I don’t know if that’s sad or not, but it sounds like it.
It’s also safe.
I’m usually safe.
Predictable.
I’m the type of girl who would probably meet her future husband on an online dating site where they match up your compatibility instead of putting herself out there and meeting new people.
Tonight is unusual for me. And all I’ve done is dance with a gorgeous man and then take a ride with him.
Why the hell am I complaining again?
I got here safely and experienced my first ride on a motorcycle, which I fucking loved in the end.
I want to do it again and again.
April sees me and her eyes light up. “You made it! What are you doing here? If it were me, I’d be anywhere—fucking the shit out of that guy!”
I roll my eyes at that. “He’s around here.”
She smiles and pulls me in for a dance. A few songs later, I tell her I want to get some water from the bar and walk away from the dance floor. I glance around for him, but I don’t see him anywhere.
When I see Zach at the bar, I head straight for him and take a seat next to him. “What’s a girl gotta do to get a man to buy her a drink around here?”
His head snaps to me, his eyes roaming down from my face to what he can see of my body. “Look at you, Trill. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“Water?” he asks.
“Yes, please.”
“Can I get a bottle of water?” he asks the bartender when he passes us. “You been drinking?” he asks, studying me.
I shrug. “I had two drinks.”
The bartender slides over a bottle of water and Zach hands it over to me. I crack open the lid and take a long drink. I didn’t realise how thirsty I was.
“You having a good night?” he asks.
I put the bottle of water down on the table and nod. “I am. It actually feels good to get out.”
I’m surprised by my comment. I have genuinely enjoyed tonight, and I had a good time.
“Good, you deserve it.”
“I only had two girly drinks. I don’t think I could handle what April was drinking.”
He leans down and cups my face. “Such a good little responsible girl.”
“Hey, Zach, there you are.” A familiar deep voice comes from behind me.
Zach lets me go and laughs. “Trill, this is Xander. Xander, this is Trillian.”
I turn and stare into a pair of deep hazel eyes.
Well, shit.
Xander? Zach’s friend Xander, who’s staying with him for a couple of days?
I hate small towns.
“We’ve already met,” he says, gaze wandering over my face curiously.
“You have?” Zach asks his hand now on my nape.
Xander nods. “I went to Drake’s but just missed you. She was there.”
Zach glances down at me. “Right, how was Drake’s?”
“It was good. Packed as usual,” I answer, but my eyes are on Xander, who is looking everywhere but at me.
“Not surprised. I left after about fifteen minutes.”
“You didn’t mention that you had a woman,” Xander says after he orders himself a drink. He sounds angry.
Wait, he thinks I’m Zach’s girlfriend? Why the hell would I have danced with him then?
Zach wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “That’s ‘cause she’s not my woman.”
Confusion flashes over Xander’s face before he is able to mask it. “She’s not?”
“Nope,” Zach replies. “She’s Trillian.”
Xander looks even more confused after that comment.
“Where’s the birthday girl?” Zach asks.
“On the dance floor,” I reply, pointing to where April is dancing with Amanda and Molly, a friend she works with.
“Looks like she’s enjoying herself,” he says. “You coming home with me, tonight?”
I’m watching Xander when Zach asks me that, and I don’t understand his expression. He looks… angry?
“Yeah, may as well,” I tell Zach, looking back to him. “What time will you be leaving?”
“Whenever you’re ready to go is fine,” he says, downs his drink, and then stands up. “I’m going to go and wish April happy birthday. Xander, keep an eye on Trill for me, will you?”
Xander nods and sits down next to me. I watch Zach hug April and pull her in for a dance.
“That doesn’t bother you?” Xander asks in a deep rumble, watching the same spot I am looking.
“Why would it?” I ask, turning to look at him.
Hazel eyes framed by thick, dark lashes meet mine. “I feel like I’m missing something here.”
My lip twitches. “Why do you say that?”
He licks his bottom lip. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“You get in today?” I ask, knowing that he did. Zach didn’t mention this morning that he was arriving today, just that he was going to arrive.
He nods. “Yeah, I rode in a couple of hours ago.”
“You must be tired,” I say, playing with the label on my bottle of water.
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “I can sleep tomorrow. Zach really wanted to go out, and now I guess I know why.”
I’m confused. “Why?”
He looks down at my dress and clears his throat. “You never mentioned you knew Zach.”