“Night,” I said reluctantly and watched as she dragged Sally across the bar and stood next to two athletic-looking guys who immediately started looking at them. I could feel my body growing hot as I watched them standing there studying Sally. I wondered if she was into them? I wondered if she would be dumb enough to fall for their lines. I wondered if she would go home with one of them. My heart stopped at the thought and I looked away quickly.
“I’m ready to leave now,” Louisa said, staring at me, and I looked down at her in surprise, already having forgotten that she was there.
“I’ll give you money for a cab,” I said quickly as I pulled out my wallet. “I forgot that I have things to do tonight.”
“Oh?” She looked put out and pissed off, but I didn’t care.
“This should cover it.” I handed her a couple of twenties. “I’ll walk with you to get a cab if you want.”
“Don’t put yourself out,” she said, but I was barely listening to her. My eyes were on Sally and the jock who had just started talking to her. I felt my skin growing cold as she threw her head back and laughed at something he’d said. What the hell was so funny?
“What is your problem, dude?” Louisa pushed past me and I realized she was leaving. I stared over at Sally flirting with the random guy and then at Louisa as she walked away. I didn’t want to leave the bar, but I knew I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I let Louisa leave without making sure she’d gotten into a taxi safely, so I quickly followed behind her. I’d have to be quick though because I was definitely going to come back to the bar, just to make sure that Mila and Sally were safe and not taken advantage of by the two guys they were talking to, who were looking shadier and shadier by the minute.
Chapter 12
Sally
“So what you up to tonight?” Cody asked me nonchalantly as we waited on Mila and TJ to bring through the lunch. His eyes bore into mine with an intense expression and I wondered what he was thinking. Everything was even more awkward between us since that night we’d nearly made love and the night we’d met up when he’d been on his date. We hadn’t spoken since that night and I wasn’t really sure exactly what he was thinking. All I knew was I had to move on. Seeing him on that date with Louisa had been the nail in the coffin for me. It was then that I’d realized I had to move on. Like, really move on. Cody felt nothing for me, and if he did, he was just playing games. It didn’t—I didn’t—mean anything to him. Not like he meant to me. I needed to just forget about all of my daydreams and hopes. I couldn’t afford to live the rest of my life pining away for him.
“Not really sure,” I lied, not wanting to tell Cody that I had a date. I was already a nervous wreck and part of me felt like telling Cody about the date would be like slamming the door on our non-existent relationship. And that would mean that I would be giving up all hope. And while I knew I was a fool for having hope in the first place, it was a hard thing to give up. I just really wanted to believe that maybe someday it could happen. Even though I knew I was moving on from him, it was still hard to shut the door completely. I wanted to cry as I sat there, hating myself for being so flimsy and weak. I’d just told myself I was going to move on from him, yet I still wasn’t able to completely make the change.
“I’m going to go check out a band in the fashion district if you want to come,” he said casually as he sipped some water.
“Oh? Who?” My heart thudded excitedly. Was he asking me out? I felt myself about to say yes when I realized that in order to accept his very casual invitation, I’d have to ditch my date with Luke. And while I didn’t have the same feeling for Luke, he seemed like a really genuine guy who could really like and be into me and, well, that meant a whole lot more than what Cody was offering. He barely knew what I did for a living. And he never really showed any huge interest in me aside from casual hanging out.
“I can’t remember the name.” He shrugged. “But it’s free and I think it’s sponsored by some brewery, so lots of cheap and free beer.”
“Oh, I see. Who else is going?”
“I’m not sure. Some of my buddies and then some girls we met at the bar last week.”
“Oh?” My stomach dropped and I was glad that I hadn’t dropped my plans and said I was going to go. I didn’t want to be around him and more girls that were all over him talking about their plans for the night.
“So, yeah, feel free to come.” He shrugged and then stretched his arms. “Mila, where is this food?” he shouted aloud. “Are you trying to make me starve tonight?”
“Cody, shut-it,” she shouted back at him, and I laughed. “It will be ready soon.”
“So, I don’t think I can make it tonight,” I said softly and gazed at him, everything in me wanting him to look sad and beg me to come. Even though I knew he wouldn’t.
“Okay.” He nodded and gave me a smile, no sadness in his eyes or face. As if it meant nothing to him. Which it likely didn’t. Because I meant nothing to him.