Page 13 of Be Mine

“Hey,” I say, turning to both of them and smiling.

It isn’t hard to see Forest is the one Taylor has staked her claim on. Her eyes are practically screamingfuck meevery time they land on him. Guess that leaves Emmett for me?

“So, you’re a Death Strike fan?” he asks as he rests his elbows on the table, leaning in closer to me. He’s definitely easy on the eyes. Tall and broad with golden locks that glimmer just right when the light hits it. He has it pulled into one of those sexy man buns, and with a beard that matches, he’s got the bad boy Viking vibes going on that would usually bring me to my knees.

“Yeah, they’re good.” I nod, sipping my fresh drink. “You?”

“Fuck, yeah. I grew up with the lead singer. We went to school together.”

“No way? So do you guys hang out?” I ask.

“Yeah, when they’re not touring I try to pop by his house or him at mine.”

“No date for the night?” he inquires. I thought that was obvious, but I think he’s prodding to see where this night could lead.

“Nope, flying solo,” I pop the ‘p’, my gaze drifting over to Taylor and Forest who are a hair’s breadth away from locking lips.

“Me too. I thought this night was gonna be a bust, but it looks like it’s shaping up.” He smirks, his green eyes cascading down my body, hovering for a beat too long on my breasts. Then without an ounce of subtlety, he shuffles closer to me so our bodies are aligned from shoulder to hip. I take a step to the left to try to put some space between us without coming off as rude or disinterested. I am not about to burst this guy’s bubble just yet and tell him he’s going home to his hand tonight.

“Oh yeah?” I quirk an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” He licks his lips. Maybe it’s meant to be seductive. Maybe it’s one of his signature moves, but all it does is make me internally cringe.

“We should finish these drinks and get out of here,” Forest says loud enough for the entire table to hear, but the words are mostly meant for Taylor.

“We could go back to my house. Have some drinks there, hang out for a while. What do you think, Frankie?” I do not want to go back to her house with this guy. But I also don’t want to ruin her night. I give a half-hearted shrug, seeking solace at the bottom of my cup.

Emmett must take my noncommittal response as a green light, because he swings his arm around my shoulders, tucking me tightly against him. He whispers in my ear how hot he thinks I am. How much he wants his lips on mine. And maybe any other day I’d be on board. I’d want to lose myself in a guy like him. But for some strange reason, every time I look at him, something feels off.

I almost sigh in relief when I feel my phone vibrating in my purse, but it’s close to midnight, and there’s no reason anyone should be calling me right now. Shrugging Emmett’s arm off, I struggle to pull it from my bag.Private Numberflashes across the screen.

“Sorry, I gotta take this,” I apologize to him, before turning in search of a quiet spot to answer it. Swiping, I accept the call.

“Hello?” I say, pushing my way through people to the back of the bar, past the bathrooms, towards what I assume is a storage cupboard.

“Miss Clarke? It’s Officer Barde. We met at your apartment this morning.”

“Hi, yes, I remember. Is everything ok?” I press a finger against the opposite ear so I can hear him better.

“We need to speak to you at the branch as soon as possible.”

“Sorry, what? Why?”

“Frankie, this is extremely important. The heart that was found at your apartment? It’s a human heart. We have reason to believe you’re in danger.”

My pulse spikes. The room spins.

Human heart.

You’re in danger.

“Frankie?” Officer Barde hollers through the phone, but every sound feels so distant, just out of reach. His voice. The booming music. The incessant chatter. It’s all muffled. Like I’m underwater or in a dream.

“Frankie, can you hear me?”

I want to tell himyes, I hear you, but my tongue feels too thick. The words too much to pronounce. I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders in a secure hold. I think they’re saying something, too, but God I feel so detached from my body right now.

My hand drops, the phone falling away from my ear, hanging loosely at my side.

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