Anxiety quivers in my gut as my eyes search fervently along the bar top’s edge. And then I see it—that illuminated halo of golden-streaked hair shining brightly under the night’s lights. My eyes take her in while her back is still towards me, her elbows resting on the bar. Her navy blue sweater is tucked neatly into her leather miniskirt, and it shows every inch of her perfect curves. One look at her has my heart beating rapidly, other parts growing eager.
I move closer to her. “Allie—”
“Two tequilas, please,” she orders loudly from the bartender, ignoring me. She’s leaning so far over the bar, I think her ass might slip out of her skirt.
I move close behind her, keeping a safe distance as I lean into her ear. “Allie, that wasn’t what it looked like.”
“Make it three,” she says louder. The bartender obliges, filling multiple small glasses with the clear liquid. She bringsthe first to her lips and tilts her head back, pouring it into her mouth.
“Alana.”
Then the second.
“Alana, would you look at me!”
She slams both glasses down on the bar before she turns to me slowly. Her icy cold glare finds mine, and it cuts through me like a knife, leaving all my words dead on my tongue.
“Don’t worry, Jake,” she says as she lifts the last of her shots. “We’re not even friends anymore. It was never my business who you fuck in the first place.” She pushes the glass into my chest with a twisted smile, then turns and walks away, her high ponytail whipping me in the face as she spins.
I clench my jaw, my nostrils flaring as I let out a frustrated breath. I take the shot, slamming it down beside the others and giving myself a full two minutes to reset before I make my way back to my circle.
When I get there, I’m surprised to find Nate with his arm draped around Alana’s shoulders. He introduces her to everyone as Hot Friend, and she rolls her eyes with an amused smile before shaking each of their hands and correcting her name.
Her eyes find mine, full of accusation.We need to talk, I mouth, but she just ignores me and turns her attention back to my friends.
“This song is so good!” she announces to no one in particular as she begins to dance in place. I move around the table and stand next to her, leaning over it. My jaw is set so tight, it might break.
I watch her pretend to be anything but pissed for all of thirty seconds.
“We need to talk, Alana,” I say, low enough for only her to hear.
“Ugh, I need a beer. Anyone else need—”
Before she can finish her sentence, Vince is already passing her the fresh one in his hand—an IPA.
“Here you go, darlin’,” he says with a charming smile. I almost scoff to myself knowing she’s about to decline. She hates heavy beers, specifically IPA’s, and is even less fond of the stereotypical guys like Vince who drink them. Instead, she grins back in response, and my fucking blood boils. To add insult to injury, he adds, “You just let me know if you need anything else, alright?”
Her smile deepens.
I grind my teeth to keep from saying something I’ll regret.
When Nate and Vince announce they’re going to the bar for another round, Alana offers to join them, turning her back to me as she follows them.
I grab her by the elbow, pulling her back to me before I can think about it. “Don’t,” I say into her ear.
She turns to me with an angry glare, and it lands like a punch in the gut. We stand there in a silent war, our eyes locked and loaded with the words our hearts are screaming to let out. Then she shimmies out of my grasp and moves forward through the crowd. Away from me.
I close my eyes and release a frustrated breath.
I watch her land at the bar, smiling between Nate and his scumbag friend.
Then I contemplate punching them both directly in the mouth. Vince for smiling too fucking prettily at her. Nate just for good measure.
But instead of freaking out or losing my cool, I do what I do best. I turn around and walk out the front door.
Drunken laughter erupts in the groups of smokers along the sidewalk. The blaring music continues to pound in my headwith each step I take as I march to my truck. I fish my keys from my pocket, the metal cool against my palm, and tell myself this is what she wanted—space, distance. She wanted me out, so that’s what I need to give her.
But if that’s what she wants, why did she come here,that voice in my head challenges.Why did she come toyourplace? And without Lia? There’s no way she didn’t come here for you.
