Page 10

“Having fun.” She giggles and then throws her head back and raises her hands in the air. “Rosie just wants to have fun.” She stumbles back, and I step forward quickly to catch her in case she falls. “One dance, Brett. Is that too much to ask for?”

“One dance,” I agree reluctantly and follow her to the dance floor.

I haven’t danced with anyone since college, and I didn’t really love it then either. I turn to look over my shoulder, and I see Jimmy the Fish grinning at me as he serves a group of men. I shake my head. I should go home. I have an early start tomorrow, and I have to call my grandparents. The thought of the day ahead makes me stiffen. I’m not looking forward to it.

“Let’s see your best moves, Brett.” She grabs my hand and pulls me closer to her as her body twitches this way and that. Her eyes are bright, and she moves her head in beat to the music before she spins around and pulls my arm around her waist. “Tonight is about the music.”

She moves her ass back and forth, and I can feel it brushing against my body. I try to ignore the feeling of electricity that courses through me at her touch. I don’t even think she notices it. Izzy and Lucia are dancing to the right of us, laughing and bouncing all the way to the ground, and I can tell everyone is having an amazing time … even if the speed dating hasn’t gone as well as they hoped. I attempt to move back and forth, but I feel completely out of place—sober, stiff, and seemingly out of it. I do not like to dance.

“Come on, Brett.” Rosie turns around as the music slows and wraps her arms around my neck. “Spin me around your axis, like the universe, baby.” Her eyes flutter as she moves a little bit slower, her body pressed against mine. “Wait, does that even make sense?” She sounds and looks like she’s confusing herself.

“You’re exhausted.” I move her back and forth, in beat to the music.

“I’m just a little drunk and a tad tired.” She pouts and rests her head on my shoulder. “I’m going to relax my eyes.”

“I think you should go to bed,” I say, but I’m not sure she can hear me over the loud music. “I think Rosie should go home,” I call out to Lucia, who is looking at her phone and shaking her head.

“Can you take her?” she asks as she looks up. “Izzy and I are going to go to the bonfire party at the beach after this.”

“I guess so.” I frown as she shows her phone to Izzy, and Izzy squeals with delight about something. “Hey, Rosie, I’m going to take you home.”

“You just want to have your wicked way with me,” she teases me sleepily as her eyes flutter open. “I’m joking. I know you’re not interested in lil’ ol’ me.” She repeats the words that she said earlier.

I don’t bother to correct her. Partially because she’s right, and I don’t want to encourage her in thinking anything different.

Rosie Meadows is gorgeous. I noticed that immediately when I first met her. But she’s also twenty-two, a huge flirt, and too open and trusting for her own good. I’m the exact opposite of her—introspective, closed off, with a steel cage around my heart. I have no time for flirting and no interest in a young woman who believes love can save the world. I’m ten years older than her, and I know there’s no such thing as love. And it certainly can’t save the world. The only thing love is good for is burning the earth into pieces.

“I will get you home safely so that you can go to bed. By yourself.”

“By myself?” She rolls her eyes. “Is that your way of saying you’re not attracted to me?”

“That’s my way of telling you that you’re safe with me.” I hold on to her hand as I pull her off of the dance floor.

I don’t bother to tell her that she’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen in my life. That if she was a stranger, I’d have her red dress on the floor in seconds before I teased her mercilessly until she begged me to take her. I don’t tell her that I’d fuck her all night long until she was incapable of fucking for at least a few days. I don’t tell her that I wonder if she tastes as sweet as she smells. Not because I don’t feel any of it. But because I will never let those thoughts go any further than my dreams.

Rosie is in my circle. And she’s too good for a man like me. I would break someone like Rosie. I’m not a forever sort of man. I’m a good-for-one-night sort of man. And I know Rosie isn’t a woman who wants just one night. She deserves better than that.

“I guess we really are friends then, huh?” She stares up at me and presses her finger to my cheek. “I guess maybe we can become best friends. Do you want to be my gay bestie?”

“I’m not gay, Rosie.”

“I know. I mean, do you want to be my bestie of the opposite sex who is totally not attracted to me in any way, and I will be your bestie of the opposite sex who is totally not attracted to you in any way either?”

“I’m not sure what you’re asking me, but maybe it’s the alcohol speaking.” I look around and head over to Dalton and Sage, who are standing with their arms around each other, swaying back and forth. “Rosie’s had a bit too much to drink, so I’m going to take her home.”

“He’s going to take me home and tuck me into bed like a nice young man.” Rosie giggles and points at her sister. “I told you he was nice.”

“You sure you’re okay with taking her home?” Sage asks me, her face softer than it normally is when she addresses me. I know she’s still a little wary of me, even though she is much more amicable to me than she was when we first met. “Because Dalton and I can take her home and⁠—”

“I want my new best friend, Brett, to take me.” Rosie grabs my hand and squeezes. “I’ve always wanted a male bestie.”

“And apparently, I’ve been chosen.”

“Aren’t you the lucky one to be my escort?”

“So very lucky.” I turn to Sage, and she just offers me a smile before handing her sister a glass of water.

“Drink this, Rosie. And thanks, Brett. I appreciate you taking care of her.”