Page 41 of Through the Flames
Then she was gone, breezing off to take care of the next orders from other patrons.
It must’ve been Dom.Right?
Credit Card Guy was still standing next to me as I twisted my torso back his way and offered him a shrug.
“That didn’t really go according to plan.” He chuckled before tipping his chin at me. “I’m Lucas.”
“Ella. Not your fault. I’m pretty sure it was my brother.” I jerked my head toward the booth.
“Your brother?” Lucas arched a brow, his eyes flicking between me and the rowdy group I’d indicated. “Not your boyfriend?”
“Nope. I don’t have one of those rare, elusive creatures. Been trying to catch one, but they’re weirdly skittish around me. Like squirrels.”
He snorted. “Really? How come?”
“Maybe I’m on the wrong end of the hot-crazy scale. It’s a delicate balance.” Cracking my can, I took a sip while peering at him over the rim.
“Are you crazy?”
I waggled my brows exaggeratedly. “Guess that’s for me to know and for you to ignore all the warning signs.”
He narrowed his eyes for a second, searching my face. “Nah, I don’t think you’re crazy. You don’t have the crazy eyes.”
“That’s what all the horror movie girls say right before it goes sideways.”
“If you’d be the one doing the murdering, at least I’d die with a smile on my face.”
Yuck.Did I just throw up in my mouth? How fucking corny.
I still offered him a little laugh, considering this was the first flirting I’ve engaged in for weeks now.
“Yeah, well, let’s hope it won’t actually come to something like that.”
After this slightly awkward moment, we fell into a casual conversation about our majors and my tennis career.
Although he wasn’t an athlete himself, he showed an interest and didn’t ask any creepy questions about my tennis skirts or whether I moaned during matches.
Lucas was nice — perhaps even a little too nice — but I didn’t care. I didn’t have to marry him on the spot, but it was nice to have someone to talk to for a change.
Maybe this was the end of my ghosting era.
Before I knew it, my drink was empty, and my bladder was screaming at me for relief.
“I’m so sorry, but I gotta head to the restroom real quick,” I apologized, my hand still closed around the now warm metal of the can.
“No worries.” Lucas chuckled. “I’ll wait for you here?”
“Maybe we could head over to my table once I’m back? It’s my friend’s special night, and I don’t want to disappear on her,” I explained, a smile stretching my lips as I pushed myself off the bar.
“Yeah, sounds good.” He bobbed his head up and down, his answering smile showing off his white, even teeth. It was a nice smile, I guess.
But that was just it. Everything about him was just that:nice. Bland. There was no edge to him.
“Perfect! I’ll make it quick.” I promised and took off, weaving through the crowd toward the bathrooms in the back.
Quickly going about my business, I gave myself a once-over in the mirror. The bartender who’d served me earlier pushed the door open just as I was about to head out, and we almost collided.
“Oh shit, sorry!” I gripped her arm, my eyes wide as I looked down at her, while my other hand gripped the door so it wouldn’t smack into us. “My bad.”
