Page 59 of Effortless

“Also, that guy’s friend has been checking you out for the last twenty minutes.”

August pointed at the man sitting at a table a few feet away from the dance floor. Camilla found the guy was staring at her entirely unashamed at having been caught. He flashed her a cute grin which usually would have been something she took as a challenge.

Not tonight.

“Not interested,” Camilla said, turning back to the bar. She waved at the bartender down the way to make her another drink. Not that she needed it. “Maybe another night, August.”

“Seriously?”

Slowly, Camilla turned back around. “Yeah, why?”

“Camilla, that guy is topping six feet, and we both know you love tall. He’s got blue eyes, dark hair, and a killer smile. He’s built because guess what? They play hockey. All of that is entirely you’re type, but you’re not interested. Bullshit.”

She passed the guy another look, and lingered on his handsome features a bit longer to take inventory. Nothing August said was a lie. The man was built, blue-eyed, tall, and entirely her type when it came to hooking up with somebody.

His height, eye color, and haircut also reminded her of Tommaso.

Just like that, Camilla wasn’t interested. All it took was a single reminder of Tommaso, and she wanted the real thing much more than some one-night stand replacement.

“He’s not him,” Camilla said quietly, “and I’m just not interested, you know?”

August’s brow furrowed, and for a second, Camilla wondered if her friend had heard her over the club’s loud music. “Who?”

Apparently, she had heard.

Camilla shrugged. “Tom.”

“Wait, so you mean to say if the guy was blond, and dark-eyed then you might have a different opinion?”

“Nope, not at all.”

August lifted a single brow high. “Wow. Didn’t think I would see the day.”

“Shut up.”

“Still not ready to face the music, huh?”

“Shut up,” Camilla said, drawling the words out the second time. “Go dance with his friend, August, before another girl shakes her ass at him.”

“Hey!”

“For what it’s worth, you’ve got the best ass in here tonight.”

Her friend smirked. “And don’t you fucking forget it. Don’t leave without me, huh? I’ll go home with you. We can do breakfast tomorrow.”

“Don’t ruin whatever plans you were making with what’s-his-face just for—”

“I’m going home with you.”

Firm.

Absolute.

No room to argue.

Camilla nodded. “All right.”

“And hey, text the guy back, Cam.”