7. APRIL
APRIL
Forty minutes later, I was tipsy. Embarrassed and deep into my fourth drink, phone clutched in my hand, still hoping he’d gotten lost or his phone died.
That vodka was a double-edged sword. It was enough to take the edge off, but not enough to forget all the things I wanted to.
Including how humiliated I felt. The wings were long since demolished and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
The messages that I had sent had been ignored.
It was nothing short of a reminder of why I didn’t go for guys like that. It led to disappointment.
The obnoxious door chime went off, and I swung around on my stool to check the door, yet again.
Josh and Kev waltzed in. They had changed out of their suits into casual jeans and t-shirts.
Josh in a soft-grey shirt and Kev in an old-school Jurassic Park shirt.
They both had their ball caps down low to hide their faces, but I knew them.
Fuck me. They glanced around the place, spotting me.
As if I couldn’t feel any more pathetic.
I turned back around on my stool and ordered my fifth drink.
Wishing I could hide under the bartop, so they couldn’t see me sitting alone with the waitstaff shooting me pity stares.
They figured out by the third drink and the clutched phone, what was happening. On the plus side, the service improved.
But they saw.
I watched as they waltzed right across the place and over to me.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” I gave a fake smile and pretended like I wasn’t being stood up.
Josh’s brows knitted together as he glanced around. No doubt searching for my date. It looked like he was about to ask, but decided against it. It wasn’t rocket science. I was at the bar alone, drinking.
“Mind if we join?” he asked, shooting me a pitying glance.
“Yes,” I muttered into my glass. It wasn’t their fault, but I had been gloat-y earlier when I told Josh about having somewhere to be. Yet, here I was, stood up. It was a lesson in learning to keep my mouth shut. Nothing was working out for me.
Kev pursed his lips together like he was going to protest.
“If you change your mind, we’ll be right over there.” Josh pointed to a small booth off to the right of us.
Why did that make me feel worse? I gulped down the remnants of my drink.
It took all of my energy not to watch them, even though I could feel Josh’s eyes on the back of my head.
I refused, still holding a glimmer of hope my date would run through the doors apologizing profusely.
But that was just wishful thinking, because the longer I waited, the more my gut sunk.
I didn’t think the night could get any worse until I glanced up from wiping some drink from my chin and caught Josh, of all people, watching me.
He fought a smile while waving me over, but I ignored him.
When I stood up to go to the bathroom, my damn wedge heel got caught in the stool footrest, and I almost toppled over.
It didn’t help my self-esteem to hear the group next to me laugh and make snide comments.
Josh snaked his arms around me as I tried to stand. When the hell did he get here? He was just sitting at his table.
“How did you.” Hiccup. “Get here so fast?”
He ignored my question. “You’re joining us.”
Holding me upright with his right hand against my hip, he tried to untwist my throbbing foot with his left. I swatted at him, but he wouldn’t listen. “No really, that was some Edward Cullen-type shit.”
“Jesus. You’re stubborn,” he groaned. His forehead creased as he eyed my empty glass sitting on top of the bar. “You nearly toppled off the stool trying to stand. How many have you had?”
“Never mind.” Indignantly, I scoffed in denial. “I’m fine,” I lied.
He knew me too well, but he wasn’t prying.
Josh held me tighter to him and damnit if it didn’t feel good.
He smelled fantastic, too. A mix of some manly-scented soap and his cologne.
Somehow, they blended together creating a fusion of something entirely sexy.
His hands gripped my hips as he led me toward his table, despite my feeble attempts to refuse.
He simply turned his cheek toward me and gave me a cute grin that was both sexy and cocky.
As I signaled the bartenders that I was moving to a table, not running away, I didn’t miss the raised eyebrows and wide grins as if congrats were in order. He was not my date, I wanted to say, but Josh also had seen the grins from the staff, who had pitied me a moment ago, and winked at them.
“Don’t gloat,” I warned. “It’s been a night.”
He pretended to zip his mouth shut. “Come on, April,” he lowered his voice, causing it to gently rumble against my ear, “I don’t bite.”
My step faltered before I regained my composure. “No, but you do nibble.”
He laughed. It was a deep, genuine sound that did all sorts of things it shouldn’t have. His fingertips dug deep into my hips as he inched just a tiny bit closer to me. “Naughty girl. Exposing my secrets.”
The sensation was making my panties damp. Seriously, what was with this flirting? I needed a second to collect myself. “Bathroom,” I stuttered.
His brow rose and a wide grin spread across his face. “Uh? Here?”
“Jesus, Josh. I have to pee.”
He chewed the inside of his cheek, as if he was slightly embarrassed. “Oh.”
“You need help,” I swatted his chest, noting the firmness of it.
“That’s what my therapist says.” He winked at me.
That took me by surprise. “You have a therapist?”
“Everyone does these days.” He shrugged, saying no more.
I nodded in agreement. Mine happened to be my best friend, Nora.
She wasn’t a real therapist, but the best thing about having a close friend was venting, getting out all that shit piled on you.
Friends were better than therapy, because Nora was right there with me when I needed to bury a body or to talk me off the ledge before creating one.
Josh released me cautiously, like I’d topple over once my hip left his grip, as I pushed the bathroom door open.
My reflection in the mirror showed my eyes red rimmed and glossy, unable to hide the disappointment I’d felt about being stood up or the alcohol I was using to dull the pain.
My hair had a few fly aways, which I ran my fingers under the chilly water and gently patted them back into place.
I exhaled a long, sharp breath. Enough of the pity party.
It was his loss. My thoughts ran back to Josh, who was probably waiting outside the door, afraid I’d fall in or something stupid. The thought made me grin.
Despite not wanting to be, I was grateful he’d showed up, thankful he insisted on me joining him and Kev.
Maybe I could take this terrible night and make something better of it?
Nora’s voice suddenly crept into my thoughts, ask one of them?
I whooshed it away defiantly. And walked right out into the restaurant, nearly colliding with Josh as he stood by the door, glancing up and smirking at my shocked expression.
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t fall in,” he explained.
I legit cackled. That was my exact thought not five minutes ago.
“Funny man,” I mocked, following him to the table where Kev had already ordered a sampler pack and several other items, along with water, which I hoped was for me.
“Why are you here drinking alone?” Kev asked.
Before my filter kicked in, I blurted, “Got stood up.”
Kev’s eyes widened. “Shit. Sorry.”
“Meh. Too good to be true anyway.” I shrugged, helping myself to their food. I wasn’t necessarily hungry, but I needed something to do with my hands and something to shove in my mouth to keep from rambling.
Josh’s eyes widened before he ducked his head, taking a swig of his beer. I could tell he wanted to say something, yet, he stayed quiet. When he glanced up, his eyes were darker than usual and his jaw was clenched. I wondered why he was irritated?
“Was it a first date?” Kev asked through mouthfuls of breaded cauliflower, breaking the stare off Josh and I were having.
I sucked in a breath. “Sure was.”
Kev winced. “Ouch.”
“Dating sucks,” I mumbled.
“Maybe you need to try something else.” Kev gave a pointed glance to Josh. There was an exchange of stares that held a conversation I was not privy to.
“What’s with the faces?” I asked, watching whatever was happening between them.
“Nothing,” Josh said rather quickly. Kev rolled his eyes and stuffed a lettuce wrap in his mouth.
“You’re being weird,” I mumbled.
“No more than usual,” Kev added, washing his big bite down with his beer.
The table talk turned to the game tonight.
The guys joked around, teasing each other in their normal bromance fashion and I was grateful they gave me company.
As an hour passed, my embarrassment had been forgotten as the tension eased, and we traded stories of our dumpster-fire dating-lives.
I all but fell off the chair as I heard about the dates the guys had dubbed, Sleepy, Sleezy, and Pukey.
As we finished our drinks, it was easy to notice the new onslaught of young women vying for attention from the guys. Kev’s eyes had wandered to a brunette in a low-cut top and tight jeans.
“I think I’m good now. I’m going to head out,” I said, pulling my wallet out to cover my tab. I didn’t want to get in the way of their guys’ night out.
Josh swatted my hand away from my purse. “Don’t even think about it.”
I tried to protest, but my attempts were futile. They had given the server very clear instructions to add my bill to theirs. The server shrugged her shoulders, as if to say there was nothing she could do.
“Next one’s on me,” I promised.
“Deal.” Kev smiled, happy that I let it go.
“How are you getting home?” Josh asked.
“Walking. It’s a nice night. Plus, I could use the air.”
“I’ll come with you,” Josh blurted, already standing from the table.
I froze in place. Josh, come home with me? And why did that sound more tempting that an innocent walk home? His eyes were lingering on me and I felt subconscious.