“Fine.When Hayes gets here, I’ll be on my best behavior. Happy now?”
“Genuinely? Or the kind of nice where you’re actually being an asshole, but in a way that’s hard to call out?”
“Guess we’ll both find out. And what do you care about how I act with him, anyway?” I asked. My senses started tingling. “Wait. Don’t tell me… Are yousweeton him, Naomi?”
She swatted my arm in response, accidentally knocking her elbow against the empty glass in the process. It tipped precariously toward the edge, but I caught it just in time before it made a huge mess. While Naomi had the nightlife habits of a college student, her tolerance was that of a rookie. She really couldn’t hold her liquor to save her life.
“I just said you should be nicer to him, not that I wanted to get into his pants. And anyway, he’s not really my type.” She huffed, then tilted her head thoughtfully, a new gleam entering her eyes.“Him, on the other hand…”
I followed her line of sight, leading to a man at the far end of the bar.
He was in his early thirties, if I had to guess. Dark hair, slightly wavy but not overly styled. Tall, lean build. Athletic without excessive muscle definition. Clothes well-fitted, but not expensive—someone who knew how to look good without trying too hard.
His eyes lingered on Naomi. He seemed interested, but not overeager. He watched her the way someone watches the tide, waiting for the right moment to step forward.
Naomi straightened up, suddenly alert, awareness sharpening through the alcoholic haze. “I call dibs.”
I smirked into my drink. “You really don’t need to. It’s pretty obvious you’re the one he’s interested in.”
“You think?” Her smile brightened as she sneaked another look at the man, but it faded just as quickly as it appeared. “Ohshit,he’s coming over.”
She made a valiant attempt at smoothing down her hair and clothes, but it was mostly a lost cause. Not that it mattered. Something told me the guy walking our way wouldn’t mind if she looked a bit disheveled.
“Can I buy you two lovely ladies a drink?” he asked with a disarming smile, one that was designed to lower defenses. The question was mostly for show anyway, with most of his attention focused on Naomi. He wasn’t interested in casting a wide net—he had a clear target in mind and wasn’t the least bit shy about it.
“I’m good,” I said, holding up my drink. “But my friend here, on the other hand, could really use one.”
Naomi chose that moment to snap back to reality. She turned to me, a small frown tugging at her brow. “You sure you don’t mind?”
I already knew that if I said yes, she’d turn the guy down, no questions asked.
How annoying…
I couldn’t even be mad at her for ditching me when she was always so damn thoughtful.
I waved her off. “It’s fine, go have fun. Hayes will be here soon anyway. He can keep me company.”
That was all the reassurance Naomi needed. A smile lit up her face once more. “You’re the best, Shay. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
It was nothing I hadn’t heard before.
Naomi had a way of drawing people in—effortlessly, like gravity. Whenever we went out, chances were she’d catch someone’s eye before the night was over. She reminded me of a falling star—shining brightly for a moment, then gone beforeyou could wish on it. Her past relationships often flared the same way: sudden, all-consuming, and over before anyone could catch their breath. People often mistook her brightness for warmth. What they rarely saw coming was how quickly she’d pull away once the sparks began to cool.
I traced the rim of my glass in idle patterns. The night had begun to settle into that hazy, comfortable lull, where time stretched and blurred, softened by alcohol and the late hour. My gaze drifted absentmindedly over the rest of the bar.
The bartender moved through the motions, pouring shots in a practiced rhythm, muscle memory taking over. In a shadowy corner booth, a handsy couple seemed intent on testing the limits of public decency laws. On the opposite side of the room, a large group was huddled around a pool table, their laughter growing progressively louder with each round.
Then—
There was a shift in the air.
A sudden prickle of awareness crawled up my spine.
Not a second later, someone slid into Naomi’s vacated seat.
“Good evening, Detective.”
Of course. Who else would it be?
