I stare back out the window, lost in thought. Who are you? Where do you live and why can’t I stop thinking about you?
Why do two words in a text from you mean so much to me?
I hear a wolf whistle come from the lounge room and I smile broadly.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Vanessa yells. “Emerson. Get out here.”
I laugh and jump up.
Sure enough Hank is standing in the lounge room looking down at himself. He is wearing tight jeans and a V-neck black t-shirt. His blonde hair is cut and his beard has been trimmed to look like a three-day growth. “I look like a fucking knob,” he sighs.
“Woo hoo. Oh, Hank, you are looking the business tonight.” I laugh.
Vanessa stands with her mouth open as she inspects mine and Brielle’s handiwork. She circles him and her eyes flicker over to me. “He’s actually frigging hot under all that hair.”
I laugh and nod in agreement. “I know.”
She grabs Hank into a headlock and swings him around. “You are getting your dick sucked tonight, big boy.”
Hanks face falls in fear. “T-tonight,” he stammers.
I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my laugh. Poor thing is petrified.
“Not tonight, Hank,” I reassure him. “We are just going cocktail tasting and maybe run through some pick up lines.” I look at Vanessa. “Are you sure you can’t come? It’s going to be fun.”
“I wish.” She throws her head back in disgust. “I have the stupid twenty-first birthday for my twat of a cousin. I have to stay the weekend with my parents. Ugh, I’m going to have the worst weekend ever.” She stands back with her hands on her hips and smiles proudly at Hank. “But we have the music festival next weekend, don’t forget.”
“Yes, we do,” Hank replies as he looks down at himself.
I raise my brows. “Where are you two off to?” I ask.
“A music festival. We bought tickets before we knew that we liked you.”
Vanessa’s honesty is endearing. “That’s okay. I have my first auction with work next Friday night. I couldn’t go, anyway.”
* * *
The music pumps through the nightclub and I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in one evening. Brielle is giving Hank the lowdown on pick up lines. We have been out to dinner and are now drinking cocktails at our new favorite hangout, Club Alto.
Brielle holds her hands up. “What about this one?” She points to a girl who is walking by on her way to the bathroom.
Hanks face falls. “What do I say again?” he asks in a panic.
“Hello!” we both yell.
He nods and sinks his cocktail. “Right.” He nods again as he psyches himself up. The girl approaches us and Hank stands tall, flashing her a lopsided smile with a nod.
She smiles and keeps walking past, and the fool doesn’t say a single word.
I burst out laughing and Brielle slaps him on the arm. “What are you doing?”
He takes her drink from her and downs it. “This is hard. Why don’t they talk to me? Why do I have to do every fucking thing?” he asks in a fluster.
I look at my watch. It’s 11pm. Should I text him and say goodnight again? No, that makes me seem desperate.
Trust yourself.
The old lady’s words run through my brain. Yeah, fuck it, she’s right. I’m just going to text him. What’s the worst that can happen? Before I can think, I hit send:
I’m thinking about you.
Goodnight, Alastar X
I hit send and wait as I stare at the screen. Come on, come on.
Shit.
No reply. My stomach drops. Damn, why did I do that? Ahh, why did I do that?
“Hello,” an Irish voice purrs over my shoulder.
I turn with a start and my face falls. It’s not him.
The man smiles a knowing smile. “Did you think I was someone else?”
Guilt fills me. Not every Irish man is him, you fool. “For a moment.” I smile.
He holds out his hand to shake mine. “My name is Thomas.” I smile. “Hello, Thomas.” We shake and I introduce him. “Thomas, these are my friends Brielle and Hank.”
“Hello.” He smiles as he shakes their hands.
My phone beeps.
Goodnight, Em.
X
I instantly read the message and a broad smile crosses my face.
“Are you having a good night?” Thomas asks.
“I am now.” I smile happily. He replied, he replied.
“I think you may know my brother.”
My eyes shoot up from my phone and I frown in question.
“Star?” he answers my unspoken question.
My face drops. “You’re his brother?”
He nods. “Aye.”
How does Thomas know who I am?
“Is he here?” I ask hopefully.
He shakes his head. “No. I was here with him the other night when you were.”
Thomas smiles broadly at Brielle, and as she does a jig on the spot, his eyes drop to her toes and back up again.
“Oh.” I smile, hoping he has been talking about me. There is only one way this guy would know who I am. Alastar was talking about me to him. I bite my bottom lip to hide my over the top smile.
Oh, this is fabulous news.