Novel Square
43
But it seemed like she believed me.
“Macon Spade, the playboy,” I said, sighing. “The truth is, he didn’t even ask for my number.” I chugged down more wine. “He made no effort to get in touch with me, but, yes, that’s the reason.”
She stole a corner off one of the brownies. “Do you want him to?”
“No.”
She laughed. “That was a quick answer.”
“He’s not right for me, Han. He’s a super-nice guy, handsome, and he has all the qualities I’d be looking for in a man, but no.”
“And this mystery man is the right guy?”
Is Camden perfect for me?
He didn’t like to commit.
He didn’t do relationships.
He was the ultimate bachelor.
But I couldn’t stop the way I felt about him. The sparks that set off every time I was in his presence. The way my heart throbbed when he said certain things to me. The way I found his grumpiness so sexy, his hands so ravishing, his scent so enticing.
If only he felt the same way about me …
“Yes,” I replied. “He’s the right guy. I just don’t know that we’re going to end up together. Things seem to work the way they are, and I have to be okay with that. I can’t force someone to want more.”
Her brows rose. “How long has this been going on?”
“Not long.” I grabbed her hand to reassure her. “Not even long enough to sort out everything that’s happening.” I finished my wine and set the empty glass on the table. “I was going to tell you when things between us made a little more sense.” She didn’t seem convinced, so I continued, “You know I tell you everything. This just came on fast and out of nowhere.”
She nodded, rubbing her thumb over my wrist, like she was taking my pulse. “You know what I think?”
Oh man, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I think he’s going to come around and realize you’re perfect for him. That you’re everything he’s ever wanted and he won’t let you go.” Her eyes narrowed. “And there’s a chance he’s already come to this conclusion. He’s just not ready to admit it. Guys are different from us. It sometimes takes them a bit longer, like Declan. You remember how long he took to come around.”
The nervousness in my body caused me to laugh. “Why do you think he’s going to change his mind?”
“If he has any brains at all, he will. He’ll see how amazing you are and how stupid he would be to let you go.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But none of the others I dated had that kind of epiphany.”
“Hmm.” Her stare intensified. “Something tells me this one is different. Just a feeling I have in my gut-and I’m always right about these things.” She was about to say some more when her phone vibrated on top of the coffee table, and she reached for it. “It’s Camden.”
“What?” My gasp was far too loud. “It’s not Camden!”
“I was talking about who’s texting me.”
“Oh.” I laughed, trying to play off my strong reaction, and I looked away from her and pulled out my phone from the top of my sports bra. “What’s he up to tonight?”
“He’s with Macon and Declan. I’m sure they’re getting into all kinds of trouble. They usually do when they’re together.”
“Interesting.” When she glanced up from her cell and looked at me, I questioned my response and added, “Sounds about right.”
She grinned, stalling for a few seconds before she typed him a reply.
I took that moment to also send Camden a text.
ME
Your sister guessed there was a guy in my life. Who knows how, but she did. I think I’ve steered her away by telling her it’s someone she doesn’t know, but she hasn’t made it easy. She really is a little PI; you weren’t kidding.
“Mystery man?” Hannah asked when I slipped my phone away.
I hadn’t realized she’d been looking at me.
Damn.
“Oh, it’s-”
“You know what?” she said, cutting me off. “I already know that answer. I can tell by the way you’re smiling.”
Camden
“H
ere’s the tequila you ordered,” the waiter said as he set three shots on our table. “Can I get you anything else-”
“Another round,” I replied before he even finished speaking. “And keep them coming.”
I grabbed one of the small glasses he’d just placed down and drained every drop from it. There was so much vodka already flowing through my veins and such a buzz tingling through my body that I didn’t feel the burn as the tequila passed through my throat. In fact, I barely even tasted the harsh liquor.
I went to reach for another shot when Declan cut me off and said, “I know you’re not taking mine, asshole.” He surrounded the other two small glasses and gave one to Macon.
Macon nodded at me and joked, “Greedy motherfucker.”
“Listen, I need it more than the both of you,” I replied.
“And why is that?” Macon countered.
Instead of responding, I reached inside my pocket to pull out my phone that was vibrating. I was sure it was just my sister responding to the text I’d sent a few minutes ago, telling her she’d better be prepared for a rough night because I was sending Declan home shit-faced.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.
But it wasn’t Hannah.
OAKLYN
Your sister guessed there was a guy in my life. Who knows how, but she did. I think I’ve steered her away by telling her it’s someone she doesn’t know, but she hasn’t made it easy. She really is a little PI; you weren’t kidding.
A guy in her life. That was an interesting way for Oaklyn to word it.
Fuck, she probably didn’t know what to say since after the night at the bar and the goddamn blow job, I wouldn’t talk about what was happening between us or what I wanted.
I didn’t know.
Shit, I still didn’t know.
I just knew I wasn’t going to let her anywhere near Macon.
ME
How did my sister guess there’s a guy in your life?
OAKLYN
My smile.
ME
Oaklyn, I fucking warned you.