“No kidding,” he says dryly. “I don’t think a single person here would have guessed.”
I duck my head with a chuckle. I played one hand and then bowed out, sliding all my chips to Barrett and parking myself on a barstool against one wall.
“I’m also not a great actress,” I tell Alec.
He rests his shoulders against the wall, crossing one foot over the other. “So why did you come?”
“Kayla likes poker.” I look at where she’s sitting, her chair pushed so closely against Barrett that they’re practically fused from shoulder to hip.
Alec makes a low noise of amusement. “Does she?” One dark brow flicks up, and I can’t help the giggle that escapes.
“I have no idea.” I shrug, looking back over just as she reaches up to whisper something in Barrett’s ear. He turns to look down at her, a smile playing on his lips as he nods, saying something back. “She’s having a good time.”
“But you’re not,” Alec says, no doubt in his voice.
I don’t bother denying it, shrugging. “What about you? You’re not playing.”
“My bluff is too good for these jokers. I’d clean them all out in just a few rounds.” The words are cocky, but the confidence is attractive. There’s a knowing look in his gray eyes, and then Alec’s arm brushes against mine as he leans closer, his musky cologne filling my nose. My breath catches, a shiver racing through me when his lips touch the shell of my ear. “I don’t need to play poker to have fun.” It’s a husky whisper, and heat unfurls in my stomach.
The sound that leaves me is high-pitched and crazed. “You know what? I need another drink. Do you need a drink? I’ll be right back.” I practically fall off the barstool and stumble toward the kitchen. My cheeks are flaming so hot that it feels as if I’m about to combust, especially when I feel Alec’s eyes following me.
In the kitchen, I go through every single cupboard before finding the glasses, because of course, it’s the absolute last one I look in. I fill one with water and drink the entire thing at once, trying to cool my nerves and settle my scattered brain.
Alec is attractive, and he’sflirtingwith me.
I would have to be blind to miss it,but there’s still a voice of doubt in my head, positive that he is playing a game with me. I couldn’t bear it if he was acting interested in me just because he felt sorry for me, especially after seeing me at one of my lowest points.
Not that I want to do anything with him. It wouldn’t be fair to me or him. Not when I’m still so screwed up over Dillon. It’s only been a couple of weeks since we crashed and burned, but it’s nice to feel wanted and desirable…especially after hearing a group of people discuss how unattractive I am.
“Charlie?” Barrett comes into the kitchen, eyes searching for me. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I give him a small smile, and his brows lift disbelievingly.
“You hate poker,” he observes.
I waggle a hand between us. “I’m ambivalent about poker,” I counter, and he rolls his eyes.
“Sorry. You’reambivalentabout poker. I invited you tonight so you would have options other than…you know,books. I didn’t actually think you would come.”
I chew on my lip. “Kayla wanted to come.” A dull flush creeps into Barrett’s cheeks. “Are you guys…?” I grimace, not wanting to finish the question, and he can’t quite meet my stare.
“I don’t know,” he says honestly. “Scout’s honor, I will not discuss it with you.”
“Pfft, you were never a Boy Scout.”
“I could’ve been if I wanted to be.”
“Doubt it,” I argue. “They don’t do badges for nose pickers.”
Barrett throws his head back with a groan. “Why are you such a pain in my ass?”
“Why are you such a gorilla?” I counter,fighting back a smile. The bickering is interrupted when my phone rings. I pick it up, curiously glancing at the number and frowning when I don’t recognize it. “Hello?”
“Charlie?” a feminine voice whispers, the sound of music and talking filtering down the line and almost drowning her out. “It’s Marisa. I need your help.”
“This is a bad idea,”Barrett grunts, staring at the house through the windshield, watching as several people spill down the front steps, clearly drunk. “Why doesn’t she just call one of her friends?”
I twist my hands in my lap, not disagreeing with him, but not ready to tell him to turn us around and drive away either. Kayla didn’t want to come with us, choosing to have Barrett drop her off at a local bar to meet her friends.I probably shouldn’t have come either, but…
