The group behind me is getting raucous, and someone's body collides with mine, pushing me toward Jade, forcing me to catch my arms on the ledge of the bar and caging her in with my body flush against hers.
I look down to where her hands have landed on my waist over my black jumper, helping to keep me steady. Her gaze flicks up under inky dark lashes, and it’s got me imagining a whole lot of scenarios one shouldn’t imagine in relation to their boss.
I’m about to say something, break the tension or add to it, when the barkeep pops up with our drinks. Jade turns, grabbing two and passing them to me to carry before grabbing the other two.
“This might be forward of me, but could I get your number?” the bartender asks.
She gives him a shy smile while I glower at him over her head. “That’s really kind of you, but I don’t have much time in my schedule for dating right now.”
“We could keep it casual,” he suggests, and I’m about to snap the glasses in my hands.
“She said—” I go to interrupt, but she stomps on my foot with her stiletto, and I bend slightly at the waist in pain.
“Thank you, but no.” She turns away from him and pushes me in the direction of our table. When she sees I’m hunched slightly, her brow furrows. “What’s wrong with you? Go.”
“How rude of me and my foot injury to keep you from a hasty getaway.”
“Do I need to have a whistle and clipboard in hand, shouting expletives, to get you to move?” She rolls her eyes, nudging me again.
“It wouldn’t hurt,” I grumble and start to walk back toward the table.
A throaty chuckle floats over to me, the sound light anda little raspy around the edges. A shiver slithers up my back; it makes no sense, but I feel like I’ve won something with that laugh.
Twenty minutes later, Aanya hops off her stool at our high top table and announces it’s time for her set. Apparently,sheis tonight’s live entertainment.
My lovestruck best friend quickly stands after her. “I’m going to go watch.”
“Me too—” Jade starts to say before Aanya stops her.
“No, no, you stay here. There’s not a lot of room over there anyway.” She points to the area by the modest stage, where every table is already filled with people. From the way her eyes jump from Jade to me, though, it’s almost like she’s trying to meddle.
“But—” Jade starts when Aanya spears her with a look before turning and walking away. “Fine,” she mumbles. “It’s not like she guilted me into coming out to specifically watch her play, but whatever.”
“How did you guys meet?” I ask.
“She’s my neighbor.” She brings the straw of her mojito to her lips, and it’s actually sick how the slight movement draws all my focus. “She also saved my ass, so I kinda owed her, which is the only reason I came out tonight.”
“Why did you owe her?”
“My flat was a wreck when I moved into it, and she helped get it sorted out. Didn’t know a thing about me, just helped because I needed it.” It’s clear from her tone, and the small smile on her face as she watches her friend take the stage that she holds a lot of affection for her.
“That’s good to hear, since my best friend is a bit smitten,” I say, nodding at where Myles stands behind the occupied tables in front of the small riser Aanya is standing on. He’s as close to her as he can possibly get with the building crowd.
“Did you two meet on the Legends?”
I nod my head, taking a sip of my drink. “I was pretty terrified when I was recruited, and Myles…he just has this openness about him. He and Cav instantly put me at ease. Cavan’s the steady, serious one in our group. We all balance each other.”
The sound of a guitar lightly strumming flows through the pub, winding around tables and chairs, lifting the mood and setting the tone for the evening.
She looks contemplative. “And who are you of the group?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” At least ten different answers to that question float across her face before I put her out of her misery. “I’m the devilishly handsome one.”
She snorts. “Or the insufferable one.”
“The comedic relief, one might say,” I quip.
“No one’s saying that.”
