I stare out the window and bite my tongue. Of course, this place won’t be my scene. Why would it be? We’re so fucking different. In so many ways.
He sighs loudly and puts the truck in gear.
My eyes slide to the way he grips that shifter, and I feel my body light up. How he manages to make simple things sexual is a phenomenon that needs to be studied. My fingers itch to tap in that telltale nervous rhythm, but I shove them under my thighs instead. I don’t want him to know how affected I am by him.
Thankfully, the bar is nearby. Which means I’m spared the agony of watching him fondle the stick shift like it’s an extension of himself.
When I hop out, I see Mal instantly. He towers over everyone, his tattooed arms waving us over. I follow behind Caleb as he makes his way through the crowd to where Mal and a beautiful woman are waiting. She has long, dark hair and deep blue eyes. Gorgeous is the first word I think of when I see her.
Mal’s eyes narrow when he sees me, and I wonder if Caleb told him how I behaved after our trip to see his family. Still, I manage a small smile as Caleb slaps Mal’s back before pulling the woman off her feet and pressing a kiss to her temple.
Something ugly flutters inside me.
“Hey, Whit,” Mal nods at me, and then peers over at his best friend.
“Hello,” I say as my arm bumps Caleb’s. Just touching him like this is enough to send a shiver down my spine.
Mal leans over and whispers something in Caleb’s ear. As he does that, the gorgeous woman gives me a wide smile.
“Hey! You must be Whit. I’m Bree. I’ve heard so much about you.”
My cheeks warm. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, all good things, I promise.” She makes a cross over her heart, and I soften slightly. On top of being beautiful, she’s kind. I see why Mal and Caleb like her.
I peer over at Caleb, and he catches my eye, like he was waiting for me to look. Something dangerous flutters in my stomach, something impossible to ignore. I know what it is, but I can’t admit it. Not yet.
“Alright, well, let’s grab our drinks and then find a table. Then we can get to work,” Mal says, eyeing me suspiciously.
I don’t fucking know what he means by that, but when we find a table, I realize I’m out of my element. I order a double gin and tonic tohelp ease my nerves. I don’t like to drink—mainly because of my mother—but sometimes the situation calls for it.
And this one definitely does.
Because Caleb is sitting next to me, pressed in far too close. He has to be doing this on purpose, getting me all riled up as punishment for telling him things needed to end between us.
“Alright, bro,” Mal says, stretching his muscular arm around Bree. “Let’s see who we can find for ya.”
My heart stutters. Oh god, he’s really going through with it? This isn’t just a friendly get-together. Caleb is really here to find someone.
Someone other than me.
“What about her?” Bree asks, pointing to a brown-haired woman leaning up against the wall. She’s wearing cowboy boots and a short white dress. She looks fun and free. So unlike my emo self.
“She’s pretty,” Caleb says, taking a sip of his beer. I see him peer over at me, but I can’t look at him.
I can’t. I stare intently at my hands.
“Looks like she’s here alone,” Mal says and then asks, “What do you think, Whit? She look good enough for my boy?”
I peer up at Mal and force myself to say, “I’m not sure what his type is, so I can’t objectively say.”
Caleb rolls his eyes and nudges me with his leg. I don’t know whether he did that on purpose or is just being careless, but it doesn’t matter. It’s made something terrible well up inside of me.
Something dark and needy.
Something I’m not sure I want him to see.
“How about her?” Bree offers, pointing to a redhead on the opposite side of the bar. She’s laughing with her friends and seems like she’d be fun to spend a night with.
