was true.
Kat rolled her eyes. “You must be really excited about this…invitation.”
I nodded. “So, will you go?”
“Yes,” she conceded. “We’ll make it happen.”
I squealed with glee and shook her by the arms. “This is going to be the best night ever.”
She chuckled. “Hey, will you dance with me?”
“In public?” I stopped, glancing over my shoulder at the gated front of the store.
“At the bar,” she said. “It’ll be fun—and you need help having fun, right?”
“Yeah…” But I didn’t know any good moves. How could I let loose in front of Angel and his friends?
But the alternative was to let the invitation—and my confidence—wither away.
