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I clear my throat, desperate to shift the conversation away from myself. “Leah, you saw Drew’s latest production, right?”
“I did,” she responds quickly with a bright grin. And just like that, she snaps into gear, suddenly becoming seductive and alluring. She leans against the cocktail table next to us and traces her finger slowly along the edge. “My favorite scene was that last fight. Did you have to work out a lot to get in shape?” Her eyelashes flutter.
He rests his elbow on the table. “I spent a few hours a day at the gym, yeah. Did I do ok?”
I roll my eyes. She makes it look so easy.
“I’ve got no complaints,” she responds confidently, letting her finger inch closer and closer to his arm.
“Thanks for supporting the show.” He never loses eye contact.
“I saw it twice.” Her fingers continue to slide toward his shirt sleeve, and I watch in awe as they finally make contact.
He doesn’t even flinch. It’s like they’re doing some dance I’ve never been taught. Did they teach flirting in high school? I must have missed that class.
She’s just forward enough to show interest, and he’s reacting like he expects it. If I ever tried something like that, I’d probably move my hand just as he’d lift his elbow, and then lose my balance and go crashing to the floor.
I frown and look at the ground, embarrassed by a failure that hasn’t even occurred.
“Are you two from around here?” Drew asks.
I find that he’s looking at me this time. “The Upper West Side, yes.”
“I hear the girls from the West Side are the most beautiful. That’s proving to be true.” He glances at Leah and winks seductively.
Oh, the humanity.
I take a deep breath and force myself to look at Kai again, only to find that his eyes are still locked on me.
He’s drop-dead gorgeous. There’s no other way to say it.
Breathe.
He looks down at the almost empty glass in my hand. “Can I buy you a drink, Sophie?”
The butterflies spike again when he says my name. It slides so cleanly from his lips. And in the same instant, I freeze in place. He is very forward. We’ve barely been introduced, and he’s already offering to buy me a drink. It’s probably his way of finding out if I’m interested in him.
Am I?
Of course I am.
I hesitate for a moment, looking down at my glass and then back up at him. I desperately want to say no. I don’t like how easily I’m becoming enthralled by him. What spell does he have me under? I need to regain control. I can already sense Kai is exactly the kind of overly eager guy I don’t want to spend the evening with. He’s probably interested in only one thing, just like the rest. And that one thing is exactly what I’m staying away from.
If I were confident enough to think up a clever response, I’d refuse his offer, but the seconds are ticking by, and his face begins to fall as my silence is drawn out.
“Um, ok…” I gulp.
His disheartened expression brightens slightly, but I still pick up on the brief self-doubt in his eyes. He takes a step backward and gestures in front of him, allowing me to pass him toward the bar.
“After you.” His practiced smirk has returned.
I take a deep breath and look at Leah, who now has her hand placed completely atop Drew’s bicep. She smiles at me, widens her eyes, and nods encouragingly in Kai’s direction.
I half-hope she’ll save me from the ordeal, but I know two things about her. One: she is completely enthralled by Drew and can’t wait to be alone with him, and two: she wants nothing more than to see me accept a drink from someone.
I reluctantly cross in front of Kai, and together we walk to the bar. My feet move underneath me as if I’m not the one controlling them, and I’m already starting to regret my choice to go with him.
I don’t do things like this.
