Page 17 of One Timer With A Wingman

When Taylor goes to shower, I lie on my bed and chill for a bit. I scroll through my phone and see some weird posts popping up about Annie and Cade. I wonder what it’s all about, but then Taylor is ready, so we head down to the lobby to meet everyone for dinner at one of the restaurants at the resort.

At dinner we are throwing back wine and eating delicious food. I’ve never been on a vacation like this before and it feels good.

“What’s the plan for after dinner?” Simon asks.

“We should go to one of the clubs,” Ivy suggests.

Everyone around the table seems to be down with the idea. I’ve never been to a club. I hang out with friends at a bar or go for coffee, but I’ve never really done the dancing thing. I’m not about to announce that at the table, so I nod along with everyone else.

By the time we are done with dinner, everyone is feeling good from all the wine. We take a taxi to a nearby club.

We all head inside and everyone goes to the bar to do some shots. I’m done after one shot because I don’t want to spend more money on this trip. I wait for everyone to finish up their shots so I stand a little off to the side.

Aaron notices me standing off to the side and he walks over to me.

“Aren’t you having more shots?” he asks.

“One is good enough for me,” I reply.

“I hear you. I don’t drink much during the season,” he says.

“But I see you at Black Jack’s all the time,” I retort.

“Ah, so you’ve noticed me.” He grins.

I roll my eyes.

“I order carbonated water and food,” he explains. “Usually one of the guys in the hockey house cooks dinner but sometimes I like a second dinner, and I don’t know how to cook,” he explains with a crooked smile that makes him seem charming.

“Black Jack’s does have good food,” I agree because he is being friendly, and I don’t want to come off as being too bitchy, which I’m not, just guarded.

The group finishes drinking and heads out to the dance floor. Since they are dancing in a group I join them, but I’m not having as much fun as they are. I start to yawn and walk over to Taylor to say I’m heading back to the hotel. I’d rather lie in bed and just relax. It isn’t often that I have nothing to do.

“Are you sure you want to take a cab back to the hotel by yourself?” Taylor asks.

Aaron hears the question. “I can cab back with you.”

“That isn’t necessary,” I say to him.

“Look, you’re a young beautiful girl. I would feel better if I tagged along and made sure you were safe.” Him calling me beautiful causes a flush to crawl up my cheeks, and it is nice of him to offer to take me back. On the way here our driver wanted to sell us drugs from the front seat of his car so it may not be so safe. Even though I’m used to taking care of myself. “Come on, Briar. There isn’t a whole lot to think about.”

“Okay, thanks,” I concede. I would feel safer if he came back to the hotel with me.

We say bye to everyone. Taylor waggles her brows at me, insinuating something may happen with Aaron, but that is definitely not the plan.

We head out of the club and Aaron flags down the first cab waiting in a line. He holds the door open for me and we get into the back seat.

“What’s your story, Briar?” he asks.

I giggle. “That isn’t a real question.”

“Okay, let’s start with where are you from?” He smiles.

“A small town in Michigan,” I reply. “And you?” I ask since he’s nice enough to escort me back to the hotel.”

“Lots of places really. My dad was a hockey player too. We moved around a lot, but my family finally settled in Grand Locke, Michigan,” he says.

“Nice. Now it’s my turn. Why did you want to leave the club now? I thought you would be more interested in partying,” I say.

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