Part 2 (1/2)

”I know. I try.” Her face grew serious as she stepped a little closer. ”Seriously, give me ten minutes and we can go.”

”Okay. Thanks.” I reached out and gave her a quick hug before pulling back and smiling. ”But I'm definitely going to need more than ten minutes.”

After gathering my dark hair into a bun on the top of my head and teasing my bangs, I gingerly touched my week-old piercing. I had managed to keep it fairly clean even though it was a pain in the a.s.s. Every time I accidentally touched it my pain receptors begged me to not be such an idiot. And every single time that happened (which was three times a day, FYI) it led me to thinking about getting the piercing, which led me to thinking about... the douche.

Yes, I was still thinking about him.

And I was hating myself for it.

But tonight that would stop. I'd go out, have a good time with my best friend, and there'd be no more thoughts about a tattooed, blond-haired, blue-eyed Adonis.

”You all set?” Alara called from the common area.

”Yep.”

Twenty minutes later we were walking through the doors of the newest nightclub in town, Swerved. It was our first time here, so we slowly took in our surroundings before making our way to the bar.

”What do you want?” I asked Alara as I planned out my entry to the counter.

”Uhh... just a water... and a beer.” I turned to face her but she was distracted by the entrance.

”I guess Gabe's joining us?”

Her head whipped toward me but her blonde ballerina bun didn't move an inch. ”Is that okay?”

”Of course it's okay.” My gaze drifted over her shoulder. ”He's here,” I said, nodding toward the front door. ”I'll go get the drinks.” She didn't object as she quickly hurried across the room while I made my way to the bar. I had just finished paying when they came up beside me.

”I'll grab those,” Gabe offered with an easy smile; Derek really couldn't have found a better roommate. I handed his beer and Alara's water over before the three of us made our way to a high-top a couple feet away. It was sticky and still littered with c.o.c.ktail napkins, but the seats looked clean enough so I hopped up.

”I appreciate you guys coming. I know it's not either of your scenes.”

Gabe looked over at Alara and lightly touched her cheek. ”It's no problem. Bars might actually be my favorite place in the world now.”

Alara's eyebrows rose as she gave him a sideways glance and suspiciously drawled, ”Really?”

I pretended to be fascinated with my gla.s.s, already several steps ahead of Alara. I could already hear the cheesy line.

And in five, four, three, two, one...

”Of course. It's where I met you.” Gabe's smile was proud as Alara grew fl.u.s.tered and gave him a quick peck on the lips. She hated public displays of affection, but she didn't seem to realize the way they looked at each other was far more affectionate than any game of tonsil hockey they could play. She giggled as he tried to take the kiss deeper and I shook my head before standing.

”I'm gonna grab another,” I said, holding up my already empty gla.s.s. ”You guys good?”

They both mumbled noncommittal answers as I walked away. I looked back to see Alara and Gabe lost in their own world and decided to take a seat at the bar and give them some alone time. Two drinks and a couple of awkward attempts from guys trying to pick me up later, and I was regretting my decision to stay up here.

I was still sitting on my stool, swinging my legs, when I felt a palm against my backside. Surprisingly the hand wasn't too low or overly grabby, it was just lightly settled against the middle of my back. When I turned around I realized why.

”What are you doing?” Alara asked me as Gabe hovered behind her.

”I told you.” I waved my hand toward the alcohol lining the wall. ”I needed more.”

Alara crossed her arms, trying to look intimidating. ”Stop blowing us off and come back to the table.”

I held up my hands as I slid down the stool and gracelessly landed on my feet. ”Hey, I was just giving you guys some alone time. You know, in case you wanted to sneak away so you could blow something...” I nudged Alara with my elbow. Gabe's beer came sputtering out of his mouth as he started laughing, while Alara's face flamed to a shade brighter than a tomato. She glared as Gabe continued to laugh until he straightened up and kissed her forehead.

”Sorry, it was funny.”

”Hilarious,” she deadpanned before turning away from both of us.

”It was. I'm wicked smart,” I said as I stepped away from the bar. I had only taken two steps when I saw an arm full of color out of the corner of my eye. My jaw dropped as I swiveled sideways and caught his profile.

No.

Way.

I was unabashedly staring, a fact the female bartender picked up on quickly. ”Like what you see?”

”You see him, too?” I asked as I turned back around. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as her gaze swept over me, clearly wondering how much I'd had to drink.

”Do you know him?” I tried again.

Her cheeks pinked. ”Uh... yeah. He's a bouncer here,” she finished as her gaze s.h.i.+fted behind me and her eyes widened.

”And he also works at a tattoo shop?” I asked. Why was I still asking about him?

”Aww, sweetheart... you do remember me.” His voice was deep and smooth as it rolled over my shoulder, and even though he was clearly mocking me... shocker... I couldn't deny it was a d.a.m.n s.e.xy voice. And I was ninety-six percent sure it was banter this time. Still...

I groaned.

d.a.m.n.

d.a.m.n.

”Damien,” Chelsea, the bartender, yelled as my sights stayed on Naomi. Her thick, dark hair was piled on top of her head, and I wondered how long it took for her to achieve the it-just-happened-this-way look that my sister educated me on one day. She wore gold and purple on her eyelids, which accentuated her deep brown eyes and would have had my gaze transfixed there if it weren't for her fire-engine red lipstick. She captivated me as I watched a smile take up half her face. When I looked up to see what caused such happiness, I found her looking at me. Naomi's gaze bounced back and forth between her friends and me for a few seconds before she shook her head.

”Oh my G.o.d. Your name sounds like 'demon.' That can't be a coincidence.”

I rolled my eyes and her friends laughed at her theatrics. People were rarely forthcoming with me, to the point where they couldn't even make a joke for fear I'd take it the wrong way. Of course I'd had friends and there were plenty of people unafraid of me, but sometimes it took months before they were comfortable. Naomi was one of the very few people I'd met who wasn't immediately intimidated by me. If anything, she seemed decidedly unintimidated. I was glad that hadn't changed since our last meeting.

”Is she always this annoying when she's drunk?” I asked.

Her female friend nodded quickly. ”She isn't even drunk right now, but, yes. And trust me, you haven't heard the worst of it.”

”Hey!” Naomi shrieked. ”Bite your tongue! I'm a great singer and you know it! Right, Gabe?”

”Absolutely.” He nodded solemnly while the girl he had his arm around rolled her eyes. The girl I was focused on crossed her arms, pus.h.i.+ng her b.r.e.a.s.t.s up and bringing attention to her creamy white cleavage.

”Regardless, I am not drunk. And even if I was, it's your fault I had to start heavily drinking anyway.” She glared at her two friends.