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“She didn’t shoot me down,” Brenden argues, crossing his arms as he sits back with a smug smile on his lips. “Besides, I won her over during coffee the next morning. Right, Lizzy?”
My entire body tenses uncomfortably as Julianna gasps, choking on her beer. If she decides to share this information with either of our sisters, I’ll never hear the end of it.
“I suppose you could say I was both impressed and creeped out by your stalker skills,” I quip, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“Dude,” Jon taps his bottle on the table, “I like her.”
I mimic Brenden’s cocky smirk from a moment ago and reach for my beer.
He laughs, shaking his head as I take a sip and look at Julianna, who’s watching us with curiosity.
“So, you just happened to be at the same place at the same time again the next day?” She glares at Brenden with an unreadable expression. “Even for a small town, that’s quite the coincidence, don’t you think?”
Brenden blanches, his features dulling as he sits straighter in his seat. “Good fortune, I guess.”
“Well, gentlemen…we’re in need of new libations and a trip to the powder room. Do you mind excusing us for a moment?” Julianna stands, pulling on my arm to bring me to my feet as well.
“We’ll be here,” Brenden replies, shrugging off my apologetic gaze before Julianna drags me to the ladies’ room.
Brenden
“Okay, dude, spill it.” Jon eyes Lizzy and her friend as they walk away. “What’s the deal?”
My fist curls tighter around my beer with each second his eyes stay on her, and I wait until he looks back at me before answering, “There’s no deal.”
“Yeah right. Something is off here.” He motions to me, then to Lizzy’s empty seat. “You called her your friend, which I know is bullshit. You barely know her. And while the woman is certainly beautiful, she doesn’t exactly seem like your type.”
“No?” I take another slow swig of my beer and slam it back on the table, pinning him with my hard glare. “What exactly is my type then?”
“I don’t know, man.” He shoves his hair out of his face before rubbing his shoulder. “Angela? Girls who are easy and up for anything, no attachments.” Pausing, his eyes roam the dance floor. “Women like that.” He tilts his chin toward a woman on the dance floor in a short skirt, high heels, and too much makeup.
“Maybe I’m ready for something different.” As true as that statement feels, it still makes my heart race.
Jon’s laughter fills the air as he bends over slightly in his chair, holding his stomach with one hand and hitting the table with the other.
“Fuck off,” I hiss. “It isn’t that funny.”
“Come on, dude. I’ve known you pretty much my whole life. Not once have I seen you in an actual committed relationship.”
I clench my jaw when he gives me a lopsided grin, hating that he’s right. “That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.”
“No, but I’d say the fact that you paled from the mere suggestion is a pretty good indication.” Beer in hand, he points to me. “I’m pretty sure you even started sweating.”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“Perhaps, but I’m also right,” he retorts.
I flip him off, but there’s no point in arguing with facts. Committed relationships aren’t for me, and Lizzy isn’t someone I should be pursuing. Yet here I am, eager to go further down this rabbit hole.
