Page 50 of What Is Love
“You really have a way with words that really makes people not from around here comfortable,” Wyatt said caustically.
“Just saying how it is, Wy,” Mac grumbled before finishing off her beer. “I’m going to get more drinks.” She spun on her heel and headed back to the bar.
“She drank that fast,” Roe commented, and I nodded in agreement.
While she was gone, I noticed that the live music had stopped. Glancing at the stage, I saw a new band setting up. As I scanned the rest of the room, my sights caught on familiar greenish hazel eyes. Bram was standing by one of the corner booths close to the stage. He was staring right at me, looking very surprised.
I lifted a hand to wave at him. Instead of waving back, his expression went from surprised to unhappy to see me.
“Who are you waving at?” Wyatt asked.
I dropped my hand and shook my head. “I thought I saw someone I knew.” Strangely, I felt disappointed.
“Okay. I got you something good,” Mac said as she returned holding two highball glasses. She handed me one. The cocktail inside was yellowish orange, filled with ice, and had a slice of peach and a sprig of mint on top. “Reid made it. Said we’d like it.” Mac took a sip, and her eyebrows rose as she stared down at her glass.
I took a sip as well. It was bubbly and right away I could taste peaches. The alcohol was warm and spicy, like whiskey or bourbon. This was my first mixed drink, and it was delicious. “It’s really good.”
“Yeah, it is,” Mac agreed just as the new band began playing. Mac’s eyes went wide. “I love this song! We should go dance.” She took my drink back and thrust both our glasses at Wyatt. He just barely had time to take them before she grabbed my hand and dragged me to where everyone was dancing.
Chapter Thirteen
At first,I felt self-conscious dancing. Mac, on the other hand, had no problem moving to the music. Then Wyatt joined us. He came up behind me, put his hand on my hip and took one of my hands in his other, and I instantly relaxed. As we moved and swayed together, he felt like a shield.
When the next song played, I turned to face him and danced that way. Mac came up behind me and sandwiched me between them, making me laugh. I smiled so much that my cheeks started to hurt. I’d never thought any sort of pain would feel so great, but having fun was the exception.
After one more song, we went looking for Roe and our drinks. He and Reid were sitting next to each other at the bar.
Mac got between them to grab our drinks. She handed me mine and began chugging hers. Roe handed Wyatt his beer.
Wyatt eyed the beer Reid was holding. “You off for the night?”
Reid stared at me as he answered. “Yeah.” He checked me out from the ground up. When he reached my eyes, he found me waiting. I wanted to see what he thought, but I couldn’t read his emotionless face.
I looked away as I sipped at my drink. Mentally scolding myself for even being curious about him.
“I saw Bram,” Mac said. “He didn’t look happy to see me here for some reason.”
“I’m sure it’s not you he’s upset about,” Reid said.
Don’t look at Reid.
Don’t look at him.
I could feel him staring and the temptation to look back was strong, but I held out as I finished off my drink and people-watched. When it was empty, I grabbed my hair to lift it off my neck. Then I pressed my glass, which still had ice in it, just below my ear in the hopes of cooling off.
Mac snorted. “You boys are so fucked.”
I glanced back at the four of them. Reid was glaring at his sister. Wyatt was grinning down at the floor. Roe was staring at me. “Want another drink?” he asked.
“We should do another round of shots!” Mac said.
I smiled at her. “Okay.”
Mac pushed her way in between Roe and Reid again to stand at the bar. She raised her hand at the lady who had taken over for Reid. “Jackie, babe! Can you get me two shots of Fireball?”
Reid shook his head at his sister before setting his beer on the bar. “I’ll be right back. I gotta go talk to Noble.”
As soon as he left, Mac spun around with our shots. She handed one off to me and we both drank them. I was really feeling a buzz, which made it easier for the shot to go down.
