Page 74 of Crashing into Love

Selma laughed, and when the waiter approached them, she let Drew order the pizza for them because she really wasn’t all that picky. They both got iced tea for their drinks, and the waiter took off, putting in their order soon after. Selma definitely caught Andy paying attention to the two of them more than the rest of the people at the table, but the woman didn’t say or do anything like Selma worried she might. Maybe it was because nothing was technically going on between Selma and Drew, and Andy knew Drew well, so she knew that already. Selma didn’t know.

After they’d finished their pizza, when the check was delivered, Drew took the one check for both of them and slid her credit card inside. It was like she hadn’t even thought about it, and after she handed the padfolio over to the waiter, her arm went over the back of Selma’s chair as she leaned over a little to talk to the person on Selma’s left. Selma couldn’t help but smile, not even thinking, before she looked up and saw Andy staring at her. She’d obviously seen it.

“You ready?” Drew asked.

“You’re not going to Ben’s thing?” Andy asked her.

“No, we’re hanging out tonight,” Drew replied. “You’re going to that?”

“Why not?”

“Ben’s just going to try to get into your pants, like he does with everyone,” Drew noted.

“He knows I’m gay, Drew,” Andy said.

“Didn’t stop him with me, like, a year ago.”

“Ben Masters tried to sleep with you?” Selma asked in a higher-pitched voice that she didn’t recognize as her own.

“He tries to sleep with every woman at these things. It’s just his deal,” Drew said.

“Even the gay ladies like us,” Andy added. “He has one too many drinks, slings an arm over your shoulders, and suggests you go back to his room. We all know how he is. He’s good in bed, though.”

“How would you know?” Drew asked with a little laugh.

“Tristan told me. They’ve hooked up a few times. She seems to know how he is and doesn’t care. Anyway, I’m just going to have a drink and hang out.”

“Well, have fun. We’re going to head out now,” Drew said.

“Have a good night,” Andy replied.

Drew stood up, and Selma followed. The restaurant was still packed, and the crowd seemed to have grown even bigger. Selma felt Drew’s hand in her own, so she looked down, but Drew just entwined their fingers and led them out of the pizza place until they hit the sidewalk.

“Jesus, that place is busy! Glad we got there when we did,” she exclaimed without dropping Selma’s hand as they started walking.

“Yeah,” Selma agreed as she stared down at their still joined hands.

They’d look like a couple to anyone walking past, and something about that had Selma smiling.

“What do you want to do now?” Drew asked her. “I’d suggest a drink at the hotel bar, but it’s going to be packed, too. We could get something and take it up to a room or something, or go somewhere else, if you want.”

“Upstairs is fine,” she replied.

“Wine? Beer? Cocktail?” Drew asked once they were back inside the hotel.

“Whatever you’re having.”

“Well, I’m having whatever you’re having, so…”

“You’re a pain in the ass,” Selma told her with a laugh as they walked up to the packed bar.

Drew had to let go of her hand to move between two people who were waiting for their drinks, but she reached behind her back for Selma, who moved in close behind her and took the hand to let Drew know that she was there. Eventually, she also put her chin on Drew’s shoulder, not caring how that might look to anyone else.

“He’s coming over. What do you want?”

“Red wine. A merlot,” she said softly into Drew’s ear.

“Two merlots, please. Put it on room seven-twenty-one,” Drew said to the bartender, who nodded.

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