Page 40 of Love Undiscovered
Fuck my life.
Any other gray suits around? Negative.
I close my eyes and try to rein the sudden surge of emotions in. Because this can’t be happening. I feel my stomach hit the ground as the bar around me starts to spin. I want to throw up. It seems Chance Bauer always brings out that reaction in me.
Okay Remi, just calm down a minute. Maybe it’s not what you think.
Alex is in IT for the Police Department. Chance is a Detective. Chance is waiting for a date. We are waiting for a date.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
It’s totally what I think.
“Hey that’s funny,” I hear from behind me. “You guys are sitting next to each other and probably didn’t even know it.”
Chance and I both turn around. Alex is there behind us.
“Come again?” Chance says at the same time that I say, “Excuse me?” I look at Chance, he looks at me, we both look at Alex.
It’s confirmed. My life is fucked.
“Oh no,” I say. “Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.” I stand up and grab Alex by the tie and pull him away from the bar towards the waiting area.
“Harley, talk to Chance,” I say over my shoulder as we walk away.
“How did you know it was him?” Alex asks once we stop walking.
“I didnotknow it was him.”
“But you know his name.”
“Yes,” I hiss. “I know his name. Because I hate the man. Despise really. He can’t be my date. There’s no way. You be my date and we’ll set Harley up with Chance. Please, Alex. Please.”
“No way,” he says. “I got a glimpse of Harley and she’s hot. Plus, you don’t like me.”
“Of course, I like you. We practically dated for six months. I mean, look at you,” I gesture up and down his body. “What’s not to like? You’re funny, you’re good-looking, we get along great. That whole sex thing was just a fluke. In fact, I shouldn’t even bring it up, it was so insignificant. We can just forget about it. Poof. Gone,” I say, my voice rising crazily.
He looks at me, one eyebrow lifted.
I wouldn’t believe me either.
“Well, I like you way more than I like Chance,” I say.
He just stands there.
“Fine. Fuck, let’s get this over with,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Do you, um, want to cancel?” Alex clears his throat.
“No.” I think of my Louboutins. “It’s fine. Let’s go.” I drag him by the tie back to the bar.
“I’m right behind you, you don’t have to pull me.”
“You figured out what I figured out and you aren’t very happy about it, isn’t that right, Ice Queen?” Chance smirks as I get to the bar.
“That is right, simpleton. But I plan to make the best of it, even if it is you that I have to spend my evening with.” I pat him on the chest in what I hope is a patronizing manner.
“I’m Alex Fields,” Alex introduces himself to Harley and her back to him. Since, clearly, I’ve lost sight of my manners when faced with Chance Bauer as my date.
Before I have a chance to apologize to Harley for not making the introductions, the hostess approaches. “Mr. Fields, your table is ready if you’d like to follow me.”
Alex motions to Harley to go before him. He walks beside her with a light hand on the small of her back. I like that he’s in his alpha protective mode already.
Bauer holds out his forearm for me to grab. “Shall we?” With no other choice, I wrap my hand around his arm and let him lead me toward the table. Because a bet is a bet, and I am not giving up my Louboutins for anyone.
“That’s the spirit, cupcake,” he says. “I can practically feel my little Ice Queen melting already.”
