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I felt my mouth hike up. “He’s asking if I’d like to eat at the lounge before we go play.”
“So he’s making it clear that he isn’t only interested in boning you. Even better. I like Delaney.”
I typed:Sure. 7pm ok?
He replied:7 is great. See you then.
I looked up at Briar. “When I told him that Ryland cheated, he asked how a bloke could want anyone else when he had me.”
“Okay, so I really,reallylike Delaney.”
I stuffed my phone in my purse. “You know something? So do I.”
Chapter Five
The following night, I grimaced from my barstool at the lounge, my gaze on Inaya and the bloke who was currently chatting her up. “This is actually uncomfortable to watch. Painful, even.”
“I am cringing on his behalf,” said Briar, nibbling on her thumb. “He’s gonna crash and burn, I can see it.”
Cat exhaled heavily. “Most guys do when it comes to Inaya. But who could blame her for being put off by all the fumbling and stuttering and gushing they do around her? That kind of male desperation isn’t exactly a turn-on.”
“Yeah, starstruck isn’t a good look for anyone,” I agreed, lifting my glass from the bar.
“To be fair,” began Briar, “it would be hard for a guy not to be nervous when hitting on Inaya. Even the most confident of men are intimidated by not only her success but how gorgeous and self-assured she … Dammit, how does she do that? When I reject a dude, he calls me a frigid bitch or acts like an ass. When she does it, guys often walk away smiling. It’s like her super power. And I want it.”
I snickered and then glanced at the wall clock. Cole should be here any second—hence the hum of excitement in my blood. When I’d texted him earlier to confirm that we were still meeting up tonight, he’d mentioned that he’d booked a privateroom for us but he’d refused to expand further. I wasn’t a fan of surprises—something I made clear, but he’d only replied with an emoji that had its mouth zipped shut.
As Inaya neared us, I smiled and said, “So, yet another bloke bit the dust.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Not to be mean, only brutally honest … I can’t feel drawn toward someone who is literally sweating as he talks to me.”
“Sweating?” echoed Cat, pulling a face.
“His hands were clammy, and there were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead and upper lip.” Inaya leaned against the bar. “Worse than all that, he kept raving about my music and my voice blah, blah, blah. He saw Inaya Rose the rock singer, not me.” She sighed. “Many do.”
“At least they comment onyourcareer and not your mom’s.” Briar chugged back some of her pink gin. “I can’t count the number of times a guy started talking about how he’s such a big fan of Alondra. Which wouldn’t have been bad if there wasn’t a glint in their eye that told me it was her physical attributes that they were mostly a fan of.”
Cat frowned, giving an astonished shake of the head. “You’d think they’d have the sense to hide it.”
“And yet …” Briar let the sentence trail off and then cut her gaze back to Inaya. “It’s a shame he got all starstruck on you. He’s super cute.”
Inaya waved that away. “I would have turned him down in any case, since you and me agreed to have a girls’ night out while Izzy and Cat are off getting laid, the traitors.”
I felt my brow crease. “How does that make us traitors?”
Inaya lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know, but it does.”
I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my cocktail.
Sliding her gaze to Briar, Cat crossed one leg over the other. “Any idea when Grover will be back in Redwater?”
Briar shook her head. “I haven’t spoken to him in a while.” Her brows dipped. “I should probably call him. I said I would, but I forgot.”
Inaya frowned. “This dude is clearly an afterthought to you. What is the point of being in an arrangement with him? Especially when he’s barely around? Why let him have rights to you? I don’t get it.”
Briar rubbed at her brow. “Can we not talk about this?”
Inaya sighed. “Fine. But there’s only so long we’ll let you get away with blowing us off.” Her eyes snapped to something behind me. “Iz, brace yourself. Some hot dude is on his way over, looking at you like he’d gobble you up in a heartbeat.”
