“Hey, Abby. Remember me?”
It’s Clark Kent. The firefighter I never called back. “Hi. How’s it going?” I feel like a jerk for not remembering his real name.
“It’s Shane, in case you forgot.”
“How are you?” I wave awkwardly as Paige nudges me.
“I’m great. Would you like to dance?”
Paige nudges me harder this time, and I practically fly into him. He laughs. “I’ll take that as a yes?”
Take life by the horns, Abby. Say yes. I nod with an embarrassed smile. Because why not?
When he takes me in his arms, I wait for that feeling, that zip of electricity I always experience when Nick’s around, but again, I’m disappointed.
But he’s a good dancer, and it’s fun to be spun around the room.
When the song ends, I thank him for the dance before I turn and nearly run into a brick wall.
“Abby.” Nick’s hands land on my shoulders to steady me.
Dang it. I was hoping to avoid him.
His date, who’s even more beautiful up close, immediately wraps her arm around his waist.
Chill, girl. He’s all yours.
I back away and force a smile on my face. “Hey, boss. Funny running into you here.”
His brows furrow as he looks between me and Shane, who sidles up next to me. Fortunately, it’s dark, and Shane’s yelling to one of his friends across the room.
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say to Nick. Nervously, I tuck my hair behind my ear. When he doesn’t bother introducing the woman he’s with, I shrug. “’K, see you later.” Then I grab Shane’s hand and drag him back to my group. No way was I going to initiate introductions. Because really I don’t want to know the name of the woman Nick’s sleeping with tonight.
Shane hangs out with us for a bit, but I’m fighting a headache and just want to go home. By the time my friends and I leave, I don’t care that it’s pouring rain and that I’m immediately soaked through.
At least I’m not thinking about Nick and his date.
Who am I kidding?
That’s all I can think about.
15
NICK
Jinxy takes me aside as the girls put on their sweaters. It’s raining so hard, you can’t see the cars in the parking lot.
Bleary-eyed, he leans toward me. “Are you sure, bro? Because Cricket is down for whatever you want to do, and it’s not even midnight yet.”
I pull out my phone for the tenth time to double-check that I don’t have any calls from Denise. Then I click on the weather app. Everything’s flashing red on the radar map, which means the rain won’t be letting up tonight. “I don’t want to keep my babysitter out in this weather. I should get going. There’s a high wind and flood advisory.”
Plus, thunder sometimes scares Hazel. I don’t want her waking up and being afraid.
He leans closer. “Why don’t you take Cricket with you? She can Uber home later.”
Jinxy has had too much to drink and isn’t thinking straight. “I’m not bringing a hookup to my house when my daughter is sleeping ten feet away. Someday, you’ll have kids and you’ll appreciate how wildly inappropriate that is.”
Rolling his eyes, he tosses back his beer. “You’ve been pissy since you saw your saucy little nanny. Just admit it. Why didn’t you tell me she’s hot as fuck?”
