Page 60 of Taking Sides

“He’s kind of cute,” I say, though when I look from him to Conrad there is no comparison.

“Wait. Who are you here with?” she asks, then her smile stretches higher. “Is it the hockey player you’ve been texting?”

I nod and kind of tip my head in that direction. “We’re sitting over at the bar with his friends. See the three guys at the table on the far side?”

She smiles as she looks past me, but when her gaze stops, she sucks in a breath, and her eyes widen like she’s seen a ghost.

“What?” I ask, whirling around. Conrad looks up at the same time and smiles at me.

When I glance back at Sloane, she’s ducking her head. “Which one is he?”

“The blond. Why?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re being weird. Do you know him or something?” I get a sinking feeling that she’s going to tell me something terrible about him that will change how I feel. And it turns out how I feel is . . . I really like him.

“No. I’ve never seen him before.” She shakes her head and smiles, and whatever initial reaction I thought I read in her expression is gone. “He’s cute. A real Prince Charming lookalike. And he can’t stop looking over at you.”

“Do you want to meet him?” I ask. “He’s really nice and his friends seem to be too. You and Doug could join us.”

“No,” she says, then smiles again. “We don’t want to impose. Besides, I’m hoping to make this quick.”

I let out a laugh. “Great sign at the beginning of your date.”

“It isn’t a date,” she insists, just as Doug returns.

“They’re cleaning off a table now,” he tells her.

“Well, I should get back,” I say to them, then look at Sloane. “Text me later?”

She nods, and I head back to the table. D-Low is standing as I get there. “Anyone need another round?” he asks.

I shake my head, so does Conrad.

“I’ll come with you,” Trav says as he gets to his feet.

“Was that your librarian friend?” Conrad asks as I take my seat next to him.

“Yeah, Sloane.” I squint at him. “You do look a little like Prince Charming.”

“What?” He cocks one brow.

“Nothing. I wanted to introduce you, but she’s on a bad first date.”

His mouth twitches. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“She’s a lot like you, actually.”

“Unable to talk to women?”

“You’re talking to me right now.”

“Yeah, it only took my friends tagging along,” he says dryly.

I chuckle and turn in my chair to face him. My knees brush against the side of his leg. “She’s sweet but shy. She doesn’t date much because of it.”

His mouth lifts higher on one side, then falls, and his brows crease. “I’m sorry about your mom.”