I beeline for the vacant seat next to a petite blonde sitting with her back to me and give Jake a wink. Taylor tells me to order him a beer while he makes his way to the men’s room.
I plonk down at the bar oh-so-casual, while a cute bartender walks over. Her eyes are immediately agog as she glances from Jake to me, then back to Jake again. She clearly recognizes us. It happens a lot; we’re used to it. Her dark eyes soften into a flirty smile and she flutters her eyelashes as she leans over toward us, resting her elbows on the bar.
“What can I get you?” she hollers more to Jake than me. I don’t hear his exact reply because I’m looking sideways at the blonde who seems to go out of her way to ignore me while she chats to her friend, but I know Jake is saying something dirty because I hear a faint giggle from the bartender.
“And two for the ladies.” I nod to my left. The blonde turns her head briefly but doesn’t look directly at me. The one with chestnut hair down her mid-back, tilts her head around her friend to get a look at me.
“Thanks,” she mouths. Giving her friend a little nudge that I don’t miss.
“What are you drinking, anyway?” I ask over the music.
Blondie tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and shakes her head. “I’m fine, thank you.”
I scrunch my forehead in confusion, my eyes flicking to the brunette.
“Two cosmos please,” her friend offers with raised eyebrows and a shrug.
The corner of my mouth tugs up in a smile when I see blondie elbow her friend back.
Jake remains engrossed in conversation with the bartender, who shows no sign of making our drinks.
I don’t worry about it, I’m sure they’ll come eventually.
I can’t see the blonde’s face, but I know she’s small, cute, and smells like a dream; like sugary cake or some sweet candy. It’s fucking intoxicating.
“Is your friend okay?” I call to the brunette through a cupped hand amidst the music and flashing lights. I know she hears me.
The pretty brunette blinks rapidly as we lock eyes over the other girl’s head.
“She’s just shy,” she says with a shrug.
I glance down at the woman next to me, my eyes quickly raking her over. She’s wearing a white tank and tight-fitted jeans. A row of gold bracelets gather on one tiny wrist, and a gold charm bracelet dangles on the other.
I lean into the bar on my elbows, still trying to capture her attention. “I don’t mind the shy ones,” I say, just as the music ends and the last two words come out in a shout, during the brief pause before the new song starts. Her friend laughs and I see the quirk of a smile on blondie’s perky lips.
Fucking hell, I’m an ass.
I run a hand through my wayward locks as the bartender finally tears herself away from Jake. I glance at him, he raises his eyebrows at the same time the bartender slides her number over to him.
I shake my head with a laugh. That took all of five seconds.
“Thank you,” Blondie finally says, glancing at me when the drinks slide in front of them. I immediately take a swig and place my beer bottle back on the bar.
I flash her a grin as she quickly looks away. “What say me and my friend here meet you two out on the dance floor?” I thumb beside me, though I’ve no idea what Jake is actually doing, or Taylor, for that matter.
The brunette doesn’t even let her answer before she accepts on her behalf. “We’d love to, right, J?”
I lean in again. “Come on, J. What’s one dance?”
I hear a sigh of resignation in her tone as she grabs her fresh drink and brings it up to her full, succulent lips. I watch the liquid disappear into her mouth, her tongue quickly licking the residue on her bottom lip.
Jesus fucking Christ.
“Maybe,” she finally says.
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I’m guessing her friend might have an inkling about Jake and I, but I’m not sure. Since blondie has barely looked at me, she probably doesn’t. And it doesn’t worry me one bit. Sometimes I like it better when they don’t know. I watch the side of her face for a moment, there’s something familiar there, but I shake it off. “Maybe?”
“I don’t usually dance with strangers,” she offers with a shrug of her slight shoulders.
