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I laugh weakly. “Not regretting living with me instead of here, are you?”
“Definitely not. Like I’d choose having to guard my hair iron from vultures instead of living with my bestie.”
I knock our shoulders together. “I’ll go home. Have fun with Barry.”
She frowns. “Are you sure you want to take a cab back alone? It’ll be expensive.”
“I’ll figure it out,” I say, even though inside I curse, because she’s right. An overpriced cab, even only going back to the dorms about fifteen minutes away, will pretty much negate what I made from my shift at the Purple Kettle. On the way here, I was fortunate enough to tag along in the rideshare Barry paid for.
“Okay,” she says, pulling me into a hug. “But call me once you get back to the suite. And maybe go around the back.”
I kiss her cheek and disentangle myself. Winding my way through the crowds, I head to the back room, where there’s an exit to the patio.
“Bex.”
Like an idiot, I turn—and almost smack right into Darryl.
“Hey,” he says, steadying me with his hands on my shoulders. He squeezes before stepping back. “Finally, I thought maybe you wouldn’t show. What’re you drinking, baby?”
I close my eyes briefly. The urge to flee is right there, pushing down on me, but I force myself to stay put. “I...”
“I know,” he says, snapping his fingers. “Vodka soda.”
That’s not even remotely right—if I’m drinking something other than beer or wine, it’s usually a rum and coke. I try to sidestep him, but he wraps his arm around my waist. He strokes the neckline of my dress, his fingers brushing my skin.
I grit my teeth. “Darryl.”
“I knew you’d come back around,” he says. “You’re so pretty, baby. So glad you came tonight for me.”
I push his hand away. “I didn’t.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him. The guy from before. He has a frown on his face. He takes a step forward.
“I’m here for him, actually.”
I don’t know what possesses me, but I shake myself free of Darryl and walk over, reach up to put my arms around this stranger’s neck... and kiss him.
On the lips.
Holy hell, this is a good kiss.
Maybe I caught him by surprise, but he’s kissing back, his arms coming around my waist to squeeze me, his warm body pressed right against mine. He deepens the kiss, his tongue darting out to drag over the seam of my lips, and I open for him, let him kiss me until I’m breathless and overheated. He smells woodsy, like his cologne has hints of pine in it, and those hands... they’re big and set low on my body, almost brushing my ass. After half a second’s breath, I kiss him again. Intending it to be a goodbye. To run away. But he tightens his grip, plundering my mouth with his as he steals my very breath.
This one kiss—from a stranger—is better than any kiss I shared with Darryl. He’s ridiculously good at this, kissing like it’s his job. I could happily stay here the whole night, offering my mouth to his.
He shifts a little, bending down to murmur against my ear, “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
The spell shatters. Maybe Laura wants me to be the sort of person who can handle a hookup, but I can’t. I’m not built for it. And I’m not letting myself get drawn into another destined-for-doom relationship, even if he kisses like sin and smells like a goddamn forest. I step back, untangling myself from him. My body immediately misses his touch. I feel cold, even in this crowded room. The music is still pounding, but I can barely hear it.
I turn on my heel and make a beeline for the door.
“Wait,” I hear the guy say at the same time Darryl calls my name.
Shit. What thehelldid I just do?
Chapter 5
Bex
