“Hi, nice to meet you,” I say, holding out a hand to each of the guys.
They each say a variation of “You, too,” and then we all stand awkwardly for a moment outside The Big Five.
“Should we head in?” I suggest.
Tahnee stops her obvious ogling of Justin to agree with me. “Yep, come on.”
She loops her arm with Justin's and begins walking in, leaving me with Damien.
He turns to me and smiles. “After you.”
I'm already regretting that I agreed to this whole thing in the first place, and I can tell that Tahnee is probably going to be in her own little world the entire night, leaving me to entertain Damien.
But I couldn't exactly cancel on her at the last minute, even if I'm still not entirely sure why she needed an extra person with her. It may have been Justin who needed it more so than her.
Entering the bar, we find a seat at one of the high tables, and Tahnee takes the stool opposite me, meaning Damien has to sit next to me. I give Tahnee an unimpressed look to which she widens her eyes and gives me a 'give it a chance' look.
I can't completely blame her for trying to encourage me to get to know this guy better and have a good time. She has no idea that I've been spending time with Jacob, that I slept with him. Or that I'm in love with him.
Wait . . . in love?
I lean back on my stool while I mull over that thought in my head. I liked him beforeI knew the truth. But now that I do know it all and know what he's been through, the type of person he really is, yeah, I think I do love him.
I always want to see him.
I want him to be happy.
I want to makehim happy.
That look in his eyes when I sunk down onto him for his first time, the one that gives me shivers just thinking about . . . I always want to see that.
And I want to help mend some of his damaged pieces. I say 'damaged' because I don't think he's broken.
If he were truly broken, I don't think he would still be here trying to make a life in this town. I don't think he'd look at me with such expressive eyes like he does. And I don't think he'd be concerned about hurting me or how the town would treat me if they knew I was his friend. I also doubt that he'd bother making me food or ask whether I was okay.
So, yeah, he's definitely damaged, but he's not broken.
And I think I'm in love.
It hasn't been all that long, but I've heard before that sometimes it can only take a moment, an instant in time for that connection to be made, a bond to be formed. And I think we have that.
I admit that his reaction to me coming here for drinks tonight was a little upsetting, but I can't say that I blame him. I don't think I'd like the idea of it if the roles were reversed. And the fact that he reacted that way tells me that he at least cares about me, too.
“Remi?” I'm pulled from my thoughts by Tahnee saying my name.
“I'm sorry, what?”
“Damien asked what drink you'd like. They're going to go get them.”
I look to the guys who are standing next to the table. I hadn't even noticed them get up.
“Oh, sorry. I'll have a glass of red wine, please. It doesn't matter which type.”
“No worries,” Damien says with a smile in my direction. “Back in a minute.”
As soon as they're out of earshot, Tahnee leans forward. “Gah, I'm sorry if I've put you in an uncomfortable position. I just get so, so . . . I don't know. All I can think about is what it'll be like to have sex with him.”
“Oh my goodness.” I chuckle. “Why does it not surprise me that you just said that?” She just shrugs in response, her lips curling into a smile that I return. “And it's okay. It's just drinks, right?”
