Page 9 of Forgot to Tell You Something

Owen’s hands drop to his side, his head falling forward. “Perfect timing,” he mutters, but I catch his smile.

Perfect timing is right. Perfectly awful.

“That would be Stefani,” I mumble, forcing myself to a standing position.

My friend’s eyes widen when she catches sight of me in the middle of climbing off Owen. “Oh shit, am I interrupting something? I can leave, it was just getting scary down there.”

Sometimes, I hate being a good friend, but I promised to keep an eye on Stefani, and the drunken crowd is turning rowdy.

“You’re fine, Stefani,” Owen assures her. “Tally was proving a point.”

My buzz from Owen’s caresses fades into the din of the music. Was that what I was doing?

“What point was that?” Stefani’s gaze moves to me, curious for my explanation.

“How my determination to get a beer is unmatched. Owen wouldn’t move his legs, so I was climbing him. What’s a thirsty girl to do?”

My friend’s eyes rove over Owen, drinking in every sexy morsel. “You wouldn’t let her through?”

“I thought I’d make it more interesting,” Owen replies, stretching his legs out to rest on the edge of the balcony as his gray eyes hold mine. “Tally isn’t one to back down, but I do love a challenge.”

“She’s a tough one,” Stefani concurs, smiling at Owen. Crap. I know that smile. I’ve seen it a million times. It doesn’t help that my friend has consumed at least three or four drinks. The more she imbibes, the better her flirting tactics. I’ve never seen anything like it. “Lu, would you get me another beer, too?”

“You were just downstairs,” I argue, desperatenotto leave Stefani alone with Owen.

“I know, but these shoes are killing my feet,” Stefani pouts, plopping onto the couch and slipping off one of her stilettos. “I’ll keep Owen company while you’re gone.”

“Tally, I can go get the beers,” Owen offers, but I wave away his suggestion.

“You got the last one, remember?” I don’t wait for his reply, turning on my heel and yanking open the door. I can’t read Owen’s expression, but I know what Stefani has in mind for my sexy balcony cohort.

The worst part? If Owen is like any other man on the planet, he doesn’t stand a chance.

But just this once, I hope Owen is immune.

2

Tally

Itrudge down the stairs. A more apt description is that I stomp down the stairs in the midst of a temper tantrum. Either way, I don’t draw any attention in a place like Wicked Chucks. As far as the patrons are concerned, I’m feeling the vibe.

I push my way to the bar, daring to cast a look up at the balcony. Stefani’s head is bent close to Owen, huge grins decorating both of their faces.

“Changing it up or keeping it the same?” Dan inquires, jolting me from my voyeuristic nightmare.

“Same. Three, please.”

“Who’s your new friend? You two seemed to hit it off.”

I shrug, not sure what, if anything, Owen is to me. “I guess.”

“Uh-oh. What happened?”

“Stefani happened,” I mumble under my breath.

“I wouldn’t worry about Stefani. She’s been flirting with everyone down here. That’s her thing, right?” Dan’s eyes widen. “Hold on a minute. Are you interested in this guy?”

Dan knows that I don’t date. He also knows the details of my pitiful sexual history, so the concept of me liking a guy shocks the hell out of him.I fiddle with my hair before shaking my head. What does it matter anyway? Stefani has her sights—and hooks—set on Owen. I don’t stand a chance.

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