Chapter 7
Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys
A
body slid into the seat Erik had just vacated. Striking blue eyes met hers, and Abby found herself face to pleasant, handsome face with—
‘Finn! Hi.’
‘How are you? It’s been a while.’ His smile was open, friendly. Friendlier than it should have been, considering the last time she’d seen him. They caught up politely, and she actually thought the grand British tradition of trying to avoid awkward conversations might save her, when: ‘So that guy you’re here with. Is he the reason you never texted me after that night?’
Memories of sobbing on her bedroom floor and far too many empty wine bottles flashed through her brain.
‘Erik and I are, uh, just friends.’ Even as she said it, she felt a twist in her gut. Those two little words felt wholly inadequate to describe their relationship. Always had. But. Well. They weren’t more.
‘Sure? Things looked pretty intense.’
Abby faltered, but yes. After what had happened…she was sure. ‘We’ve been friends forever. We’re just like that.’
Finn smiled and leaned closer. ‘In that case, do you want to grab another drink sometimes? When you’re not occupied with—’
‘Everything okay here?’ Erik’s normally genial voice was clipped as he wrapped a stiff arm around Abby’s shoulders. She didn’t like his tone or his posture, but muscle memory had her leaning slightly into him nonetheless.
‘Hey, man,’ Finn said, suddenly looking nervous. She wasn’t surprised. Erik had a good four inches on him, and while she couldn’t bring herself to look up at him, she knew that voice. It meant he’d dropped his usual friendly expression, leaving his face a cold mask. ‘I was just keeping your friend company while—’
‘Well, my friend ’—Abby tried not to fixate on the way Erik ground out the word—‘and I should be getting to bed. We have an early start in the morning.’
Abby shot Finn an apologetic look as she hopped off her seat. She still couldn’t bring herself to face him, but she accepted Erik’s offered arm to steady her cocktail-weakened legs, already shaking slightly on her heels. He slid a tip under his still full drink before turning to lead her out.
‘Wait,’ Finn said quickly, handing a white card to her. ‘In case you lost my number.’ He looked slightly sheepish, eyes darting up at Erik, who stood beside her stonily. She pocketed it quickly.
As soon as they passed the threshold of the bar, she rounded on Erik, finally looking up at his face. Cold features stared back at her. ‘Well, that was rude.’
‘Interrupting two people having drinks to try to pick one of them up? I’d say.’
‘Not him. You.’ Abby scowled. Erik frowned. At least it was better than that blank stare. ‘You didn’t have to go all protective alpha male.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want to go back and talk to Captain Preppy?’ Annoyance was clear in the twist of his mouth, but something darker flickered in his eyes. ‘Are you two friends or something?’
Abby’s insides froze. The truth would take them beyond those ever unspoken boundaries. ‘Not exactly.’
‘Then why would he be concerned you might have lost his number?’ Erik’s voice was low and even. It made something tremble deep in her gut.
‘We met at a bar around Christmas and ended up having a few drinks.’ Not a lie. Just carefully ignoring some truths. She prayed it would satisfy him.
Erik nodded stiffly. ‘Ah.’ A pause. Then: ‘Are you going to see him while we’re here?’
Abby shrugged. She hadn’t expected to bump into him again, least of all there. Finn had been pleasant enough company. In every sense. She was also acutely aware that she’d used him as a distraction from the swirling mess of emotion she’d been feeling. Was still feeling. Her bourbon-soaked brain wasn’t helping.
‘You just went out once?’
Abby nodded. She hadn’t been looking for more when she’d gone out that night and had assumed he felt the same. It had thrown her a bit when he’d given her his number as she left his flat in the middle of the night. At the very least, she should have texted him to let him know she wasn’t interested in pursuing anything. But it felt too much like an acknowledgement of what she’d immediately filed away as a mistake.
‘You must have made quite an impression. Three months later and he’s still pining.’
‘Why are you so interested?’ Abby asked as they entered the lift.
Cool detachment settled back over Erik’s face, along with a tight smile. ‘Just asking my best friend, who I haven’t seen in almost a year, about her life. That’s allowed, isn’t it?’
They had almost reached their rooms before she spoke again. Mere steps away from the door that would hide her safely from this conversation, her alcohol-slicked tongue betrayed her. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.’
Erik paused, turning back to where Abby had stopped in front of her door. He took a step. Two. Less than a hand’s width separated her from his chest, and Abby had to crane her neck to see his face. Sometimes she forgot how much bigger he was than her.
‘Well it’s a good thing you know better, isn’t it?’ Erik’s voice was rough, his ragged breathing matching hers. He dipped his head lower towards her, and her heart slammed in her chest. ‘Good night, Sunshine,’ he muttered, turning and reaching his door in two long strides.
Abby glanced over as their keycards beeped simultaneously. Erik was staring at her intensely again, something indiscernible simmering in those normally clear grey eyes. She dove through her door and slammed her back against it.
Fuck .