Page 98 of Defending her Heart

Everyone is cozy. Everyone but me.

“You okay?” Nash massages my shoulder again and I jump to my feet.

“Yeah. Gotta pee.” I shimmy out from the table on Rowan’s side and ask her to order for me.

Nash stands and pulls my chair away for me. Thankfully, he doesn’t follow me to the ladies’ room. I half expect him to come barreling in, lock the door, and take me against the wall. My body wouldn’t fight him off. I hate the way it craves him now.

When I return to the table, Nash stands up like a gentleman and helps me to my chair. I plaster a smile on my face and join in on Jackson and Taylor’s conversation. Somehow, I make it through dinner, even with Nash’s thigh constantly rubbing against mine, and in more than awe’re squished around the tablekind of way.

I force myself not to react when his arm brushes against mine, or when he squeezes my thigh and asks if I’d like another drink. No, thank you very much. One margarita is all I can handle before my libido takes over and I do something stupid like straddle him in front of everyone.

I thank the fucking universe when we’re done eating and the girls head out to the dance floor. Finally free, I get lost in the music and have fun with my friends, doing all I can to ignore the heated gaze from Nash as he watches me.

“You sure it’s just casual sex?” Rowan asks after the fourth song.

“What do you mean?” I pretend to be ignorant and shimmy my hips to Kane Brown.

“He hasn’t stopped staring at you all night. And we all noticed how he kept his arm around your chair, and the innocent touches. Or were they not-so-innocent?” Rowan grins.

“You need to get laid, girlfriend. You’re seeing too much.”

“Maybe, but I thought it was adorable how he put some of his fries on your plate and asked the server to refill your water before you could ask.”

“He was full, and the server refilled everyone’s glass.”

“Sure, after Nash asked for your glass to be refilled.”

“Are we talking about the way Nash has been drooling all over Kendall tonight?” Riley says, butting into our circle with a refill of drinks.

“No,” I say as Rowan screams, “Yes.”

“Losers.” I take my drink from Riley and tip it back. I hadn’t planned on getting drunk tonight, but my friends are annoying. Hopefully the tequila will make them disappear.

We dance until our feet are sore and my buzz is gone. Before I’m ready to leave, Walker whisks Riley away, and Darius does the same to Mindy and her sister Katie.

Jackson waves his keys from the table, signaling he’s leaving too. “I’m gonna pee one more time. Tell Jackson I’ll be right there,” I say to Rowan.

The line to the bathroom is long, and I’m worried I’m going to pee my pants when I finally make it to a stall. I wash myhands, check out my sweaty reflection, and don’t bother fixing my hair.

I’ve been dancing for over an hour, spent three hours before that cheering at a football game, and I look worse for wear. Since I’m not trying to impress anyone, I purposely leave my tangled hair as is and head out of the bathroom.

The restaurant emptied significantly since I was in there. Our corner section is vacant as well, except for one person.

The corner of Nash’s lip quirks. “Took you long enough.”

“The line was long.” I glance around and notice all the coats and purses are gone. Fucking traitors. They did this on purpose. I’m gonna kill them. I take out my cell and send Jackson and Rowan the middle finger emoji.

ME: You’re both dead to me.

I don’t expect a reply and tuck my phone back in my purse.

“Need a ride?”

“Why do you look so smug?”

“Why do you look so pissed?”

“Because my friends ditched me.”

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