Page 4 of With Love, Alex

“Oh my God,” I heard Shelli yell somewhere beside me as Matt’s hands made their way down my back and cupped each ass cheek, pulling me closer to him. I could feel he was hard, giving me a heady feeling. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt desirable, wanted, and wanton all at the same time causing me to pull back enough to look up at him. I wanted to see his face instead of being caught up in the moment or the music, and saw the desire I felt pressed against me.

“You ready for another drink?” he asked, his lips brushed the shell of my ear, causing me to shiver even though I was hot from all the bodies around us and from the constant dancing. Yes, I was ready for a drink to cool down my heated body, but also my libido too.

“Hey, we’re going back to the table.” I yelled to first Shelli and then Dawn when I found her a couple of feet away grinding against a man and a woman. Both gave me a thumbs up. I wasn’t sure if it was in acknowledgment of hearing me or in praise for letting myself go with Matt. I had a feeling it was for the latter.

Colton had stayed at the table slowly sipping his Jack and Coke while we’d all been off dancing. I smiled at him as we sat in the booth, and I hoped he understood my smile for what it was. Colton Patrick was a cool guy.

We scooted around until I was next to Colt and not all the way across the table. He’d been by himself for quite a while, I didn’t want him thinking I didn’t want to talk to him or didn’t like him.

“Are you here visiting family?” I asked lamely. What was with me? I kept channeling Baby and her ‘I carried a watermelon’ moment. He was probably used to people making a fool of themselves around him or at least I was going to tell myself that to make me feel better.

“I had some time off and wanted to see my family. I don’t see them enough as it is. Anna couldn’t make it, so I asked Matt if he wanted to come and get away for the weekend. How about you? Do you live in Fairlane?” he asked once again flashing his movie star smile.

“I’ve lived here all my life. When I was in high school, I wanted to get away from here and moved to a big town, but…” I shrugged.

“What happened?” Colton asked with genuine curiosity. Matt took my hand underneath the table and folded his fingers with mine.

“I was a typical, stupid teenager and thought I was in love. I got married instead.” It was embarrassing to tell my story, but I wasn’t going to lie even if I’d never see them again.

“You’re not still married, are you?” Matt asked from beside me, his eyes slightly narrowed. He’d moved to where the whole left side of his body was against mine, but at the mention of marriage he’d inched away. Even the small distance now between us made me glance over at him feeling defeated. I didn’t like that he’d made me feel anything resembling what Decker had made me feel in the past. After all, I’d went through with my ex-husband I wasn’t going to let anyone make me feel less than ever again.

“No,” I answered, fighting an eye roll. “Tonight, we’re actually out celebrating my one-year anniversary of being divorced.”

“I’m guessing the divorce was a good thing,” Colton said before taking another sip of his drink and looked over it to Matt. They shared a look. What it said I wasn’t sure, but I thought it was Colton telling Matt to chill out. It wasn’t like he could talk, he was divorced too. His had been splashed all over the tabloids and it had been ugly.

“Very much so. Let’s not get into that though or I’ll lose my buzz.”

“We wouldn’t want that now would we.” Colton motioned to someone off to the side, and a moment later a new drink was in my hand.

“That’s last call,” A new waitress said, eying Colton up and down in a blatantly suggestive manner, causing my eyes to widen at her audacity.

“Thanks, I think we’re good,” Colton replied dismissing the waitress. Dawn and Shelli walked up to the table as the waitress left. Dawn sat next to Matt and Shelli was next to Colton beaming. “I guess the place will be closing soon. I always forget how early everything shuts down here.”

Matt looked at his watch frowning. “It’s only one a.m. What does everyone do when the bars close?”

“Go to a place that’s open twenty-four hours and eat, to a party, someone’s house, or go home.” Shelli answered counting them off on her fingers.

“Well, I’m not hungry. How about we go back to your place Colt and hang out?” Matt placed his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.

Colt thought about it for a moment before agreeing. “If that’s cool with the ladies, it’s cool by me. Did one of you drive?”

We’d all drank way more than we expected to, and I wasn’t sure what we were going to do with Dawn’s car.

“I drove.” Dawn answered, her phone out. “I’ll get us an Uber, and, in the morning, I’ll come back to get my car.”

“You don’t need an Uber. I can drive, I only had the one drink,” Colton replied. “If you want to head to my house and hang out for a little while then you can call an Uber to take you home.”

Shelli’s eyes glazed over at the thought of going to Colton’s house. I wasn’t sure it was a smart move in letting us know where he lived. I wouldn’t do anything with the knowledge, but I wasn’t so sure about Dawn and especially Shelli.

“Are you sure?” I asked expressing my concern with both my voice and eyes. Luckily Dawn and Shelli weren’t paying attention to me or they’d probably gotten mad, but seriously as someone famous you couldn’t let just anyone know where you lived, and we hadn’t talked or known each other long enough for him to think we were remotely trustworthy.

“Yeah, when we get there I’ll have to excuse myself and call my wife, but Matt can entertain you all.” Colton explained as he signed the bill. I knew it wasn’t as much as he would have been paying if he was in a club in LA, but I still didn’t want to know how much the bill was either after all the drinks we’d had.

“That’s okay,” Shelli exclaimed as she stood up. She was ready to go, and I had a feeling that after tonight, life was never going to go back to the simplicity I had been living. “Let’s go!”

3

Not All First are Good

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