He looks at me, then back at Elena, sighing as he runs a hand through his hair. “This is not how tonight was meant to go.” He squeezes my hand once more before heading toward Elena.
I sit back, waiting for my name to be called, watching couples pair off. Something settles deep in my gut, achingly familiar yet strangely new.
I wanted the date with Josh.
It hits me—I’m experiencing a mixture of resigned melancholy and blossoming hope. The familiar ache of wanting someone I can’t have merges with the fragile hope that maybe, possible, hopefully, he might just feel the same.
“Hey, looks like we’re paired up.” Syd, the guy with the eyepatch, interrupts my thoughts.
I offer him a weak smile. “Looks like it.”
“Don’t worry,” he says, grinning. “You weren’t first on my list either. I know this is just a casual drink.”
I blink, a genuine smile tugging at my lips. “Oh really? And where did I rank?”
“Sixth. But that’s only because you’re obviously into Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome. I’m not normally inclined to go for guys, but even I have to admit he’s a spectacular specimen.” Syd jerks his head toward the bar, where Josh and Elena are sitting.
I press my hands to my cheeks, feeling the heat of embarrassment. “Am I that obvious?”
“You?” Syd chuckles. “Nah. Him? Oh, yeah.”
“Wait. What?”
“Oh man, you didn’t know?” Syd throws his head back, laughing uproariously. He calms down a moment later, waggling his eyebrows. “The guy has itbaaaaad. Practically salivating over you. After this, you should throw him a bone. Let him take you out sometime.”
I glance back at Josh, studying him with fresh eyes. “Huh.” Shaking my head, I turn back to Syd. “So, who was your top pick?”
“Elena.”
“Her?” I snap my mouth shut, immediately embarrassed. “I mean… I’m sure she’s nice.”
“She’s not.” Syd grins, glancing back at the bar. Elena leans against Josh, her hand on his arm, her body angled toward him.
“She’s a complete bitch. Wants kids and marriage in a year. Comes on too strong, cuts you off if you say one wrong thing. She’s cold, uncompromising, and has zero game.”
“Sounds… delightful?”
He chuckles. “She’s the only reason I come to these things. She wants everything I do, and the bonus is I get her. Her body’s banging—even if she looks like a schoolmarm. One day, she’llsee me as a viable partner, and then I’m taking her to bed until she lets those walls down. Someone hurt her, made her feel desperate. I won’t.” His eye gleams. “I can’t fucking wait.”
“I…” I search for words. “Good luck, I guess?”
“You wanna double-date with them? You get your time with lover boy, and I’ll drive Elena crazy. Win-win.”
I tilt my head, considering his offer. “It’d be rude to interrupt, right?”
He jerks his head toward the bar. “She’s about to go stage-five-clinger on his ass. No. We’re doing him a favor.”
I chuckle. “Fine. Lead on.”
Syd strides to the bar, grinning as Elena clocks us. Her face darkens as he bounds up beside her.
“We’ve decided to double-date,” he declares, signaling the bartender.
“Excuse me?” Elena shifts on her stool, glaring at us. “Is this a joke?”
“Psh, nah. We’re good,” Syd says as the bartender arrives. “A Jack and Coke and…” He nods at me.
“Just a Coke, thanks,” I say, hovering awkwardly.
