Page 46 of Everything She Wanted

I need the buzz to get rid of the discomfort building inside of me.

“I’ll have the same,” he says to the bartender. Nick pays for our drinks, and we make our way to a table.

“You didn’t answer my question.” He looks at me as we both take a sip. This is important to him, and I somehow feel that my answer will change everything.

“You’re not a creeper if that’s what you’re wondering.” I laugh, trying to diffuse the intensity.

“Just a guy that couldn’t get the hint?” he answers, deadpan.

“Not that either. I enjoyed our conversation.”

He leans in, and my pulse skyrockets with his proximity. “What did you enjoy exactly?”

“It just felt natural, not forced or some sort of pick-up line.”

Are we actually talking about this? A rush of giddiness hits me. After all this time wondering, I now know for sure that he remembers me. I sag with relief but quickly recover knowing full well I’m walking right into dangerous territory.

Will this change things between us now? Do I want it to?

I refuse to hear the answer my heart pings back at me.

“Good feedback.” He smirks at me, and I’m enchanted.

“I can share it in your next performance review.” I can’t help flirting. He smiles back at me and for a second, I can’t breathe. It’s that smile that haunted me for months after we met, but I could never tell him that. That I searched for him on the streets, in bars, and at coffee shops, and did a double-take every time I saw someone with his build and hair. I tried creeping him on the internet but couldn’t find anything. I even went back to the bar where I first met him, only to find that it had closed down. Worse yet, the reason I walked away was that I was too insecure to take things further. All I could think of were my faults and how he might see all of them.

I finish my drink in record time and need to escape from the intensity of all this, of him.

“I’m going to freshen up.”

“I’ll get another round.”

Inside the bathroom, I want to splash my face with cold water, but I can’t risk ruining my makeup. I force myself to look in the mirror and breathe, but already I’m feeling the effects of the alcohol. With the busy day and excitement, I didn’t get a chance to eat much, and the double shots are already making me buzzed.

Okay, so Nick remembers, but that doesn’t change anything now. I don’t know why it feels like it does.

I walk back to the bar and see a handsome man with perfectly coiffed hair and tight pants talking to Nick. I know flirting when I see it. I stop and just watch for a moment. Nick has both of our drinks in his hands, and I can tell he’s being polite but doesn’t know how to exit the conversation. I watch him struggle for a moment more and decide to come to his rescue.

I walk up to him and wrap my arms around him. “Oh, hey, babe. Thanks for getting our drinks.” I smile at him knowingly.

“Darling, you’re back. I was just talking about you.”

I shoot them both a smile.

“He was just telling me you wouldn’t be interested in having company tonight.” The handsome stranger looks at me suggestively, and I laugh.

“Thanks, but I’m not good at sharing.” I want Nick all to myself. I tighten my grip on his arm.

He leans in. “I wouldn’t want to share him either,” he says and walks away. I beam, feeling like I’ve won a prize.

Nick sets the drinks down. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you.”

“That was the most fun I’ve had in Such. A. Long. Time.” I laugh, and it resounds throughout my body.

“Glad I can be this evening’s entertainment.” He steps back and hands me my drink, and we both take a few sips.

“What was he suggesting?” I ask innocently.

He takes a long drink before he responds. “You don’t want to know.”