“You going to help me up? Or did you just need a good excuse to gawk up close and personal?” I reached out my hand, trying to see if this new mood would stick around. Maybe my near-death experience would make him finally offer me a kind word.
David stared at my outstretched palm as if it were poisonous. His worry melted into nothingness when he saw my smile.
“Get up,” he ordered in a hard voice. “You’re holding up the line.”
I scowled and pushed myself into a sitting position. Sure enough, people willingly queued up to get yanked around until their brains rattled. I fumbled my way off the mat, nearly tripping when I realized how dizzy I felt. My boots were gone from the spot I left them. The operator nudged his chin toward David, who was a few paces away.
“Nice work. Nowhere near record level but…” The operator shrugged and handed me a drink voucher. There was a number written on the back of it. “This one’s on me.”
The wink he gave me before I left went straight to my head. I guess I didn’t look too foolish on the bull.
“You know what?” I said as soon as I caught up with David.
He raised a brow as if he couldn't care less. My boots were in his hands, and I left them there for the time being, enjoying the idea of having a personal caddy for the night.
“I think I’m going to have that drink,” I said, waving my voucher in his face. “Got to celebrate my victory after all.”
David looked unimpressed but still said, “Fine. After you.”
3
“It was only forty-five seconds,”David said. “Relax, Daredevil.”
He sipped on another whisky while I tried a bourbon, a laThe Vampire Diaries… it didn’t taste as good as a vampire made it look.
“Don’t be such a bad sport.” I set my drink down, giving up on it. “Just admit you thought you were going to get me with that one.”
“I did get you.”
“How so?” I laughed and pointed back at the mechanical bull. “I not only got on that thing for the first time, but stayed on for nearly a minute. Come on, even you have to admit that’s impressive.”
David snorted before finishing his drink. He had that look he usually got when he used to get up and leave a conversation at a moment’s notice. I used to play a game with myself: how long could I make David Evans remain interested? I consistently beat everyone I knew.
“What’s more impressive was your face,” he said.
When I frowned, confused, he pulled out his phone andopened his camera roll. My ears burned, and my stomach dropped when he clicked play on his newest video.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I reached for the phone only to stumble when he held it out of reach. “Why did you record that?”
He chuckled at my high-pitched panic voice. “Thought it might come in handy one day.”
“Delete it,” I ordered.
From the few seconds of the video I saw, my appearance was much more disheveled than I initially thought. Oil from my twists had dripped onto my shirt, leaving massive yellow stains. Smudges of mascara on my eyelids highlighted the terror in my eyes. I looked like I was a raccoon on the run from an angry mob of homeowners who were tired of me digging through their trash.
“I don’t think so.” David locked his phone and slid it into his back pocket. I scowled at the unreachable, off-limits position. Even if I were brave enough to touch this guy’s ass, I still wouldn’t know how to unlock the phone.
“I will end you,” I threatened with a narrowed gaze. I tried to stand taller so that at least the top of my head met his chin.
“You’ve been saying that for years now.” His brown eyes danced. “Love to see you try.”
He ate up my fury. Practically lived off my disapproval.
“Screw you,” I grumbled and grabbed my drink. I finished it in two big gulps. It burned my throat and left my taste buds in agony. David chuckled when I coughed and waved the bartender down for a glass of water.
“I see why you don’t drink,” David noted as I fanned myself in an admittedly dramatic manner. As soon as the bartender set down the water, I nearly drowned myself. Some of it dripped down the corners of my mouth. I suppose I’d given up all attempts at grace and poise tonight. My mother would be so proud.
“After spending so much time in your presence, I’m thinking it’s a necessity.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “See why you do it so much. It’s a shame you can’t take a break from yourself.”
