Page 16 of Liberating Bells
I take it and shake. “Ryan.”
The bartender brings us our drinks, and we fall into a natural conversation. She asks what the occasion is, looking extremely pleased when she discovers it’s my birthday.
“What brings you out all by your lonesome?” I prod, taking a sip of my drink.
Josie follows my lead and sips on her Cosmo. “Oh me? To quote the esteemed Meredith Grey, ‘I’m just a girl in a bar.’”
I chuckle, even though I have no idea who she is talking about.
Josie is beautiful, I can’t deny it. She has long chocolate brown hair that is slightly curled and gorgeous hazel eyes that scream mischief. A light smattering of freckles covers her nose like someone tossed a sprinkle of cocoa powder on her. Her olive skin is clear and glows underneath the dim bar lights.
She’s the obvious sort of beautiful. Totally different from Bells, who is gorgeous, even though she doesn’t know it. I don’t mean to, but I look at Josie and see how different she is from Izabel. I don’t mean it maliciously, but she’s not Bells. No one will ever be Bells.
Izabel is quiet and reserved unless you get on her wrong side—which I happen to be an expert at. From what I’ve already gathered, Josie is the opposite. She would be a handful, I already know.
Maybe that’s just what I need.
She notices me observing her, and I see a faint blush start on her cheeks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re beautiful,” I say honestly.
Josie looks me up and down, assessing me, the flush now fully set in. “You’re not so bad yourself.” She tosses her head, whipping her hair off her shoulder and raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “So, what do you do for work?”
“I’m a structural engineer.”
She throws her head back and laughs, a light, cheerful sound. “I knew this was too good to be true.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, a smile playing on my lips from her infectious laugh.
Josie looks at her hand as if she’s expecting her nails. “I’m an architect. I don’t think we’re supposed to get along.”
“That’s just a rumor. I know many architects who I get along with just fine,” I say, still smiling.
She grins as she finishes the rest of her drink. “Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out. You wanna get out of here?”
I feel conflicted, and I turn my head toward my friends, looking for support. Todd took my place against Liam. They both look over at me and give me encouraging nods and a thumbs up. Todd’s words clatter through my brain. The only way to get over someone is to get under someone else.
“Don’t worry, I think your boyfriends will be fine. They look like they can handle themselves,” Josie teases, grabbing my attention again as she shoves my shoulder.
I turn back to her and give her a smirk; my decision already made. “Your place or mine?”
We stumble into my apartment, lips locked together, hands flying every which way. I lead her to my bedroom and shut the door behind me as Josie starts to grab at my shirt, pulling it over my head and then working on my belt.
When our clothes are gone, Josie presses against me, arching her chest into mine. I press my lips against hers and move toward the bed. She falls against my mattress, and I follow her, running my lips along the edge of her jaw now.
Her hands tangle into my hair, and she moans my name.
And suddenly, it’s as if I’m drenched in cold water. A chill covers my skin, and I pull back and look down at her.
This feels wrong.
“What is it?” Josie asks softly, watching me watch her. I’m propped up on my hands, hovering above her, our lower halves pressed together.
I look down at the woman below me. She’s here, she’s beautiful, and she wants me.
So what the fuck is the matter with me? What is this trepidation consuming me out of the blue? I’ve never had any qualms hooking up with someone before, so what’s changed?
As soon as I ask myself that, Izabel’s face pops into my mind. The way her blue eyes have lost her sparkle and the way something about her still calls to me.
