“Back to stalking, are we, sex pest?” He snorts and bows his head, throwing his card down on the bar when Stella returns with the drinks.
“On me.” He attempts to hand over his card, which I promptly flick away, handing mine to Stella and giving him my best unimpressed once-over.
“Not on your life, hotshot.”
Stella offers us a playful headshake, taking my card to pay for the drinks and handing it back before taking Caleb’s order.
Caleb still hasn’t made eye contact with me, hasn’t offered a teasing joke, or to take me home, or…anything annoying, really. Which is just so odd…and that’s the excuse I give myself for why I prod him about his plans.
“So, whatareyou doing here then?”
“Scoping the options, I suppose.” I try my hardest to hide my wince.It’s fine, it’sperfecteven, that he is looking for other women. That’s what you wanted, Rosie.
Thisiswhat you wanted.
No strings.
Nonexclusive, remember?
He turns to me once Stella hands him the drink he ordered, leaning an elbow on the bar and sipping as his eyes finally, and unnervingly, stare right into mine. “A bit like you’re doing, I’d guess.” He gestures at Kyle/Kale/Not-Kevin’s direction and I feel my lips pull into a satisfied smirk.
“He was a bore, but I’m here with the girls, I was just seeing who tonight’s lucky winner will be.” I let a smirk tug at my lips, just enough to be a tease. As Caleb reaches for Addy’s martini, I grab Casey’s gin, and we slowly head for the girls’ table. “So, slot’s open if you’re free for some fun later?” I hedge, hoping like hell my earlier thoughts didn’t seep through my words and make me sound desperate—there is nothing that sounds more horrific than me beingdesperate.
I can feel him watching me, so I play into it, letting him see how he affects me, my bottom lip drawn between my teeth…and tell myself that it’s all just an act. I hear a low groan followed by a rough laugh, though it’s more breathy and empty of any humor.
“Tempting, Rosebud. But I’m all booked up,” he says quietly as we make it to the table. I can’t help the frown that pulls at my eyes as he places Addy’s drink in front of her, giving them both a charming smile, a friendly kiss to their cheeks in greeting, before another wave and heading off. He gives me one quick, knowing glance over his shoulder and then I see him saunter up to a brunette.
She’s stunning, naturally. Caleb’s taste has always been in the top 1 percent for as long as I have known him. Exhibit A: Yours truly. She has thick, long, and loose waves that go all the way down her back, warm brown skin, and legs that go all the way to heaven in that tiny black skirt. She has curves like mine, though she has at least five inches on me. I watch, completely enraptured by the way he looms over her, the tuck of her hair behind her ear, the trail of his thumb over her cheekbone, and I’m completely assaulted by a memory.
“You have four freckles here.” He drags his thumb under the bottom corner of my eye. “They form a star.” His palm presses against my cheek as he pushes hair behind my ear.
“You good, girl?”
I suck in a breath at the intrusion of the memory, my attention zapping back to Casey and her matching quizzical look to Addison’s. I huff a laugh, nearly choking on a quick gulp of my drink.
“Fine, just been a long week, you know.”Liar.
“Right.” Casey narrows her eyes at me, and Addy just tilts her head in confusion.
“Anyway!” I smack my hands on the table and they both seem to come to their senses and let me drop the topic. “What are we doing for the Fourth?”
“Noah is taking me to Chicago, we’re spending it with his mom and sister.”
“Jessie is whisking me away.” Casey sighs as she brushes an arm in the air.
“It’s only June 11 and you guys have already made plans?” Iknow. I can hear my tone, too, and I sound like a spoiled brat, but…c’mon.“This is why I need single friends,” I mumble into my glass. Addy smacks me on the arm playfully.
“Come on, it’s not that bad, plus you do have single friends, you have the guys, Stella, Riley?—”
“Oh no, Riley has that boyfriend now, remember,” Casey chimes in, the gossip glowing in her eyes.
“Oh yeah! I need to talk to her about that…that was fast. Lucas reckons he’s over all the time and he doesn’t like him.” Addison sounds concerned, but I just laugh under my breath.
“I think he has reasons other than the guy’s character for not liking him.”
“What do you mean?” Addison asks, and I tilt my head to give her the look. When she still doesn’t click, I let my eyes do the talking and I watch as hers narrow in understanding.
“No,” she whispers.
