Eva watched Bridget drop the phone from her ear and turn. “Finally!” Bridget squealed and trotted over to Eva, meeting her with outstretched arms. “You’re looking hot. Now, let’s get shots and find you a man.”
She squeezed Eva, her blond curls muffling a response. “Thanks, but I don’t need a man. I don’t have time to start anything right now.”
“No one is talking about starting anything. We need to get you laid so you can unclench a little. You’re always so uptight and roboty at parties until you relax. But that’s nothing a good old fashioned roll in the sheets, or on the floor, or in the elevator can’t fix.” Bridget’s sharp alcohol breath made Eva’s eyes burn. “Before you say no, at least check out the prospects.” She opened the door to The Chalkboard, the hotel’s restaurant and bar. Music electrified the hair on the back of Eva’s neck, and the powerful bass made the inside of her chest tickle with the rhythm. Strangers squeezed by Eva, knocking her into barstools littering the edge of the dance floor. Bridget grabbed her hand and pulled her into the crowd. A man in a too-tight shirt rubbed his body against hers, brushing his hand against her ass. She inched back to give him room to pass, but he stayed pressed against her, nodding like they shared some kind of secret.
Bridget threw her arms up in the air, pouted her lips, and moved her hips in slow, sexy circles. “Relax,” she mouthed.
Eva tried to mimic her and sway with the crowd, but felt like she was impersonating a pouting toddler. Maybe she did need a drink and a one-night stand.
“Look!” Bridget’s yell was barely audible over the remix of Maroon 5’s newest pop song. Eva followed her friend’s outstretched finger, and her gaze landed on a gaggle of half-naked gyrating women. Her face scrunched, and she looked back at Bridget.
“No, not them. Him!”
Eva’s eyes grew to alien size when she finally saw the person Bridget pointed to.
Spencer.
Eva couldn’t even count the number of times she’d made up excuses to walk by the Kappa Alpha fraternity house on campus in hopes that Spencer would be hanging out outside (and preferably shirtless). That had been during her first sophomore year of college. Since then, and an additional attempt at making it to junior status, they’d had two classes together. One each semester. Almost 365 days of meaningless flirtation. Now that she thought about it, she sounded a tad bit obsessed. But he was really flirty the last few times we talked. He even said that we should go out soon. I’m not obsessed, just persistent.
“Go!” Bridget said, her mouth pressed against Eva’s ear. “Look how big his feet are.” She gave Eva a slight push in Spencer’s direction.
Eva inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. You can totally do this. Just have a conversation. Smile and nod. Smile and nod. Simple. He can’t even really hear you in here.
Eva flipped her hair, rolled her shoulders back, sucked in her stomach, and walked toward her crush.
“Spencer! Hi!” she shouted, even though barely two feet separated them.
“Hey, Eva!” He bent down and hugged her tight against his chest, picking her up a couple inches off the ground. With the side of his face pressed against hers, he spoke into her ear. “Come up to the lobby. I want to talk to you.”
Eva felt like her stomach was going to fall out of her butt. They weren’t supposed to go somewhere and talk. They were supposed to scream over the music at each other, maybe have a drink, and then Eva would spend the rest of the weekend on the phone with Bridget analyzing every syllable uttered and deciding whether or not to text him first.
Spencer took her hand and led her up the narrow staircase to the hotel lobby, and Eva couldn’t help but feel a little warmer than she had when she first arrived. She glanced over her shoulder before disappearing from the room. Bridget sat giggling at the cute bartender and hadn’t noticed Eva’s success.
“God, it’s loud in there.” Spencer’s voice interrupted the photomontage of their soon-to-be romance Eva had busily created in her head. He closed the door separating the hotel from the restaurant. The sudden silence made Eva fidget with a stray thread dangling from her clutch.
“You know, I hate that we don’t have any classes together anymore.” Spencer reached over and brushed her hair back and off of her shoulder. He let his hand linger and slowly slide down her arm.
Goose bumps dotted Eva’s skin, and her heart fluttered in her chest. “Really?” She bit her bottom lip, hoping she’d hid the shock from her voice.
“Definitely. You were the only girl who wasn’t glued to her phone, and whenever I walked in, I got to see that amazing smile.”
Happiness warmed her and she let her amazing smile beam.
“Actually, speaking of phones, I need to get your number.” He reached for his back pocket, and his forehead wrinkled with confusion. “Damn, I must have left it in the room,” he said, patting the remaining pockets of his jeans. “A few of us got rooms on the same floor so we won’t have to worry about driving or anything.”