Soon as the car was off, I grinned. “Good idea. I could sure use a drink right about now.”
She rolled her eyes, and I saw the white of her teeth flash in the dark. “I was thinking we could hang out a while. That way there’s less chance of running into them.”
“That, too.” I agreed.
“Is that guy dangerous?” she asked, worry in her tone.
“Lorhaven?” I mused, then thought about her question. “Honestly, I would say no. He has a lot of money and is used to being the one on top. He’s had a stick up his ass since I showed up on the scene because I drive better and he doesn’t like it.”
“He tried to run you off the road,”
“I never said he wasn’t an asshole, just that I don’t think he’s dangerous. He definitely isn’t someone to trust.”
She nodded once.
“Drinks are on me.” I smiled and reached for the pile of money beside me. “Here, half of this belongs to you.”
She made a sound of refusal. “No way. You freaking earned that tonight! My only reward is getting a front row seat.”
I chuckled and counted out the four grand she used to pay my way into the race. “Well, at least take this back.”
She took it and threw it into her bag.
In the parking lot, she hesitated at the front door, and I gave her a curious glance. “What?”
Her teeth sank into her lower lip, and she looked sheepish. “It’s only fair I tell you this.”
“What?”
“This was the only bar for miles. Since it was closest, I figured it would be a good place to stop.”
“Joey,” I grumbled, wishing she’d get to the point.
“It’s a gay bar,” she blurted out.
I blinked. Something in my stomach dipped. I didn’t know what to say, so I went the easy route. “Well, at least I won’t get into a fight trying to keep the men off you tonight.”
Joey beamed. “I like your brain.” She repeated my earlier words.
Inside, we found a table by the door. I figured it was a good spot because it was on the edge of the crowd and gave me a view out the front window so I’d see if any familiar cars happened by.
We sat down and ordered some beers (yep, she drank beer), and as we waited, I started looking around curiously. I’d never been in a gay bar before. I always thought these places would have more… flare.
But really, it was just like every other bar I’d been to before.
When the waiter came back with our drinks, he gave me the once-over, and I shifted uncomfortably. “All kinds of new faces in here tonight,” he mused. “And all of them a pleasure to look at.”
When he moved away, Joey laughed. I gave her an un-amused look. Then I got to thinking about what the waiter had said. There were other new faces in here?
I scanned the crowd and faces, looking for something, as an odd feeling prickled the back of my neck.
And then I saw him.
I’d know him even if I were blind.
It was like a kick right in the nads. My hand gripped the longneck of the beer and squeezed until it hurt.
What in God’s name was he doing here?
In a gay bar? Flirting. With. A. Man.
A floodgate of emotion burst open inside me, and I felt like I was sinking, drowning…
Joey snapped her fingers in front of my face, and I blinked.
I didn’t look at her, though. I looked back at Trent.
My best friend.
Who was sitting in a gay bar, looking like he was on a date.
Trent
I could feel his presence.
I was sitting in a gay bar, losing my shit.
Like going bat shit crazy.
Was this hopeless, then? Was I so far gone on Drew it didn’t matter who I tried to see if I was interested in?
Did not only all women, but all men not stand a chance against the blond-haired, blue-eyed French fry snatcher?
Fuuuck.
I’d tried. I really fucking did. Hell, even as I sat here mentally kicking myself, I was trying. Maybe this was just the wrong place. Maybe this guy was the wrong one.
And the one on the other side of me, who’d been giving me interested looks for a while.
Even the bartender slipped me his number when he brought me a second draft (which I hadn’t even touched yet).
Not even alcohol could help me right now.
Maybe I wasn’t gay after all. Maybe I should just leave here right now, find a woman, and bury myself inside her.
My body rebelled at the thought.
It didn’t matter. I knew it, and the realization slayed me. It didn’t matter who I tried to hook up with.
The only one I wanted was Drew.
As if my raging thoughts conjured up the perfect imitation of his voice, I heard him clear as a bell in my mind. “What the fuck is going on here?”
And damn, he was mad.
Max was a blur in the edge of my vision as he turned around to see where the voice was coming from.
Wait. He heard Drew’s voice, too?
I glanced around and nearly slid right off my barstool.
He was here. He was glowering. He was totally pissed.
“Drew?” I said, turning all the way around on the stool.
“You know him?” Max asked.
If looks could kill, poor Max would be buried in his flannel.