Page 13 of Too Good to be True

The thought of stepping out of my comfort zone and socializing without someone by my side makes me nauseous. I'm not good at it. Over the years, Francesca’s boisterous personality has shielded me from having to start conversations and make small talk. With her or Corey by my side, I’ve always had someone to turn to, someone to hide behind.

When did I start hiding from people?

When I started dating Corey. He sucked the confidence out of me like a vacuum collapsing a storage bag. From this point on, I'm on my own. Corey is history, and Francesca won't be at my side. She's taking her place at Sam's.

I find an empty row and slide in, hoping no one will notice. Hoping someone wants to join me. I'm a walking fucking contradiction. I don't know what I want from one second to the next.

"Would you mind if I join you?"

My chest tightens. I look up and meet a pair of steely gray eyes. Eyes that hold my attention and captivate me. Eyes I could lose myself in. It doesn't hurt that he's cute. Very cute.

"If it's a problem—" he runs a hand through his dark blonde hair.

"It's not," I answer too fast.

Why should I turn him down in the hopes that Walker will magically show up? Besides, even if he does, that doesn't mean Walker will want to spend any time with me.

"No, sit. Please," I say and smile as sweetly as I can without looking or sounding like a condescending bitch. "I'd like the company."

"I’m Ian. In case you were wondering," he says, sliding in next to me.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Bailey."

"The pleasure is mine." He smiles and rubs his palms over his pant legs. "So, have you ever been to Charleston before?"

I shake my head. "No. You?"

His eyes are downcast, and there is something heartwarming about how uncomfortable he looks right now. It makes mewantto talk to him. It makes talking to himeasy. His eyes meet mine again.

"Nah. If I’m honest, I’m not crazy about going to clubs in strange cities. I mean, I want to, but I don’t know the landscape, you know? And you might not have noticed, but we don’t sound like the people down here.”

"Then I guess it's good that we're going in a group. That way, we won’t be singled out for our accents.”

He shrugs. “It would be better if I had someone to pair up with.”

“Are you hinting you want to hang with me?”

"That wouldn't be the worst thing." He rakes his eyes over my body in slow, deliberate measures that make me very aware of the budding sexual tension between us. "I mean, you are easy on the eyes.”

“Thank you. But just to be clear, is that a yes?"

"Hmm, if I am, will you?"

Boy, did this conversation take an unexpected turn. I like it, though. It's fun. And his eyes are darker than they were a minute ago. I recognize the heat of lust in them when they meet mine. Unsure of myself and a bit uncomfortable, I let out a nervous giggle.

"Not one for small talk. You just get straight to the point.”

He shakes his head. "When I see something I want, I don't play games. I go for it."

He reaches his right hand on the back of the seat in front of us and the arm closest to me on the back of our bench, caging me in. He leans in. Not so close that I'm uncomfortable or feel threatened, but close enough for me to feel his body heat and energy reaching for me, drawing me toward him. Close enough for me to feel his breath on my lips.

“Is it a date then?”

Shit, I don't know what to say. I don't want to say no. Ian looks super good, and he has my belly swirling. I'm definitely attracted to him, and he wants to spend his time with boring old me.

Me!

If I turn him down, I run the risk of being there alone. Especially if Walker's not there. A club is the last place I want to be alone. That screams loser. And even if Walker is there, I have no reason to believe he wants to be there with me. He did turn me down last night.

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