Page 236 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

I lean down, not wanting to yell, and say, “I’ll go with you.”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s not like you’re doing me a favor, but thanks.” Still laughing, she nudges me with her elbow.

The show ends, and the crowd is quick to stream from the arena. Sticking together, the four of us make it a few blocks before stopping to talk, though the girls have been talking a mile a minute the whole time.

“What are your plans?” Nick asks.

“Tatum wants to go to the after-party.”

He smirks. “Oh, yeah?”

“I can’t compete with rock stars, brother.”

“They’re all married, and you know as well as I do, they don’t fuck around.”

“True.” I peek over at Tatum, smiling from seeing her animated expression as she uses her arms to tell Nat a story.God, she’s gorgeous.

“We’re gonna head home,” Nick says. “Make sure Tatum gets home safe, okay?” When I nod, he adds. “You know the code. Just let yourself in, but remember to set the alarm.”

We shake hands and then bring it in for a shoulder bump. “Thanks for having me.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” When he steps back, Natalie’s and his hands clasp as if the universe pulled them together.

I don’t know if this weird tightening in my chest is from witnessing what I don’t have or what I’m starting to think I want. It’s best to leave before I overanalyze the situation or emotion. I shove my hands in my pockets and turn to Tatum. “You ready?”

She turns to say goodbye to the others, then plucks the front of my shirt and says, “I’m all yours, Decker,” as she raises her chin and marches past me. I grin and follow like a good friend, probably like her boyfriends do, trailing her like love-sick puppies.

Is that what I am?

Not on your life.

A great fuck, especially since it only happened one time, does not make me love-sick or her follower. Though I vaguely remember being smitten for a short time in our history. I quickly catch up to her, and we walk down the block together before we hop into the car I ordered.

Silence is another passenger hitching a ride between us. As a salesman, I’m trained to wait it out once the deal is on the table. But the deal isn’t closed with Tatum. Just an awkwardness of wondering what’s going to happen tonight.

Once we exit the car, she moves closer to my side as we walk down the alley toward the private entrance. It’s not far, but I like her company. After we step inside, she stays close to me. Maybe it’s because she appears to dislike the unwanted leers she’s receiving. This is not the woman I’ve heard stories about from Nick. He said Tatum and Nat used to dance on bars and were the queens of the spotlight, owning the attention of every person in the place. Tonight, she doesn’t seem to crave that life.

“I’m happy to be your wingman,” I say.

She giggles. “I don’t need help getting a date?—”

“What? No, I meant bodyguard, not wingman.”What the fuck?Helping her get a date with some other asshole is the last thing I plan to do.

Wrapping her arm around mine, she tugs me toward the velvet ropes. A bouncer gives us a nod and steps aside, allowing us entrance to the section. “Does my body need guarding, Decker?”

Abso-fucking-lutely. “I’m up for the job if you’re offering.”

“I know firsthand you’re up for it.”

I’ve been drinking.

She’s been drinking.

“There’s that trouble with a capital T that I remember so well,” I say, giving her a once-over. I cared earlier, careful to watch her when she wasn’t looking. That care is gone, and I’ll give it right back to her. Her hair is lighter than it was in Catalina, but it’s still long, if not longer. The loose waves are so fucking sexy. It’s as if she just rolled out of bed after a night of sex. I know how the night’s going to go down. Every guy is going to be eyeing her, talking to her, and one of those fuckers might win the lottery and get to take her home.

Fuck. What am I doing? Why am I setting myself up for this kind of torture?

That short skirt, a shirt that highlights her assets, and those long legs I remember being wrapped around me. She takes hold of my shirtsleeve like we’re a couple walking into the VIP section.

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