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“I was just screwed over too,” Willow shares, as she latches on to Evan’s other arm. He walks into Focus with two stunning women on his arms. I’ve done good.
I called the bartender in advance and asked him to hold a table for us. So when we walk in, Tate gives me a nod and points to our table.
Evan looks back at me. “Impressive, you’ve got connections here.” He’s still grinning as we head to the table and take a seat. Rosie and Willow take the seats on either side of Evan. I have to admit, when I planned this night out, I figured the girls would help Evan find a hookup at the bar, not be his hookup. I’ve known these girls a long time and I feel like it would be weird if they hooked up with one of the players from the team. If things went south, it would be awkward for me because I still need to work with these guys. I don’t want to hold any hard feelings if one of my girls gets their heart broken.
A server comes around and takes our order. “Hey, you’re Evan Hayworth.”
“Hey, man.” Evan nods.
“Bro, can I get a picture with you?” the server asks.
“Of course,” Evan says with a smile. It reminds me of all the times my father got stopped by fans as I was growing up. Now my twin, Kevin, is in the same position. Evan plays his part with grace as the server reaches into his back pocket for his phone. He looks at Willow and Willow grins and leans into Evan.
“Sorry, I meant would you mind taking the pic?” the server asks Willow.
Willow frowns but agrees. She gets up with an eye roll and walks over to the other side of the table to snap the shot.
“Thanks.” The server grins and then he moves on to take our order.
I order a glass of wine and Evan orders a Coke. We sit chatting at the table but this isn’t what tonight is supposed to be about, so I interrupt.
“We should all disperse and head over to the bar,” I say. There is no way we can pick up people sitting at a table together. Sometimes guys will walk over and offer to buy us drinks, but I don’t see that happening with Evan sitting at the table. It seems like people know who he is and that can be intimidating for some men.
“I’m comfortable here,” Rosie states then she grins at Evan.
“I took Evan out so I could show him how to get back on the horse after a breakup. You guys can’t date him because that would just be weird. He and I have to work together,” I state blatantly.
Evan’s cheeks flush, which is kind of cute.
Willow and Rosie both frown almost simultaneously but then Willow shrugs. “I see your point. This could get messy,” she concedes, pointing between her and Evan.
Evan’s brows raise because I don’t think he was thinking of Willow in that way.
“Patty is the best,” Rosie says. “Whenever we get our hearts crushed by a dude, she sweeps in and helps us pick up all the pieces.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” Evan asks, clearly intrigued.
“She doesn’t let us wallow long,” Amelia cuts in. “We can have one night with a pint of ice cream but then we go for a night out. We usually come here to Focus. It’s a pick-up joint. There’s no other way to put it.”
“You can’t tell me that hooking up with a new person solves all your problems or fixes the hurt,” Evan retorts with a huff.
“Aw, you’re so sweet,” Willow says. “Too bad we can’t have a night.”
“It doesn’t solve your problems,” I cut in because Willow isn’t helping. “What it does is pass time. Time heals all wounds. You hang out with friends. You have some wild nights and, with time, things start to feel better.”
“So you’ve been hurt,” Evan says, trying to get in my head.
Eden shakes her head.
“Patty doesn’t date anyone seriously,” Rosie clarifies.
“You’ve never had real feelings for anyone?” Evan’s brown eyes turn round.
“My little black heart isn’t capable.” I smile mischievously. My statement is a complete lie. Complete and utter bullshit. I’ve just never had it in me to share with my girls how my heart was so crushed it never repaired. I met Rosie, Willow, and Eden after I started college, and I met Ellie and Amelia while I was at NYU in grad school. We weren’t in the same programs, but we became good friends. I’ve never confided in anyone about my sordid past with love. The only one who knows how my heart became so tainted is my cousin, Quinn, and she will take my secret to the grave.
“She’s built of different threads.” Eden shrugs. If only she knew. I was once broken but that will never happen again. I vowed to never let it.
“You’re very surprising, Patty Sanders,” Evan says with those intense brown eyes of his. It almost feels like his words undress me, revealing my truth.
