Page 133 of Between the Blue
I don’t want you.
“Duh,” Caroline replies.
Yeah, we’ll see about that.
“I’ll meet you there.”
thirty-six
HER
I push open the door to Randall’s Tavern, and the sound of rock music floods out into the night.
I immediately zero my gaze on the usual table at the back of the bar and don’t break my eye contact as I stride straight to it.
I can sense it, the way more and more heads slowly turn my way, wandering eyes landing on me. It only makes the smirk on my burgundy painted lips wider. Because it was what I intended. A little black dress and curling iron can go a long way. But I took it all the way home.
“Oh…my…God?” Caroline enunciates after doing a double take in my direction.
I’m always pretty confident, but I know I look good tonight. And right now, as I approach the table, and that particular set of amber eyes lock on me, it is so utterly obvious how much I’m wanted.
Too bad for him.
A whistle catches my attention, and I tear my gaze away from Ben’s to look at Rhett next to me.
“Damn, Little Dixon. Did you have a fashion show between the game and here?”
I make a casual show of looking down at myself. “Oh, this? It’s just something I threw on. Just wanted to get out of my work clothes.”
“Well, I must say, you do a great job of getting out of your clothes.” Rhett winks, and instead of my normal reaction of rolling my eyes, I lean into him and laugh. I may even swat at his chest playfully.
“Yeah,” Caroline chimes in, coming to stand next to us. “You know I think Sutton’s a sleaze, but I have to agree with him on this one. You look like walking sex, Addie.”
Rhett puts his hand on his heart. “I never thought I’d see the day, Baby Bear–”
Caroline stops him, with a raise of her hand. “And you still won’t. Don’t get too excited.”
“Looking good, Addie!” Luke suddenly calls from across the table.
I smile at him, waving to say thanks.
Ronan’s eyes widen in the meantime. “I didn’t even recognize you at first,” he says. “Wowza.”
Even John, who I’ve barely interacted with, speaks up. “You look very pretty, Addie.”
“Thank you, guys,” I respond, feeling a light blush tinge my cheeks.
Even with most of the table’s attention on me now, the silence from the end of it is very obvious. I make a point of not even acknowledging Ben’s presence with a glance as I look and wave at everyone else.
“I’m going to go grab a drink. Wanna come?” Caroline says, patting my shoulder.
“Sure,” I agree, following her.
I registerEnjoy The Silenceby Depeche Mode playing over the speakers as we weave our way through the unusually packed space and sidle up to the bar. Caroline calls the bartender easily–of course– and orders both of our drinks, remembering my usual choice of an Old Fashioned.
The bartender hands me my drink and begins working on Caroline’s when her phone starts ringing in her purse.
She pulls it out, squinting at the screen and letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry, I have to take this real quick. Would you mind–”
