Page 3 of Love on the Line

Suddenly, his gaze connected with hers andshe forgot to breathe. The intensity in his look had her suddenly turning away,seeking an escape. She set her drink down and searched the area for Jen, seeingshe was still tangled up with two guys, not the least bit concerned it lookedas if they should get a room. As she quickly scanned the bar, trying todiscretely locate the hunk, she saw him still staring and making his waythrough the crowd in her direction.

AJ felt her eyes widen in panic, thinkingthere was no way she was going to engage in conversation with this man. She wasnot prepared and didn’t want to look like a fool. Small talk and flirting was sonot her forte. Luckily the guy washaving difficulty moving around the many occupants in the bar, giving AJ achance to maneuver out of the booth and hurry across the room.She barely made eye contact with Jen beforeshe slipped out of the bar and hurried down the corridor into the furthestbathroom she could find.

Leaning against the counter, AJ tried toget her breathing under control while also hoping Jen would understand her lookand seek her out. She couldn’t just leave without at least letting Jen know. AlthoughAJ knew her friend could take care of herself, Jen would be worried first andthen pissed to know AJ had bailed.

After a few moments, the door burst openwith Jen coming through, flushed with a look of confusion marring her face.

“What’s going on?”

“I, uh, I just needed to use the bathroom.I think I’m ready to go,” she lied. Well, it wasn’t a total lie. She was readybecause she didn’t want to have a run-in with the gorgeous stranger. Shequickly rattled on. “I just didn’t want to abandon you without letting youknow, even though it looked like you were doing just fine and couldn’t careless about being left alone with those hunks you were dancing with.”

Jen cocked her brow as a smile lifted thecorner of her mouth. “What the hell, AJ? A hot guy wants to talk with you andyou hightail itouttathere?” She made a move to takeAJ’s elbow as she said, “Come on, let’s go back and have some fun. Well, I’llresume my fun while you startto havesome.”

AJ whipped her arm away from Jen. “No, no,um, I really am ready to go. Listen, you’ll be fine taking a cab, right? Or areyou, you know,gonna—”

“Am Igonnahookup with one of those boys, you ask?” She placed her hands on her cockedhips. “I most certainly am, and if you had stayed put, you might have had thesame luck.”

AJ sputtered. “I don’t want any such luck!Listen, I’m just going to go. It really has been a great evening, but I’m readyto head home. So, um, are you sure you’ll be fine? You sure you don’t want meto take you home?”

“Hell, no. I’m about to go home with notone, but twogorgeous guys who I’msure will show me more than just their hockey sticks.” She winked.

Although not a prude, AJ still gasped,causing Jen to laugh.

“All right, listen,hun,you go home then. But I sure wish you’d stay and at least talk to a guy. Itdoesn’t have to be any more than that, you know.”

“Yeah, I know, but I guess I’m just notready. I can’t handle all that gorgeousness in my face.” A strangled laughescaped her.

“Okay.” Jen hugged her. “Drive safe, anddon’t worry about me. You know I can take care of myself.”

“Oh, don’t I know it.”

The two walked out of the bathroom, givingeach other one more hug before Jen made her way back to the bar and AJ made herescape before anything else happened. She took the first exit and had to circlearound the building before finding Kayli’s car. Once inside, she breathed asigh of relief, followed by a groan at how stupidly childish she had acted.

She banged her head against the steeringwheel and mumbled. “Thirty-two years old and acting like I’m twelve.”

With a deep breath, she buckled up and headedhome, promising herself she’d try to act more mature next time. If there was anext time.

****

“I can’t believe you fled like that!”Kayli exclaimed when she saw AJ the next afternoon. “Think of the fun you couldhave had!”

“Really? I can’t believe you felt the needto bolster your courage with alcohol, only to get sick and not have one minuteof fun.” AJ instantly regretted her words when she saw Kayli’s face crumple. “Shit,I’m sorry, Kayli, that was uncalled for.”

“Seems we both need to work on ourconfidence, huh?”

“Yeah,” AJ simply said. She rubbed herfriend’s arm as they sat side by side on AJ’s couch.

Kayli had taken a cab over to AJ’s tovisit and retrieve her car, and Jen had arrived only moments ago looking freshas a daisy stretching toward the sun.

“Well, if you had both just listened to MommaJen, you’d have had a fabulous night with a fabulous guy or two, and wouldn’tbe ripping each other with comments like that.”

“After all these years, you know we’re notbuilt like that,” AJ said.

“And after all these years, you’d thinksome of my influence would’ve rubbed off on you two,” Jen replied.

“At least I talked with a guy,” Kayli saidweakly.

“That you did,” Jen confirmed. She thenturned to AJ. “Now, you. Youwannatell me what’sreally bothering you? Why you couldn’t stay to even talk to a cute guy whoseemed interested in you?”

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