Page 51 of Hunt for the Roses
I look back at Kate and Aria, and then squint my eyes as I look back at Trent. “I’d like to think I was smoother and way better looking.”
Trent pats my shoulder playfully. “You were. You were.”
I hold my palm out. “Thank you. Now that that’s settled, I’m about to hit a Double Bull for good measure.” Before I throw my last dart, I hear Kate and Aria’s laughter from the bar, and turn my head to see both girls with their hands to their chest and their eyes closed. I tighten my jaw as I turn my head to face the dartboard, and narrow my eyes on my target. I whip the dart as hard and fast as I can, and the tip of it lands exactly where I want it.
I smile in victory as I turn to Trent. “Some people just have it.”
* * *
Aria
Kate and I see Dane and Trent walking over to us after their game of darts, so we say our goodbyes to Josh, and the four of us grab a table. Kate and I sit next to one another while Dane and Trent sit across from us.
“So are you guys going to give everyone a dancing show like you did on the Fourth of July?” Trent jokes.
Kate responds immediately. “I think Ari and I would be doing everyone a favor if we gave them a dancing show. If you find it so horrible, maybe just don’t look.”
Trent puts a fist to his chest as if he’s heartbroken. “Hitting me where it hurts.”
Kate playfully shoves Trent’s forearm across the table, and we all continue sipping our beers.
“Not to brag, but you both missed out on agreattime the other night,” I say as I point between Kate and Trent.
“Really? Even with Dane’s T.K.O?” Trent jokes.
“Wait, what?” Kate chimes in.
My elbow is resting on the table as I place a palm to my forehead and grumble. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Oh we’re talking about it. Dane, spill,” Kate insists.
“Aria was being hit on by some asshole, so I gave him what he had coming,” Dane explains.
Kate’s eyebrows raise in surprise. “You punched someone?”
Dane sits back as he places a forearm over the back of his chair. “Yes. Can we move on now?”
“No we cannot. I need details,” Kate says as she looks between Dane and I, and I decide to be the one to explain the story.
“I don’t know. The guy was nice at first, but then he started getting handsy and making sexual innuendos. The creepy kind, not the smooth kind. So Dane said something, and when Chris tried to be smart with him, Dane threw a solid punch.” I clap my hands together. “And then we got kicked out of Duke’s.”
Kate’s mouth hangs open as she looks at Dane.
“Alright, it wasn’t my finest moment,” Dane digresses.
“Anyway,”I interrupt. “Dane was able to salvage the night by teaching me salsa.”
Kate and Trent both furrow their brows as their eyes focus on Dane.
Dane looks over to me with a deadpan expression. “Really?”
I smile and shake my head to egg him on. “I’m not sorry.”
He playfully rolls his eyes as he looks back toward Kate and Trent, and lets out a sigh before giving them an explanation. “I took a salsa class with my mom for her birthday.”
“So now you just salsa wherever you go?” Trent jokes.
Dane turns to me. “I’m gonna kill you for this.”
