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“Right!” Clare pounded a fist on the bar, and I jumped slightly.
“You’re both crazy,” I said.
“What’s crazy about that?” Alex asked, and for the first time, I actually turned and looked him straight in the eyes. Maybe the alcohol was already settling my nerves, or perhaps I’d had enough of this silly conversation.
“Why are we even talking about this? And why areyouhere? This is my place. We come here every Tuesday. Are you stalking me now? Hoping you might get an invitation to watch?”
“Maybe you’re stalking me; I was here first.” He paused, a sly grin slipping over his mouth. “And I wouldn’t want to just watch.”
Well, there went the heat to my cheeks again. I turned away and busied myself with tearing a napkin to shreds.
Clare pointed at the napkin. “See, she’s sexually frustrated.”
“I am not sexually frustrated!” I snapped at her.
“Then why are you killing the napkin? What did it ever do to you?”
I balled up the pieces left in my hands and tossed them to the bar. “Fine, I’m done.”
“If you just used your rabbit—”
I put a finger in her face. “If you say one more thing about that damn rabbit, I’m going to knock you off the barstool.”
Clare laughed and turned to Alex. “She really is sexually frustrated. She’s usually a lot nicer than this.”
He didn’t reply, but when I glanced his way, there was still a lopsided grin on his face. I shook my head and stared at the mirror behind the bar. Unfortunately, from that view, I could see him still watching me, and I looked out the window.
For the next thirty minutes, Clare and Alex chatted about a variety of topics, although most had to do with sex. I tuned them out and from time to time would look in the mirror and study him. He really was an attractive man, and every time he laughed, my body reacted to it. I hated myself a little for that because I did not want to be attracted to him. He reminded me too much of my brother’s best friend, Will.
I downed the rest of my drink, prepared to leave Clare to her new friend, when two other people came up to our group, and he stood to speak to them.
“I’m glad you came back, Jump.” Alex grinned and slapped the guy on the back.
“When I asked Laurie what she wanted to do, she said, just hang out. I figured if you were still here, we could do it together.”
“That’s great. It’s nice to meet you, Laurie. Here, you can have my seat.” He stood, shifting so that she could get seated, and his friend Jump stood next to her chair, which put him next to me as Clare swiveled her seat around to face the expanded group.
“Jump, Laurie, this is Clare and Lexi.” He introduced them, and we said our hellos.
“You didn’t tell me you were meeting other friends,” Jump said to Alex.
He glanced at Clare. “I met Clare tonight, and Alex lives in my building. We actually just met last night for the first time.” He let his gaze land on me, and I wondered what he thought as his eyes seemed to darken in my direction.
