Page 29 of No One Else

“You find a guy yet?” Audrey asks, leaning over and resting her forearms on the counter.

“No, I think I’m done with that.” Mmm, this daiquiri is even better than the last. Does she have some kind of secret ingredient she uses? Possibly crack?

“Maybe we can get you to play for the other team then,” she smirks saucily, giving me a once-over.

“Stop hitting on my friends,” Samantha laughs.

“You know I’m just messing around. Actually,” Audrey says, becoming more serious, “Jessica and I said I love you to each other yesterday.”

“You did?! That’s so exciting,” she gushes, reaching over the counter to pull her into a hug.

“Congratulations,” I tell her, not sure who Jessica is, but happy for her regardless.

“Thanks,” she smiles softly. “It’s been a long time coming. I was afraid to say the words, but once I did, it felt so right.”

I turn my attention away from them while they continue to talk, looking out over the crowd again. Just as I deem nothing worth my notice, I see Olivia and Chloe making their way to the other side of the room toward two frat guys I recognize from my days hanging out with Carter’s friends, though I don’t know their names.

“Who’s caught your eye?”

“Huh?” I turn toward Samantha, alone now since Audrey’s at the other end of the bar making drinks for customers. “Oh, no one. Just these two girls I know. They’re co-chairs for this Valentine’s Day charity event I’m part of, but they’re being real snobs about all my ideas.”

I point them out to her and she startles in surprise. “That’s the girl I saw Carter with.”

“What?”

“Yeah, last week. They were in a group together at the student center and she was giggling and touching his arm. He wasn’t really paying much attention to her but I remember wanting to go over there and slap his stupid face-”

“Okay, no slapping. Like seriously.” Carter’s dad is a lawyer and he’d probably have a lawsuit against her so quick, she’d be the one who wouldn’t know what hit her. “Which girl was it?” I ask curiously. Not that I’m jealous, but it’s good to keep tabs on things like that.

“The blonde.” Olivia then.

“Well, that kind of makes sense. They’ve formed this clique thing that they’re excluding me from, even though I’ve been nothing but nice to them. If she’s into Carter, I understand why she wouldn’t like me.” The same way I automatically don’t like Sarah.

God, what is my problem? I am all for girl power, not tearing each other down. I should be happy for Sarah. She’s found a great guy.

Should I give Olivia a heads up about Carter, though? To be fair, the word of his ex-girlfriend probably won’t mean much. And for all I know, she’s one of the girls he was already messing around with.

For now, I dismiss her from my mind along with the crowd, focusing on catching up with Samantha for the rest of the night.

And getting another daiquiri. These things are damn good.

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