“I love this bar,” Brielle gushes as she looks around. We sit at a bench seat in the corner.
I smile into my vodka lime and soda. “I know, it’s the epitome of English, isn’t it?”
“It so is.”
I smile proudly that I know a cool place.
“Tell me about Mark?” she asks.
I sit back in my chair as I choose my words. “He’s annoying.”
“Annoying?”
“Yeah,” I reply as I sip my drink.
“And?”
“And he keeps telling me I’m beautiful.”
She smiles into her glass.
“Ugh.” I roll my eyes in disgust.
She raises a brow and smirks.
I shrug.
She looks at me deadpan.
“What?” I ask.
“You don’t like him at all?” She frowns.
“He’s okay, Seems handsome and intelligent enough.”
She crunches on her ice. “He doesn’t have the thing does he?”
I shrug again.
She shakes her head. “Screw that guy wrecking this fun for you. What possessed you to sleep with him, anyway?”
“This isn’t about Alastar,” I snap.
“Bullshit. You were lusting after Mark for months and now we are here and he is being all sexy and you don’t think he has the thing. What’s that about?”
I put my fingers to my temples. “Maybe he will grow on me.”
She shakes her head as she puts her hand up for the bartender to order another round of drinks.
“The thing doesn’t grow. They either have it… or they don’t.”
I put my head back in dismay, knowing it’s true.
“Yeah, you’re right. Mark doesn’t have it. But I think that’s just because I need to know who called him.”
“Called him when?” Brielle frowns.
“Not Mark! Alastar!” I snap.
“Why the fuck are we still talking about that douchebag?”
“Because I’m pissed off that someone called him and I will never know who it was or why he left.”
“Who the hell cares who called him? It was obviously his wife. Nobody leaves in the middle of the night for no reason. He got you to have sex in a drinking game. It was like a bad college experience. Forget about it.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I sigh into my drink as my eyes drift to the door in time to see Alastar and his brother Thomas walk through it.
“H-holy… s-shit,” I stammer, quickly ducking my head.
“What?” Brielle asks as she looks around. “What’s wrong?” “Alastar is here.”
“What?” she whispers as she cranes her neck to turn and see him. “Which one?”
“The trendy tall one.” “Oh,” she whispers into her drink. “Shit, he is hot.”
I slide down in my seat, hoping he won’t see me. “Thanks for reminding me, bitch,” I whisper. She nods as she stares at him while biting her straw.
I slink down farther into my chair. “What’s he doing?” I croak.
“He’s at the bar.”
Why did I want to come here tonight?
“Fuck, he’s seen you.”
“What?” I whisper.
“Yep. He’s coming over.” “No! What?” I snap again as my eyes widen in fear.
He appears next to the table and I look up. “Hiding from someone?” he asks casually.
Cocky bastard. “No.” I reply as I sit up in my chair.
He smirks. “I’m Alastar.” He shakes Brielle’s hand.
Her eyes drift to me.
“Hello.” She smiles. “I’m Brielle.” Thomas his brother walks over to the table.
“This is my brother Thomas,” he introduces. “Thomas, this is Brielle.”
Brielle smiles broadly. “We have met. Nice to see you again, Thomas.”
“Hello.” He smiles cheekily.
“Please, join us.” She gestures to the chairs at the table. My eyes widen in horror. Is she kidding? Thomas obviously likes the look of my about-to-be-bashed friend, dropping into the seat without any hesitation. Alastar stays standing and I look down at the table to avoid his stare.
“Is that okay with you, Emmaline?”
My angry eyes snap up to him. “My name is Emerson. Please call me that.”
He raises his eyebrows in question. “Is that a yes?”
“Fine,” I snap.
He sits down.
This is just great. I want to punch him in the nose across the table. I lift the menu to hide my scowling face.
“Are you eating, too?” Thomas asks.
“Yes.” Brielle smiles. “Your accent is Irish, yes?”
Thomas smiles. “Guilty.”
Brielle giggles shyly.
I roll my eyes. Give me a fucking break. Now they are going to sit here and flirt and Alastar and I are going to ignore each other. Perfect.
The waitress comes over. “Are you all ready to order?” I open my menu annoyed. “I will have the pasta.”
Brielle starts to order and my eyes wander to Alastar who is staring at me openly. Stop watching me, asshole.
“What?” I mouth angrily. I’m so pissed off with this guy I can’t even pretend he doesn’t shit me.
He holds both of his hands up in the air, mocking my venom. I’m not even joking. I’m so mad I could cut out his kidney with a breadstick.
“How have you been?” he asks.
Oh, you mean how have I been since you made me feel like a dirty whore? “Great, thanks.” I snap.