Page 16 of Collision

Trying not to hyperventilate, I turn away from my brother and shake my head as I suck in a deep breath and smile.

“Sure.” Nervous, I push my hair back behind my ear. “A drink would be nice.”

Theroomisheavingand I find myself pressed up against Josh as we squeeze towards the last open seats against the bar. Music throbs through the floorboards, pulsating with a lazy kind of drawl that drags the crowd around the room as friends call out to each other, and Josh’s hand rests against my waist.

“Sorry.” He leans in and shouts into my ear above the noise of constant conversation and the drone of the singer’s voice. “I’m not from around here. I genuinely thought this would be a quiet little bar.”

“Wait.” I can’t stop myself from laughing as I push up onto my tiptoes, my hand resting against his chest, while I try to speak into his ear. “You mean that accent’s not local?”

“You’re funny.” He smirks as his hand shifts to the small of my back and he holds me closer. “I like that.”

Flames dance beneath my cheeks as his eyes trace my lips and my breathing hitches. Behind him a couple starts to move, gathering their stuff and pushing away from the stools perched beside the bar, and I push him away gently.

“Seats.” I nod to the open spot, trying not to melt under the heat of his gaze, and he smiles as he guides me to step ahead of him.

Once seated, Josh immediately moves to call the bar tender over and I tuck my hair behind my ears again, taking a deep breath and trying to remain calm.

I haven’t been on a date in years. And this, sitting in a bar with a handsome stranger, feels like a date. In fact, when he looks at me the way he looked at me just two minutes ago, it feels like the kind of date I have always had rules about. Rules that I need to remind myself of if he keeps touching me.

“What would you like?” He turns a dazzling smile to me as the bar tender leans over the counter and listens for my order. Josh’s hand is placed lightly on my knee, a simple touch, but possessive somehow - like he’s claiming me in front of this man - and I swallow.

Don’t read what isn’t there, Mikaela. People touch.

“Oh - erm - just a beer please.”

“Any preference?” The bartenderlooks stressed as he glances around the busy room and the emotional fool in me feels a squeeze of pity as I follow his eyes across the crowd. He’s alone back there.

“No, whatever’s easiest for you. Thanks.”

When he moves from us, Josh cocks his head to the side with a slight smirk. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a beer kind of girl?”

“Well, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” I laugh as two drinks are placed in front of us and he nods slowly.

“I think we should fix that.” He leans casually on the bar, one hand still placed on my knee, his thumb brushing the edge of my dress with casual ease, as the other swirls the glass of water he’s holding. “Three things I should know about you? Go.”

My laugh is stiff as he waits. This man is confident and forward. My heart seems torn by the way he smiles at me like he wants me; like I should be happy that I don’t have to wonder what was going on in his head when he looks at me like that, but something unknown stops me from revelling in it fully.

I tell myself it’s nice.It’s refreshing.

“Okay.” I take a sip of my beer, glancing around at friends laughing in corner booths, colleagues celebrating successes over drinks and awkward first dates making polite chit-chat as they avoid checking their phones. “I’m feeling the pressure now. Hmm.”

There is a softness to his smile as he sips from his glass and waits, and I feel my mind scrambling for information to share with him.

“Okay, so Jamie and I grew up just two blocks from where his office is, before it became all corporate buildings and business central. I moved out of town for a while and haven’t been back long, and number three?” I click my tongue as I try to think of anything other than the one thing screaming in my mind. “When I was a kid, my neighbour had a dog called Snuffy and I told everyone she was mine.”

Josh nods slowly, rubbing his chin as he pretends that these three things are the most important pieces of information he will ever be given, and I stifle a laugh.

“Your turn,” I prompt.

“Right.” He sits a little taller now, shuffling slightly on his stool so that he is just the tiniest bit closer to me and I glance down to his hand still cupping my thigh. “I’m from London, obviously.” He smiles as I feign surprise and I can’t help but smile back. He really does have a charming smile. I take a sip of my drink as he continues. “I have two brothers.” He leans closer. “And I think you’re beautiful.”

Suddenly beer is coming out of my nose and my eyes are streaming as I choke on my drink.

Reaching past me to grab napkins from a pile perched on the bar, Josh grins - biting back his laugh - and I groan as I try to wipe at my face. The skin of my leg is warm still where his hand had been and I twist myself to face the bar, accepting the offer of paper towels and burying my face in my hands.

To Josh’s credit, he regains his composure swiftly and his voice softens when I don’t look back to him. “You alright there?”

“Sorry. Wow that’s embarrassing.” I laugh half-heartedly and roll my eyes.

Ground just swallow me whole.

“You can change your third thing now, if you want.”

His smile is endearingly soft when I finally look at him and the world seems to pull out from under me as he says, “no, I’m good.”

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