Page 33 of Flirting with the Stranger

After some more fun with frosting and another round of Hollyn screaming my name, we went our separate ways. Mostly because she wanted to get cleaned up. If I could, I’d wear her scent on me all day, so then everyone knows she belongs to me.

I glance down at my watch, 6:45 pm. She told me to meet her here at seven. Will I appear desperate if I show up early? I pace in front of the door of Porter’s Ale House, unsure of what to do. People on the sidewalk pass me, scrunching their eyebrows and glaring. You haven’t seen a grown man be nervous about a date? Shit, is this a date? It can’t be a date. Unless it’s a couple’s date. Maybe I should pick up flowers.

I glance down at my watch again, 6:47 p.m. Shit. She’s not like any of the other girls. Who cares if I’m early? There’s nothing wrong with being excited to see her. I reach for the handle and tug, the metal cool against my clammy palm. My eyes take a moment to adjust to the dim lighting inside compared to the bright sun outside. With a quick glance around the bar, I immediately spot Hollyn sitting at a table with a couple of other people. Here goes nothing. As I stroll over to the table, I notice a guy take the seat next to her and wrap his arm around the back of her stool. Instantly, I come to a halt and my body tenses. All I see is red. Heat floods my entire body when she laughs at something he says. Then she turns toward me and her face lights up. Jumping out of her seat, she saunters over to me. She’s wearing a pale-yellow sundress that hugs her chest but flows at the waist. But my favorite thing is her breathtaking smile.

“You made it.” Excitement lights up her face as she stops in front of me.

“I did.” I give her a beaming smile of my own.

“Good. Everyone is dying to meet you. Well, again, I guess. But this time you get to keep your clothes on.” She jabs me in the ribs with her elbow.

Shit. “That’s right. Half your friends saw me practically naked. And the other half are their significant others. Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

She takes my hand in hers, intertwining our fingers. “Nonsense. It’s only Bennett and Seth who are the significant others. It’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll be here to protect you.” She winks.

She tugs me along as I follow close behind. Once we reach the group, she steals a chair from a neighboring table and places it next to hers, so I’m seated at the head of the table.

“If everyone remembers, this is Van. Van, this is everyone.” Hollyn sweeps an arm over the table as everyone introduces themselves and the guys shake my hand. Maybe this won’t be so bad.

“So Hollyn, how does it feel knowing you saw your boyfriend half naked the same time all your friends did?” Trey lets out an “oomph” as Hollyn back hands him in the stomach.

“Ignore him. He has no filter,” Bennett says. “What can we get you to drink?”

I wipe my palms on my jeans. “A beer would be great.”

* * *

Several rounds of drinks later and everyone knows the stripper story and how I now own a bakery. But also, how I’m a horrible baker. Hollyn made sure to tell everyone those stories, but she also mentioned how much I’ve improved. And how I now know the difference between frosting and icing.

Suddenly, Bennett stands up and rests a hand on the back of my stool. “You know, I think it’s time the boys have a chat with Van. Man to man.” Seth and Trey also rise to their feet.

My gaze darts between the three guys and then Hollyn, unsure of what’s happening right now. My heart pounds as if it’s going to crack through my rib cage.

“You guys, is this really necessary?” Hollyn whines.

“Yes, it’s very necessary. He’s an outsider. We need to make sure he’s a good fit for not only you, but also our family.” Trey rounds the table to stand next to Bennett.

“If you guys are assholes, I swear to God, I’ll kick all your asses.” Hollyn narrows her eyes and points her finger at Bennett, Trey, and Seth. She turns to me and clasps my hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s best to get this over with now. It’s like ripping off a band aid.”

All I can do is nod because I don’t know what’s happening right now. Bennett clasps me on the shoulder and directs me toward the back of the bar. My mouth goes dry and I swallow hard.

“Is this where you take me out back and beat the shit out of me as part of an initiation?”

Trey turns to me, his expression stoic. “And if it was?”

“I would rather not take part.”

“Well, you don’t have a choice.” Trey’s sinister tone sends a brick dropping into the pit of my stomach.

Seth pushes Trey out of the way. “Don’t listen to him. We suspect they dropped him on his head as a child. There’s no solid evidence, just speculation.”

The glowing red exit sign at the end of a hallway draws nearer. Luckily, we take a sharp turn and Bennett directs me to sit on a stool on one side of the table, and the three of them sit on the other side like a jail house interrogation. All that’s missing is the two-way mirror.

Bennett clears his throat before locking eyes with mine. “What are your intentions with Hollyn?”

“I-um—” Out of nowhere, a flashlight shines directly into my face. I lift my hand to shield my eyes from the blinding light.

“Trey, what’s with the flashlight?” Bennett asks.

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