“You know…” Therese grabbed another fry. “You could tell us if you were gay.”
“Or Ace,” Emi added.
“Or bi.” Soleil, sitting directly beside me, slid her hand over my thigh.
“I’m not gay or ace.” I shot my friends looks and pushed Soleil’s hand away. “And if I were bi, you’d all be the first to know.”
“Okay, but it’s weird, right?” Therese looked around for support. “You’re twenty-one and have never been with anyone. Like, even a date. It’s weird, right?”
There were mumbles across the table.
“Maybe I haven’t found anyone interesting enough.” I sipped my water. “This town doesn’t offer much.”
The men around the table began to laugh and holler at my diss. I sat back, satisfied that they’d stop talking about me, when suddenly someone passed by the table, causing everyone to quiet down.
“Do you know who that is?” Therese hunched over the table.
“Who?” I looked around.
“That’s the guy! The Sinister Minister’s kid,” she whisper-yelled.
“He’s not really a kid.” Soleil cocked an eyebrow. “He’s hot as fuck.”
“Thanks, babe.” Spencer reached for his beer.
“What? Look at him.” Soleil pointed to the man standing at the bar. “You can’t tell me he’s not hot.” She looked at us for support. They all glanced his way and nodded eagerly.She nudged me. “What about you, Miss Picky? Is he interesting enough?”
I stiffened. My heart was beating so hard my chest hurt.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” I shot up and out of my seat before anyone could argue. I stormed the opposite way of their pointing to the far back bathrooms, and shoved the door open.
I went to the sink and tossed cold water on my face while I tried to steady my breathing. He was here. Just outside the door at the bar, Constantine was alive and well.
Did he know I was here too?
The door swung open a moment later as if on cue.
“I’m in here!” I spun around to push the person out and froze.
There he was.
Constantine, all grown up, staring me down.
Jet-black hair shaved down at the sides but longer on top curved just enough for one strand to fall over his eyes. His jawline and nose were shaped beautifully, and his eyes were a piercing blue. Tattoos covered his arms, and a light, day-old stubble dusted his face. His muscles were large, highlighted by his tight black shirt and ripped jeans. Everything about him oozed bad boy, and something inside me told me he might just be.
I backed away toward the wall as he reached his hand back and locked the door.
“Hello, Eisley.”
My heart sped right back up at hearing his voice for the first time in ten years.
“Constantine,” I blinked rapidly, still in utter disbelief. “you’re alive.”
“I am. Did you wait for me?”
“Wait for you?” Suddenly, my shock and fear were gone, and all I felt was rage. I stormed over to him and shoved my hands into his hard chest. “What do you mean wait for you? I thought you were dead!”
“Did you though?” He grinned, but it wasn’t funny. “I find it hard to believe you were sold on the idea.”
