“Opposition?”
“The other team.”
“Of course.” Gesturing to the door to the bar, I asked if she wanted to go back in, and as she turned to walk back into the bar, I marveled at her naivety to think they were merely out causing mayhem with their upcoming competitors. However, as I followed her inside, it didn’t make me feel much better, in that I didn’t know what they were doing either, but I knew it sure as shit wasn’t college pranks.
I noticed that Ava’s friend Mia, who seemed like a nice enough girl, didn’t seem concerned that Ava and I had been gone. She was dancing with some other girls, and it was another five minutesbefore she turned, looking for her best friend. I understood now how Ava had wandered drunk out of a party alone. My mom used to say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I already had Mia whatever-her-name-was in the book bargain bin. The cover looked good, but the story within had no depth. She was shallow and self-centered, and I was by no means a saint, but I didn’t abandon my friends. No matter how much they wished I did.
“Does she always leave you?” I asked Ava as the band announced they were wrapping up their set.
“Hmm?” She looked over at Mia and smiled fondly. “She’s sociable. Literally can talk to anyone.”
Except you.“What’s next?” I asked instead of airing my thoughts.
“Party probably.” Ava gave me a smile, but I saw the tiredness in her eyes.
“Or we could get food?” I suggested as I watched Mia laugh with the bass guitarist’s girlfriend.
“Food?” Ava’s eyes lit up in anticipation as she looked at Mia. “Mia won’t want to eat, but she might want to go with Bea and the others.” She patted my arm, which I assumed was a command tostay here, and then she crossed the floor to her friend.
“You look lonely.”
I fought the eye roll and looked at the guy who had sidled up beside me. “If you’ve been watching, you’ll know I’m here with people.”
“Saw your guy leave you.”
How long had he been watching? “Aren’t you observant,” I snarked at him. Tall but not too much taller than me, dark hair in a low fade, stubble that looked more unkept than designer, gray T-shirt pulled too tight over his shoulders, and instead of looking fit and formed, he should just have gone the next size up.
“You’re gorgeous. How could I not notice?” He smiled, and I was sure he thought it was a sexy smirk. Instead, helooked sleazy.
“You said you saw me with my guy, right?” I asked him with a smile.
“Yeah, he left you. I wouldn’t leave you, baby.”
Ugh, kill me now. “Aren’t you a catch,” I murmured and saw the idiot ignore my tone and think I’d complimented him. “My guy’s coming back.”
“We could split now?”
Was he serious? Oh, he was, I realized as he stepped closer.
“Want to?”
“Want to? What? Split, with you?” I shook my head as I gave him my best pity smile. “No.”
His whole demeanor changed, and I looked over to make sure Ava was out of the way. “Too good for me,Queen?”
He now had my full attention, and I looked him over again. He was older than me — I would say mid-twenties — and his brown eyes were hard, while his earlier flirty tone was gone. “Yes, I am.”
His hand snapped out and held my arm tight, and I was ready to punch him when I heard Ava call for me.
“Let go of me, now, before I rip your balls off,” I warned him, my voice low.
“Your Devils aren’t here now, bitch.” His arm tightened, and I didn’t let him see that he was hurting me.
Stepping into his space, I met his glare with my own. “Who said I needed them?” My hand shot out, jabbing him in the throat, and I felt immense satisfaction as he dropped my arm and covered his neck as he coughed. Stepping back, I smiled at him. “Touch me again, it won’t be my hand in your throat, understand?”
“You okay?” Ava was beside me, and as I turned to reassure her, I saw her glare at the guy and realized she was here to back me up in case I needed it. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m good.” This girl just kept on earning my respect, and I liked it.
