Look away, Robyn, my subconscious warns me. But I can’t. He’s up there in all his glory and I have the ideal view.
When the tempo ramps up and he launches into a cover of a song called “Take It Out on Me,” I practically have to wipe the drool from my chin. It’s not until a few of the workers step over and ask for his autograph and he quits playing to sign their stuff that I manage to tear myself away.
Katie hangs back with a knowing look.
“Not a word, Katie-O. Not a word,” I command as I walk by with my now-empty boxes.
She laughs. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I could hear your thoughts.”
She nods. “Uh-huh. And I could hear yours. You, my friend, are a naughty, naughty girl.” She shoves me lightly as we walk over to the VIP area.
“Yolo,” I say, using the phrase we both make fun of that means You Only Live Once.
“So true,” Katie says, pretending to ponder the sentiment deeply. “So very true.”
I don’t know if it’s how well the meet-and-greets go, or just how much fun Charlotte folks are, but I’m in a fantastic mood when the show ends. I’m not even as tired as I normally am after running around for hours. So when Katie and Drew ask me if I’m up for grabbing a drink at a college bar nearby, I say yes.
It becomes abundantly clear about half an hour in that I am very much a third wheel, but as long as they don’t mind, neither do I. I knew they were hanging out a lot when we were on the road, but I didn’t realize how serious it was until I saw them dancing.
Talk about sexual tension. Hot damn.
Drew is quiet. He pretty much hides behind his camera for the most part. I don’t know much about him except that he’s from Portugal, a retired athlete in his thirties turned photographer, but when I see the way he moves with Katie on the dance floor I am seeing the guy in a whole new light.
When the bump-and-grind makes me blush, I finally have to look away.
“You still mad at me?”
The voice is deep, male, and the one that rolls over me like melted caramel.
“No,” I tell Dallas, because I’m not. I’m embarrassed that I was so distracted by Katie and Drew that I didn’t even notice him sitting there.
“Promise?”
“Do I lie?”
He grins and leans closer, close enough that I can smell that woodsy, now liquor-infused scent.
“You try to. But your face gives you away.”
I arch an eyebrow in his direction, having lost interest in my fruity drink. Should have stuck with bourbon. “Oh yeah? What am I thinking now?”
“You’re thinking that watching your friends get it on over there on the dance floor got you pretty hot and you’re extremely glad that I’m here to handle that five-alarm situation for you.”
He winks and I let out a small awkward laugh. Maybe all of my thoughts are being flashed in neon lights above my head. As close as he is to the truth, I am not going to be one of those people who keep repeating the same mistakes.
I’m not, I’m not, I’m not.
“Great show tonight,” I say, my pathetic attempt at changing the subject.
“Yeah? Did you catch the new song?”
I focus on the bottles lined up behind the bar. God how I wish someone would turn them all the right way. “I might’ve heard a lyric or two.”
“What’d you think?”
“It was all right.”
I turn around in my seat, so that I can focus on the dance floor. I’m out of things to distract me behind the bar. Drew has his hands on Katie’s hips now, holding her body from behind, and the way they’re moving together makes me question if they’ve already gotten it on. Their bodies seem awfully familiar with one another’s. I make a mental note to ask her.