Page 41 of Open To Negotiation

I just had issues from my ex and it was a bit of a sting to the ego. This was my own fault, I rejected him at every turn and wasn’t texting him back.

This was for the best.

I shoved any lingering feelings aside and joined my best friend on the dance floor. My body moved effortlessly to the beat, my hands lifted above my head as the music pulsed through me. Whenever a guy tried to edge his way into our space, we simply spun away, dodging them with easy smiles and zero interest.

After the fourth song I was warm, and Aubrey dragged me back toward the bar. I had a good buzz going so it was time for another shot because I didn’t want to lose this feeling.

“Tequila please, kind sir,” I said to the bartender who had served us before.

“Hey!” Aubrey squealed, moving to one of the high tables. She’d found Ryan and his boyfriend. I turned to wait for our shots since I was the one with free drink privileges, tapping my fingers on the bar to the beat.

“Quinn.” I froze, holding my breath hoping I had just misheard the voice. “It’s good to see you.”

I looked next to me to find my ex-boyfriend Lucas leaning against the bar beside me with a stupidly wide smile on his face.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I met his brown eyes, his brown hair was a little too long and was in need of a cut since it was getting in his eyes. He was in jeans and a grey shirt and was only about a head taller than me.

For some stupid reason I found myself comparing him to the owner of this establishment, Lucas didn’t even come close to Theo’s level of sexy. He was average in every way.

“You’re looking good, Quinn,” he said as his eyes roamed over my body.

“Did you know I was here?”

The bartender chose that moment to come over and slide me the shots.

“I got it,” Lucas said as he pulled out a credit card but the bartender just looked at me.

“You good?” His eyes bounced between Lucas and me.

“I said I can pay.” Annoyance bled into Lucas’ tone.

“I’m good,” I said as I downed my shot and slammed the glass back on the bar. “You never answered my question.” I gripped Aubrey’s shot and looked around for her. She hadn’t noticed that I was in need of a rescue.

“I have a source who let me know you were here, yes.” Lucas shot me a smile that I used to love. Now it felt sleazy.

“A source?” I asked with a frown and then let out a sigh. “Aubrey told Max where we were going.”

“I just want to talk to you.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed away from the bar, my annoyance growing. “I think not answering your calls should have been a clear message that I don’t want to talk to you. Have a good life, Lucas.” I grabbed the drink and started to walk past him, but his arm shot out and grabbed my right bicep.

“Please, Quinn, come with me somewhere. I just want to talk.” His grip tightened a little on my arm.

“I don’t want to talk to you. I have nothing to say.” I tried to pull out of his grip, but he held on causing the shot in my left hand to spill. “Hey!”

He took the empty glass and set it on the bar as I shook out my wet hand. “Hear me out.” He grabbed my left bicep now to pull me toward him.

He’d never acted like this before. He was manipulative and a jerk but he had never touched me like this. His grip was so tight it was making me wince and in another few minutes I was sure I would have bruises.

“Lucas, let me go.”

“I made a mistake.” He ignored me as I gawked at his audacity.

“You broke up with me because you’d claimed I’d let myself go, that I’d gained weight, that I talked to much and generally bored you. You said you could do better.” I tried to pull out of his hands but that only made him tighten his grip.

I was starting to feel a little panicked and was seconds away from kneeing him the balls. No one around us seemed to notice what was happening and Aubrey hadn’t come looking for me.

“You need to get over it and forgive me so we can move past it.” I shook my head, trying to yank back again. “I love you,” he said in a desperate voice, it was like he didn’t even feel me trying to get away.