The guy says something I can't quite make out. His mouth curves into a grin, and then he leans closer.
My fingers tighten around the edge of the bar. Annabella follows my gaze for half a second, but she doesn’t catch on to the fact that the two people sitting six stools away from us have my full attention, and not her. Instead, she gently redirects me with a hand on my forearm.
"Are you even listening to me?" she teases.
"Of course," I say automatically.
I’m not. Not even a little.
Down the bar, the guy laughs at whatever he just said. He shifts closer, invading her space.
Her posture doesn’t soften. She doesn’t angle toward him the way women do when they’re interested. She turns just enough to face him.
The guy says something else, gesturing loosely with his bottle.
Then he freezes.
It’s subtle. A hitch in his expression and the grin falters. He straightens slightly, as if he miscalculated. Soon Natalia stands, gathering her coat. And this time I do hear her, just barely as the music dips.
"Sorry, I'm here with someone."
I watch as the guy nods awkwardly and backs away, rejection flashing across his face. Natalia doesn’t look at me. Not even once. She walks toward the exit like she didn’t just lob a grenade into the room and keep moving.
We’re not here together the way she made it sound. But she still chose me as the reason. Made me the invisible force standing on the other side with her, daring anyone else to cross.
And something dark and satisfied rises in my chest at being the one.
I keep my posture loose, as if none of that matters. But I track the guy in my peripheral vision until he turns back to his beer.
Only then do I realize my hands are clenched.
Annabella is still talking as Natalia disappears into the snow. I don’t hear a single word she says after "private hot tub." I only see the door close behind Natalia.
"Luka?" Annabella's fingers squeeze my arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I say. "Fine."
"Are you sure I can’t convince you upstairs for a quick nightcap?"
"No," I say, firmer this time, reaching for my wallet. "You’ll have to excuse me. I have somewhere I have to be."
My pulse is already moving before I’ve decided anything.
Annabella blinks. "You’re leaving?"
"Yes," I say, dropping more than enough money to cover my tab and Annabella’s drink, plus a tip. I don’t wait for change. "Enjoy your stay."
I leave my barstool before she can ask why.
Chapter Nine
NATALIA
The cold burns my lungs the moment I step outside. I was an idiot to follow him here… to think he would be alone.
I should have thought this through. I also should have known that he would have already cozied up to someone in the bar by now.
It was a misstep. I can admit that to myself, but luckily, no harm was done. I didn’t totally put my foot in my mouth. Tomorrow, Luka can go back to ignoring me, and I can go back to obsessing over finding a solution to get him out of his mess and re-stabilize my position at Legacy PR.
