Page 72 of The Best Book Boyfriend
“Outrageous. I bet she hated it.” Luke smiles across at me and he looks so... so... I can’t put my finger on it. Obviously like always, but something else too.
“There were people dry-humping in the corner!” Megan says.
“I didn’t have you three down for a bunch of prudes.”
“Well, Hattie isn’t,” she laughs. “She’s probably dry-humping in the corner right now.”
“We thought it might be a good way to meet men, but they were all about nineteen, so we felt like cougars,” I say, then wish I hadn’t.
“Kara was hoping someone would snog her on the dancefloor.”
“And did they?” Luke asks, standing up straight and folding his arms across his chest.
“No, don’t worry,” Megan reassures him. “A guy squeezed Hattie’s bum, though!”
“So you said.”
“Really, though it was awful.” I think Megan is really quite drunk, and we haven’t even had that much. Then again, we rarely drink spirits, and definitely not doubles, so we’ve probably had more than we think. “The music was, I mean, I don’t want to sound like such a nana, but I didn’t know a single song, and they all sounded the same.”
“That sounds like a nightclub alright,” he chuckles and I want to swim in his laugh.
“You should put on gigs here!” I say, sitting up straight and beaming. I’m rather pleased with my idea and I hope it impresses him.
“I’d really love that, but I don’t think I have the room. I have a little dream about opening a second venue that would be a bar and events space.”
“Can you sing Luke?” Megan asks.
“Oh god, no.”
“Play any instruments?”
“A bit of guitar.”
“Oh Kara,he plays guitar.“ Megan swoons at me and I smack her a little too hard on the arm. “We had a thing for a Book Boyfriend who played guitar last year, there was a whole playlist that went with the book and everything.”
“Nick,” I remind her.
“Niiiiiiiick,” she drones. “Nick was so hot. Maybe you could get him to play here.”
“Nick’s not real, Megan. He’s a made up man,” I burst out laughing and then she’s laughing and Luke leans against the counter, his palms spread and all I can think about is how much I want to be squeezed inside the space between his arms.
“I’m going to drive you both home.”
“I know it’s Friday but is it OK if I just go sleep at home?” Megan slurs from the back seat while Luke leans across me to pull my seatbelt around me. It’s the closest we’ve been in ages and I’m a match, waiting to be struck into flames.
“Of course,” I try not to breathe on him. “Is that OK, if we go to Megan’s first?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you Luke-o.”
Megan bursts out laughing. “Uh-oh! That’s how you know she’s really drunk. She starts adding ‘O’ to everything.” Now I’m laughing too, it’s true, I don’t know where it comes from.
We pull up outside Megan and Hattie’s building, and Luke gets out to help her to her door. I wind my window down and she leans in to give me a big wet kiss.
“Doesn’t Luke look handsome?” she whispers loudly. “See you tomorrow, my angel.”
“Night-o gorgeous.”
