Page 9 of Wet Paint

Ruby and Lenny both made the exact same face: equal parts shock, amusement, and a dash ofyou go girl.

But before either of them could respond, I saw Will stepping into the bar, looking as handsome as ever. He scanned the bar like he wasn’t totally sure what he’d walked into. He wore a navy blue sweater under a black coat, and when his eyes moved around the bar, they finally met mine.

He smiled.

Lenny leaned in, whispering, “Okay, yeah. He’s hot. But this is still insane.”

“We’re gonna need food. And maybe shots. Does your boyfriend drink?” she asked with a teasing grin.

“I don’t know,” I said, then murmured, “and he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Hm, not yet. We’ll make it happen somehow.”

Ruby giggled, nudging my side just as Will started weaving through the crowd toward our table. My stomach flipped. I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves of excitement. Or both.

“He looks a little too cool for trivia night,” Lenny said, sipping her beer like she was watching a movie. “Like he belongs in a loft with jazz music and expensive wine.”

“Or a moody gallery opening,” Ruby added, leaning closer. “God, Ivy, yousohave a type.”

I ignored their teasing and sat up straighter as he got closer. Will gave the three of us a polite nod before settling his eyes back on me.

“Hey,” he said, voice low, like it was meant just for me.

“Hi,” I replied, trying to sound casual and completely unflustered. I failed.

Will glanced around the table. “Hope I’m not crashing.”

“Not at all,” Ruby said, her voice way too cheerful. “We could use the help. Art questions are our downfall. Most times, at least. Ivy here knows quite a lot too.”

“You are exactly the kind of man we need,” Lenny added, scooting over and gesturing for him to sit beside me.

He chuckled, then shrugged off his coat and slid into the booth, the space between us suddenly feeling much smaller than it had a second ago.

Ruby raised a hand to get the server’s attention. “We’re gonna need a round of something. Beers? Or…” she looked at Will. “Do you drink, Professor?”

I hated that.

Tonight, he wasn’t a professor. He was Will.

Just. Will.

He smiled politely. “Beer’s fine. Thanks.”

I could feel Will glancing at me while Lenny and Ruby talked to the server. I kept my eyes forward, but looked at him when he asked, “Who chose that name?”

He pointed to the sheet on the table.

I chuckled. “Uh, Lenny did. She’s pretty creative. And funny.”

“Trivia Newton-John. That is pretty damn funny.”

Lenny must’ve heard him say that, so she turned her head and grinned at him. “Thanks, Professor.”

God, I really needed for them to stop calling him that.

“Please, call me Will.”

Lenny’s grin widened, and she gave me a knowing look. “Will do.”

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