Page 11 of Love at First Bite
“I call dibs on the vampire in the booth by the bathrooms.” I felt my friends shift their attention to the spot I’d pointed out and waited for their reaction.
“Funny, Tab. Is he a vampire ghost?” Ember said, and I turned to look at the table. My smile died on my lips as I took in the fact the table was empty.
Bare.
Not one hint of anyone ever being there. Not a napkin or empty glass. In the blink of an eye, my mystery guy was gone. Vanished into thin air. Had I imagined him? I glanced down at the almost glowing green witches’ brew I’d been drinking. What the hell was in these?
“Wait,” Rosie chirped with a smile slowly growing on her pretty face. “Vampire with a black mask? Fresh haircut, dark hair, rolled-up white sleeves with a black cape?” I nodded. Maybe he wasn’t make-believe after all?
My eyes scanned the spot I’d last seen him, but I couldn’t find him. Not a trace. And the disappointment that hit? Shit, it felt brutal. Over a stranger?
“He’s over by the bar. Talking to Onyx,” Rosie shared.
“Holy shit,” Abby whispered.
“Damn, Tabby, when you go out, you really go out. You know who that is, right?” Ember added.
“Nope. But I’m going to find out.” Exhilarated with courage I pulled out of God only knew where, I gulped down the rest of my witches’ brew, ran my fingers through my hair, and looked to my girls. “What are the rules again?”
“You have to give him your best pick-up line in hopes to get his number,” Ember quickly said, looking at me like she wasn’t sure I’d actually do it.
“Or for him to dance with you!” Rosie suggested.
“Shit.” I giggled, and Ember squeezed my hand.
“You look great!” Ember said with a wink.
“Go get bitten!” Abby encouraged. I turned and took a step, but Rosie’s delicate chilly hand covered my wrist before I got too far.
“Wait! Retouch!” She pulled out red lipstick from her pocket.
Quickly, she reapplied lipstick to my lips, and I blinked at her, slightly losing my nerve. Rosie being Rosie must have seen my courage waning as her bright gaze softened and she tucked a stray hair behind my ear.
“He won’t know what to do with himself! Go put a spell on him.” My eyes widened at her supportive words, and I looked back at the girls.
“Okay, then… I can do this,” I said more to myself as the girls cheered for me, and I headed towards the bar.
With every step I took, I hoped to everything spooky that I didn’t make a fool out of myself.
5.Tabitha
The brewery was busy.
The sold-out event meant that not only was the dance floor packed, but every booth, table, and barstool was taken. Not to mention the walk to the bar felt like it was elbow to elbow.
But for the first time since the girls and I went to Disneyland a couple of years ago, the amount of people didn’t bother me. The crowd of people didn’t overwhelm me. Not when I was too busy thinking about a pick-up line.
Shit! Why hadn’t I googled something before I stupidly started moving?Because if you had, you would have overthought yourself into a corner,a little voice in my head perked up. My steps slowed, and I glanced over my shoulder towards my friends. Yup! The girls were indeed watching me. Abby even put two thumbs up. I tried not to cringe.This is what I get for trying to get out of my routine.
I had been perfectly fine with my twenties flying past me without any excitement.
I liked routine and knowing what to expect. Now, next thing I knew, I was playing truth or dare with fate, heading right towards a complete stranger. Why? Because my friends wantedto step out of their box? Because I’d felt something when I’d looked at a good-looking guy?
I adjusted my mask just before I reached the bar. Why hadn’t my feet stopped me? The sight of his muscular back was right there. God, he was bigger, taller, broader than I had expected.
Part of me was ready to turn and let the girls talk shit. Chicken out like I was sure they were betting I would do. But the other part of me? The one who had been drawn to him at the dress shop? She forced me to get closer.
Before I could raise my hand and tap him on his shoulder, he turned. When our eyes met, it felt like everything in the brewery stopped. Noise faded away to nothing as I stared at the most beautiful green eyes I had ever seen. Eyes so bright, I wondered if they were contacts. They reminded me of Irish hillsides I’d only ever seen online. They widened for a split second and then slowly appraised me. His gaze running down and up my body felt like a liquid touch. A sinfully predatorial grin grew on his handsome face.
