Page 3 of Replay

I sighed. “It got me away from the table though.”

She leaned forward so we didn’t have to speak so loudly. “What’s your plan?”

I looked over my shoulder. Cosmo Girl was moving in on Foster now. “If I wait long enough, she’ll go for someone else.”

“Waste of a cosmo.”

“Worth it. Um, do you want it?”

“Not my drink, but thanks.”

The bartender was still working on the pink concoction. I tilted my head. “You don’t look like someone who hangs out in a sports bar.” She was wearing a suit, an actual skirt and jacket that looked expensive as shit.

“I’m not.”

“Got lost?” I grinned at her.

“No. I was meeting someone and he picked the place. It didn’t work out.”

Now my dick perked up. She was something different. Maybe I was just bored with the usual choices. “His loss.” The cosmo was set on the bar in front of me with my beer. “Sure you don’t want this?”

“You’re welcome to it. I’m Madeline, by the way.” The redhead held out her hand. It was smooth, not like my callused palm.

“I’m Josh.”

She dropped my hand after we shook. “Here’s what I’m looking for. It’s been a long couple of weeks, and I just want someone to fuck me. Then I’ll kick him out. I won’t call and I don’t do repeats. Are you good with that?”

My dick now lost interest. What was wrong with me? I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. One night was all I wanted.

A sudden crash when a server dropped a tray of drinks attracted my attention. I caught a glimpse of light brown hair on a short woman and something inside me leapt. Katie?

She turned around, and no, it wasn’t Katie.

Was that my problem? I’d heard from friends of friends that Katie was going to school in Toronto this year. Was I hoping to see her again? Ugh.

Losing the Cup. Losing Katie. I had to get myself together and out of this funk.

I turned back to the redhead. She was attractive and knew what she wanted. I could get my dick onboard, and better her than the bunny back at the table.

“That sounds great. Just let me tell my group that I’m leaving.”

Chapter 2

Like a Hobbit after an Extended Visit to Mordor

Katie

Staying up to watch one more episode of Outlander was a mistake. The hall light almost blinded me, dragging me out of Scotland and back to the condo. Madeline was home. I quickly hit pause and pulled out my headphones. Someone crashed into the wall, and I heard the sounds of kissing and moaning.

Shit. She’d brought someone home, and here I was, sitting in the living room like a voyeur. If they took some time—another moan—I could still make my getaway. I quietly closed my laptop and pulled out the power cord. With my free hand I pushed back the afghan I’d been curled up under. I shoved my feet into my slippers.

“Katie?”

Damn. Not quick enough. I looked up at my roommate/landlord, a half smile on her face, hair mussed and lips kiss swollen. She was standing at the corner where the hallway reached the kitchen, open to the living room. No sneaking away now. Her hookup stood in the shadows behind her. Not my business and I’d intruded enough, so I dropped my gaze. Laptop in my hands, I stood, ready to hide out in my room. With earphones in.

“Sorry, I should have been in my room already. I’ll just—” I threw a thumb up in a dorky move toward my room.

“Katie?”

---