Chapter 15 Savannah
FIFTEEN
SAVANNAH
Calliope’s Column
It’s Not Him, It’s You (Kind Of)
Rule Number 2: Talk About Yourself, Not Your Ex…and Definitely Don’t Flirt with him in Front of Your Date.
It’s truly a pity that the men I’ve met for this project are so damn interesting.
I have a job to do, though, so unfortunately, Theo James and his beautiful smile will have to pay the price.
The key to all of this is to actually have chemistry with the person I chase away. Sutton is a desirable, intelligent woman. There’s no way she doesn’t recognize true chemistry.
Her issue is that she’s too eager.
Tonight, my goal is to hook Theo. I’ll flirt with him, get him to ask me on a date. Then the next time we meet, I’ll flip the script. I’ll cry on his shoulder, weeping about my ex. It’ll be perfect.
I’ve got the title of the article written and everything.
Talk About Yourself, Not Your Ex.
I’ve mentally added Finn’s balloon animal thing to my list of faux pas, but I won’t be using that technique on Theo fucking James. Just the thought of the mortification that would come along with it has my cheeks heating.
Fortunately, my goal tonight is to relax and flirt with him, which, it turns out, is not hard at all.
“So Vegas?” He hums, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Do you miss it?”
We’re in the middle of the whole where did you grow up? portion of the get-to-know-you game. It’s slightly unfair, I suppose, since everyone knows the Jameses are Boston royalty and that these are his stomping grounds.
“I prefer the seasons,” I say honestly. What I don’t mention is that the only way I’d return to Vegas is against my will, kicking and screaming the whole way. Every memory I have of that place is tinged with sadness.
He takes a sip of his whiskey, his eyes never leaving me. “Nashville’s beautiful this time of year. You should come visit.”
He plays for the pro team in Nashville, though he assures me he travels to Boston at least monthly, as if that’s a future concern of mine.
“I’m more of a city girl.”
He grins. “You ever been to Nashville?” he asks. “It is a city. And it’s the perfect place to visit in the winter, when the weather is fucking miserable here.”
I shake my head. “I love the winters here. Give me snow and a roaring fire any day of the week.”
His eyes, the same shade as his drink, dip to my lips. “That could be arranged.”
I swallow back a huff. Only a billionaire would assume he could manipulate the fucking weather to get a woman into bed.
I take a sip of my vodka soda, chastising myself for being so judgmental. He’s a nice guy, and he’s making an effort to get to know me. I’m supposed to be flirting with him so I can get that much-needed date.
It wasn’t this hard with Camden. Not even close. The conversation flowed so easily. It may have turned ridiculous at points, but there were no awkward silences and no grasping for topics to discuss.
Here I go again, thinking of the man who’s already forgotten me.
“I’m a big fan of music, though,” I say, pushing thoughts of Camden from my mind. “So I’m sure I’d love Nashville.”
“So you haven’t been, then?”
“Nope. I haven’t traveled much. I moved here after college and never left.”
“And outside of working for my aunt,” he asks, “what do you do for fun?”
“Pole dancing,” I say with a smile.
Of course, that answer immediately makes me think of Camden again. This is getting absurd.
Coughing, Theo sets his glass down a little too hard. “What?”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I take pole dancing classes at a gym down the street from my apartment. It’s a really good workout.”
He breaks into a smile so pretty it hurts. “I’m sure it is. Maybe I should try it. You think you could show me how to do it?”
Shrugging, I bite down on my lip, turning up the flirtation a notch. “I’m sure that could be arranged.”
“The fuck it can,” a low voice growls.
Before I can turn, my chair is being yanked back. I’m gripping the seat on either side of me to keep from wobbling when a hard-jawed Camden Snow comes into view.
His tone shouldn’t make me wet. The possessive attitude is ridiculous after he failed to call me for six freaking days. Yet I have to squeeze my thighs together so I don’t leave a mark on the seat.
“What the fuck?” Theo says from my other side. “Savannah, do you know this guy?”
“This guy,” Camden grits out, his expression lethal. “Go on, baby girl, tell him who I am.”
The way my mouth almost forms the word should be criminal. I will not say it. He doesn’t get that title.
Has he lost his damn mind? Have I?
I flatten my lips. I don’t trust my slutty mouth to behave.
“Camden, what the hell?” A blond appears at his side, fingers wrapped around his bicep, and tugs him backward.
It’s exactly the glass of water my libido needs to be doused with. Of course he’s here with another woman.
The nerve of this man.
With absolute daggers in his direction, I say to Theo, “Yeah, unfortunately, I do know him.” Sitting taller, I pull my shoulders back.
“This is Camden Snow. As you can see, he’s a bit older than us, so maybe he’s a little senile.
I guess he forgot that our time together came to an end quite a while ago. ”
Camden’s blue eyes go glacial as he shakes off the woman at his side.
Rather than get upset, the blond throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, this one’s a keeper.” Blue eyes bright, she smiles at me. “Don’t mind my brother. He’s had a rough week, and he’s a terrible flier.” She holds out a slim hand. “I’m Cora.”
Her brother?
And what does she mean by terrible week?
I hate that my attention immediately snaps back to him. Even more, I despise the concern that overtakes me when I note the dark circles under his eyes.
Jaw flexing, he looks away from me.
The disappointment in his expression hurts more than it should. He has no right to be upset with me. He never called, and I’m not doing anything wrong.
The two of us are not in a relationship. We spent one night together, and he hasn’t reached out all week. Having a drink with someone of the opposite sex is completely acceptable. Appropriate, even.
“I’m Savannah,” I mutter, unsuccessfully trying to force a friendly expression to my face.
“Well, Savannah, I hope this isn’t the last time we meet,” Cora says.
Beside her, her brother scoffs, avoiding eye contact.
A wave of annoyance rolls through me. What the hell? How is it that I’m the bad guy?
Before I can ask him what his issue is, he grabs his sister’s arm and tugs her toward the door without looking back.
Leaving me to wonder, what the hell just happened?