He was probably going to be upset again tonight.
The bar was packed, but even with people standing shoulder to shoulder, I caught sight of Chase. He had to have been watching the door since he was moving our way already, his hand up in the air.
“Hey,” he said, giving me a hug. Turning to Evie, he did the same thing. “It’s great to see you again, Evie.”
We followed him to the back corner near the stage and saw that he and Mitch already had a table. By the number of empties on it, they’d been here a while.
“Maryellen, you remember Mitch, don’t you?” Chase said. Mitch stood and shook my hand firmly. Mitch was a good-looking guy. He was shorter and stockier than Chase with dark hair and dark eyes. But he was definitely popular with the ladies at Parker Financial.
“Yes, nice to see you again,” I said.
“This is Evie. Evie, this is Mitch,” Chase said.
Evie squeezed my arm she’d been holding as a sign of approval. She let go to shake Mitch’s hand, and he led her to his side of the table with that handshake.
It was obvious they were going to get along just fine.
Chase pulled my chair closer to his once I sat, making it easier for us to talk.
“You look fucking amazing, Mare.” His mouth lingered close to my ear, just enough to make bumps rise along my skin. When he pulled away, he looked around the bar instead of at me.
Was this his attempt to make us look casual?
I grabbed his knee to get his attention, and those hazel eyes found mine.
“You look good, too.”
He smiled. His stubble was more pronounced on his face by this time of night, and I found myself wanting to run my fingers through the tiny hairs along his jawline. He saw me staring.
“This is weird, right?” he asked. “I’m not sure how to act. I want to kiss you, or hold you, or something. I didn’t think this through well enough.”
It was weird. Being here as friends when we really weren’t would be tough. And I was the one who put these parameters on our relationship.
How long could we do this?
CHAPTER 18
Chase
Watching all the guys in the bar stare at her was driving me crazy. Especially since I couldn’t even touch her. It made me feel like a caveman, and I wanted to stake my claim. But that wasn’t in the cards for me yet. So, they continued staring and making their moves anytime she walked away from the table.
They probably thought I was her brother, for fuck’s sake.
“Not going how you envisioned it, is it?” Mitch asked as he shook his head. “It’s a bit, I don’t know, middle school, dontcha think? You guys have to pretend you’re not together, but you’ll probably go home tonight and fuck her.”
I hated how much sense he made. Yet I was doing this for her. She had her fears, and I was trying to help her deal with them. Even though I wasn’t quite sure what they were.
We watched both girls being swarmed by ill-intentioned suitors as they waited at the bar. Mitch and I should be the ones getting the drinks, but the girls insisted. I spun my chair and turned my back, hoping not seeing the guys all over her would allow me to forget.
“How’s it going with Evie?” I asked him.
“Good.” He drained the bottle of beer in his hand. “She’s cool and crazy hot.”
They showed up at the table, each with four bottles in their hands. As we helped them, they were still giggling about the guys who had been flirting with them.
“So,” I said, bringing their attention back to us, “who’s singing tonight? Anyone but me?”
It was almost nine, which was when karaoke started. I already had my requests in for me and our group.
