Bridget #2
I met Adam at one of Imani’s Christmas parties a few years back.
He had come to her apartment dressed in a tacky Christmas sweater and a pair of jeans with a rather expensive looking bottle of red in his hand.
It was painstakingly obvious, even back then, that he had a soft spot for her, because according to Imani’s co-workers he rarely made an appearance at the Christmas parties they took turns hosting.
When he reintroduces himself, we swiftly fall into conversation. “Imani tells me you live in Briarwood. Have you lived there your whole life?”
Briarwood is a smaller city just outside of Vancouver and takes no more than half an hour to get to. “No, I moved from Edmonton when I was fifteen, but I’ve been there ever since.”
“You didn’t enjoy living in Vancouver, then?” he asks as he takes a sip of his beer.
Malik scoffs, throwing his arm around my shoulder and tugs me into his side. Imani beams at me and winks.
“This one living in Vancouver? That would be a sight.” Malik looks down at me, his brown eyes twinkling. “She doesn’t like the city very much. It’s too noisy and crowded.”
I nod in agreement, blushing at how well he knows me, but I suppose that’s to be expected after being friends for so long. “He’s not wrong. I can just about manage the two days a week I have to work from the office and the odd weekend here and there, but nothing permanent.”
Adam nods in agreement. “Yeah, I get that. Honestly, if I hadn’t lived here my whole life, I don’t think I’d be able to stay long-term.”
Just as I’m about to speak, four shot glasses are lined up on the bar top, and I throw my head back and groan. Malik’s fingers pinch at my sides softly, making me giggle, and I don’t miss the way his eyes drop down to my lips when I smile at him.
Imani pushes two of the glasses in our direction, and I shake my head. “No, absolutely not. I’ve got dinner with my parents tomorrow, and I’m not about to deal with my mom while hungover. Dealing with her sober is hard enough.”
The two siblings chant my name in encouragement, and with a begrudging sigh I reach forward and take one of them.
“Atta girl!”
The four of us clink our glasses together, the clear liquid spilling over the edges of our glasses. I tap the bottom of it against the bar before throwing it back, the bitter and sour liquid burning the back of my throat. I snatch up a lime wedge and suck on it.
“That was disgusting. I hate you both.”
“No you don’t,” Malik says, wiping a drop from the corner of his plump lips.
He’s right, there isn’t a bone in my body that hates either one of them.
They are two of my favourite people. Malik reaches up and ties his shoulder-length locks back with a hair tie.
That man is hot and he knows it. With an angular face that has women weak at the knees and gorgeous eyes that will have you falling for whatever he tells you.
“When did you get your ears pierced?” I ask, looking at the small diamond studs in his earlobes.
He shrugs. “Like a month or so ago. Which, you’d know if you’d take me up on one of my offers.”
I roll my eyes as I lean into his side and he doesn’t pull away.
Adam winces as he puts his glass on the side, and I swear I see him shudder as he swallows the liquid. “I’m too old for tequila.”
“Me too, brother.” Malik chuckles. “Speaking of getting old, I’ll have to head out soon. Orla is dropping Asha off pretty early tomorrow.”
Imani boos at her brother and shakes her head. “You haven’t even danced yet.”
“It’s dead in here. I’m not dancing.” A smirk pulls at his lips. “At least, not alone. You up for a dance, Bids?”
I begin to shake my head but it’s futile, because as soon as he stands up he takes me with him. Imani grabs Adam’s hand and yanks him up as well, and before I know it the four of us are on the very empty dance floor.
Imani reaches forward and wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Isn’t he amazing?” she gushes as she looks over her shoulder at her boyfriend and brother, who are talking amongst themselves. “God, I’m crazy about him, Bids.”
I bask in her happiness and feel a warmth spread across my chest as I pull her further into my arms. “I love this for you,” I say.
There is nothing more important to me that Imani’s happiness. She deserves the absolute world, and just from spending time with him tonight I can tell he will do anything to make sure she remains the happiest woman in the world.
“I love this for me, too.” Her grin is giddy and infectious. “Now we just need to find you a man who looks at you the way Adam looks at me.” Her gaze flicks over to Malik, who is already looking at us. “Give him a shot. He would treat you so good, Bids.”
“No matchmaking,” I tell her. “If things are going to happen with Malik, then it needs to be natural. Not because of his meddlesome sister. Plus, we might be better off as just friends.”
She huffs dismissively and then looks around the room. “Okay, well, let’s at least find you a backup.” Imani pauses and then nods in the direction of a blond leaning against the bar. “How about him?”
I follow her line of vision and wrinkle my nose.
He’s got attention focused on his phone in his hand while he holds his martini in his other, lifting to take a drink every so often.
There’s a petite brunette next to him, who is trying her absolute hardest to get his attention, and I swear he shrugs her off when she puts her hand on his forearm.
“I’m actually offended you’d think I’d go for that,” I tell her. “I’m happy, Immy. I’ve got everything I need right here.”
She beams and then spins me around on the dance floor. As she twirls me for the second time, my eyes snag on one man in particular who is sitting in a booth in the corner.
From what I can see in this poorly lit venue, he has dark hair that is styled back neatly and a beard that looks well-groomed.
His large hand holds a champagne flute in front of him, and as I let my eyes wander down his frame I’m not disappointed by the sight.
Broad shoulders fill out his black suit deliciously and the white shirt he wears underneath contrasts nicely against his warm skin.
As my eyes travel back up his body, I feel a warmth creep up the back of my neck as I lift my gaze to his face and find his eyes already locked on me.