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"Just myself." I hook my leg over the edge of the barstool. "Don't necessarily think anyone else will notice."
Nolan snorts. "Trust me, there are a number of men who notice everything you do when you're in here. Just because Abel can't get off his ass, doesn't mean other men can't or won't. Don't sell yourself short."
The way he smirks at me doesn't give me the ick, but it also doesn't give me the butterflies either. It's the part that fucking pisses me off. There are plenty of men who have been interested, but hardly anyone else makes me feel like Abel does. "Thank you for that."
"I didn't say it to be nice. It's the truth."
My cheeks heat as he looks me up and down. "Thank you. Can I get a drink?" I ask Alexis.
"What do you want tonight? Doesn't seem like a beer night. Maybe something a little more potent?"
"Give me a Jack and Coke."
"Ohh you're gonna get wild tonight, aren't ya?"
I don't say anything, but as my gaze goes through the bar, I see a group of men walking through the door. It's Abel and his group of friends. He glances at me, his eyes heating as he gets a good look at how I've dressed myself up tonight. Until this moment, I forgot how I decided to dress tonight. My hair is curled, lips are a dark red, and I'm wearing a sparkling shirt that hopefully twinkles in the dim light of this bar.
Alexis shoves my drink across the bar top at me, and I catch it in my palm. His green eyes are so dark they're near black. I pull the glass up to my lips and take a healthy drink. Raising my eyebrow toward him, I mouth the words.
Ball's in your court, Wilson.
Nolan is sitting next to me, warming the stool he's normally in when he's here. He looks over his shoulder, seeing Abel. When he turns back around, he smirks at me. "Wanna dance?"
There's absolutely never been anything between me and Nolan. He's fun, and we've sung karaoke a few times, but it's fun for us, there's no hint of attraction on either side. Even though most of Broken Falls would love to be on the receiving end of a fun night with Nolan, he's not looking for anything serious and prefers to have fun. Raising my eyebrow, I give him a grin. "Sure, as long as you know what I'm doing."
"Oh, I feel the daggers in my back from Abel. I am fully aware. Let's go cut a rug."
The way he says it makes me laugh. It seems like such a young phrase for a guy who's always so serious. I reach out my hand, putting my palm in his. "Let's go."
CHAPTER THREE
Abel
She's doing this shit on purpose. Laughing and grinning at Nolan as if she has no care in the world. Serves me right, though. She told me the ball was in my court, and I'm sitting here peeling the label on my beer bottle, instead of going out there and rightfully claiming what's mine.
"How long are you going to sit here and steam?" Jasper asks, his eyes following mine.
"I don't know," I shrug. "At this point it's a study in patience and self-sabotage."
Barrett is lifting his beer bottle to his mouth, but stops when he hears me. The side of his lips tilt up in a sardonic grin. "How's that going for you?"
I throw the cap of my beer at him. Grabbing it back up when he holds his hand up to block it. "You know exactly how the fuck it's going for me."
"Which is why I'm wondering what the fuck you're doing sitting here, watching the two of them dirty dance. In fifteen minutes, they'll be Ja Rule and J. Lo'ing it to some old-school karaoke song and you're gonna be sitting here fucking pouting over shit you could've prevented."
God. I hate him. He might be my best friend, but I hate him. Especially when he's right. He's annoying and a know-it-all.
Jasper purses his lips. "He's not wrong. You definitely had the upper hand when she kissed you, and you somehow managed to squander that shit away. It's like you were part of a football team who had a fifty-point lead with three minutes to go and fucked it up. I'm still trying to figure out how you did that."
"Thank you," I glare at him. "For being such a friend and helping me to try and figure out how to unfuck this situation. You're a real gem. You know that right?"
"Hey, I'm not supposed to be telling you what you want to hear. I'm supposed to be telling you what you need to hear. If I was blowing bullshit up your ass every day, you'd think you were perfect. Which," he motions to everyone, "I think we'd all agree you are definitely not."
Jesus Christ, who needs enemies when you have friends like this? I sigh heavily, letting my gaze find Kara and Nolan on the dance floor again. They're taking a break, both putting glasses to their lips, but her hazel eyes meet mine before they fall back toward the floor. In that couple of seconds, I can see what my life would be like if I gave her what she asked of me.
I down my beer and get up from my seat.
"Go get 'em tiger," Barrett claps for me.
