Page 8 of The Hookup
When he’d finished serving a couple of people, he couldn’t help but notice her still sitting at the other end of the bar by herself, looking a little lonely even in a sea of people.
Chapter 4
Having fun? How’s it going? How’s the wedding?
Dean’s question-filled text message blinked at her. Sitting by herself at the bar alone, feeling awkward and out of place given that most of the guests were paired up, she had been checking her messages.
Close family had been allowed to keep their phones on them, unlike the rest of the guests, and for that she was grateful. A cell phone was like a woman’s best friend, especially at times like now when she had nothing to do and nobody to talk to. It was an accessory that made her not look so sad, lonesome, or desperate.
Most of the messages from her friends had asked the same question. Everyone wanted to know about the wedding of the cousin who had married the billionaire hedge-fund wonder boy. She didn’t bother to reply to any of the others, and deleted Dean’s message.
She stole another look at the bartender who was still at the other end of the bar, serving most people. Her gaze lingered over his tattooed arms, and she admired his defined biceps as he lifted his arms to sweep the hair away from his eyes.
The more she looked at him, the more she found herself unable to look away.
“What are you doing sitting here all by yourself?”
She turned around to see Briony, Savannah’s friend from work, standing beside her. “Taking some time out,” she replied, cheering up in an instant. She had come to know Briony and her girlfriend Max well, and enjoyed their company.
“From what?” Briony asked, then excused herself while she placed an order for her cocktails.
“From people asking me when I’m going to settle down.”
“Ouch.” Briony made a sympathetic face. “You’ll need another drink, then. What can I get you?”
Kay held up her half-empty cocktail glass. “I’m fine for now, thanks.” Besides, she would rather ask Luke for another drink, herself. No point in wasting an opportunity like that.
“Who’s hassling you?” Briony asked, as she waited for her drink.
“My mother.”
“Ugh.” A drawn out sigh told her that Briony suffered the same. “You too?”
“Is your mom here?” Kay asked, lifting her cocktail glass to her lips.
“God, no!” Briony looked horrified, as the server placed two drinks in front of her. “What’s your mom more worried about?” she asked, slipping her fingers around the stems of the cocktail glasses. “Your vagina, or your ovaries?”
Kay almost spat out her drink in shock. She wiped her lips with a napkin. “Huh?”
“Is she worried that your ovaries might be getting old and shriveled, or that you’re allergic to men?”
“I think it’s both, although I’m not a … a … a…”
“Lesbian, I think, is the word you’re looking for,” offered Briony, helpfully.
Kay faked a smile, feeling foolish, and embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t.” Briony cracked a smile. “Come and join us later if you want.”
“Thanks, I will.”
Another text message appeared, from Dean again:
When are you back? Maybe we should hook up?
She scowled, wishing she hadn’t run into him at that bar a few weeks ago. The time before that, when she had agreed to meet him because he’d wanted to talk, it had ended up being a booty call. Of course, it hadn’t helped that she was useless at resisting the affections of a good-looking, well-built man.
And of course, she hated being alone. It didn’t help now that Savannah was paired up. Her singleness could not have been more starkly contrasted.
