One that never came.
But she also didn’t immediately turn to leave, so I took the win. It became a bigger one when she started walking to meet me halfway, oblivious to the way the other men stared at her.
The wayIstared at her.
When we reached each other, she didn’t stop until her body was nearly touching mine. It was closer than I expected her to get, but it wasn’t as close as I wanted her.
As I needed her.
Her full lips curved into a fuckable pout as she looked down at the glass I forgot I held, and I tried to pass it to her.
“What is it?” she asked.
Most of my birthday night was a blur, but not any of the parts to do with the siren from the roof—including her drink order. “Tequila, club soda, and lime.”
She finally smiled—a small one, but I would take it. “Presumptuous that I would show.”
“Confident.”
She still didn’t accept the glass as she studied me. She kept her voice low so nearby ears couldn’t hear.
And they were listening.
“You okay?” she whispered.
“Yeah, why?”
“Your texts made it sound like you were being tortured.”
“I was.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You weren’t here.”
That didn’t get a smile. It got an eye roll, and that was almost as good. “Seriously, what’s happening?”
“Nothing. Why?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she opened her mouth before letting out a muffled cry. She yanked her phone from her purse and hit a button, but not before I saw missed calls.
A shit-ton of them.
Possessive fucker.
But would I be any different?
AmI any different when she’s not even mine?
That jealousy from earlier rotted in my gut. I didn’t get the chance to ask questions I had no right to ask—but I was damn sure going to—when the phone in her hand lit up again, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Excuse me. I’ll be right back,” she rushed out, already storming toward the open doors that led to the back terrace.
She wanted space.
I didn’t give it to her.
Setting the untouched drink on a table, I followed. I dodged people who couldn’t read the damn room and tried to stop me to shoot the shit. By the time I got outside, she was in the far corner with her back to me.
