“Yeah, well.” His eyes glinted as they caught mine again. “Maybe I’m not as on-brand as people think.”
I studied him, trying to decide if he was really beingserious or just playing another angle. With Talon, it was hard to tell. Everyone else seemed so convinced he was this larger-than-life persona. But here, leaning against the bar, voice low, it felt like I’d caught him between performances.
“Interesting.” I let the word stretch. “Because if you asked around, I’m pretty sure most people would say you live for this stuff.”
“Crowded bars? Loud music?” He tipped his head toward the wildness around us. “That’s more Ledger’s scene.”
“And not yours?”
He gave a half shrug. “Don’t get me wrong. I can play the part. But if I had my way? Nights like this, I’d probably be at home. Quiet. Just … chilling.”
I blinked, because it was the last thing I expected him to say. It sounded so much like me, it was disarming. “Really?”
“Really.” He leaned in a fraction, like he wanted me to believe him. “What about you? I get the sense this isn’t exactly your natural habitat either.”
I huffed out a laugh. “That obvious, huh?”
“Only because I feel the same way.”
The honesty in his voice tugged at something I wasn’t ready to face. So I deflected, shifting my weight on the barstool. “If it were up to me, I’d be curled up with a book right now. Or—” I caught myself just before sayingmessaging TheWriteGuy. “Or just staying in.”
His mouth curved, and the way his gaze lingered on me made it feel like he’d caught more than I meant togive away. “A book, huh? Let me guess. Some epic love story where the brooding guy falls for the girl?”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “Not always.”
“But sometimes.” His grin turned teasing again, but softer this time. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone that Talon Everhart’s toughest critic spends her nights on the couch reading romance novels.”
I rolled my eyes, but the shiver across my skin betrayed me. Because the way he’d said it—light, but not mocking—vaguely reminded me of howTheWriteGuywould have said it.
I shook my head slightly.TheWriteGuywas messing with my thoughts way too much these days if I was finding commonalities between him and Talon.
Before I could figure out how to respond to that uncanny déjà vu, Roxie’s voice cut through the bar, sharp and loud.
“Youcheated!”
Talon and I both turned toward the dartboard. Roxie stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Ledger like she might actually murder him. He, of course, looked completely unbothered, a smirk tugging at his mouth as he leaned casually against the wall.
“Cheating implies I had to try,” Ledger said smoothly.
“Unbelievable.” Roxie threw her arms up. “You are theworstloser. And an even worse winner.”
“Thanks,” he said, as if she’d just complimented him.
The crowd near the dartboard started snickering,and Roxie’s cheeks flushed bright red. She yanked the darts out of the board with enough force to make the whole thing rattle.
I winced. “Uh-oh.”
Talon’s laugh rumbled low beside me. “Told you. Those two shouldn’t be left unsupervised.”
At that exact moment, Roxie turned and spotted me at the bar. “Livvi!” she shouted, storming over with Ledger following behind her. “We’re leaving.Now.”
“Leaving?” I blinked.
“Yes. Before I commit a felony.” She shoved the darts into a passing guy’s hand like evidence disposal, then crossed her arms. “Ledger’s lucky I didn’t stab him with those.”
Ledger leaned down, murmuring just loud enough for us all to hear, “Admit it, Rox. You had fun.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t. Call. Me. Rox.”
