“I’ll try what you are having.” I tap on his drink.
“A woman after my own heart.” He places his hand over his chest like he was just shot by an arrow. I can’t help the grin that forms on my face. He waves the bartender down. “A double scotch on the rocks, please.”
The bartender fills the cup as Kameron turns back to me.
My phone buzzes in my lap, and I look to see a message from Samuel.
A few more interviews and I’ll be home for dinner in a couple hours. I miss you.
My gut falls as I read the notification on the screen.
“Everything okay?”
Kameron’s voice cuts through me.
“Yeah, it’s ju—”
“Well, this is fun! Ready to go?” Lianne darts at me, hands on my knees as she catches her breath.
The bartender sets my drink down on the counter with a napkin neatly laid under it, then takes my empty glass as he leaves us three alone.
“Oh. You got another drink?” Straightening up, she takes a step back to register Kameron’s presence.
A curious grin develops on her face. A hint of jealousy rises in me. I don’t own this man, and he isn’t mine. But knowing Lianne has a way better shot with him than me makes my heart palpitate with nerves. I shouldn’t feel this way. It’s not like anything is going to come of this—besides a drink and a release of who I once was, Elliott.
“Yes, but we should really get going.”
Lianne is still eyeballing Kameron as I slide off the stool.
Kameron, however, is watching me intensely as if he has something he needs to say. “Can’t you stay for at least this one drink?”
It takes everything in me to not submit to the temptation in his offer.
I grab the glass of brown liquor and take it all in one clean gulp. I try to mask the sting in my throat as I place the glass down. I feel a bit of scotch stream down the corner of my mouth.
Kameron’s eyes fixate on it and wipes it up with his thumb.
Without thinking, I run my tongue out, licking it off of him. A burning hue glows in his eyes as he watches the scene. My heart has never beat so rapidly in such a way that I craved more of it. An ache grows between my legs, and my breath catches in my throat.
No. I can’t. Don’t even think about it, Elliott—I meanEden. Crap.
“It was nice to meet you, Kameron,” I say, causing Lianne’s jaw to drop. “Thank you very much for the drink. But I really have to go.” I step forward, looping Lianne’s arm with mine.
But Kameron sidesteps in front of me, arms up, letting me know he means no harm. “Meeting you, Elliott, made my day.” He grins before taking my hand in his and kissing the top of it.
My whole arm heats up with a tingle, and I slowly take my hand away. Giving him a nod, I pull Lianne’s stunned body with me.
Her head cranes to keep her eyes on Kameron as we leave the bar. “Who the hell was that? And who is Elliott?” She stammers with a smile, pulling closer to me as we walk to the car.
“No clue. He just came up to me at the bar and wanted to buy me a drink.” I shrug, trying to ignore the joy developing in my chest.
“Okay, firstly. He was yumm-y. Secondly, Elliott?”
I take a deep breath. “That was my name before coming to Everton.” Not stopping my sidesteps, I look at her sideways and say, “It just came out. I didn’t think it through.”
“Well, I like her!” She practically bounces next to me. “She is fiery!”
I don’t say it out loud, but I like Elliott, too. It feels... good to be her. Even if it is for just a moment.
