Nine
Ava
The sweat slicking my body becomes thicker from the deep richness of Hugo’s voice as he taunts me. Normally, I would never get up and shake my tushy in front of strangers, but the two piña coladas I downed while waiting for Hugo to run his errand made me a little bolder than normal.
In all honesty, when Rhys originally configured the bet, stating if I lost I had to go on a date with him, I had every intention of driving that bet straight off the bridge and into a freezing cold lake. Many women before me have invented far worse ruses to secure a date with him. But my best laid plans went to poop when Hugo sauntered back towards us.
Just like the past ten years of my life, every time I get a grasp on my childish crush, Hugo comes crashing back into my life with an almighty bang and throws a spanner into the works. Flirty one-liners, drunken kisses, and the hope that one day he'd see me as more than just his little sister’s best friend kept me dangling on the line, waiting patiently for an opportunity to prove my worth.
Rhys’ eyes drift between Hugo and me as he accepts the freshly prepared piña colada from Tammy. When his head slants to the side and his appearance becomes washed with confusion, I realize how intimately close Hugo and I are sitting. I scoot to the edge of my chair before accepting the cocktail glass from Rhys.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile.
My heart stops beating when Hugo adjusts his position so the space between us is even more miniscule than it was before. The hairs on the nape of my neck spike when the blasts of his hot breath flutters my neckline.
Curtly nodding, Rhys’ lips quirk as his eyes dart to the watch on his wrist. “Oh, shit, look at the time. I forgot I had a… umm… appointment tonight.”
He downs his double of vodka before placing his glass on the countertop and turning to face me. “I’m sorry I have to dare and run, Ava, but I completely forgot about the... appointment.”
“That’s okay. It was great seeing you again,” I reply, leaning in and placing a friendly kiss on his cheek. “If you’re ever after a dance off partner, look me up.”
Smiling, he wraps his arms around my shoulders and gives me a quick hug. “If things here cool down, I’ll be sure to take you up on that offer,” he whispers into my ear.
Turning his attention to Hugo, he says, “I guess I’ll be seeing you around?” His voice is hesitant, making me unsure if his statement is a question or an observation.
Hugo’s eyes snap to mine when Rhys leans into his side and mutters something in his ear. After nodding his head, Hugo pats Rhys on the back and gives him a brief man hug. The fake smile burning my cheeks sags the instant Rhys scurries out the double doors of the club as quickly as his lean legs can take him. I flop into an empty barstool and chew on the straw in my drink.
“It was probably your Gangnam dance moves that scared him away,” I grumble to myself.
My suspicions are confirmed when a broad grin stretches across Hugo’s face. I huff before pulling the straw out of my drink to throw it at his mocking face. I smile when it hits its mark on his left cheek.
“Alright, let’s just get this done and dusted, then we can move on. I'm an idiot. I made a fool out of myself to ensure I wasn’t forced to go on a date with a man most women would give their left lung for.”Allso I could continue on my non-date with a man who never gives me the time of day unless he is drunk.
This, ladies and gentlemen is a prime example as to why I'm still single.
Hugo’s brows scrunch. “Why did you give up the opportunity for a date with a guymost women would give their left lung for?” His voice turns snooty at the end of his question.
Because he is not the one I want. He’s not the one who dangles a carrot in front of my face and dares me not to touch it. He’s not the one who makes me strive to turn my fantasies into reality. And he’s also not the one who sets my pulse racing just from hearing his laugh. That honor has always solely belonged to Hugo.
Instead of saying what I really feel, I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not really looking for any companions right now,” I fib.
Hugo’s lips set into a hard line. “Because of Marvin?”
I try to hide the cringe crossing my face, but Hugo is very perceptive and notices it before I get the chance to fully suffocate it.
“Marvin and I aren’t dating,” I blurt out, mimicking his denial of dating Victoria earlier.
Hugo’s lips twist and he eyes me with curiosity but remains quiet. Marvin and I have been on a handful ofdates. I use the termdateslightly as they werenothingto call home about. It was like two work acquaintances decided to hold an informal meeting in a restaurant instead of a boardroom.
Our conversation never veered away from work, and one peck on the cheek is the closest contact we’ve had the past two weeks. He only came to Jorgie’s house for dinner tonight because I accidently let slip that Hugo was going to be there.
On that revelation, Marvin invited himself, rationalizing that he and Hugo were friends in high school and that it was a great opportunity for them to catch up. It was only after witnessing the testosterone-riddled stare down between Marvin and Hugo on Jorgie’s porch did I realize three things.
1. Marvin and Hugo haveneverbeen friends.
2. Marvin wants to push ourfriendshipto a level I’m not comfortable with.
And, last but not at all least:
