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My personality wasway too upbeat to indulge in negative thoughts about Colby or crazy, aggressive Simone. And maybe I’d received a bit of a charge from Colby’s eyes tracking me the entire time I was dancing with Will. After a number of drinks and celebrating that Haylee had actually managed to get Josh onto the dance floor, we all headed next to a bar a couple hotels over. The best part about this stop was we were now back to the initial group of friends and, thankfully, without Simone and Rachel.
The bar was much quieter than the club had been and, luckily, not very crowded at midnight. As one half of our party played pool, I sat at a table with Sasha, Brian, and Colby. I wondered if he and I would ever get to the point where his arm would be around me, sitting here comfortably like an actual couple in front of our friends.
Brian looked over toward Will talking with Mark by the pool table. “So, Haylee told me Will was out in LA recently.”
“Yeah. I recruited him to come to the hospital with me and dress up as Prince Charming for the kids.”
“And?” Brian prodded, earning him a kick under the table from Sasha.
“And what?” What in the hell was he doing?
“Damn, if you don’t think Will is attractive enough for you, then you may be pickier than I thought.”
My face heated, especially since Colby was at the table. “I didn’t say he was unattractive, but we’re only friends. Since when are you trying to set me up?” My brother had never done this type of thing before.
“You two went out that night in New York. Then I heard he came to see you, and tonight I didn’t miss the way you two were dancing with one another earlier. I thought maybe you were into him, and he’d be good boyfriend material.”
I was shocked. Everything I’d done was to get Colby’s attention, not Will’s.
“What exactly does good boyfriend material entail these days?” Colby interjected. He tried to act casual, yet I knew there was an ulterior motive in him asking that question of my brother.
Brian seemed to think this was hilarious coming from Colby, but Sasha wouldn’t let him answer.
“Believe me when I say that information should come from the girls, not the boys.” She looked at my brother, putting her hand lovingly on his face. “And the thing that makes great boyfriend material is open communication and a learning curve. We women aren’t always easy to figure out.”
Brian kissed her palm before turning back to us. “I’d love to refute that statement, but alas, it’s very true. We boys need a guide.”
“We girls need one, too, because no one goes into a relationship as a previous success story in one,” Sasha added.
We all laughed, and I saw Colby relax somewhat after their answers, even if he did seem quieter than normal.
Haylee and Josh came over a short time later with Haylee yawning. “Sorry, guys. I’m afraid this is as late as I go.”
Josh hugged her tight. “Time to get this party animal home. The limo is leaving, but I can send it back here if anyone wants to stay longer.”
Deciding to return with them to the hotel, I finished up my drink and then took a detour via the ladies’ room before heading outside to step into the waiting car. When the door closed, however, I realized Colby and Mark were missing. “Hey, we’re down two.”
Josh spoke up. “Nope, they’re staying out.”
“Oh.” I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from asking any further questions, such as what they were doing. I worked to quiet any doubts about Colby leaving by reminding myself that, when it came down to it, I trusted him.
Unfortunately, sitting next to my brother in the limo, I overheard him whisper too loudly to Josh. “If anyone can get Mark laid tonight by going to find Simone and Rachel at the strip club, it’ll be your little brother. But if not, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the two girls for himself. Heaven knows, he’s the only man who can pull that off routinely.”
Josh shook his head. “Obviously, some things never change with him.”
And that was the problem in a nutshell. In letting them believe he was intending to meet those women at the strip club, he had the very two men he hoped to someday convince our relationship was valid thinking he was still the same guy he’d always been. After tonight, how the hell did he think he’d ever be able to prove to my brother he’d changed his notorious ways and was monogamous with me?
