Page 22 of The Longest Wait

Dominic took the beer from Connor’s hand. “Then you won’tbe needing this. You guys can go home and sleep. We will be herehaving fun. You’re missing out.”

His threat didn’t seem to bother those leaving, as they chattedwhile they walked out. Sofia leaned in toward the table. “And thenthere was three.”

And the three of them needed another drink. Alex left to go tothe bar to get another round for them. This was when the redheadwho was hanging on Dominic earlier in the night, started talkingto him while he was waiting for the bartender.

“My name is Carla, and I have to ask, is your friend Dominicdating the Megan Fox look-alike?”

Who the hell was she talking about?

One of her friends also joined them at the bar. “Melanie,” sheintroduced herself.

“Alex,” he responded the same way to her. Melanie was cutewith pixie cut brown hair and a nice smile.

Carla kept going. Apparently, she had a one-track mind aboutDominic. “We met earlier and I wanted to catch up again. I waswith my girlfriends, but it’s only Melanie and me now. I don’t wantto step on anyone’s toes; I’m not that type of girl. I didn’t thinkhe was in a relationship though, the way we were talking earlier.”

Dominic in a relationship would be a comedy show.

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

Melanie rolled her eyes, like this was the norm for Carla to beon a manhunt.

Carla hugged him, obviously thrilled to hear Dominic was single.“Thanks! I wasn’t sure with the other girl who is with you guys.”

“Like I tried to tell you before.” Melanie had an annoyed tone.“Men can have friends that are women. Now that you found outPrince Charming isn’t shacking up with someone else, am I freeto go?”

Carla already took off for Dominic, who was still sitting at thebooth. Melanie turned to Alex. “She’s twenty-six, but boy crazylike she’s sixteen.”

“I figured that.”

Her gaze met his eyes. “I do need to leave. I’m a resident atTemple and have clinical tomorrow. Would you want to catchup sometime?”

Alex nodded. Chick seemed nice, and again, cute. He pulledout his phone and handed it to her. “Give me your number.”

She put her number in when Sofia joined.

Sofia was not happy. “He doesn’t have any kids.”

Melanie wasn’t put off by her brashness. “I didn’t ask if he did.”

“My mistake. I thought you were giving him your number incase he ever needed someone to babysit. You’re what—seventeen?”

What a recent turn of events. Alex did his best to hide his smirkat the show Sofia was putting on.

“Twenty-four,” Melanie confirmed, and then turned her attention to Alex. “You have my number.”

She didn’t stay, perhaps because Sofia gave her the glare ofa lifetime. Once they were alone, Alex lifted an eyebrow. “Thatwas interesting.”

“She looked like she wanted to be your child bride.”

He didn’t believe it. “Was Sofia Winton jealous of someoneflirting with me?”

Sofia gave him the middle finger. “You wish. Dominic andCallie—”

“Carla,” Alex corrected her.

“Whatever.” Sofia didn’t care. “They are one more salaciouscomment away from banging on the table. I have a new glass ofwine, thanks for that by the way, and I don’t plan on drinking itwith Dominic and Carrie.”

“Carla,” he said again. “So, you came over because you wantto drink the wine I paid for and be in my company.”