Page 12 of More To Us

Chapter Four

Kira

"Sorry we took so long," Amber says as she sets her purse on the table. A thin white cardigan now covers her arms. "Sounds like the band's warming up." She glances at the stage but we can't see anything because girls are lined up in front of it. "Matt's getting drinks. What do you want?"

"Rum and Coke."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

While she's gone, I watch as more girls line up by the stage. Band groupies. What's with girls going crazy over guys in bands? I've never dated a guy in a band, but I do admire their talent. I'm not at all musically gifted, so I'm amazed by anyone who can sing or make actual music come out of an instrument. I think I'm not attracted to musicians because they're usually small and skinny, which is not at all my type. I like big guys. Tall. Muscular. Like the guy who was over here earlier.

Holy crap he was hot. I was trying to be cool and not give away the fact that my heart was beating faster just being near him. I haven't felt that way since...well, since never. My high school boyfriend was a big, tall linebacker, and I was definitely attracted to him, but he didn't make me breathless like this guy just did. I hope he didn't notice. I tried to hide it by not saying much.

Austin. That was his name. I didn't get a last name. If I had, I could've looked him up online. I'm sure if I did, I'd find out he has a girlfriend. There's no way someone that hot wouldn't have a girlfriend. But he asked me out, so maybe he doesn't have a girlfriend.

But did he really ask me out or was he just being friendly? He offered to show me around the city so is that considered a date? I'm so out of it when it comes to dating. This past year, all my time has been spent getting my leg better. I haven't been on a date since before the accident. I'm out of practice. I'm going to have to ask Amber for dating advice, not that I'll be going on any dates. I'm not looking for a boyfriend. But I guess I could still go on a date. So why did I turn that guy down? Probably because he made me nervous. I don't generally get nervous around guys, but that guy had my body reacting in ways that surprised even me. Maybe I wasn't nervous. Maybe I was just turned on.

"Here you go." Amber hands me my drink and sits down beside me. "They still haven't started?" She leans up to try to see the stage.

Matt sits next to her as a loud tapping sound comes over the speakers. "Sounds like they're having issues with the mic."

"Thanks for getting the table," Amber says to me.

"I almost didn't get it. It was one of the last open tables and some guys took it before I got over here."

"Then how'd you get it?"

"This other guy asked them to leave so I could have the table."

She smiles. "Some guy did that for you? So where is this guy?"

"I don't know. He took off."

"Kira!" She swats at me. "That guy was hitting on you! Why'd you let him leave?"

"He wasn't hitting on me." It's a lie but Amber tends to overreact to these things so I'm downplaying it. "He was just getting me a table."

She turns to Matt. "Was that guy flirting or not?"

"He was flirting," he says, then takes a swig of his drink.

She whips her head back to me. "See? I told you. So then what happened?"

"He sat down and we talked for a few minutes and then he left."

"What did you talk about?"

"Chicago. I told him I just moved here and he offered to show me around."

She grabs my arm. "He asked you out? And what did you say?"

"I told him I didn't need him to show me around because my best friend already offered to do it." I smile, knowing that'll make her crazy.

Amber lives for this stuff. Getting people together. Setting them up. She's majoring in communications but she should really be a professional matchmaker. She's obsessed with dating shows, and I swear she's seen every romantic movie ever made, which is why I don't get why she's with Matt. There's just something missing between those two, and I can't imagine Amber settling for someone who isn't her perfect match. But maybe I'm wrong.

"Why did you tell him that?" she asks, tossing her hands in the air.

"Maybe she didn't like him," Matt offers.