“Where are we going?” I asked, already regretting the words.
“Bar on Main. Cheap drinks, decent music, pool tables.” She grinned like she’d already won. “You can’t say no, Liv. It’s Friday. Live a little.”
And that’s how ten minutes later, I was trailing behind her down the street, tugging self-consciously at the hem of my blouse while she bounced ahead in heels like she owned the night.
The bar was already buzzing when we walked in—dim lighting, neon beer signs, laughter bouncing off the walls. Roxie lit up immediately, as if the whole room had been waiting just for her. She tugged me toward the bar, ordered two drinks, and handed me one with a conspiratorial wink.
“See? Not so bad,” she said, already scanning the crowd.
I followed her gaze—and froze.
Across the room, Talon Everhart leaned against the pool table, cue stick in hand, flanked by a couple of his teammates. His laugh carried over the music, easy and confident. He looked exactly like the version of himself everyone else saw—cocky, tempting, the town ladies’ man.
But when his eyes flicked across the room and landed on me, something sharp and electric zipped through me. His smile faltered, just for a second, before sliding back into place.
“Of course,” I muttered under my breath.
“What?” Roxie asked.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, ducking my head.
But it wasn’t nothing. It was Talon. And suddenly, tonight felt a lot more complicated.
Roxie followed my line of sight, then smirked. “Well, well, well. Isn’t that swim royalty over there?”
I didn’t answer. I hadn’t seen him since the meet last weekend, and I was too busy trying to act like my pulse hadn’t just leapt at the sight of him.
“Everhart looks like he owns the place,” Roxie went on, clearly enjoying herself. “Smug smile, girls staring like he’s the main attraction … ugh. I can smell the ego from here.”
I almost laughed because she wasn’t entirely wrong. Except I’d been close enough to see cracks in that picture-perfect confidence, moments when he wasn’t quite the guy everyone thought he was.
Before I could reply, Roxie’s smile dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I turned to see what she was glaring at and found Ledger striding toward us, his dark hair messy, his grin cocky as ever.
“Well, if it isn’t Roxanne,” he drawled. “Didn’t expect to see you slumming it with the rest of us.”
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s Roxie.”
Ledger leaned on the bar beside her like he had every right to be there. “Roxie, Roxanne … either way, you’re still bossy.”
“And you’re still insufferable.” She tossed her hair and turned her back to him, aiming her focus squarely on me. “Liv, let’s go play darts. Far, far away fromthis.”
But Ledger didn’t take the hint. “Actually, my game’s over. Why don’t we make it interesting? Loser buys the next round.”
Roxie let out an incredulous laugh. “You think you can beat me?”
“I know I can.” His grin widened. “But I’ll enjoy watching you try.”
The sparks between them were so obvious, I wanted to take a step back. They clearly had some kind of history. Roxie, of course, was more than ready for the challenge. She shoved her drink at me. “Hold this, Liv. You’re my witness when I wipe the floor with him.”
And just like that, she let Ledger drag her toward the dartboard, still bickering, leaving me standing alone—until a shadow fell across me.
“You look like you need rescuing,” a deep voice said.
I didn’t have to look up to know it was Talon.
He leaned against the bar, casual, like he hadn’t just set my nerves on fire by existing across the room five minutes ago. His blue eyes glinted with amusement as they swept over me, taking in the way I clutched Roxie’s drink like a lifeline.
