LOVE ‘EM(70)
I cringe. “My best friend left for an African mission trip today. Emotional day. But I’m fine.”
He puts the car into drive. “Thought I’d take you to The Garage. It’s this new place down in The West End.”
“Sounds good.”
* * *
The Garage. Trendy bar. Forty-five minute wait to get in.
My stomach roars. Thank goodness the music’s so loud no one can hear it. I hope Paul doesn’t mind a girl who eats.
I let my gaze travel around the place. Car parts and auto racing memorabilia hang on the walls. We settle at a table in the small area to the side of the dance floor.
Paul leans close and raises his voice. “So, you’re a sophomore this year?”
“Junior. You?”
“Senior. Set to graduate in December.” He nods, and light bounces off his black hair. He points to the bar. “Want something?”
“Just a soda. Thanks.”
Looks like the party’s in full swing. Lots of people dancing, drinking, having a great time.
Paul sets my soda in front of me. His straight teeth shine in the lights as he smiles. He tosses me a straw. I strip the wrapper off and poke it into the icy drink.
I half empty the glass in a couple of long draws. “Thanks. I was thirsty.”
“I hope you don’t mind. I’m going to have something with some kick.”
An arm comes around me, pushing my soda across the table to Paul. “Then you should be drinking this one.”
My heart ratchets up.
Seriously? This can’t be happening.
I twist in my seat. “What are you doing here?”
Danny smiles, his eyes sparking. “So, who’s the douche?”
Paul’s brow wrinkles, and he glares. “Dude, what’s your issue?”
“If you want something with a kick, take hers. Whatever you spiked it with ought to give you a jolt.”
My chest tightens. I turn to Paul. “What did you do?”
He looks away and shakes his head. Then he jumps up, sending his chair crashing to the floor. “Fuck you. I don’t need this shit.”
He’s not getting off that easily. I grab the drink and rush behind him. “Hey, Paul!”
He turns and I toss the contents into his face. It splashes off and drips down his golf shirt. Paul swipes a hand over his eyes, his mouth a hard, thin line. His fists clench and he steps toward me.
Crap.
I brace for impact.
Danny grabs me and shoves me aside. He pulls back his fist.
Paul lunges into the punch. Maybe he doesn’t even realize I’m not there now. One pop and he’s on his butt, rubbing his jaw.
Danny stands over him. “Didn’t your momma teach you it isn’t nice to drug the ladies?”
Paul crab crawls backward a few feet and flips over, pushing himself up. He shakes it off, wipes his face with the back of his arm, and threads his way through the crowd. He doesn’t even look back.
The people in the immediate vicinity stare. Heat creeps from my chest to the top of my head. I slink to the table and grab my purse off the chair. It takes a few minutes to get across the bar to the ladies’ room, but I manage to do so without looking up.
I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.
I push through the door, past the girls at the sink, to lock myself in a stall, leaning against the cool metal. The door swishes open and the volume rises for a moment as music floods in. Then it’s quiet.
Good. Now I can be alone in my mortification.
I inhale, hold it, count to ten, and let it out by increments.
“So, you really know how to pick them, eh, Moan-uh?”
My shoulders droop in defeat and I let the rest of my breath out in a huff.
Great. Exactly what I need.
“You followed me into the bathroom?”
He rattles my stall door. “How else are you going to say thank you?”
I pull the latch and slip past him. “You could’ve waited until I finished. I just needed a minute.”
His cocky grin makes me hate his face.
“Oh. I didn’t realize I’m supposed to save you and wait for you. Pardon me.”
I wash my hands and splash water over my cheeks, trying to cool the blush still burning me up.
When I raise my head I focus on the mirror. Danny stands behind me. His gaze holds mine for the longest moment in history.
I swallow my embarrassment. “Thank you. Thank you for keeping me from getting hurt. And for decking that jerk.” I turn to him, throwing my hands up in question. “Happy now?”
“You’re welcome.”
And he walks out. Just like that.
There is something seriously wrong with him. There has to be.
* * *
The heat rises off the pavement outside The Garage. The cab is taking forever to get here. I check my phone again, shifting my weight from foot to foot.