John steadied his tipsy girlfriend and turned to Chris. “Listen, man, Misha’s not feeling too good. I think I need to get her home. Would you mind giving us a lift?”
Chris’s eyes filled with concern as he reached into his pocket for his keys. “Of course.” His head popped up, suddenly. “Are her parents home?”
“I just called her sister, and she said she’d leave the back door open.” John gave him a look as if to say he’d thought of that.
Chris started to leave, then glanced back at me and turned to his friends. “I’ll be right there.” He pointed in the direction of the parking lot.
John quickly glanced at me and gave a single nod, then turned and walked away with Misha.
Chris turned to me. “Listen, Amy, it was great meeting you.” He held my gaze for a moment. “I have to get my friends back.” He dangled his keys in the air as if to remind me he was the designated driver.
I smiled back at him. “Great meeting you too, Chris.”
And it really had been.
CHAPTER 9
Iwatched Chris help his friends into the backseat and then hop in the front. I turned to head back inside. That’s when I noticed Rick standing with about half the same crowd of people I’d seen him with earlier. They seemed to have been making plans to meet up at a different place. I couldn’t help but wonder if one of the two girls with him were a girlfriend. A slim woman with sleek black hair was all over him, but he seemed to be pushing her playfully to her redheaded friend.
“I think you’d better cut this one off when you get to Charlie Two’s,” I heard him say.
The girl didn’t look drunk at all. She was clearly coming on to Rick, sober as one can appear to be. I shook my head at his subtle way of rejecting the attention.
Another guy in the group reached for his keys then tossed them into the other hand to pat Rick once on the shoulder. “We’ll catch up with you later, man.” He looked about the same age as Rick, but slightly shorter. He had naturally curly dark hair and a friendly smile.
Rick gave a single nod to the guy as his friends took off, then leaned against the brick wall. Alone.
I started to head back in to look for Rachel, then hesitated, since I didn’t want to directly pass him. I wondered if he’d purposely placed himself in front of the stairwell leading back in. But then again, I might have been overthinking it.
Rick scanned the parking lot to where Chris’s car had just pulled out. Then he turned to face me, willing me to look at him.
I caved. “What?”
“I didn’t say anything,” he said defensively.
“Okay, then!” I stalked past him to get back inside.
“So what was it?” he called.
I pressed my lips together, knowing I’d probably regret this. I stopped midstride and turned.
Shaking my head lightly, I threw one hand in the air. “What was what?”
“So impressive about that guy? I have to say…that was a new look for you.”
“What look was that?” I jerked my head back.
“I don’t know, like you were impressed by every word he said.”
I suddenly felt myself flush in embarrassment. Had I really done that? I mentally clicked the rewind button in my head over my conversation with Chris. But if I was hanging on to every word, it wasn’t unwarranted. After all, the guy was impressive. I could have learned a lot from him—if he hadn’t taken off so quickly.
“And what would have been so terrible if I was impressed by him?” I finally answered.
“With Chris?” He shrugged “Nothing I guess, if you like that type.”
“What’s not to like? Did you know he got a full scholarship to UConn School of Business? He already knows where he’s applying to law school, and pretty much has the next ten years all planned out. I admire him.” I blinked at my words. How could I have said that about someone I’d just met?
“Ahh, because that’s what you want in a relationship—admiration.” He rose an index finger in the air mockingly.
