But I was definitely going to have to switch to something a little harder, and I did just that when the waitress came back with our food.
“Ally, I think you really need to go over there. Kara looks like she’s in bitch mode, and of course, Nick’s sitting there taking it. I’d do it, but I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little scared of her and I think I’d end up in jail if I slapped a chick.” Danny set down his beer, and I allowed my eyes to dart over to their table.
Nick’s face was unusually pale and his mouth was slightly ajar. I watched the back of Kara’s head bob back and forth like she was giving him a whole lot of attitude, and she wasn’t giving Nick a chance whatsoever to speak. Not that he looked like he could anyway, he looked like he was in shock or something.
I stood up quickly, my legs wobbling as I did so, and all of the alcohol I consumed rushed to my head. “What are you doing?” Leah hissed. Her hand landed on my elbow but I quickly shrugged it off as I adjusted my dress and teetered on my heels.
“Liquid courage,” I said out of the side of my mouth, before heading in the direction of Nick’s table and not looking back. I had no clue what I was going to say, and I probably wouldn’t even be approaching them if I hadn’t had some drinks in me. But Nick looked like he needed saving. He had already saved me, so if I could help him out, I would.
I stepped up to their table, and Nick turned, giving me a weak smile as Kara continued talking. Finally, she stopped and looked up, narrowing a set of dark eyes at me and pursing her lips. “Can I help you?” she asked in a high-pitched voice, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Oh yeah, Danny was totally right. How was a guy like Nick with her for so long?
Now that I was here, I had no clue what to say. “Hi, I, um…just wanted to introduce myself.” I wobbled slightly, and planted a hand on their table to keep myself upright.
Nick gave me a worried look and his hand landed on top of mine, giving me just an inkling that I hadn’t lost him after only such a short amount of time. Kara eyed our hands, and shot me a look of disgust as I held my free hand out to her. “I’m Ally, Nick’s girlfriend. And you are?”
So yeah, we hadn’t really put a label on things and maybe I was trying to stake my claim on him, but I really didn’t care.
She ignored my hand and glared at Nick. “Well, Nick do you think you could get your girlfriend to give us a little bit of alone time, so we can finish our discussion?” She picked up her water and took a long drink before slamming it back down on the table with a huff.
“Quit being a bitch, Kara.” Her eyebrows shot up at Nick and her mouth gaped open as he stood up, and put one arm around my waist. I gave her a triumphant smile as he led me away, but it quickly dropped when he called back to her over his shoulder, “I’ll be back in a minute, Kara.”
He stopped me before we were back to the table, steadying me on my feet as he grabbed my waist, and looked down at me, his lips set it a tight line. “Ally…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was meeting her, but—”
“But you didn’t expect us to be here.” I finished for him. “So you probably weren’t going to tell me in the first place.” I hated that I sounded whiny, but I think he should have told me. He probably would want to know if I was out with my ex, and I would have told him. I didn’t have anything to hide.
“Ally, it’s not like that. I just—” I stopped him with my hand, and tried to plaster on a smile, but I knew it wasn’t much of one.
“I don’t need an explanation, Nick. Go finish doing…whatever you were doing.” I walked back to the table and collapsed into my chair, not even bothering to watch him. I knew exactly where he was, though I kind of wished he would choose me over her, but he hadn’t. Was I really that bad that I would always be second choice? Jeez, I felt like a whiny fourth grader who got picked last for a game of kickball. Where in the hell had my self-confidence gone?
The table was awkwardly silent when I came back until Danny brought up the subject of sports to Chase and everyone jumped right back in.
“Hey, do I need to go kick someone’s ass? I’m not gonna stand by and let some guy treat you like shit again.” Leah nudged her shoulder into mine, and I attempted a smile because I knew she would do it for me in a heartbeat. That’s just the kind of friend she was. Leah never really approved of my relationship with Teddy, and I think she wished that she had spoken up about it more than she did.
“I’ll join her,” Remy added from a new spot at the table across from her. Her eyes were still on Ben’s every move though, and I did a little dance inside for someone being happy.