Page 236 of The Perfect Spiral
He shakes his head, laughing. “I’ve got time... and she’s not my girlfriend, so don’t worry.” He winks, his teeth gleaming white.
“Come here, let me buy you a drink!”
“Oh, you don’t have to, it’s cool—”
“Okay, thank you. Next one’s on me!” I smile, placing my order. Then my sister, drunk and obnoxious, decides to make her presence known.
“Alex! Who’s this sexy guy? This the guy you’re going to get dick from?” She winks, her words slurred.
Oh, God. I cover my face, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry, Matt. That’s my sister—she’s an awful drunk—” I spin around to face her, catching Matt’s chuckle out of the corner of my eye. I bury my face in my hands again.
“Would you believe me if I told you that she’s getting married the week after next?” His laughter grows louder as he pays for our drinks and leads me away from the bar.
“Your sister’s funny. But I can’t help but ask... is that why you’re out tonight? To pick up a guy?” He sips the drink he bought me as he guides me upstairs to a quieter area in the back, filled with plush seats. It has a VIP vibe.
“Ugh, Matt, I’m not a VIP...”
“It’s alright, my uncle owns this place. I can do whatever I wanthere...” He gestures to a free table and we slide in. I was going to sit opposite him, but he gently guides me to sit next to him.
“And the answer to your question is no. My sister made that plan up in her head. She thinks I need a guy... I don’t. I’m perfectly fine just having fun with my friends.”
I take a sip of my drink, feeling the sting as it slides down my throat.
“So what you’re saying is that if a guy wanted to get with you, you’d turn him down?” He smirks, clearly teasing me.
I shrug in response. I don’t know what I want. He studies me, his arm resting on the back of the booth behind me.
“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” He sets his drink down on the coaster. The booming bass from downstairs is a distant throb up here. We sit in our booth, watching the crowd below.
“24? I’m 28...” He laughs at my wide-eyed surprise. “28? Really? You don’t look 28! You look much younger...” He nods, taking another sip of his drink.
“Yeah, I get that a lot. Must be my good looks,” he winks at me. I bite my lower lip.
This no-guys rule isn’t really working out well for me right now. Matt looks so hot, especially with his tattoos. I can’t help but admire them.
“You must get a lot of girls with your sleeve,” I comment, pointing to his ink-covered arm.
“Yeah, well, I’m quite picky when it comes to girls. But I do get approached a lot. Not to sound big-headed or anything.”
“Trust me, you don’t. I live in a house with huge egos! You’re normal compared to those idiots...”
“I forgot you know Knox Carter! Shit!”
“I find it funny that when I said huge egos you immediatelythought of him! I like you!” I raise my glass to clink with his.
“I like you too. I’d say it gets pretty annoying with the number of girls he has around him?”
I nod, replying, “You don’t know the half of it...” I take another sip of my drink, resting my head back against his arm.
“That bad, huh?... Isn’t he back with... what’s-her-face?”
“That’s her name? I thought it was Lacey... whoops!” His mistake makes me laugh. He reminds me a bit of Ben. He slides closer to me, causing a blush to creep up my cheeks. He looks so hot tonight.
We continue to order drinks on his tab, and despite my protests, he insists. My phone keeps buzzing with messages. I ignore it until the buzzing becomes too frequent.
“I’m sorry, my... stupid... phone won’t... stop buzzing,” I fumble for it in my clutch.
