Page 84 of Fielder's Choice

When the current song ends, Lane gets my attention. “I’m heading over to the bar. Want another drink, Liv?”

“Yes, please,” I smile. One more drink will still leave me sober enough for my plans for later on. “Can you grab me an amaretto sour?”

He kisses my temple. “You got it, baby. I’ll be right back.”

Lane walks off toward the bar, and I turn back around to see Ari standing behind me. “You’ve got that man wrapped around your finger, Liv,” he laughs.

“What? No,” I say shyly. “He’s just being nice.”

Lucia is apparently nearby because she scoffs loudly. “Lane’s nice, but notthatnice, babe. Man seriously likes you.”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend to go bother?” Ari chides.

Lucia rolls her eyes. “Matt isn’t here tonight.”

Ari stares at her in disbelief. “It’s New Year’s Eve. Your boyfriend seriously isn’t here with you?”

“No.” She crosses her arms defiantly. “He has to work in the morning.”

He scoffs. “Stock market’s closed tomorrow, Lucia. There’s no way he’s working.”

“Watch it, Ari,” she huffs. “I’m not listening to this shit again.”

“That’s fine,” he shrugs. “You’re only hurting yourself.” Ari turns to face me again. “Good to see you tonight, Liv. I need another fucking drink, though.”

He stalks off, and I try to keep things from feeling awkward right now. “Sorry Matt didn’t make it tonight,” I say to Lucia.

“It’s… fine,” she sighs. “It’s just New Year’s.”

“Maybe, but he’s missing out. You’re a bombshell tonight, Luc.”

She smiles softly now. “Thanks, Liv. Always good to have a reminder.”

When Lane comes back, Lucia walks over to the booth and sits down, shooting off a fiery text to who I assume is Matt. It’s impossible to miss the way she tenses when he’s brought up. She doesn’t seem happy, and I hate that for her.

“Ballerina,” Lane whispers, his lips brushing my ear and his breath sparking electricity between my legs. “Goddamn, I’m obsessed with the way you look right now.”

I lean back against him, feeling myself loosen up a bit from the several drinks I’ve had through the night. “You’re very sweet, Lane.” I reach out and take my drink from his hand before taking a sip.

“How is that?” he asks, gesturing to the cup in my hand.

“Delicious,” I smile as I take another sip.

Lane’s face turns mischievous now. “Let me have a taste then.” Instead of grabbing my glass, he crashes his mouth against mine, using his tongue to part my lips open. I sigh into him, enjoying the feel of his tongue sweeping over mine. When we pull apart, he licks his lips. “So fucking good.”

My heart is hammering in my chest. “You could’ve just taken my glass, you know.”

“Yeah, but I wanted an excuse to kiss you,” he smirks, letting his hand rest low on my hip, just above the hemline of my dress. He’s dangerously close to touching my bare skin, and part of me wishes he would.

We spend the next hour enjoying ourselves. Dancing, drinking, having fun. Lane even has me grind against him at one point, and based on how much of him I can feel, he sure seems to enjoy it.

Before we realize it, it’s only one minute until midnight. We all stop what we’re doing and watch the countdown.

Lane holds me tightly with my back to his chest, and I rest my head on his shoulder. We count with the rest of the patrons as we creep closer and closer to midnight.

“Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… two… one… Happy New Year!”

Lane rests his hand on my cheek and inches his lips closer to mine. “Happy New Year, Livvy.”

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