“What can I say.” I lift my eyes to hers, smiling when she catches me checking her out. “I was having a blast.” I shrug, owning it.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.” Straightening up, she glances back to the dance floor, her eyes briefly stopping on the men that still hover there.
“Do you think they’re waiting for me?” she asks, and I cough to hide my snicker.
“Iknowthey are. Without a doubt.”
“Should I go home with one?”
My gaze shoots to hers, but I can’t tell if she’s serious or not. “That’s not a question I can answer.”
“Would it bother you if I did?”
“Yes,” I say honestly because we’ve already established I can’t lie. “But it’s not for the reason you’re thinking.”It would bother me because I’d fucking worry.
“Trust me, I know.” She shakes her head, her lips pulled in a soft smile. “I see you, Reed. And I appreciate it. I love sex as much as the next person, but I don’t need it every night.”
“Good to know.” I stand and offer her my hand, pulling her up next to me when she takes it. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
I turn to walk but she fakes a gasp, drawing my attention before she giggles. “I take back what I said. I’m always up for sex. Your place or mine?”
Suppressing a grin, I shake my head until she laughs out loud and my smile breaks through.
“I don’t mind getting an Uber,” she adds with a quick glance toward the exit. “It’s probably out of your way.”
“Do you know where I live?”
“Nope. But I can guarantee it’s a better area than mine.”
“All the more reason for me to go with you. Come on. We can share a taxi.”
She stares at me for a beat, undoubtedly thinking up another excuse. Because despite telling me she doesn’t need sex every night, the wanton look in her eyes says otherwise. Too bad I don’t mind being a cockblock to her in her drunken stupor. She can fuck whoever she wants when she’s of sound mind.
Raising an eyebrow in challenge, I gesture to the bar that leads to the exit, and Hayley releases an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, I’ll come.” She surprises me, linking her arm through mine, guiding us toward the door, using me as a support more than I think she realizes.
There’s a taxi waiting when we step into the fresh night air, and I open the door to let her inside before sliding in beside her, letting the driver know there will be two stops.
After giving the driver her address, Hayley lays her head against the backrest, closing her eyes, and it occurs to me that she may not be feeling so good now that she’s stopped dancing.
“Shit. I never asked if you were okay. We should stop for water.”
She smiles without opening her eyes. “You really are the trifecta, aren’t you,” she whispers, her brows furrowing as though her words confuse her.
God knows, they confuse me. “The trifecta?”
“Yeah.” She straightens up to face me. “Hot body, pretty face, and one of the most genuine guys I think I’ve ever met.”
“You barely know me.” I chuckle, giving her shoulder a nudge.
“That may be so, but you wear your heart on your sleeve. The whole world can see it.”
Her words sting as they bite into me but I don’t let her see it. “Maybe that’s the Reed I want the world to see,” I say honestly, keeping my voice light and a smile on my face. “Maybe if you got to know me better, you’d see a different side of me.”
Hayley frowns as she stares into my eyes, seemingly looking for the truth to my words, and after a beat, she must find something because a bright smile lights up her features. “I guess that’s what I’ll have to do.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.” She yawns and a smile tugs at my lips. “In fact,” she continues, sliding her ass closer to mine, “I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other moving forward. I’m too intrigued to walk away.” She rests her head on my shoulder and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. Then, in a moment of vulnerability, she sighs. “You’ll make sure I get home safe, right?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wasn’t wrong… You’re one of the good ones?”
