“Five visits,” I said.
“Five visits,” he agreed.
Mark was giving me a look that suggested my break was very much over.
“See you soon?” I said.
“Yeah,” Chase said. “See you soon.”
I walked back to the bar, trying not to grin like acomplete idiot and failing.
Mark grabbed me the second I was within reach. “Tell me everything.”
“We exchanged numbers.”
“WHAT?”
“Mark, you’re yelling—”
“I’M ALLOWED TO YELL. THIS IS HUGE.” He was grinning so wide his face might split. “Finn O’Brien has a phone number.For a boy!”
“Can we not make a big deal about this—”
“We’re making the biggest deal. This is the biggest deal that’s ever dealt.” Mark pulled out his phone. “I’m texting Priya.”
“Don’t you dare—”
My heart sank as I heard the “send” tone.
Chapter 19
Chase
It was three blocks to my office where my car waited. The streets of Ybor were empty, save a handful of people wandering about, probably headed into Tampa’s version of Bourbon Street to grab a drink or dance or hunt for their next hookup. All three were easily found in the city’s party center.
I looked through the trees that lined the sidewalk, holding my hand to catch the moon’s rays as they filtered through the leaves. Did they always do that? Make the leaves glow around the edges and cause tiny gems in the sidewalk to sparkle like diamonds?
“Gems in the sidewalk?” I laughed at myself. “Jesus, Chase, you’re losing your mind.”
And maybe I was, but damn, it felt good. Better than good. It felt like cream after it’s whipped into light, fluffy perfection.
I snorted again. “Man, you’re a dork.”
A couple was walking past as I said that. The mandetached himself from his woman’s arm and turned. “What did you say?”
I held up a palm and smiled. “Sorry. I was just . . . talking to myself.”
The woman turned and cocked her head.
Why I felt compelled to explain would always be a mystery, but, “I met a boy tonight. He gave me his number. We’re going to see each other again. God, he’s cute and Irish and . . . I’ll stop now.”
The guy relaxed.
The woman covered her mouth with a hand, though I could see her eyes smiling in the moonlight.
“Good for you, dude,” the guy said, turning to continue his stroll.
Before the woman turned, she clapped her fingers in tiny applause, her grin soft and free.
