Chapter 10
TRAVIS
The plan is to grab another drink and then hit the dance floor, but when we get to the table, Shep is sitting there alone.
I slide into the booth next to him and grab the champagne bottle, then fill two glasses. “Where’d your girl go?” I ask him.
“Eh…” He shrugs one shoulder. “I’m not sure.”
“Is she coming back?”
There’s a flash of embarrassment before he looks away. “Not likely.”
“Sorry, man.” I’ve been focusing so hard on Hannah that I forgot about my promise to be a good wingman.
“It’s fine.” His lips pull into a smile as he glances to where Hannah stands at the edge of the table. “Looks like your night took a turn for the better.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” I can’t get a good read on her.
With the glasses full, I scoot back out and stand next to Hannah and hand her one.
“Thanks.” She takes a step toward the dance floor but when I don’t follow, she hesitates.
“I can’t leave Shep on his own. I’m his wingman. He’s hopeless without me.”
Her lips twist in surprise and maybe a little amusement.
“He’s shy and has a hard time talking to women,” I add.
“Really?”
“I know. Shocking, right?”
“I’m not sure if I’m more surprised that he needs help talking to women or that he picked you to be his wingman.” She lets that gorgeous, taunting smile hit me full blast. And damn, I am not prepared.
“He’s a good guy and I made him a promise a while ago that I’d help him out.”
“Okay.” Her shoulders square. I forgot how small she is sometimes, but even standing tall she’s a lot shorter than me. “What do we do?”
“We?” One little word that I like a whole lot more than I probably should.
She rolls her eyes at me. “It’s help you play matchmaker or be a third wheel.”
“I love being the lesser of two evils.” I take a seat back at the table and Hannah sits beside me.
Shep looks over with surprise, then says, “You guys don’t have to stick around to keep me company.”
“We’re not.” I lean back casually in the booth. “Hannah’s afraid I’ll show her up on the dance floor.”
He looks to her as if for confirmation that I’m lying my ass off.
She plays right along.
“I only told him that to spare his feelings. I’m actually just hoping you’ll talk to me, so I don’t have to hear Travis yap on about how great he is another second.” She says it with enough flair for the dramatic that I think she’s kidding. Maybe. Hopefully.
I press a hand to my chest and pretend to be greatly offended. “Ouch.”
Shep smiles. Progress.
Hannah moves closer to me and leans forward. Maybe she’s angling so she can talk easier with Shep, but I like the proximity it puts her to me anyway.
“You look familiar. Where are you from?” she asks him.
“Washington.” His gaze darts to me and then down at the table. Man, it really is painful watching him interact with women. Not even a simple follow-up to see where she’s from. She’s making it so easy for him and still…nothing.
“Did you go to college there?” she asks him.
He shakes his head, and I think he’s starting to blush.
I give Hannah a reassuring smile mixed with a little See? I told you so. She’s not so easily deterred.
“Did you go pro straight out of high school?”
His throat works with a slow swallow as he nods.
If Hannah feels the awkwardness, she doesn’t let it show. But it’s too painful to watch this go on any longer.
“Dude. Relax. She’s not hitting on you,” I tell him. “I told her I’m your wingman.”
Shep’s eyes widen and now he’s definitely blushing. Hannah elbows me under the table.
“Which is probably why you’re sitting by yourself,” Hannah adds quickly. “He has to be the worst wingman ever.”
Shep actually huffs a small laugh.
“Hey. I’ll have you know I’m a fantastic wingman,” I say to her but then check Shep to make sure he agrees.
“It’s not him,” he says.
Hannah’s expression doesn’t shift.
“I’m not?” I ask, maybe a little too pointedly.
“Fine. Let’s say I believe you both. What is the problem exactly?”
I expect him to freeze up and give her some shrug of the shoulders or one word reply. Instead, he seems to relax a little. With a sigh, he says, “I don’t know what to say or do. I get all awkward and then they try harder. And that just makes me aware of how bad I am at all of it.”
“So you need to feel more confident?” She doesn’t wait for an answer. “What about dancing? You don’t have to talk that way.”
He shakes his head quickly and I nod my agreement. I’ve seen him on the dance floor and let’s just say it’s not where he thrives.
“Okay, what are you good at?”
“Hockey.”
“Anyone you want to date or sleep with there?” she asks, grinning at him. I want that grin aimed at me, but also, I love that she’s being so nice to Shep. He really is a great guy.
“Sadly, no.” His mouth turns down at the corners.
This is where I’d typically suggest we find a couple women and prompt him to let me do all the talking, but Hannah isn’t ready to give up.
“What is your type?” she asks him.
I open my mouth to tell her, then realize I don’t actually know the answer. Maybe I am a terrible wingman.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t dated enough to know, I guess.” He looks even more embarrassed, but he’s already said more words than I expected.
“He usually goes for brunettes,” I add.
He nods then seems to second-guess it. “That’s not…I don’t…”
Ah, he’s worried about offending her, being that she’s blond and all.
“It’s okay. I’m not looking to date right now, and I tend to prefer dark hair too.”
“Why not?” I ask. “Dating is fun.”
Except…is it? I’ve been on a cleanse for months because I was tired of it. I think dating her would be fun though.
“That would be the only part of that sentence you heard.” She laughs, goes back to ignoring me, and looks to Shep.
“Are there any women in here that you’re interested in talking to or taking home?
We didn’t talk about your goal for the night, but I think in this instance the answer can be the same. ”
Easy. Her. Except she isn’t asking me.
His gaze lifts and he scans for only a moment before he says, “Pink dress, dark hair in a ponytail.”
Well, that was fast. I follow his line of sight and find her immediately. She’s cute and looks like maybe she’s a little out of her comfort zone too.
“Ooh. Good choice. I could see you two together.” Hannah nods her approval.
“Except I could never talk to her.”
“You’re talking to me now.”
“Trav would kill me if I hit on you.” His lips pull up higher on one side. “And you’re doing most of the talking.”
“Then let me keep doing most of the talking.” Hannah grabs my arm and tugs me as she stands. Looking at Shep, she says, “Come on. Before someone else swoops in on your girl.”
Shep resists for only a moment before slowly getting to his feet.
“This is a bad idea,” he says like we’re leading him to a fight instead of chatting up a woman.
“Trust me,” she says with so much confidence he doesn’t have much choice but to follow along. That and she grabs him by the wrist and pulls him with her.
I hope, for Shep’s sake, this doesn’t end badly.