Chapter 3 #2
“You know what I mean. I’m technically his superior at work. Really not great optics for me, babe,” I throw back at her. “Come on. I don’t want him to see me. Let’s just get the bill and sneak out of here. I’m not sure I can survive any more awkward interactions today.”
Mina nudges me. “We should at least hear them play,” she says, patient but not backing down. “Come on, Ave. It won’t kill you.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one working with him. He hasn’t seen us yet,” I insist. “We can still slip out.”
A hand taps on the mic, pulling my attention back to the stage.
“Thanks for coming out tonight, everyone,” the lead singer says. “We’re glad to see such a great crowd for a Monday night. Let’s get this thing started!” He glances back at the band, counts them in.
My pulse quickens as I look at Nash, hoping he hasn’t seen me.
But he finds me immediately, even in the dim light. He shoots me a playful wink, and my heart jumps up into my throat.
I jerk away, embarrassed, feeling caught.
“Oh, he definitely saw you. No point in leaving now,” Mina says, laughing at my failed attempt to disappear.
The music starts, and it surprises me how good they are. I watch the band, watch him. Nash is in his element. He’s even more attractive like this than he is all buttoned up at work.
I turn back to the food in front of me, doing whatever I can to not look at him.
“Is he looking at us?” I say, knowing I shouldn’t ask or even care.
Mina grins, nodding. “I told you, he wants you.”
“You really think so?” I say, my voice more eager than I intend.
“Yeah, Ave. He’s looking at you like you’re the only person in this bar,” Mina says, and her certainty shakes something loose in me.
The set continues, and the numerous martinis have me feeling warm and fuzzy. Nash is still staring at me, the music an electric pulse connecting us.
I can’t keep my eyes from roaming to Nash, and every time I do, he’s already looking at me.
I look at Mina, and let out a long breath. “This is insane,” I say.
“Go with it, Avery,” Mina says. “Let yourself go for once.”
I don’t know if I can.
The band starts another song, the last of the night from what I gather. I’m overwhelmed. The energy of the room, the focus of Nash’s gaze, the steady layers of noise.
I need air. I need space to think.
Mina watches me closely, reads my restlessness, senses my instinct to run. “I’m going to get another drink,” she says, not giving me an out. “Do you want anything from the bar?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. Just gonna step outside for some air,” I tell her.
The music follows me to the door, ringing in my ears until I make it to the alley beside the bar.
I lean back against the cool brick wall and just focus on my breathing, letting all the ridiculous thoughts Mina planted in my head fall away.
Nash is off-limits, and that’s that.
Outside, the bass stops throbbing against my back on the bricks, and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. I want to leave, to run back to the controlled safety of my apartment.
No hot coworkers hiding there!
I need to clear my head. My eyes pop open when I feel a presence next to me.
“If you were making an escape, you didn’t get very far. Didn’t like the set?” he asks.
I turn my head to see Nash settling in with his back against the wall beside me.
“No,” I say, trying to sound casual. “Just needed a breather. You were really good up there. The band. The band was really good.”
God, how many martinis did I have? I can’t tell if it’s the alcohol or him that has me stammering like this.
“Um, anyway,” I continue, turning the rest of my body to face him.
“About earlier…I don’t want things to be awkward between us.
I feel like we got off on the wrong foot and I kind of snapped at you, but we need to have a very clear understanding.
We need to keep things professional. I can’t afford to mess this up. This job matters to me,” I ramble.
He rubs his jaw, amused. “Matters so much you can’t tell me if you have a boyfriend.”
“What?”
“You never answered my question. Do you have a boyfriend?” he says, turning and shifting closer.
I know I should step away, but my feet betray me.
I scoff. “You are nothing if not persistent.”
He grins wide, unfazed. “I like to think of it as determined.”
I shake my head, fighting the smile that threatens my lips. “You’re playing with fire, Nash.”
“Answer the question, Avery.”
His assertiveness surprises me. My name on his lips shouldn’t sound so good. His eyes catch the light from the streetlamp, cat-like and bright.
Folding my arms in front of me, I say, “I don’t, but that doesn’t—”
Before I can finish, his lips are on mine.
His kiss is tender and certain, and I feel myself melt against the warmth of him, all my objections fading away.
His fingers weave into my hair, drawing me closer to him.
He teases my lips with a soft lick, and I part them for him, our tongues dancing together as my hands clutch at the fabric of his shirt, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips.
“Nash,” I whisper, meaning to stop him, but his mouth answers mine, erasing thoughts of what’s smart or safe.
Of what’s off limits.
His hands find their way to my hips, pressing me firmly against the wall. His mouth captures the soft moan that escapes me. He holds me tightly as he trails kisses down my neck, each one sending shivers through my skin. My fingers instinctively thread through his hair, pulling him closer.
We shouldn’t be doing this.
“Nash,” I say more forcefully.
He pauses, drawing back with a look of concern etched on his face.
“I should—” I start, but I can’t form the words. His nearness makes me dizzy. Exhaling a flustered breath, I steady myself. “I should go.”
I half expect him to be disappointed. Instead, a playful grin spreads across his face.
“Need a ride home?”
“I—no,” I manage. “I’ll get an Uber.”
“You sure?” he asks, tilting his head to look down at me.
“Positive,” I say. “You’ve done more than enough tonight.”
“I’d like to do more.” He’s such a flirt. “I have my bike. Let me take you home.”
Of course he has a fucking motorcycle.
“Nope. No way. That can’t happen. None of this can happen. I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The reminder that I’ll have to face him at work tomorrow makes me cringe.
I head back into the bar to let Mina know I’m leaving, not ready to discuss any of this with her yet. Luckily, she’s deep in conversation with the hot bartender and lets me go with a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
My Uber arrives, and I go home, spending the rest of the night questioning everything.
The butterflies in my stomach when I think about our kiss, the dread I feel when I think about the implications it could have on my job, and nothing but nausea when I think about how I’m supposed to act normal around Nash tomorrow.
The gravity of what I’ve done gnaws at me as the hours tick by. Why didn’t I say no? How could I be so careless? And on my first day of work, no less. I’m behaving as if I have nothing to lose when, in reality, I could lose everything.