Page 31 of Calling a Cease-Fire

Fuck. Why were they here? I thought they were going to Mamacita’s.

I glanced back over at Zack. Disappointment swam in his eyes, and that made me irrationally mad.

I pinned him with a glare. “You know she likes you, right?”

He turned his gaze to the girls just as Nicole scanned the bar and smiled, waving at us.

“I know,” he said with a sigh. “But I don’t feel that way about her.”

The way he looked at me and how he said those words made me uncomfortable. Like he was purposely saying something else. I wasn’t dumb. I already knew he wasn’t into her. But he wasn’t allowed to be into me either.

“I’ll be back.”

I huffed and stomped away, heading directly over to the girls. “I thought I was meeting you guys at Mamacita’s if my date ended badly?”

Izzy stared at me, a mix of confusion and surprise in her gaze. Shit, did she witness the same thing Lyla did? “Are you drunk?” she blurted out.

I swallowed and met her gaze, squaring my shoulders. “No.”

Nicole giggled. “Why would she be drunk already?”

I refrained from admitting that the last time I got too friendly with Zack, I was hammered, and planned to let him take me home.

A hand landed softly on my back as Zack stepped up next to me. “Sorry to interrupt ladies, but I need to steal Mia back.” He looked down at me. “The manager’s ready for us.”

“I’ll text you guys after my date,” I said to the girls.

“I thought—” Zack started, clamping his mouth shut when I glowered at him.

“Let’s go and get this over with.”

“Do you want me to take over?” Nicole asked with a bit of hope in her voice. “Since I’m here and have time, I don’t mind. And then you can head out to meet Billy.”

Words refused to leave my lips. Yes, sure, should’ve been the easy response. I didn’t want to do this. I sure as hell didn’t want to be stuck with Zack any longer than I needed to. So why wouldn’t the damn words come out?

“It’s fine,” was what finally left my mouth. What the fuck was wrong with me? “I’m the one who talked to the manager on the phone, so I should meet with her.” There. Fully reasonable excuse.

Nicole nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

Absolutely not sure.

“Yup. I’ll text you all later.”

Fuck my life.

I turned and followed Zack toward the manager, who met us at the bottom of the stairs that led to the private event area. She tilted her head up. “Would you like to check out the space?”

“Sure,” Zack said at the same time I muttered, “I guess so.”

The lady eyed us curiously, looking back and forth between us, then turned to go up the stairs. Zack placed his hand on the small of my back and I tensed, glancing over at him. That same intense look smoldered in his eyes. I swallowed as heat warmed my body under his touch. After what felt like forever, he ushered me forward and I moved in front of him up the staircase.

The space wasn’t large, but rather than feeling cramped, it felt intimate. Sofas and small tables sat toward the back corner with a few high-tops lining the railing that overlooked the bar. The lighting was low, but not overly dark. You couldn’t read a book by it, but you could tell who was who as they came up the stairs.

I tried to pay attention as the manager explained the choices of food and drink packages she could include, but I failed, my attention tracking Zack as he sauntered over to the railing, leaning his forearms over the side. His shirt pulled tight across his back, and it was obvious his muscles were as taut as a tightrope. Tension rolled off him in waves.

Letting anything happen between us sexually was a recipe for disaster; I knew that, but it didn’t stop me from considering it. It would bring us both a much-needed release.

I shook my head. No. I wouldn’t allow myself to go there. But I wasn’t taking no for an answer when it came to going to the rage room. I could at least offer him that tonight.