Page 20 of Slow Burn

Georgia stood, and the dress did not grow in length, much to Elijah’s dismay. “And you know the rules. If you can do it, so can I.”

Her brother laughed, but Elijah was fuming. Nash’s list of what he’d say no to was extremely short. The idea that this was Georgia’s starting point for making decisions made him insane.

“You know…” Anna joined Georgia and grabbed her hand. “We could just split up. Whoever wants to go to the bar can, and whoever wants to stay here can.”

Everyone agreed, and chatter fell across the group.

Anna dragged Georgia to the kitchen, and Sophie quickly followed.

“You’re going to let your sister go out wearing that?” Elijah asked as soon as the women were out of earshot.

Nash lifted his shoulder. “I can’t tell her what to do. And who knows, maybe she’ll stay here with your lame asses.”

“Hey!” Roman protested by throwing a pillow at Nash. “Fuck off. I thought tonight was going to be laid-back, not us going out so you can fuck some random chick.”

Benny checked the time on his watch. “It’s almost nine thirty. If we’re leaving, let’s get going now.”

“Girls, let’s go!” Nash called out, standing up.

Sophie came stomping in first. “Don’t boss me around. Anna said she would drop us off, so we don’t need to Uber.”

Did that mean Georgia was going?

“Roman, come with me, please,” Anna asked her best friend. Elijah was jealous of their easy friendship.

“Fine, but when we get back, it’s beer and chill.”

Sophie pretended to wave herself off like she was hot. “Is this a new version of Netflix and chill?”

“Gross.” Anna brushed off the idea of her being with Roman. Elijah was used to hearing this because everyone always asked if they were together. Roman did the same thing when people harassed him about her. “Let’s go.”

Georgia came into the living room, her strappy heels dangling from her hand. “I’m going to stay here. Once I took these babies off, I’m not putting them back on.”

“If you leave before we get home, just lock up,” Roman instructed them as he put on his shoes.

Everyone said their goodbyes, and then it was just him. With the woman who was his nightmare.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

AGAIN, GEORGIA SAT next to him even though there was plenty of space for her to sit somewhere else. Anywhere else. It was like she was taunting him. Egging him on to make a move.

That wasn’t going to happen.

He shifted a few inches away from her.

“Do you think I should have gone out?” Georgia asked him as she leaned forward to grab a beer. “I got dressed up, but it was for no reason.”

He watched her take a sip of her drink as he debated how to answer her question. Perhaps if he stayed quiet, she’d stop talking. And if he was really lucky, she’d raid Roman’s closet for some sweats, so her soft, creamy skin wasn’t on display.

“They’re going to Pulsations, a club a few blocks from Lighthouse,” Georgia informed him like he gave a single shit about what everyone else was doing. “That’s like, what? Ten minutes from here? I’m sure Anna wouldn’t mind dropping me off, but that’s a lot of running around for her. I could just Uber.”

Elijah dropped his head back to stare at the ceiling.

“It’s not like the company is so riveting here.” Her voice held some irritation to it.

He heard her tapping away on her phone, which made him sit back up. “What are you doing?”